A Brief History of Council 7884

By SK Roberto Bayani, PGK, FDD

The St. Thomas Aquinas Council, named after the University’s Patron Saint, takes
pride in being the first Knights of Columbus college council – composed entirely of
students – in the Philippines.

The first batch of students, 16 of them, were exemplified in the First Degree on
September 5, 1981. They were brothers: Raymond Achacoso, Ramon Anquilan,
Francis Astillero, Ramonito Bancod, Roberto Bayani, Felix De Leon, Rodrigo
Evangelista, Amelito Gomez, Jesus Jaro, Henry Laron, Lito Liam (+), Ferdinand
Limos, Mauricio Gregorio, Glenn Pastoriza, Winnie Quidato and Cecilio Tobillo.

Since to form a new council it needed 30 members, the 2nd batch of 52 students
were initiated on September 25, 1981. Thus, 68 students in all, became the charter
members of St. Thomas Aquinas Council, with number 7884, as its assigned council
number.

The college council was formed through the sponsorship of the UST Faculty Council
4321. In particular, through the efforts of SK Hector Aguiling, PGK and then District
Deputy; SK Mariano Buena, GK of Council 4321 and Sir Domingo Funtanilla, Council
4321 Warden, who was credited to having recruited 2/3 of its charter members. Fr.
Jose Ma. Tinoko, OP, then the University Treasurer was appointed as its council
chaplain.

Within its first year of existence, Council 7884 was given two awards by the
Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus based in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
The two awards were the Founder’s Award and the Fr. McGivney Award (in memory
of the founder of the Knights of Columbus). These awards were given in recognition
of the numerous activities of the council. In fact, it almost made it to winning the
much-coveted Century Club Award for nearly achieving a 100% membership
increase in 1982.

In addition, just a few months into its formation, the Council was able to establish it
won First and Second Degree Exemplification teams. These teams were a pride of
the Council as it was often invited by other councils in Luzon to conduct
exemplification proceedings.

In Columbian Year 1983-84, it made another unprecedented move, Council 7884

organized its first all-female Catholic Youth Organization Unit – UST CYO 214. The
organization of the CYO boosted the morale of the brother Knights and led to the
accomplishments of more significant and worthwhile projects. Not long after, the
Council sponsored its own Columbian Squires Circle.
Among the notable projects were:

The Annual Marian Devotion, visits to the National Penitentiary and the Drug Abuse
Rehabilitation Center.
Charitable donations to the St. Dominic Development Center, Tahanang Walang
Hagdanan and assistance to the earthquake victims.

On the cultural and humanities side: sponsorship of oratorical contests, drug abuse
prevention symposia wherein the Council led in the declaration of a drug-free UST;
participation in the “Banyuhay ng Bandilang Pilipino – history of the Philippine
flags.

Fund-raising projects such as film showings of ET, Firefox and Rocky II, Eraserheads
concert and Christmas caroling to fund projects to help sick and deceased brother
knights.

These and many more projects were done under the stewardship of several past
grand knights and back then, around 342 current and alumni members.

Through the years, the Council had in its roster of members, graduates of different
disciplines of the University – Architecture and Fine Arts, Business, Education,
Engineering, Humanities, Law, Medicine, Sciences and even Priestly Vocations.

Truly, the Knights of Columbus Council 7884 established itself as a training ground
for future leaders, who are now the leaders of today in their respective chosen
fields.