TRISKELION DE MINDANAO HISTORY
In 1998, after 30 years of Tau Gamma Phi existence, the Triskelion Elders of Metro Manila Regional Council composed of former Secretary Generals started to convene and consulted the different sectors of the Fraternity to resolve the relevant issues of the time. As a result, the first National Summit Conference of Tau Gamma Phi was held on August 7-8, 1999 at Bermudez Resort, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The said summit created the Interim National Executive Council (INEC) headed by Bro. Armando “Dodong” M. Encanto, MDG as the Interim Premier. An Interim Vice-Premier for Mindanao was also appointed in the person of Bro. Mitchell L. Flores, MDG of Cagayan de Oro City.
Due to the excitement of finally having a National Identity, a Mindanao-wide Triskelion Conference was organized and successfully held on October 30, 1999 at Hotel Conchita, Cagayan de Oro City. The different Triskelion Leaders from the provinces in Mindanao attended it. The essence of the 1st Mindanao-wide Conference was to inform and orient the different leaders on the creation of a National Council for Tau Gamma Phi, which was realized on October 3, 2000 at the La Vista Resort, Calamba, Laguna; the first National Congress of our Fraternity.
During the first year of the National Council, everything went smoothly and all initiatives were geared towards the general welfare of the Fraternity. Among the 3 main Regions in the Philippines, Mindanao was the most active and consolidated that a 2nd Mindanao-wide Triskelion Conference was celebrated on April 19-20, 2001 at the Tropicana Beach Resort, General Santos City sponsored by the Triskelion Alumni Organization of General Santos City headed by Bro. Ritchie Tatel, MDG. The majority of the Triskelion Leaders in Mindanao also attended the said event and was graced by the attendance of the National Council Officers.
However, a Leadership Crisis was about to unfold at the pinnacle of the National Senatorial Elections in 2001, where our very own Bro./Sen. Ralph G. Recto was a candidate. A clash of diversified principles was looming between the leadership of Bro. Dodong Encanto, MDG and Bro. Boy Limbago, MDG, who were the Premier and Executive Vice Premier respectively. Consequently, it was basically of this reason why the National Assembly called by the Premier did not achieve the necessary quorum. On the other hand, the Executive Vice Premier called a Special National Assembly on September 13-15, 2002 at Legaspi City, Albay, and because of their adequate resources and strategy, they were able to convince a good number of representation from the Provinces. However, the legality of the proceedings was at question due to the following reasons:
1. The Executive Vice Premier has no Constitutional Right to call for a Special National Assembly unless a petition from 40 per cent of the total number of Governor Generals would be instituted first. In the Legaspi Assembly, the petition wasn’t established before the Special Assembly rather it was done during and after the assembly, which made it technically void.
2. The agenda of the Special National Assembly was altered and constituted a violation of the essence of a Special Session. It has to be construed that any agenda of a Special Session can never be changed unless approved by the constituents.
3. Bro. Mike Molino was illegally installed as the New Premier through a snap election during the said Special National Assembly and this was done without the knowledge of Bro. Dodong Encanto who was still the incumbent Premier.
4. Some Provincial Representatives were not authorized by their respective Councils.
5. Some of those who voted during the said Snap Elections were not Governor Generals but only authorized representatives and since the original agenda does not support a snap election, therefore a representative’s vote is invalid.
In the middle of this organizational debate, disunity was about to take place also in Mindanao but luckily, the inherent consultative character of Mindanao Triskelions prevailed and communication between Leaders never stopped until it was decided by the Mindanao Triskelion Leaders to have a Third Mindanao Triskelion Conference to specifically resolve the National Leadership Crisis. Bro. Erwin O. Burgos, MDG, the Governor General of Agusan del Norte at that time, sponsored the Third Mindanao Triskelion Conference, and this took place on October 26-27, 2002 at Royal Plaza Hotel, Butuan City. After a series of tedious discussions and deliberations in this conference, a solution to the disunity problem was arrived, and it was to declare a temporary OFFLINE STATUS from the National Council and create an Independent Triskelion Organization in Mindanao, which was eventually called Triskelion de Mindanao. The 3rd Mindanao Conference in Butuan was also the 1st Triskelion de Mindanao Congress.
The Founding Fathers and some respected Triskelion Elders were very skeptic to the formation of Triskelion de Mindanao. They thought that it would create more factions in the fraternity. In the midst of doubts, Founding Father Roy A. Ordinario was invited by Brod Jerry Laut, MDG to visit Mindanao, and the invitation was gladly accepted. The visit was set on December 21-23, 2002 and four provinces were visited, namely: Camiguin, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and Cagayan de Oro City. It was during these visits where the Aims and Purposes of Triskelion de Mindanao were thoroughly disclosed to our Founding Father Roy A. Ordinario and according to his words, “The Triskelion de Mindanao is a great initiative”. After the said visit, the Triskelion de Mindanao gained more approval from other UP Triskelion Alumni and also from the Triskelion Chamber of Commerce. It was the intention of TDM to give the National Leaders a year to resolve their differences and after which, the TDM shall break off the Offline Status. Unfortunately, the Leadership conflict at the National Council worsen and the two factions were already drawing their lines.
The Triskelion de Mindanao was very much aware of the situation and continued to monitor whether or not the Leadership Crisis will be resolved. It was very sad to admit that the Leadership Crisis continued to build up and most of the councils in Luzon and Visayas were already involved and took sides. Then, on July 4-6, 2003, the Davao City Council, under the leadership of Bro. Victor “Buddy” Maulawin, hosted the Fourth Mindanao Triskelion Conference and was held at Mountain Breeze Resort, Davao City. It was also the 2nd Triskelion de Mindanao Congress and due to the continuing conflict in the National Council, Triskelion de Mindanao decisively declared independence from the defunct National Council and declared Bro. Mitchell L. Flores, MDG as Premier of Triskelion de Mindanao. The 2nd TDM Congress was graced by the presence of another Founding Father, Bro. Talek J. Pablo, and it was during this moment that Founding Father Talek Pablo declared his approval and admiration to Triskelion de Mindanao. And about a month later, we learned that Founding Father Rodolfo Confesor expressed his approval as well for Triskelion de Mindanao.
It was after the 2nd TDM Congress that the formulation of the TDM Constitution was started. The first draft was presented during the 3rd TDM Congress on April 16-18, 2004, hosted by Lanao del Norte Provincial Council, under the leadership of Brod Eriberto “Tata” Cabilan, MDG. It was held in Linamon, Lanao del Norte. However, the body decided that it was still premature to ratify the said Constitution and that the different Councils need to give their evaluation and inputs. It was then declared through a consensus that the TDM Officers shall hold over their positions.
Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Council was supposed to host the 4th TDM Congress but an unfortunate fire incident happened in Barangay Santiago, Pagadian City where the homes of several Alumni Triskelions were burned down, including the house of their Governor General, Brod Adjun Pasanting, MDG. And due to this misfortune, they decided to withdraw their hosting of the TDM Congress that year.
It was vital for TDM to have a Congress that year and the need was highly felt by the officers. Bro. Jerry Laut, MDG convened the TDM Officers and he decided to sponsor the 4th TDM Congress, all expenses shall paid for, including the round trip fare of the official delegates. Brod Jerry decided to hold it in Cagayan de Oro City for its accessibility from all provinces. So, the TDM Officers coordinated with the Cagayan de Oro Council under the leadership of Brod Josephus Olario, MDG and they gladly accepted the responsibility to organize the said event. The 4th TDM Congress was successfully held on September 3-4, 2005 at MASS-SPECC, Cagayan de Oro City. On this Congress, the 2nd draft of the TDM Constitution was deliberated and many inputs from the different delegates were entertained and basically changed a lot of provisions on the draft. And due to the various changes, the body decided to give it another year to study the final draft of the TDM Constitution. As a result, there was no Election of Officers and the TDM Officers once again remained to their positions.
The Zamboanga City Council, under the leadership of Secretary General Brod Bong Tan, MDG, announced that they will host the 5th TDM Congress and true to their words, the 5th TDM Congress was held on July 22-23, 2006 at the Red Cross Youth Hostel, Zamboanga City. It was during this Congress that the TDM Constitution was finally ratified and signed by the official delegates. An election of TDM Officers was supposed to be conducted, however, Brod Tata Cabilan, the Governor General of Lanao del Norte made a motion to postpone the elections and was eventually approved by the body. Due to this, the TDM Officers once again remained to their current post. In addition, the 5th TDM Congress was considered to be the best Congress so far in terms of organizing and preparations, which created a great challenge to the next host; the Surigao del Norte Provincial Council.
Being challenged by the great success of Zamboanga City Council, the Triskelion de Surigao del Norte Provincial Council, under the leadership of Bro. Filexindo S. Peñaflor, MDG, was able to equalize the ambience in Zamboanga City and made the 6th TDM Congress a great success. It was held on April 27-29, 2007 with the help of Bro. Tereso T. Griar, MDG (TAO President) who took the responsibility as Convention Chairman. The 6th TDM Congress was very memorable because it’s where the 1st Election of Officers was conducted based on the newly ratified TDM Constitution. Bro. Mitchell L. Flores, MDG who was the Premier for 5 years gladly turned over the post to the newly elected TDM Premier, Bro. Jerry S. Laut, MDG. A Vice-Premier was also elected in the person of Bro. Eriberto “Tata” Cabilan, MDG. As a gesture of appreciation, the Lanao del Sur Provincial Council announced their hosting for the 7th TDM Congress in 2008.
The Triskelion de Mindanao remains to stand strong in spite of the various challenges that took place in our Fraternity. It continues to aspire to give Mindanao Triskelions their own identity and pride devoid of the political misunderstanding and unwanted influences. Triskelion de Mindanao shall continue to exist as a source of unity, dignity, and identity of all Triskelion Forces in the blessed land of Mindanao.
The best is yet to come…..Long Live Triskelion de Mindanao!!!
SOURCE http://www.triskeliondemindanao.org
