SAN DIEGO, California – The only worldwide fraternity and sorority
founded in the Philippines with over 500,000 members, the Triskelions’
Grand Fraternity / Sorority International concluded a second
international summit here on May 10 – 11, 2008, with the attendance of
delegates from various regions all throughout the United States and
other countries, accomplishing a unified purpose in generating
guidelines for global chapters to be able to bond in focusing on a
common goal of becoming productive economic contributors in countries
they now reside.

“The Triskelions’ Grand Fraternity and Sorority International Council
is proud to announce that the Constitution and By-laws of the
Triskelions’ Grand Fraternity National Council – United States of
America has been ratified,” Spokesperson Ted Mogol(UST ‘74) who also serves as
an Interim Vice President for External Affairs in the International
Council stated.

“We recognize this event as a milestone towards our desire to
organize the Fraternity and Sorority all over the world,” Mogol said.
“We envision one national council in each of the countries where we
have established our presence and each national council president
representing his council to ensure that each national council’s
programs and policies will be integrated in the world-wide body.”

According to Mogol, the International Council envisions that with
this Constitution and By-laws in place, they will now be able to
register the Fraternity as a Non-for Profit Entity under section 501
(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code here in the USA.

He said that, “with this registration, the Fraternity will be able
to conduct fund-raising and other activities to support our various
medical/dental missions, scholarship funds, natural disaster rapid
response and other community projects in the Philippines and all over
the world, with tax-exempt privileges.”

One of the Most Distinguished Guardians (MDG) of the Fraternity, and
a member of the Interim Board of Directors of the International
Council, Ray Ramirez(UP ‘72), announced that in less than five months, the
Triskelions’ Grand Fraternity also known as Tau Gamma Phi will
celebrate 40 years of existence in the Global Community — from its
humble beginnings on October 4, 1968 within the Diliman Campus of the
University of the Philippines to the 40th Anniversary and 7th
International Convention at the Sheraton Newark Airport in Newark, New
Jersey: four decades of growth and diversity as envisioned by six
young men from the U.P. College of Arts and Sciences; branching out to
other schools, colleges and Universities in Metro Manila, then
nationwide to other institutions of learning and livelihood, taking
root within local communities and the economic enclaves of the global
workforce.

Triskelions, as the fraternity and sorority members address one
another, are now citizens of the civilized world. As students,
tradesmen, technicians, design professionals, artists, entertainers,
military or law enforcement personnel, educators, information
technology, medical or health care professionals, legal experts,
public servants, clergy and community leaders, they number in the
hundreds of thousands worldwide.

According to Ramirez, the International Council’s goal is to
organize Triskelions into one cohesive database wherein each member
can be accounted for by various criteria from original collegiate
chapter affiliation, by professional skill and expertise, other areas
of interest, geographical location or present community chapter
affiliation, educational background and other potentials.

He said that it is the leadership’s hope and dream that Triskelions
worldwide would be able to respond to any emergency, calamity or
situation wherein the spirit of “VOLUNTAS” or free will inherent in
every member would be available to anyone in need, whether fellow
members or the public at large.

Ramirez pointed out that with an organizational structure identical
from the smallest local unit such as a “Barangay”, to a regional base
like Northern California, all the way to a National Council the size
of Canada; the role of the different tiers of the organization will be
well defined and efforts concentrated towards effective results. With
today’s modern communications and free exchange of information all
these ideals are possible and attainable.

Ramirez and other leaders envision that the Triskelion is in the
next cubicle across the street or even twenty miles away; he or she is
both local and global.

“The Triskelion is here, everywhere; now and for all time,” Ramirez
said.

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
Emerson Quinto, Managing Editor
California Journal For Filipino Americans
(310) 480-7378
Photos Available Upon Request
FOR FAIR USE / SYNDICATION