THE INITIATION
By: Bro. Mitchell L. Flores, MDG


I guess everybody will agree that our Triskelion
Principles are universal in nature.  They can be
adopted and applied by anybody else, yet it will not
guarantee that in adopting such principles, they
become Triskelions themselves.   Like the “E” of the
Code of Conduct, where anybody can excel in their
chosen field of interest and endeavor, but not all who
excelled are Triskelions.  I would presume that all
the Senators have excelled in their chosen field of
interest and endeavor, but we all know that only one
of them is a Triskelion, and that is Senator Ralph G.
Recto.

For one to be called an Atenean, then he or she must
first be enrolled in an Ateneo School, and it is said
that Ateneans are men for others.  However, not all
who exemplify a “man for others” character are
Ateneans, but only those who are enrolled and studying
in an Ateneo School.  So therefore, enrollment is the
first requirement and next is to study, because we all
know that if students fail to study well then he or
she could be kicked out from the school.  Now, how
about in our Fraternity?  Do we have some sort of
first requirements in order to be called Triskelions?
Yes, we do.

I remember that we used to associate the Initiation as
the Graduation of a Triskelion, but come to think of
it, it is not the graduation, rather it is just the
enrollment process of the Triskelions.  Yes, the
Initiation is just the “Enrollment” in our fraternity,
and once enrolled, then you have the right to be
called a Triskelion, however you are still required to
study in order to pass.  So if the Initiation is only
our “Enrollment” then would it also mean that the
Initiation is the easiest part of our Triskelion Life?
Yes.  The Initiation is indeed the easiest part of
our Triskelion Life.  What’s more difficult is how to
satisfy the demands of our Principles, Duties and
Responsibilities.  What’s more difficult is how to
live the “Triskelion Way of Life”.

If we have an enrollment, then what school or
university did we enter?  When is our graduation?  Is
our graduation the moment we attained our college
degree?  No.  That’s not it.  Did we forget of
considering Tau Gamma Phi as a Fraternity for life? So
even if we get hold of a hundred diplomas, our school
days as Triskelions are not over as long as we live.
Therefore, the school we’re in is the “University of
Life”, and our graduation is “Death”.  Now, who wants
to graduate first?  Of course we are going to graduate
sooner or later, but what is important is to graduate
with a high grade, so that it won’t be difficult for
us to be admitted in a better place, and we call that
place as “Heaven”.

Fellow Triskelions, the “University of Life” is the
sole University for us Triskelions.  We are all
enrolled, so we are all obliged to study and satisfy
all requirements, duties and responsibilities of a
Triskelion.  Let us try to do well in our studies
until we reach our graduation, which is “Death”.  And
remember always, that only those who graduated with
honors or with a high grade shall be admitted to a
better place.