Gamma Kappa Phi

The founding year of Gamma Kappa Phi was introduced by Silliman University chapter in 1977 as a conflicting difference earlier than 1962; by using the year '1952'. This was believed to be the work of a certain person, who falsely claimed as a member and deceived for recruiting new members to revive the chapter in 1977. The fact that Silliman University chapter was known to cease its operation in 1972 due to the implementation of Martial Law and the revival became a controversy. In addition to the controversy, the Silliman University Chapter sponsored the “First National Convention" in 1979 when the attendees who came from other provinces, especially in Mindanao were convinced on what founding year the chapter used. As a result, it was an influential to some attendees to introduce in the Visayas and Mindanao the wrong information they were convinced by the host chapter. However, some members believed that this was wrong, but other members had introduced to compete for their rivalry with other organizations as a mock of its longest period of existence. Eventually, it became an organized debate and conflict from members whose stand was to pursue using the wrong founding year that they had already introduced and advertised to the public. Another reason, the community values in their cultural milieu involve more than that – loss of face and loss of personal prestige. There were some individual and personal resistance, but more likely bordering on absurd logic on changing 1952 to 1962 was not merely a matter of “simple historical correction.” This became a question from the early generation members of 1969-70s in Silliman University and Central Mindanao University who have first known nothing about the founding year issue from members at other provinces. During this period of historical confusion, Gamma Kappa Phi in Cagayan de Oro was well history-oriented during the presence of one of the Founder Atty. Fernan Maslog who served as their adviser from 1978 to the 1980s. Cagayan de Oro City members were known to be the only followers of true 1962 founding year behind the entire nationwide members who were confused in adapting the mixed 1962 or 1952 founding year starting in 1977. Consequently, members in other parts of the Visayas and Northern Mindanao were more influenced in adapting the wrong founding year, but other chapters remain to follow the truth of the 1962 founding history. The breakthrough of this controversy reaches its height into a debated issue and the clamors for verification have been raised and strongly felt as early in 1978. 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 false founding year and corrected to its true and real founding year of Gamma Kappa Phi as 1962. But this issue remains the main organizational conflict, as members are still divided on certain issues, and the division is caused by different mindset and personal values, which are seemingly irreconcilable among members.

Because for many years, and up to present, the "Founding Year" remains a hotly debated among members. The official declaration of the founding date of "October 9, 1962", as a result of the Plenary Session proceedings of the 1st National Convention of 2005 in Cebu City, wherein the findings of the Historical Research Committee as presented, discussed and adopted, were not accepted by some sectors of the Fraternity, causing disunity, divisiveness, and ill-feelings amongst members. Finally, the Council of Living Founders and Pioneer Members declared and stand a Manifesto to declare their duty and obligation to bequeath a legacy of truth anchored on irrefutable and verifiable facts in order to settle the matter once and for all.[1]

After two years, a sorority named Gamma Sigma (not Gamma Kappa Sigma) was formed in 1964 and became a close 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 its 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 the 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 forebearers 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 their only sole name as 'Gamma Kappa Phi' and not to use the Gamma Kappa Sigma for the sorority's designated name.

A logo (not a seal) bearing a 'Gamma Kappa Phi + Kappans' (see its similarity with the disproportioned and misrepresented version image at upper right) is circulating and inappropriately claims a trademark registration. On the contrary, Gamma Kappa Phi is a non-profit organization to bear a trademark logo that would be chaotic as an organization to have a branding identity that would mean its engagement in trading and commercial business. In addition to poor quality in the geometric and graphics composition of the said trademark logo, it also defies the original feature of the seal's one piece legacy. Consequently, it depicts its controversy from protocol violation covertly performed by the creator and members who are promoting its use without convening the consent of the majority. To intervene in this repercussion, the one-piece traditional seal (not a logo) as shown at top right, was registered as an International Protected Copyright work with the Intellectual Property Rights Office (IPRO), Copyright Registration Service (CRS).

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.

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. Members expanded throughout Pampanga Province and eventually spread in Baguio City and other parts of Northern Luzon.

Gamma Kappa Phi Alumni Councils nationwide has been participating in voluntary community service, donations, and assistance to children feeding programs in their regional chapters. Members have been attending 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.

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 the 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.