Tau Kappa Phi Fraternity

Far Eastern University

July 31, 2015

Atty. Melencio Sta. Maria

Dean of the Institute of Law
Far Eastern University

Dear Dean Sta. Maria:

I am writing on behalf of the Tau Kappa Phi Fraternity.
It was noted that on July 29, 2015, some of our members went to FEU-IL,
Makati to conduct our traditional welcome rites to new members of the
fraternity before the classes of Atty. Agatha Cruz. It only took a couple of
minutes to be finished but they did not proceed further when you came to
advise them to stop the activity.
It is acknowledged that this was made without a verbal or written request
to and approval from the Dean or Associate Dean. We thought that there
is no need to ask for a permission because the same has been our
tradition since the time the fraternity was created in 1948. Such a practice
has been allowed during the terms of FEU-IL Deans Jovito Salonga, Neptali
Gonzales Jr. and Andres Bautista. It is understood that because of this
there was a heightened commotion brought about by you getting angry,
which led you to scold our members present thereat.
In light of what had transpired, I am extending my deepest apology for
such collective fraternal act. Our members have no intention to violate
any of the institute's policy. What they had done was only to welcome a
new member, which as I have mentioned has been part of our tradition.
Now, I came to know that doing the same in the future might once more
lead to undue agitation. I am giving my word that no similar incident will
be conducted again. From now on, we will seek permission from the
Dean's Office for the holding of our fraternity's activities inside the
campus that may or may not affect the students and the Institute.
At this juncture, may I give you a glimpse of what the Tau Kappa Phi (TK)
Fraternity is. The TK Fraternity came into existence in the FEU College of
Law way back in 1948. Its members are composed of bachelor's degree

holders who must be enrolled in the FEU Law, which it considers its home.
It has no other chapters and there are no undergraduate members.
Among its ranks include prominent personalities such as the 21st
Supreme Court Chief Justice, Artemio Panganiban; Court of Appeals
Associate Justice, Danton Bueser; Sandiganbayan Associate Justice,
Rolando Jurado; and Lone District of Dasmarias, Cavite Congressman,
Elpidio Barzaga, Jr., to name a few.
The fraternity was created for legal purposes and is registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-stock, non-profit
corporation. It conducts public service activities, activities which promote
camaraderie between the members, bar operations for the members who
will take the bar, and specially, activities which boost the confidence of
student members in facing the challenges of being a law student. The
present resident members are still enrolled with the Institute of Law at the
FEU Morayta Campus because they have excelled academically through
the support system that is extended for being a member. I assure you that
the fraternity has not violated any law specially in the process of the
acceptance of new members.
In connection with this apology, as the incumbent head of the fraternity, I
am kindly requesting an audience or conference with you together with
our resident members to clear any cloud of doubt about our activities and
events on a date and time that is most convenient to you. Thank you very
much.

Very truly yours,

Paolo Brillantes
Grand Chancellor
Tau Kappa Phi Fraternity