Hon. Willy C. Gaa
Ambassador
Philipppine Embassy, Washington D.C.



Note: This message was presented to the Tau Gamma Phi of Mid-Atlantic Region.
Bro. Dale Aguirre
President

source: taugammaphi1968.org

"First of all, I congratulate the TAU GAMMA Fraternity and Sorority on its 40th Anniversary, I understand that the Triskelion Grand Fraternity which was founded in 1968, has grown to become the largest Fraternity and Sorority in the Philippines with membership of over 800,000 and chapters in many countries around the world. The list of TAU GAMMA Alumni is quite impressive personalities who provide leadershiup in various fields of human endeavor. We need not mention any of them because right here, your own ALLAN USTARIS is the President of the Federation of Filipino Communities of Israel.

It is truly significant that you are in Holy Land.The Land where our Judeo- Christian traditions begun. For the Christians, it is more even meaningful that it was here where Jesus Christ preached his teachings of brotherhood and love for one another.These values are even more relevant during these times. Significantly too, these are embodied in the tenets and the Triskelion code of conduct as you proclaim the principle" man is brother unto man"

Waving the banner of Tau Gamma endows you with a higher sense of social responsibility. As your Ambassador, I urge you to strive in projecting a beautiful image of the Philippines. Love our motherland and do not tarnish the image built over the years by those who came here before us, and impressed the Israeli people with the Filipino work ethic, industry, diligence and above all basic human kindness and DECENCY.


The Tau Gamma was founded as a way of life and was established to be devoid of fraternity violence which was then pervasive in many campuses in the 1960s. Personally, I know only a handful of tau gammans here, but as I was drafting this message, I have seen in them the social responsibility being lived out, especially in extending assistance to distressed Filipinos in our midst. But I must also be candid and frank, I am sure many will be encouraged to join the ranks of the TAU GAMMA here in Israel.

My own impression of a Fraternity or Sorority is the ugly phenomenon of hazing and this is a source of worry. As many of you know, Israel has strict laws against physical violence, and a number of Filipinos are in prison or have been deported because of this. I am therefore calling on the leadership to be mindful of this fact. Incidents of this kind immediately become a police matter. And your Embassy cannot invoke the principle of primary consular jurisdiction and therefore cannot intervene.

We are here as guests of Israel. We are here primarily to earn. Let us not jeopardize our continued stay in this country. Please listen to this: I AM HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT BETTER DAYS ARE COMING FOR FOREIGN WORKERS IN ISRAEL. THEY HAVE JUST IMPLEMENTED NEW REGULATIONS FOR FOREIGN WORKERS.

Along with our two Vice Consuls and our Labor Attache, I recently met with Mr. Meir Speigler, the new Gen. Manager for Foreign workers unit of the Ministry of Labor. His vision is for foreign workers to be entitled to the same benefits and work conditions as Israeli workers. they are considering numerous improvements in the foreign labor sector here and we look forward to this.

In conclusion, the officers and the staff of the Philippine embassy join me in congratulating you on the occassion of your 40th anniversary. Mabuhay po kayo and thank you.

Hon. Petronila Garcia
Ambassador
Phil. Embassy - Israel


Grace Cardenas
Charter Batch ,Tel Aviv
Staff/Columnist
Manila Tel Aviv Magazine

source: taugammaphi1968.org