Gamma Kappa Phi

Gamma Kappa Phi
ΓΚΦ
Founded October 9, 1962 (1962-10-09)
Divine Word College
Type Service
Motto There's No Such Thing As Failure
Symbol 15 rays seal (general),
"The High and the Mighty (1954 song)" (anthem)
Chapters  Philippines = 80+ Philippine Colleges, Universities Chapters
Provincial & City Alumni Councils

Other International Councils:
 USA = 1
 CAN = 1
 Qatar = 1
 Saudi Arabia = 2
 Hong Kong = 1
 United Arab Emirates = 1
 United Kingdom = 1
Members  Philippines 70,000+ alumni & collegiate
Cardinal Principles Brotherhood, Service, and Honor
Headquarters Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines

Gamma Kappa Phi (ΓΚΦ) is an international alumni and collegiate fraternity and sorority founded on October 9, 1962 at Divine Word College (now Holy Name University) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines.

History

Rosemarie Beldia and 10 founders in 1962

The organization was started as a group called as G-Club or Gentlemen's Club by mostly liberal arts students of the school's College of Law. A professor of the College of Law, lawyer Rosemarie Beldia suggested the formation of Gamma Kappa Phi when she convinced her brother, Antonio Beldia III, to transform the club into a brotherhood or fraternity. Antonio called for a meeting with his fellow members and agreed to formally rename the G-Club into the Gamma Kappa Phi Fraternity with Vicente Baquial, Florante Cimagala, Alfonso Damalerio, Lauro Dominese, Landelino Maslog, Fernan Maslog, Romulo Racho, Godofredo Sinajon and Prisco Viñalon, comprising the ten founding members.

Historical conflicts

The Gamma Kappa Phi as a whole organization was not free from certain issues of its history and organizational concerns that adversely affected it towards achieving its objectives. These answered all the woes that beset the organization during the last few decades by annual national conventions started in 1978, which was held the First National Convention in Dumaguete City and 1989 National Consultative Assembly in Cebu City. A research committee took off in December 2004 to resolve the conflicting history of the organization.

Founding year

The founding year of Gamma Kappa Phi was introduced by some members in Silliman University chapter in 1970 as a conflicting difference earlier than 1962, by using the year '1952'. This was believed to be the work of some members who compete for their rivalry with other school campus organizations to mock its longest period of existence. Reynaldo Pagalan, who was among the pioneer members of Silliman University in 1969, introduced the conflicting 1952 founding year when he introduced the fraternity in Mindanao and organized Central Mindanao University (CMU) in 1970. Pagalan later admitted and apologized for the historic blunder which he brought to the entire Gamma Kappa Phi, who adapted the founding year they first believed. Hyro Fernandez, who was one of CMU chapter pioneers, clarified the 1952 founding year issue when he returned to visit his native Bohol Province in the mid-1970s and met some of the pioneers of the founding school chapter of Divine Word College. He returned to CMU and brought the true story of '1962' founding year, but the message did not reach other new members that already spread to schools and further introduced to what they first believed. This was simultaneously carried out at the pick of early expansion when CMU 1972 pioneer Diosdado Legara organized Xavier University (XU) chapter at Cagayan de Oro in 1974. This was the reason that Dr. Raymundo Luzano as XU 1974 pioneer, believed and introduced 1952 founding year when he organized in Cebu City at Velez College in 1975. But Paquito Omisol organized Mindanao University Chapter in Marawi City in 1976, had already confirmed the true 1962 founding year in which he introduced to the new school chapter. Although in the 1978 Constitutional Convention hosted by Mindanao State University chapter had changed to influence the chapter by the visiting delegates from other provinces on convincing them the 1952 founding year. But earlier in Cagayan de Oro, it was in 1975 when the second pioneer batch of Xavier University lead by CMU 1971 pioneer Abraham Fajardo had already oriented the true 1962 founding year. This became a question from the new generation members who first knew nothing about the founding year issue from members at another province. Gamma Kappa Phi in Cagayan de Oro was well history-oriented during the presence of one of the Gamma Kappa Phi founder Atty. Fernan Maslog who served as their adviser from 1978 to 1980's. Cagayan de Oro City members were known to be only followers of true 1962 founding year starting 1975 behind the entire nationwide members who adapted the 1952 founding year in the early decades. The breakthrough of this controversy reaches its height into debated issue and the clamors for verification have been raised and strongly felt as early in 1977. The 2005 National Convention held in Cebu City had the research activity carried out and resolved this historical issue of the mistake in using the 1952 founding year, adapted by other members, and corrected to its true and real founding year of Gamma Kappa Phi as 1962.

Sorority Designation Name

After two years, a sorority named Gamma Sigma (not Gamma Kappa Sigma) was formed in 1964 and became a closed organization with the Gamma Kappa Phi Fraternity in Divine Word College, due to some blood relations by each member. Gamma Sigma Sorority just existed and went to its 'natural disappearance' as it was never reorganized again since their last active member. The Gamma Sigma Sorority connection with the Gamma Kappa Phi Fraternity was the reason of early members thought of 'Sigma' in adapting the 'Gamma Kappa Sigma' designation for the sorority. Gamma Kappa Phi was never known to use 'sigma' as a designation of sorority members when introduced in Mindanao in 1970 to early 1980s. This was not known to use at the same time when it was introduced in Cebu City in 1974. But unknown by most of the members to its real story, 'Gamma Kappa Sigma' was only evolved to use as the forebearer's name of the organization's sorority due to the Gamma Sigma sorority story. Using 'sigma' designation is totally inappropriate to consider as a fact of Gamma Kappa Phi history. Dr. Raymundo 'Chito' Luzano who was known as the legendary organizer of the first School Chapter of Cebu City in 1974 and who met earlier the founders and pioneers had clarified this controversial name for the sorority that convinced him to author the removal of 'sigma' designation spreading by other chapters. During the organization's 2006 National Constitutional Convention in Cagayan de Oro City, the 'Sigma' designation being used for sorority was overwhelmingly dropped by the members. This was formally cleared as all sorority and fraternity members within the organization have its only sole name as 'Gamma Kappa Phi' and not to use the Gamma Kappa Sigma for the sorority's designated name.

Controversy of Silliman University Chapter Revival

A certain Ferdinand Tiukinhoy has claimed of reviving the chapter in 1977. This is contrary to his claim since the Silliman University members were disappeared in the campus and ceased to exist in 1972. Another contradiction, Tiukinhoy claims to survive in the Silliman University chapter as a member in 1974 but found out that there was no recorded initiation during that year because of the organization's non-existence. Under his leadership, he produced the first batch of members in 1977 which believed that were recruited without the process of initiation strictly required for admission to the organization. This anomaly was discovered by the Silliman Chapter members whom some members are products of his recruits who conducted the research in 2010. After numerous verification from members of his 'recruits' and past members of Silliman University before the so-called 'batch 1977' has resulted from a conflicting answer which origin and proof who really recruited Tiukinhoy to become a member of the fraternity. Richard Recoleto a 1976 survived member of Mindanao State University and a member of the 2005 Research Committee attested that the origin of Tiukinhoy is indeed untraceable. For the reason, that his questionable claims have been scrutinized, he became elusive of his whereabouts and disappear from his involvement in the organization. Consequently, the organization has concluded that he was a self-proclaimed member and an impostor of Gamma Kappa Phi.

Re-organization

In 1968, two members of Divine Word College who joined in 1965, Proculo Maslog and Idelfonso Sanchez, transferred their studies in Silliman University in Dumaguete City and organized it as the first school chapter in 1969 to operate outside the province. It was the Silliman University members who started to call itself as 'KAPPANS' and introduced the 15-rays seal in 1970, which were designed and created by member Danilo Villamena to become the official seal and now the distinctive symbol of the organization. The fifteen-rays design was designated to the two organizers and 13 pioneer members of the Silliman University Chapter.

The 15-rays seal later revised its meaning in the organization's 2005 National Convention in Cebu City and designated the fifteen rays to the original ten founders and five legendary organizers who were credited with the dramatic spread of the organization.

Evolution of the Gamma Kappa Phi Seal

The evolution of the Gamma Kappa Phi seal

The first Fraternity seal was introduced during the same period of its foundation in 1962. This was designed in a circular form as used by members in an embroidered patch which was sewn on their shirt or a painted version in a cloth banner or plywood. Unfortunately, the circular design seal was not adopted to use when new members have spread outside the founding school in Divine Word College. Subsequently, a new form of the seal was created with another design from Silliman University Chapter which was organized in 1969 by Procolo Maslog and Idelfonso Sanchez who are both members of Divine Word College. Maslog and Sanchez have finally finished their studies and left the new members they recruited to serve as the new forerunners of Gamma Kappa Phi fraternity. In the first semester of the school year in August 1970, the pioneering members of 1969 Silliman Chapter led by Grand Noble Master Roger Valencia assigned Danilo Villamena to design a seal for their school chapter. The new seal design was first painted in a plywood size that was displayed in their booth on the occasion of the founding anniversary celebration of the school. It has a feature of ’15 rays’ that spread around its circular form which depicts the 15 pioneer members of 1969. The seal was unanimously approved by members to be used as the Gamma Kappa Phi seal designated for Silliman University school chapter. In the following school semester, Reynaldo Pagalan who is among the pioneer member of 1969 has transferred his studies in Central Mindanao State University in Musuan, Bukidnon and organized Gamma Kappa Phi in the school. Consequently, he able to introduced the Silliman chapter seal, which in turn was also adapted to use by the Central Mindanao University school chapter.

The correction of seal image versions conflict

This was the beginning of the ’15 rays’ seal continued its circulation, which formally adopted to use by other new organized chapter. Eventually, the supposed ’15 rays’ Silliman University chapter seal became the official seal adopted by the entire Gamma Kappa Phi fraternity and sorority. However, during the early decade, members rely on hand drawings or manual process due to an expensive machine and technical printing. Likewise, this is the reason of early visual miscommunications to match its typical resemblance in every duplication. The mistake of, no matter how artistic it was drawn as long as the design is closer to one version to another have turned the staggered feature of the seal design. In addition, some artist own version of slim and long extended '15 rays' have disproportioned the seal design which became insignificant to the depiction of its historical evolution.

Journey towards expansion

The birth of the organization in Mindanao and Cebu

Reynaldo Pagalan, one of the pioneering members of the Silliman University Chapter in 1969, moved to Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon. His journey to Mindanao as a student gave birth to the fraternity as the first school chapter in the Southern Philippines when he organized in 1970. He had not stayed long in CMU and transferred to Araneta University in Manila for his studies, while the members he left to continue the expansion and strengthening of the organization. Recruitment for new members followed, thus further spreading the organization to other parts of Mindanao when Paquito Omisol, who became a member in 1973, organized Mindanao State University Chapter in Marawi City in 1976, Diosdado Legara, who became a member in 1972, organized Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan chapter in Cagayan de Oro City in 1974, and Raymundo Luzano, Jr., who became a member of Xavier University Chapter in 1974, organized Velez College in Cebu City in 1975. These achievements include Proculo Maslog's organizing Silliman University Chapter in 1969, credited to them for the dramatic spread of the organization in southern and central Philippines during the late seventies honoring their designations to the 5 rays of the distinctive symbol and official seal of the organization. In later years and decades, the Fraternity and Sorority expanded throughout Philippine school chapters, nationwide, and spread its alumni members around the world and organized their based country councils.

The birth of the organization in Central and Northern Luzon

In 1978, Christino Lumanlan, Jr., who became a member in 1976 at the San Nicolas College in Surigao City, organized Holy Angel University Chapter in Angeles City. Members expanded throughout Pampanga Province and eventually spread in Baguio City and other parts of Northern Luzon.

Alumni Councils

Metro Manila Kappans Alumni Council as participants in Bloodletting Program of Philippine Red Cross in Manila
Metro Manila Kappans Alumni Council assisting orphans in Pasay City, Metro Manila

National alumni councils

Metro Manila Kappans Alumni Council have been participating for voluntary community service, donations and assistance to orphaned children in coordination with Pasay City Administration. Members have been attending a quarterly participation of blood donations for their Bloodletting Activity with the Philippine Red Cross at Port Area Manila. Central and southern Philippine Alumni Councils were participants with the same bloodletting program in their municipality, city, province and region, including participation in public events, community assistance, and cooperation in joining with non-government organization during calamity and natural disasters where they voluntarily serve.

International alumni councils

Gamma Kappa Phi is a registered non-profit organization in the City of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America. It is also registered as an international alumni association at Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with two councils in Western region located in Jeddah and Eastern region in Riyadh. Other alumni councils are based in Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the United Kingdom and Hongkong.

Conventions

Gamma Kappa Phi members with founders Landy Maslog and Prisco Viñalon in front of the organization's founding school of Holy Name University, during the 50th Anniversary and 3rd Annual International Convention held in Tagbilaran City on October 7–10, 2012.

The Gamma Kappa Phi as a whole organization was not free from certain issues of its history and organizational concerns that adversely affected towards its achievement of noble objectives. With advancements in communications, i.e., mobile phones, the Internet, the interconnection between individual members and the organization as a whole, discussions have been made easier which during the early years of the organization's history was virtually non-existent and so therefore resulted in a lot of misinformation regarding the group's history and organizational structure. This misinformation was further magnified because the organization continued to grow and spread all over the country with no central governing structure. Despite the fact, there were early attempts at holding national assemblies, most notably the 1978 National Convention in Dumaguete City and the 1989 National Consultative Assembly held in Cebu City. It was not until 2005 that a credible national assembly was finally organized. The 2005 National Convention held in Cebu City was brought about by the clamor from various individual members who were finally connecting with each other through the online social groups that were already becoming a norm at that time. With the Cebu-Iota Chapter taking the helm in the preparation of the National Convention, a research committee was formed in December 2004 to gather data, thresh out and verify all pertinent historical data and present it to the general membership at the National Convention, held on October 7–9, 2005.

The 2005 National Convention in Cebu City proved to be the first important and critical step towards formally forming an organization on the national and international level. Since then, national gatherings have been held every two years with the venue and sponsor bid out during the preceding national gathering.

Gradual progress has been made to further gather, verify and collate data from all existing chapters and councils, not only in the Philippines but also in countries where members have moved for work or migrated.

Membership

Gamma Kappa Phi members were admitted in the college as qualified students when they are duly enrolled at tertiary level in college as the organization's mandatory requirement with irrespective of political affiliation, religion, race, citizenship and good moral character. Generally alumni members have obtained their tertiary-level degree, including acceptance to honorary members who are distinguished in their career through personal merits which are approved by the body and members.

Government registration

Gamma Kappa Phi was officially registered to Securities and Exchange Commission (Philippines) as Gamma Kappa Phi International Inc. under a non-profit organization with registration number CN 201321651 and TIN 008-656-309 on November 12, 2013.

Notable members

Politics

Military and law enforcement

Education

Religion

Government and public service

International and national awardees

External links

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