Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of Triskelions is an alliance of men and women working towards the mission of the fraternity/sorority to expand the sphere of unity and to hone the abilities of its members in strengthening the essence of brotherhood and sisterhood. Through the years, it has established a lasting bond that defines the existent value in serving the community and reinforcing the harmony among themselves for their fellow Filipinos in the area. All the way through, its vision to bring in the ideals and significance of its existence to the intuitive society is what defies their part as a union.

The Humble Beginnings

In December of 1982, two U.P. Triskelions were assigned to the Washington, D.C. region.  Bro Romeo (Romy) Bernardo was being assigned to the International Monetary Fund after his stint as the Philippines, Financial Attache in Geneva, Switzerland.  Bro Alan Uyenco was transferring to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Arlington, Virginia from the Naval Engineering Training Schoolship in Newport, Rhode Island.

Already settled in the region then was the late Bro Allen Hernandez.

On a cold, wintry day of December 13, 1982, Bro Allen picked up Bros. Romy and Alan for a dinner at his home in New Carrolton, Maryland.  Over a sumptuous meal prepared by Bro Allen's Korean wife, Helen, the three Triskelions reminisced over their Fraternity days in the U.P. Diliman campus, some ten years past.

The three Brother Triskelions, and their families, became inseparable and regularly got together.

The following year, 1983, they were joined by another U.P. Triskelion and his family.  He arrived to continue his studies at the George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

The four Triskelions became like one family spending almost all their off days together.

When 1985 came, Bro Alan started working as the Public Affairs Officer of the Navy Recruiting District in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Due to his work's proximity to Wilmington, Delaware, a connection was made with two other U.P. Triskelions, Erwin Gopez and Butch Nievera.

Eventually, all six Brothers would spend weekends together in a nearby resort or in one of their homes.

Bro Alan and one of the Brother Triskelions, then started a Bible Study fellowship for some Filipinos in Virginia and Maryland.  This fellowship served a group of Filipino families for about nine years.

Tragedy struck the Monday after a joyful fellowship of the Brothers during a July 4th weekend.  That fateful morning of July 7, 1986, Bro Allen Hernandez went home to spend eternity with God.  He was involved in a fatal car crash on his way to work.  Despite the grief of losing a beloved Brother, there was still reason to be happy for our departed Brother.  Bro Allen accepted Jesus Christ in his life after the Gospel was shared the previous Sunday evening.

The Mid-Atlantic Triskelions were later joined by U.P. Bros. Mike and Yogi Hernandez (Allen's younger brothers).

In the later part of the 90’s, connection was made with other Triskelions from the New York area.  Among those were Bros. Del Iglesia (U.P.), Robert Ceralvo (U.S.T.) and Ted Mogol (Adamson).  This fellowship with Brothers from the Northeast culminated with the first Tau Gamma Phi Summer Get-Away in Solomons Island, Maryland, in June 1997.  This partnership with the Northeast Regional Triskelions evolved into an annual family event.

The dawning of internet communication facilitated contacts with more Brods and Sis in the Virginia-Maryland-Washington, D.C. area.  As their numbers grew, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council started to take form.  The first Secretary General was Bro Alan Uyenco (Charter ‘69), followed by Bro Eric Talavera (FEU ‘78), then Bro Mike Alejandro (Claret ‘90), followed by Bro L.A. Fernandez (AMA '02) and currently Bro Dale Aguirre (CSJL ‘86).