THE BIRTH OF THE ORGANIZATION The Founding Years: Tagbilaran - ALPHA 1962 As gathered from verified sources, there were more than 10 student-members who formed the Gentlemen's Club in 1961. These students came mostly from the Liberal Arts department at Divine Word College in Tagbilaran, Bohol. The organization had become a venue for discussions of topics ranging from social concerns, local politics and to issues of national interest.
While teaching at the school of law, Atty. Rosemarie Beldia suggested to her younger brother Founder Antonio "Tony” Beldia III that the G-Club transform itself into a fraternity. Brod Tony Beldia III entertained the idea and called for a meeting with the G-Club group. Ten of the members agreed and consequently established the Gamma Kappa Phi Fraternity.
On October 9, 1962, the ten founding members formed the Gamma Kappa Phi Fraternity. It was organized with the objectives of promoting mutual assistance in leadership and scholarship; fostering brotherhood and the spirit of camaraderie among the student body; helping implement the rules and regulations prescribed by the chapter’s school administration; and achieving other goals or such other aims incidental to the objectives of the fraternity. The ten founders whose names always echo in the ears of every Kappa who joined the fraternity and sorority were Brods Vicente "Ete" Bacquial, Antonio "Tony” Beldia III, Florante "Totie" Cimagala, Alfonso "Al" Damalerio, Lauro Dominise, Landelino "Landy" Maslog, Fernan Maslog, Romulo "Romy" Racho, Fred Sinajon and Prisco Vinalon. Brod Prisco Vinalon who was the last president of the G-Club became the first Grand Noble Master (GNM) of the fraternity. Three of the founders, Fred Sinajon, Alfonso "Al" Damalerio and Fernan Maslog had died in recent years. In 1970, Atty. Rosemarie Beldia died while taking her masteral degree in law at Georgetown University. On September 4, 2005, Founder Anthony "Tony” Beldia III, 59, passed away at the height of the 2005 national convention preparation. Weeks prior to his death, he was in contact with the Kappans on-line and was able to bring up his long wish to pursue his cherished dream for the Kappans. Brod Tony had wished that the organization pursue a scholarship program for the poor and deserving student and a blood donation project that could help the poor during emergency. Brod Tony had been kept abreast of the developments of the Fraternity while he was in retirement and battling against a lingering illness at his family home in Roxas City. He had exchanged e-mails and talked through the telephone with Brods Gem Matiga, Alpha 64; Jarvis Prochina, Iota 79 and Richard Recoleto, Delta 76. His last interactions with the Kappans were on August 29 with co- founder Brod Prisco Vinalon, Brods Richard Recoleto and Francisco Sy, Sigma 80, who were on a telephone-invitation campaign to the 2005 national convention campaign at a meeting in Camp Aguinaldo. Brod Tony’s remains were laid to rest on September 9 with the whole of Kappanlandia mourning for his loss.
In 1963, the fraternity recruited its first batch of members totaling 14 neophytes. Among these new recruits who survived in the screening and initiation program were Brods Montano Bacol, Teddy Acero, Danny Cubilo, Eustacio Villas and Segundino Sombrio. (On September 21, 2005, the Kappans organization was again in mourning for the passing away of pioneer- brod, Eustacio Villas).
In 1964, the fraternity organized the Gamma Kappa Sigma Sorority. It had its own set of officers and constitution and went on to become the forebearer of sorority to this day. The sorority had been a partner of the fraternity and its embers had always been present when the fraternity engaged in social activities. Sis Marie Antoinette "Kayking” Beldia led it during its early years. In later years, the Gamma Kappa Phi Fraternity and Gamma Kappa Sigma Sorority of Tagbilaran has become the Alpha chapter as the organization expanded to the different regions in the Visayas and Mindanao. The organization was started as a group called as G-Club or Gentlemens's Club by mostly Liberal Arts Students of the College of Law of the school. Professor of the College of Law, Lawyer Rosemarie Beldia, convinced his brother Antonio Beldia III who is one of the member, to transform the club itself into a brotherhood or fraternity. Beldia III entertained the idea and called for a meeting with his fellow members and agreed to formally rename the G-Club into Gamma Kappa Phi Fraternity with he himself as one of the ten founding members. They were all belong to the school's honored students with high scholastic standing who later succeeded to become lawyers, rank military officer, municipal mayor, private company executive officers and successful professionals.
The ten founding members: 1. Vicente Bacquial 2. Antonio Beldia III 3. Florante Cimagala 4. Alfonso Damalerio 5. Lauro Dominise 6. Landelino Maslog 7. Fernan Maslog 8. Romulo Racho 9. Fred Sinajon 10. Prisco Vinalon
After two years, Gamma Kappa Sigma was formed in 1964 and become the fore-bearer of the organization's sorority. The 'sigmas' or sorority has its own different set of officers and constitution from the members of fraternity. For the following years of new memberships were expanded and spread to other provinces and organized as school chapters, the sorority merged with the fraternity's organizational set up and its by-laws and constitution. During the organization's 2005 National Convention in Cebu City, the 'Sigma' designation for sorority was dropped. This was formally declared all sorority and fraternity members within the organization will be in the sole name of 'Gamma Kappa Phi' and no longer to use the Gamma Kappa Sigma for sorority's designated name. The organization become known as the Gamma Kappa Phi Fraternity and Sorority. In 1968, two members of Divine Word College who joined in 1965 Procolo Maslog and Idelfonso Sanchez transferred their studies in Silliman University in Dumaguete City and organized it as the first school chapter in 1969 to operate outside the province. It was the Silliman University members who started to call itself as 'KAPPANS' and introduced the 15 rays seal in 1970 which designed and created by member Danilo Villamena to become the official seal and now the distinctive symbol of the organization. The fifteen rays design was designated to the two organizers and 13 pioneer members of the Silliman University Chapter.
The 2 organizers and pioneers of Siiliman University Chapter: 1. Proculo Maslog 2. Idelfonso Sanchez 3. Ronnie Sechong 4. Herbert Tayapad 5. Hector Tayapad 6. James Cyril Ruiz 7 . Roger Valencia 8 . Reynaldo Pagalan 9 . Teodocio Galacio 10. Medel Guttierez 11. Elias Ellar 12. Danilo Villamena 13. Roger Gadingan 14. Donald Aninion 15. Lolito Galarita
The 15 rays seal was later revised its meaning in the organization's 2005 National Convention in Cebu City and designated the fifteen rays to the original ten founders and five legendary organizers who were credited to the dramatic spread of the organization.
The 5 legendary organizers: 1. Proculo Maslog - the main organizer of Silliman University Chapter in 1969 who assisted by Ildefonso Sanchez who both become members in 1965 2. Reynaldo Pagalan - become one of the pioneer member of Silliman University in 1969 who organized Central Mindanao University, Valencia, Bukidnon in 1970 3. Diosdado Legara - become member of Central Mindanao University in 1972 who organized Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City in 1974 4. Raymundo Luzano, Jr. - become member of Xavier University in 1974 who organized Velez College, Cebu City in 1975 5. Paquito Omisol - become member of Central Mindanao University in 1973 who organized Mindanao State University, Marawi City in 1976 In later years and decades, the Fraternity and Sorority expanded throughout the Philippines and spread its alumni members around the world and organized their based country chapters.
The Gamma Kappa Phi Journey towards expansion and revivals: 1962 - Divine Word College (Holy Name University) Dumaguete City 1968 - Silliman University, Dumaguete City 1970 - Central Mindanao University. Musuan, Valencia, Bukidnon 1972 - San Isidro College (Bukidnon State University), Malaybalay City 1974 - Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan), Cagayan de Oro City 1975 - Velez College, Cebu City 1975 - San Nicolas College (Saint Paul University), Surigao City 1976 - Mindanao State University, Marawi City 1977 - MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City 1977 - Misamis Universty & Misamis Intitute of Technology, Ozamis City 1977 - Southern Capitol College, Oroquieta City 1977 - Southern Mindanao College Agro-Tech, Dunalinao, Zamboanga del Sur 1977 - Divine Word University, Tacloban City 1977 - Notre Dame University, Cotabato City 1977 - Cagayan de Oro College, Cagayan de Oro City 1978 - University of Mindanao, Davao City 1978 - University of Mindanao, Dinaig, Maguindanao 1978 - Iligan Capitol College and St. Peter's College, Iligan City 1978 - Holy Cross College, Digos City 1978 - Holy Name University, Angeles City 1978 - Zamboanga A.E. Colleges (Universidad de Zamboanga), Zamboanga City 1978 - Jolo Kappans, Jolo, Sulu 1978 - Adamson University & Far Eastern University, Manila 1978 - Mindanao State University, General Santos City 1979 - Cagayan Capitol College (Cagayan University), Cagayan de Oro City 1979 - St. Vincent College & Andres Bonifacio College, Dipolog City 1979 - Saint Joseph College, Maasin Leyte 1979 - Mindanao Inst. of Tech. (Univ. of Southern Mindanao) Kabacan, Cotabato 1979 - University of Bohol, Tagbilaran City 1983 - Notre Dame of Marbel College, Koronadal City 1984 - Mindanao Polytechnic Col. & Magsaysay College, General Santos City 2005 - Metro Manila Kappans Council Alumni Association, Metro manila 2007 - USA Kappans Alumni Association, Illinois, Chicago, United States of America 2008 - Qatar Kappans Alumni Association, Doha, Qatar 2008 - Gamma Kappa Phi International Alumni Association, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2008 - United Arab Emirates Kappans Alumni Association, Dubai, UAE 2008 - Gamma Kappa Phi Intn'l Alumni Assn of Saudi Arabia, Western Reg, Jeddah 2009 - United Kingdom Gamma Kappa Phi Alumni Assn., London, England 2009 - Toronto Kappans Alumni Association, Toronto, Canada 2009 - Hong Kong Kappans Alumni Association, Hong Kong
Present prominent members of Gamma Kappa Phi in Mindanao, Philippines: 1. Rey Chiong Uy (1974) - City Mayor of the beautiful Tagum City of Davao de Norte province 2. Datu Akmad M. Ampatuan (1978) - Former Vice Governor of Maguindanao province 3. Godofredo Balansag - Municipal Mayor of Lantapan, Bukidnon 4. Dr. Raymundo Luzano, Jr. (1974) - Director, Bukidnon Provincial Hospital, Malitbog, Bukidnon 5. Major Eugene Julio Osias, - (Phil. Military Academy 1994) Public Information Officer of the 4th Phil. Army Infantry Division, Cagayan de Oro City 6. Ricardo Rotares, EngD - President, Mindanao University of Science and Technology, Cagayan de Oro City 7. Procolo Maslog (1965) - Dean, College of Mass Communication, Pilgrim Christian College, Cagayan de Oro City 6. Bai Rebecca Ampatuan (1979) - Former Chief of Staff of Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao
