Tau Alpha
τα
FoundedJune 27, 1932 (1932-06-27)
University of the Philippines
TypeHonorary
EmphasisEngineering
ScopePhilippines
MottoFor as long as there are Men of Stout Character, Men whose eyes seek the Truth, And Men who call each other Brothers and Mean it, So will there be Tau Alpha
Colors  Royal blue   Golden Yellow
FlowerRose
PublicationGear News
Chapters2
Members1,500+ collegiate
HeadquartersUniversity of the Philippines College of Engineering
WebsiteOfficial website

Tau Alpha (τα) is a fraternity based in the College of Engineering: at the University of the Philippines located in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. It was founded in 1932, one of the oldest fraternities in Asia.

History

In the early 1931, sixteen undergraduates decided to establish a fraternity for engineering students.[1] Its name was Mu Epsilon, which stood for Manila Engineers, the fraternity was organized in the old Padre Faura grounds of Manila.[1] Its purpose was to develop student leadership, build social and civic responsibility, foster camaraderie and fraternalism, pursue academic excellence, and enhance engineering professions.

Its name was changed to Tau Alpha when it was officially recognized by the university on June 27, 1932.[1] Angel Francisco Gutierrez de Jesus as the first Grand High Alpha.[2]

Later, the fraternity decided not to be limited to the engineering students of Manila and opened its membership to all the students of the college.

Tau Alpha is affiliated with the Tau Lambda Alpha sorority which was founded in 2012.[1]

Symbols

The name Tau Alpha stands for The Argonauts of Greek mythology. The fraternity originally had 50 members, matching the number of oars on the Argo, which was built by the first Greek engineer, Argos.

The fraternity's colors are royal blue and golden yellow. Its flower is the rose. Its publication is Gear News. Its motto is "For as long as there are Men of Stout Character, Men whose eyes seek the Truth, And Men who call each other Brothers and Mean it, So will there be Tau Alpha."[1]

Activities

Service by Tau Alpha includes the Tau Alpha Student Loan Guarantee Fund, Medical Missions, film showings, tree planting, Youth Build Blitz for Habitat for Humanity and Bloodletting.[2]

Tau Alpha also organizes the Argo Cup, one of the legs of the UP Barkada golf circuit. Tournament proceeds go to scholarships and other projects in the UP College of Engineering.[3]

Membership

In the beginning, applicants were selected based on good moral character and scholastic standing. Later, leadership and a spirit of camaraderie were added to the criteria.

Chapters

Collegiate chapters are located at the University of the Philippines Diliman and the College of Engineering, Architecture and Allied Sciences at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.[4] Alumni chapters include Tau Alpha Down Under in Australia, Tau Alpha East which includes the eastern United States and Canada, and Tau Alpha Oversees West which includes the western United States and Canada.[4]

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "About Us". UP Tau Alpha Fraternity. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Philippine Daily Inquirer - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  3. ↑ "UP frat holds Argo Cup". philstar.com.
  4. 1 2 "TA Groups". UP Tau Alpha Fraternity. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  5. ↑ "DOST Secretary Montejo leads graduation rites of BatStateU – Batangas State University". batstate-u.edu.ph.
  6. ↑ Program NAST 2012 34th Annual Scientific Meeting 11-12 July.pdf
  7. ↑ Cayabyab, Marc Jayson (21 November 2014). "Former Senator Vicente Paterno dies". newsinfo.inquirer.net.
  8. ↑ "DPWH chief to be feted". philstar.com.
  9. ↑ News, ABS-CBN. "The obituary of Vicente Paterno". ABS-CBN News. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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