Tau Gamma Sigma
Written by Karina Nicolas-Hernandez
It was during my Asian Civilization class at the U.P. PHAn that I received a bouquet of roses and a box of chocolates from someone anonymous one late afternoon. I was intrigued. What made it even more intriguing was the short and scrawny messenger patiently waiting for me outside my classroom. He was polite and friendly, but I found him to be a bit too fast and presumptuous when he started to ask me all kinds of questions and refused to answer mine. I would later get to know him as Loy Loyola, my ardent sponsor and supporter to the Tau Gamma Sigma.
That afternoon became the first day of the rest of my life. I found myself being convinced to join and, before I knew it, initiated for the first batch of the Tau Gamma Sigma which eventually became the counterpart of the infamous Tau Gamma Phi in Diliman.
I was one of the girls initiated for the batch Merganser. Initiation Day was everything I expected it to be, a challenging day of physical, mental and emotional competence. But, I later realized that you can never be too prepared for “the day”. All neophytes, the term used for new recruits, were tested, challenged, even humiliated at times. It was a humbling and learning experience for me because it was then that I realized how much passion and determination can actually be drawn out of me when my heart is into something. I had to let go of all inhibitions and made the resolve to be part of this organization despite the pain I felt from kneeling on monggo beans and the “spit” we were made to gulp down blindfolded. I would later find out that we actually swallowed egg whites. Thank God for that! If SARS or meningococcemia were existent then, I probably would have had second thoughts about joining the sorority. Kidding aside, imagine the relief and excitement we all felt when we were finally accepted as “Sis”. What made this feat even sweeter for me was that I eventually became the first Grand Lady Triskelion with my primary focus on the recruitment of more members. This would result to the institutionalization of the Tau Gamma Sigma.
One of the fondest memories that I treasure from being part of this organization is that I got to develop friendships with all sorts of personalities from all walks of life. This was a far cry from the social environment that I always knew to be too controlled and superficial. Engrained in fraternity-sorority life was the spirit of “family”. We were allowed to be different, but, just the same, everyone was accepted. When one was in need, all were prepared to share, support, and protect. When one was wanting, everyone was there to affirm, praise and encourage. For worthy causes, we were ready to serve, work and cooperate with one another. I feared the “tussles and tumbles” of rumbles. But, it was then that I witnessed the determination of the “Brods” to pursue justice and fairness at all cause. I even got an unexpected bonus from joining the “family”, that is, finding my lifetime partner, Mike Hernandez.
My prayer for all of you, my “Brods” and “Sis”, is that, whatever and wherever you may find yourselves at the moment, you will continue to pursue Godliness, righteousness and justice in your homes and workplaces. Continue to bring honor to the name of our fraternity and sorority as pay back for how they have been “home” to us for many years.
As I wrote this article, I delighted from the sweet reminiscences of my involvement in Tau Gamma Sigma. Thanks to Brod Jun Zamora for the prodding and persistent follow-ups of this article! I felt your seriousness in putting this website together, hence, I apologize for the delay. I do hope it brings justice to the noble purposes of how and why we came to exist in the first place. Mabuhay ang Tau Gamma Phi and Sigma!
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