Chapters Facts

The Tagbilaran Chapter:

A year after its foundation, the fraternity recruited its first batch of members, comprising 14 neophytes. Among these new recruits who survived the screening and initiation program were Montano Bacol, Teddy Acero, Danny Cubilo, Eustacio Villas, and Segundino Sombrio.

The Tagbilaran Chapter had experienced a long period of inactivity since the early 1970s, when all the members who were initiated at the then Divine World College had completed their studies. In addition, the declaration of Martial Law in 1972 instituted certain rules that banned the operations of fraternities and sororities on school campuses. As a result, the Tagbilaran chapter had ceased its recruitment activities. During the 2005 National Convention research activities, it was found that most of the pioneer members had long thought that the Gamma Kappa Phi Fraternity had faded into the limelight of campus activism. Only founders Prisco Vinalon, the late Al Damalerio, and Fernan Maslog knew that the Gamma Kappa Phi that they helped found had been growing and expanding in other parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. The three founders have always been visited by members in their respective offices for consultations and queries about historical facts, as well as invited to speak in various gatherings and celebrations of the organization. In 1979, Jacobo Absuelo, CMU ’70, and Dennis Bullicer, CMU ’75, revived the Tagbilaran chapter at the University of Bohol in Tagbilaran City. It was only then that the organization’s activities resumed in its birthplace. Today, the Tagbilaran Gamma Kappa Phi has evolved into a robust chapter organization where students, alumni, pioneer members, and founders come together and interact with one another. On August 20, 2005, the Tagbilaran Chapter held its grand acquaintance party, attended by members from other chapters in Tagbilaran and Bohol, as well as by the founders, pioneers, alumni, and student members from various school chapters. Sorority member Alma Balite-Diputado, Cebu City ’83, has served as the facilitator of the recent activities of the Tagbilaran Gamma Kappa Phi by coordinating with all chapter members.

The Silliman Chapter:

 In 1968, two members from the Tagbilaran chapter, who had joined in 1965, transferred to Silliman University in Dumaguete. Procolo “Proc” Maslog, assisted by Ildefonso “Ed” Sanchez, organized the Dumaguete Chapter in 1969, which became the first chapter of Gamma Kappa Phi operating outside of Bohol.

Among the first batch initiated in 1969 were Roger Valencia, Cyril Ruiz, brothers Hector and Herbert Tayapad, Rey Pagalan, who would later organize the CMU (Central Mindanao University) Musuan Chapter in Mindanao, Teodocio Galacio, Medel Guttierez, and Elias Ellar. The Silliman Chapter prided itself as one of Silliman University’s recognized Greek-lettered organizations. It had consistently participated in various campus activities in the early years. In addition, it was in Silliman that the organization started calling itself ‘Kappans’. Fraternity wars were prevalent on campus at the time. The school administration deemed it necessary for Greek-lettered organizations to cease operations in 1972 to comply with the rule of Martial Law, which was declared that same year. Gamma Kappa Phi became stagnant during Martial Law; it ceased operation for recruiting new members. To keep the organization registered at the office of Student Affairs, they changed the name Gamma Kappa Phi to Philippine Collegian. Eventually, in the following year, the organization was completely gone, having undergone a gradual disappearance as the last member followed the others after their successful graduation from their studies.
Gamma Kappa Phi on the campus ceased to exist for a few years; unexpectedly, a certain ‘member’ claimed to revive the chapter in 1977. Under his leadership, he recruited initial members who believed they were admitted without undergoing the initiation process; a defiance of the strict requirement to pass admission under the organization’s protocol. In addition to this controversy, the ‘impostor’ claims to have survived as a member in 1974 but discovered that there was no recorded initiation during that year because the organization did not exist. Consequently, this was irrelevant to the story because the members had disappeared from the campus and ceased to exist in 1972. This anomaly was discovered by the Silliman Chapter members, some of whom are products of his recruits who conducted the research in 2010. The 2005 Research Committee has attested that the origin of this impostor is indeed untraceable and questionable. After numerous verification from members of his ‘recruits’ and past members before the so-called ‘batch 1977’ has resulted a conflicting claim of the real source of his membership origin. Since his conflicting claims have been scrutinized, he has become elusive to reach and gone into hiding regarding his involvement in the organization. Consequently, the organization has concluded that he was a self-proclaimed member or an impostor of Gamma Kappa Phi.

Musuan Chapter:

Reynaldo Pagalan, one of the pioneering members of the Silliman University Chapter in 1969, moved to the Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Musuan, Bukidnon. His journey to Mindanao as a student gave birth to the fraternity’s Chapter in 1970. Pagalan had not stayed long in CMU. He transferred to Manila for his studies. However, this had not stopped the CMU Gamma Kappa Phi from continuing to strengthen the organization. Recruitment for new members followed, thus further spreading the organization to other parts of Mindanao. Among the prominent members of the CMU Chapter were Rufino “Boy” Busig, CMU 70 and Grand Noble Master (GNM) in 1971-72; Abraham Fajardo, CMU 70; Celso Taran, CMU 70, Grand Noble Master 1972-73 and Master Initiator of the San Isidro College and Bukidnon Normal School chapters; the late Hyro Fernandez, who went to Tagbilaran in 1971 to get some documents and became the GNM in 1973-74;

Diosdado Legara, CMU 72 and Cagayan de Oro Xavier University Chapter in 1974 organizer; and Paquito “Boy” Omisol, CMU 73 and Marawi Mindanao State University Chapter in 1976 organizer. The organizers of the XU 74, Cebu 75, and the MSU 76 chapters had been credited for the dramatic spread of the Gamma Kappa Phi in southern Philippines during the late seventies and early eighties.

Malaybalay Chapter:

 In 1972, sorority member Evangeline Taray (now Taran) gathered her friends after attending a leadership seminar. This was after she was told that the budding CMU Gamma Kappans had been established. With students from San Isidro College and the then Bukidnon Normal School, forerunner of the Bukidnon State College (BSC), a group of CMU Kappans led by Celso Taran, Gamma 70 and GNM 1972-73, initiated them into the fraternity/sorority. Evangeline, who was then a teacher, went on to become the sister-in-law of Celso.

Marawi Chapter:

On December 11, 1976, Paquito Omisol, Gamma 73, organized the Kappans at the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City. The Delta Chapter has become active in undertaking campus projects and promoting student activism. The pioneering batch and succeeding batches comprised approximately 80 members, some of whom transferred to other schools the following year. This led to the opportunity to organize other chapters in the late 1970s. On April 5-7, 1980, the MSU Chapter hosted the second national convention at the university’s science lecture hall. However, the gathering, which was represented by only eight chapters, did not constitute a quorum, and no substantial progress had been made in resolving problems and related issues. The said affair was made through the efforts of Cosme Anaviso, MSU 76 and Grand Noble Master (GNM) in 1977-78; Lakim Tapa, Delta 76 and GNM 1978-79; Yusop “Choy” Macabada, Delta 76 and GNM 1979-80, 2nd Semester; Naponario Azares, GNM 1979-80, 1st Semester; and Lorna Madelo, SIC 72 and Most Exalted Lady (MEL) 1978-79. In December 2001, the MSU Gamma Kappa Phi held a grand reunion and celebrated its 25th anniversary as a chapter in Cagayan de Oro City (CDO). Richard “Cha” Recoleto, Delta 76 and GNM 1980-81, organized the event, which also aimed to discuss certain issues and establish an alumni group through the High and Mighty Multi-purpose Cooperative, which he chaired. The celebration was attended by MSU alumni members as well as Gamma Kappa Phi members from other chapters in CDO, Zamboanga City, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon.

Cagayan de Oro Chapter:

Cagayan de Oro pioneers have known several legendary organizers of Gamma Kappa Phi chapters in other provinces. In Cagayan de Oro City, the fraternity can be traced back to 1974, when Diosdado Legara (1972), a transfer student from Central Mindanao University (CMU), organized the chapter at his new school, Xavier University. The first batch of members was pioneered by 12 ladies from Cagayan Capitol College Midwife Course and one Raul Agcopra, who was a classmate of Legara in Xavier University Aggie Course. To honor Legara as the school organizer, the 12 lady members were affiliated with the newly formed Xavier University Chapter. Among the 12 ladies were Marlene Hiponia, Evangeline Dumon, Edith Lozano, Bing Gabonada, Antonia Wayan, and Esmaldelita Esmalde; other names were forgotten. The initiation and recruitment were aided by his fellow CMU Gamma Kappa Phi members, who were also residents of Cagayan de Oro. Among them were Abraham Fajardo (1970), Samuel Guevara (1970), Conrado Rabañes (1972), and Ruel Bacarro (1972). Thus, as they have been active players since the recruitments, they became known as the five fathers of Gamma Kappa Phi in Cagayan de Oro. After the pioneer batch was organized, another initiation was held. This time, all of them were students of Xavier University. The group consisted of six gentlemen, including Raymundo ‘Chito’ Luzano, Jr., Rey ‘Chong’ Uy, Ramon Tan, Leonardo Sia, Emmanuel Nuval, and Nestor Lomongo. Chito Luzano became the

organizer of Velez College in Cebu City in 1975, while Rey Uy became a long-term Mayor of Tagum City. Two successful initiations were conducted, and Xavier University was established as the third Gamma Kappa Phi School Chapter in Mindanao. The third batch was during the 1975 school year. Initiated were 13 gentlemen for the chapter; four of them were from different schools in Cagayan de Oro City, with the majority being students of Xavier University. Among the names still remembered were Leonardo ‘Boy’ Corbita, Jesus Cantones, Angelito ‘Jim’ Jimenez, Valiente ‘Enting’ Mañosa, Manuel Belen, Mario Rabañes, George Tumulak, Danilo Guevara, and Roger Clemeña. Boy Corbita became the organizer of the Pagadian Chapter in 1977, while Jim Jimenez revived Xavier in 1981 and was one of the organizers of the Cagayan de Oro revival in 1977. Forgotten names of the three in the 1975 batch were also among the organizers of the school at Cotabato City in 1977. So far, this was the last mass initiation conducted, along with the recruitment of new members. However, a few groups of initiations followed. Xavier University, or the Cagayan de Oro Chapter, had been inactive for the past three years until it was revived in 1977 by six organizers at Cagayan de Oro College.

Cagayan de Oro Revival:

Cagayan de Oro Chapter revival: Xavier University (XU) had become stagnant as a chapter after ceasing its recruitment efforts in 1975. For this reason, the 6th batch of pioneers left XU in 1975 after completing their studies. Except for Chito Luzano, who transferred to Cebu City to continue his studies, Rey Uy engaged in his political career in his home province of Davao del Norte. Rey later became a Board Member of the province and served as the long-term City Mayor of Tagum City. In the same year, they produced the XU-enter school batch, which included Leonardo “Boy” Corbita, who is a co-organizer of the Rho Chapter in 1977, and Angelito “Jim” Jimenez, who revived the XU chapter in 1981 and was a co-organizer of the Cagayan de Oro College (COC) chapter in 1979.
The revival of the Cagayan de Oro chapter was credited to the establishment of the COC chapter in 1979, which was a 3-year gap since the XU chapter ceased to exist in 1975. The COC chapter was organized by Jose Bagarinao, CMU 74, Jim Jimenez, XU 75, Fredeswindo “Dodong” Jadoc, Jr., CMU 76, Herlene Sepe, Malaybalay, San Isidro College (SIC) 76, and Virginia Pao, SIC 76. Co-organizers were Conrado Rabañes, CMU ’73, and Benjamin Canales, Gamma CMU ’76. Finally, the XU chapter was revived by Jim Jimenez when he organized it in 1981, and co-organized by Reynaldo “Bata” Amatong, CMU 1976. The revival was credited to his recruitment of his closest friend, Rolando “Jun” Gironella, Jr., and Elden Baculio. Jun Gironella brought all 12 of his classmates from the XU engineering department to become the pioneers of the XU revival batch of 1981. Gironella, as a recruit, was responsible for the revival of the XU chapter, which recognized him as “the Kappan who awakens the sleeping tiger”. The highlight of the Epsilon Kappans Renaissance was the presence of the late founder Fernan Maslog, who also served as their adviser.

Kabacan Chapter:

Gamma Kappa Phi started its operations at the Mindanao Institute of Technology, forerunner of the now University of Southern Mindanao (USM), in Kabacan, North Cotabato. The recruits of sorority member, Presentacion “Precy” Gania, MSU 77, after she organized the Gamma Kappa Phi at MSU-Gen. Santos City campus facilitated the recruitment program and finally organized the chapter in 1979. Palot Dandayog, USM 81, was then the Grand Adviser of the USM Chapter and was the first Muslim member to join the USM Chapter. The organizers of the USM Kabacan Chapter included sororities Winnie Lagordo and Agnes Cervo, as well as a fraternity member, Robin. In the early years, the USM Chapter was also known as the Kabacan Chapter. However, this was changed and recognized as the Kabacan-Tacurong Chapter in 1999 after discussions with NDU-Tacurong chapter members.

Cotabato Chapter

In 1977, Carlos Regalado, a member of the Silliman 77 Batch, organized the Gamma Kappa Phi at Notre Dame University (NDU). He started with nine

recruits who were mostly his close friends, and followed it up with a second batch of 50 fraternity members, including Adams Guiamad, Sr., NDU 77, who is now the biological father of two, as well as a fraternity and sorority member. He had helped and collaborated with other unnamed fraternity members in establishing the Gamma Kappa Phi in North and South Cotabato, as well as Davao provinces. There were high school students called Junior Kappans who joined the fraternity in preparation for becoming full-pledged members. These were later abolished after all the hopefuls received the final rites from Adams, Sr. Adams has consistently provided guidance to both alumni and student activities in Cotabato school chapters. In 1979, the NDU Chapter recruited and gave the final rites to an all-sorority batch, which later contributed to the further expansion of Gamma Kappa Phi, both for the fraternity and sorority, in Cotabato City. The Cotabato Chapter comprises schools, including Notre Dame University, the Philippine Harvardian College, University of Mindanao-Cotabato City, Headstart College, and the Cotabato City State Polytechnic College. Its alumni movement is very active under the leadership of Allan Tan, NDU’88.

Maguindanao Chapter:

In 1978, Ukol Paglala, an MSU 1976, organized the Mindanao State University System – Dinaig Campus. One of the recruits was Norodin Ampao, Jr., who, like Brod Adams, Sr., is the biological father of four Kappan siblings.

Koronadal Chapter

On July 4, 1983, the Gamma Kappa Phi was organized in Notre Dame of Marbel College (NDMC) by Joselito “Joey” Calungsod Orencio, who survived in 1980 of the Pioneering Batch of Notre Dame of

Midsayap and Reynaldo “Dodoy” Lazaga, who survived in 1982 from the Mindanao Aeronautical Technical School (MATS) Chapter in Davao City. The two members met with many alumni members who came from different chapters and helped facilitate the initiation program. The chapter had also conducted an experiment on high school students, which was then known as Junior Kappans. The experiment produced 15 regular members out of the 25 Junior Kappans that were initiated. Today, the Gamma Kappa Phi as an organization in the Koronadal Chapter continues to operate and is one of the strong chapters in southern Mindanao.

General Santos Chapter:

Sorority member, Presentacion “Percy” Gania, MSU 77, organized the MSU-Gensan Chapter and had recruited members who are now active in the Alumni movement. He was ably assisted by Raul de la Cuadra, MSU ’76. However, the student members weakened in later years it required revival. In 1984, Roberto Aguerre, Loloy Esteban, and Benjie Alburo, all of NDU-Marbel 84, revived the Gamma Kappa Phi in General Santos City, starting at Magsaysay College and Mindanao Polytechnic College. These had started the strong growth of the Gamma Kappa Phi in General Santos City. The Gensan Chapter has a very active alumni movement in the area, which was initially organized by Amancio Orboc.

Mostly steered by old guards who came from the different chapters, the alumni stalwarts include Edito “Bong” Cambonga, Zamboanga 79, and Alumni president, PNP Major Allan Tanato, Pagadian 77; Atty. Ruperto “Boy” Besinga, Silliman 77; Cesar Sevillano, Iligan 77; ,and Amancio Orboc, Pagadian 77.

Digos Chapter

In 1978, the Chapter in Digos, Davao del Sur, was organized by Edgardo “Bong” Aznar, a CCC member from Cebu 76. It began with the Holy Cross College of Digos (HCCD), the premier educational institution in the town, and subsequently spread to the University of Mindanao-Digos, the University of Mindanao-Bansalan, and the Samas State College.

Cebu Chapter:

In 1975, Raymundo “Chito” Luzano, a pre-med student at Xavier University who had been recruited by Diosdado “Dado” Legara in 1974, organized the Velez College Chapter after moving to Cebu City for his medical studies. He started with 14 member-recruits, which included him, and formed the Iota’s mythical 15 rays, similar to CMU 15 pioneers. With Velez College as the mother chapter of the Cebu Chapter, the fraternity and sorority spread throughout the city. Noel Agreda, CMU 73 and SWU Grand Noble Master 75-76, was Chito’s co-organizer. The Cebu Chapter was composed of members coming from the Cebu Central Colleges (CCC), the University of the Visayas (UV), the Cebu Institute of Technology, the Cebu Aero-nautical and Technical School (CATS), Collegio de San Jose Recoletos (CSJR, now University of SJ-R), Southwestern University (SWU), and the University of San Carlos (USC). Among the 14 recruits of Chito who were inducted into the fraternity in 1975 were Alilo Ensomo, Charlie Cogolio, Loloy Tampan, Antonio Lerio, Ramon Salvador, Efren Gallito, and Cadong Lerio, all from Surigao City, as well as Richard Borromeo and Chito Mendez. The Gamma Kappa Phi was also active in propagating the growth and expansion of the members in the Visayas and Mindanao areas. It was responsible for bringing the Gamma Kappa Phi to the provinces of Leyte,

Zamboanga Del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Surigao Del Norte. It established the Metro Cebu Gamma Kappa Phi Council, whose continued leadership was guided by the likes of the Prochina brothers, Joel and Jarvis, both Cebu ’79; Ronald “Phourt” Abella, Cebu ’85; and Verner Abella, Jr., Cebu ’93.

Ozamis Chapter

The Chapter in Ozamis City was organized by the late Orlando Roa, Alfredo Villanueva, Newman Bienes, and Benjamin “Jun” Durias, all of Delta 76. Some fraternity and sorority members who were Gamma Kappa Phi residents in nearby towns assisted them. The recruits of the Lambda chapter came from Misamis University and Misamis Institute of Technology in Ozamis City. In 1977, Concepcion “Cony” Sy and Allan Gania, both of MSU 77, organized the Gamma Kappa Phi at Southern Capitol College. However, the organization weakened and was revived in 1979 by Robbie Bajamunde, Iota 76, Bonjut Padayogdog, Lambda 77, and Job “Jun” Yting, MIT 77. Today, the members of Oroquieta have continued its activities with the guidance of its alumni members. Dr. Solomon Molina, who operated a school in the city and served as the adviser to MSU in the late 1970s and early 1980s, has continued to serve as a Gamma Kappa Phi adviser, summing up his advisorship to the organization for almost 25 years.

Surigao Chapter:

In late 1975, Alilo Ensomo, Charlie Cogolio, Loloy Tampan, Antonio Lerio, Ramon Salvador, Efren Gallito, and Cadong Lerio, all recruits of Chito Luzano in Cebu, organized and strengthened the Gamma Kappa Phi foothold in Surigao City. The Surigao chapter was first established at San Nicolas College, the forerunner of St. Paul University-Surigao. Later on, it spread to the Surigao Del Norte School of Arts and Trade and to the sub-province of Siargao.

Iligan Chapter

In 1977, William Sapio, MSU’77, established the MSU-IIT Chapter in Iligan City. He was assisted during the initiation rites by fraternity members from his mother chapter at MSU. William went on to assist the later batches in expanding further the

growth of members by conducting joint activities with the other Iligan chapter, which were later organized in Iligan City and nearby towns.
Victor Espinosa, Pagadian 77, established the Iligan Capitol College (ICC) Chapter in Iligan City in 1977. Nick Daug survived the initiation along with eight other recruits in ICC. Nick then transferred to Saint Peter’s College and organized the SPC Chapter in 1978. The Iligan School Chapters comprise three chapters: MSU-IIT, ICC, and St. Peter’s College. Alumni members from these chapters have also become active, thanks to the MSU Chapter, in promoting Alumni activities. Prominent in the alumni movement in Iligan included James Tumampil, MSU 76 and current president of the Metro Lanao Norte Chapter, Cosme Anaviso, MSU 76; Ed Macapobre, Iligan 78; Marifile Tocaldo, Iligan 78; Lumer Agot, Ozamis 77; Orville Sacayle, Iligan 77, and Boy Gomez, Iligan 77, among others.

Zamboanga Chapter

The Zamboanga City chapter was organized in the early seventies by fraternity members from the Silliman Chapter. However, it did not grow well and later on became inactive. It was in 1978 that Amadjan Tabudjul, MSU’76, carried out the revival of the Chapter in Zamboanga City.

Davao Chapter:

Edgar Pocon, MSU 76, and Rafael Vacalares, MSU 77, organized the Davao Chapter in Davao City at the University of Mindanao in 1978. One of its pioneering members, Vic Quilos, went on to help organize the other chapters in Southern Mindanao’s school chapters.

Pagadian Chapter

In 1977, two fraternity members organized the Chapter in Pagadian City, starting at the Southern Mindanao College Agro-tech in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur. Leonardo “Boy” Corbita, XU 75, and Tani Caballero, CMU 75, joined forces to establish the Pagadian Chapter, which comprises school chapters from Pagadian City and Zamboanga del Sur. One of the notable products of the Pagadian Chapter was Victor Espinosa, who survived in 1977 and later organized the ICC Nu Chapter in Iligan City.

Dipolog Chapter

In 1979, a group of Cebu chapter members who survived from CATS in 1978 organized the Chapter in Dipolog City. The organizers were Andres “Jun” Ticson, Leonilo Ybanez, and Ronald “Bong” Gonzales. Demosthenes Catubig of the Silliman Chapter, Batch 1972, assisted them. The Dipolog chapter has been active since then and has been composed of members from Saint Vincent’s College and Andres Bonifacio College. It later spread to neighboring schools, such as the Zamboanga del Norte Agricultural College in Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte.

Tacloban Chapter:

On October 25, 1977, five members of the Cebu Chapter organized the Divine Word University. The group initiated ten hopefuls who have hurdled the initiation rites. Sergio Bantugan, Tito Valuis, Christian de Veyra, Bayan Magallon, and Loloy Tecson composed the organizing group. In the 2000s, the Tacloban Chapter evolved into the Eastern Visayas Council, playing a pivotal role in promoting the growth of Gamma Kappa Phi in the region. Ed Cadavis, who survived in 77, is at the helm of its operations.

Maasin Chapter

Maasin, Southern Leyte: In November 1979, a group led by Boy Edang, Jarvis Prochina, and Paking Daclan organized a school chapter at Saint Joseph College in Maasin City. They also initiated a number of neophytes in Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte. Those who have survived helped organize the chapters in Tomas Oppus Normal College and the Southern Leyte School of Arts and Trades. In 1995, the Gamma Kappa Phi entered the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) main campus in Sogod, Southern Leyte. At certain periods, the school chapters became inactive and were revived.

Jolo Chapter:

The Chapter of Jolo, Sulu was organized in 1978 by fraternity members who studied at the Zamboanga A. E. Colleges and survived the pioneering activities of the Zamboanga Chapter. On a semestral break, the group sought permission from Amadjan Tabudjol, MSU’76, and Zamboanga chapter organizers, and subsequently established the Chapter in Jolo. The organizers of the Jolo Chapter were Benedicto “Dick” Almodovar, Addamin “Dhan” Jasani, Bonifacio “Jong” Datiles Jr., Amilhamja “Ashdee” Asnawi, and Faizal “Faih” Abu. On August 28, 1978, twenty (28) successful neophytes became members. Today, the Gamma Kappa Phi organization of Jolo is one of the

The most active chapters in recruitment are expanding their operations in other schools in Sulu.

Angeles Chapter

At Holy Name University in 1978, Christino Lumanlan, Jr., who had become a member in 1976 at San Nicolas College in Surigao City, organized the Holy Angel University Chapter in Angeles City. Members expanded throughout Pampanga Province and eventually spread to Baguio City and other parts of Northern Luzon. However, those who have been engaged in Gamma Kappa Phi Affairs have known to pass away; others who have been involved have been inactive for various reasons or have lost connection and interest, making it difficult for them to resurface.