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 Z. 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!
