UP Tau Rho Xi Fraternity

History

History of UP Tau Rho Xi Fraternity

by Rene "Ron" M. Capitulo ‘62

In the Beginning . . .

The story of Tau Rho Xi began in 1962. During the first semester of 1962-63 at the University of the Philippines' College of Arts and Sciences, six friends, all sophomores from diverse majors and hometowns, had the vision of a new fraternity. The founders were René M. Capitulo, a Pre-med major from Moncada, Tarlac; Willie Chanco, an Engineering. major from Manila; Eugene Estanislao, a Political Science major from Tondo, Manila; Hunfry Estacio, a Pre-med major from Quezon City; Ven Banzon, a Pre-med from Balanga, Bataan; and Tito Ravasco an Engineering major from Caloocan, Rizal.

Each of the founders spent time researching at the University of the Phillipines Library to find a symbolic Greek letter name, motto, and goal, to make meaning for the new fraternity. A simple constitution and by-laws were written by the founders. The name, Tau Rho Xi, was selected with the initials T & R of these Greek letters to signify "The Right Ones." Rene Capitulo suggested the motto, "Omnia Vincit" meaning "Conquers All." The motto was taken from the Latin motto "Amor Omnia Vincit," meaning "love conquers all," dropping the "Amor" or "love." The founders felt this was appropriate as it sounded powerful and was all encompassing: conquering truth, adversity, including love. Tau Rho Xi's initial goals were simple: brotherhood, loyalty and determination. As a Greek letter society, the founders were dedicated to forming a community that was supportive of each other and provided a place to come together for fellowship, exchange ideas, develop leadership skills, make lifelong friends and prepare members for life.

In December, 1962, the Fraternity was formally organized and the founders were elected as its first officers with Rene Capitulo as the leader. New members, "neophytes," were immediately recruited following the traditional initiation rites and rituals of Greek letter fraternities. Most new "brods" were friends and classmates of the founders. They included Dante Llacuna, Rudy Medina, "Jung" Pineda, Ted Corpuz, Jimmy Francisco, Ed Saniel to name a few. They were attracted to Tau Rho Xi because they believed that being part of this brotherhood would increase their success in the college community, their academic life, and in their future professional careers. There were challenges, however. In its early years, Tau Rho Xi was not officially sanctioned by the University. Consequently, all activities were "underground." Meetings often were held in secret in the Education building and at the Narra Residence Hall, where René Capitulo and many of the first recruits lived. Several years later, Tau Rho Xi was officially recognized by the University of the Philippines as a fraternity.

Much of the history of Tau Rho Xi was made by generations of brods who came after the founders. Brods have gone on to successful careers and lives around the globe. The ideals of Tau Rhox Xi continue to live on in all the members throughout the world.