[5] The founders cited the need of the students to mobilize in response to the second election under the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines, President Manuel L. Quezon's plans for a "one-party" government, and the looming threat of a possible war in the pacific.

[6] By November 1939, the constitution and by-laws of the fraternity were drafted and filed with the University Council Committee on Student Organizations and Activities.

Charter member and nationalist-historian Renato Constantino wrote the fraternity motto which would also serve as its guiding philosophy.

Members Adriano Garcia, Arturo Atienza, Renato Constantino, Bienvenido Ejercito, and Benedicto Balderama, who also formed the Board of Editors of the Philippinensian from 1942 to 1946, spearheaded the reactivation.

[12] During the Marcos administration, many members of the fraternity fought for the cause of democracy, most notable of which is Abraham "Ditto" Sarmiento Jr. who was editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian at the time.

"[17] From 2016, the fraternity has held the annual Ditto Sarmiento Essay Writing Competition in commemoration of the young campus journalists who died in the fight for press freedom during the martial law era.

The competition honors Abraham "Ditto" Sarmiento Jr. who died at the age of 27 shortly after being imprisoned during the Marcos Regime.

[13] The nationwide competition is composed of a series of contests that are open to high school and college students.

[33][34] The latter three fraternities, in addition to Alpha Sigma and Scintilla Juris, are considered to have the longest traditional rivalry in the campus.