Among those in a huddle were Bro. Monico Delgado of Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73, Bros. Lamberto Miranda and Arnel Landingin of Talavera Lodge No. 273, Bro. Angelito Tomas of the Eulogio R. Dizon Memorial Lodge No. 264, and Bro. Virgilio Catbagan Jr. of San Jose City Lodge No. 309 who are mostly employees of the Talavera municipal government. The discussion was on the challenges that confront Masonic lodges in Nueva Ecija and Bro. Monico Delgado’s proposal of establishing a model lodge as a resource center that will “encourage proficiency in [Masonic] rituals” and a showcase of compliance to “the edicts of the [Most Worshipful] Grand Lodge [of the Philippines] concerning conferrals”, with the mission of elevating “Masonic relationship to a higher level” and developing “competent, respectable and honorable leaders” who will be “models of Masonic demeanor”.
Then the meetings became frequent: a brief conversation at a chance meeting, muted corner discussions during District activities, a table occupied by serious looking men talking in low tones during fellowships. Finally in April 2000, Bro. Lamberto Miranda started the push for the Model Lodge project by being the first to give a contribution of P500.00 to get things going.
There were challenges. The province of Nueva Ecija is divided into 2 Masonic districts --- the south which is basically covered by then Masonic District No. 29 and the north which is under the jurisdiction of then Masonic District No. 33 --- which complicated the charter membership of brothers from Masonic District No. 33 because Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija where the proposed Model Lodge will be established is located in Masonic District No. 29. This problem was eventually resolved but the Model Lodge project stalled and went into a parking mode until February 2004 when brothers from the Regional Trial Court in Baloc, Sto. Domingo were invited to join and the list of Charter Members was finally drawn. Bro. Monico Delagado then approached Bro. Felicisimo Joson Jr. of Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73 who agreed to become the Charter Master.
In a 25th June 2004 meeting, the Model Lodge project’s organizational documents were discussed and prepared. One key agreement made was to ensure the proficiency of future officers of the Lodge and their capacity in handling various tasks by being rotated to the various Lodge offices before being elevated as Worshipful Master, and then appointing those who have served as such as Secretary, Treasurer, and Auditor in that order. In a subsequent July 9 meeting, the founding brothers assigned among themselves the tasks required by the realization of the Model Lodge project including securing the listed Charter Members’ Certificates of Good Standing from their Mother Lodges which would later spawn another complication. On August 30, the committees on finance, membership, and documentation were created and a strategic planning process to determine the vision and mission of the Model Lodge project was set.
On October 8 of the same year, the following Charter Officers of the Model Lodge were appointed: Bro. Felicisimo Joson Jr. as the Charter Master, Bro. Ramon Sabacan (Apolinario Mabini Lodge No. 235) as Senior Warden, Bro. Celso Paderes (Memorial Lodge No. 90) as Junior Warden, Bro. Monico Delgado as Secretary and Bro. Gener Umipig as Assistant Secretary, Bro. Lamberto Miranda as Treasurer, Bro. Alex Villanueva as Auditor and Bro. Eugenio Ramirez (Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73) as Assistant Auditor, Bro. Angelito Tomas as Marshall, Bro. Arnel Landingin as Chaplain, Bro. Marvin Domingo as Senior Deacon and Bro. Bro. Erick Sadural (Apolinario Mabini Lodge No. 235) as Junior Deacon, Bro. Virgilio Catbagan Jr. as Lecturer, Bro. Jasper Abalos as Senior Steward and Bro. Sebastian Tobias as Junior Steward, Bro. Alexander George Pacheco (E.L. Joson Memorial Lodge No. 326) as Organist, Bro. Eduardo Manaois as Orator, Bro. Reynaldo Santos as Almoner, and Bro. Marlon De Guzman as Tyler.
In a December 20 meeting, the founding brothers reiterated the Lodge’s name to be “Model Lodge”, agreed to hold its stated meetings every first Saturday of the month, and set a timetable for the submission of all requirements to the Grand Lodge. The founding brothers again met 9 days later to discuss the Model Lodge project’s Petition to Form a New Lodge pending before the District Deputy Grandmaster of Masonic District No. 29, and the ways and means in acquiring the necessary Lodge paraphernalia.
Throughout its formation process in 2004, the Model Lodge project was graciously supported by the brothers of Talavera Lodge No. 273 whose Worshipful Master at that time, Bro. Antonio Manabat, recommended and endorsed the creation of the Model Lodge. Unfortunately in 2005, Bro. Antonio Manabat’s car was stolen while he was attending the installation of Sta. Rosa Lodge No. 297’s officers. Among the items lost with the vehicle were the papers required for Model Lodge’s institution.
Then a long hiatus and an almost fatal blow in February 2007 with the death of Bro. Felicisimo Joson Jr. who was the appointed Charter Master. The founding brothers stopped meeting for a while but kept in touched regularly until Bro. Monico Delgado approached Bro. Prudencio Elegado also of Nueva Lodge No. 73 who agreed to replace the late Bro. Felicisimo Joson Jr. as the Charter Master. Losing no time, Bros. Monico Delgado and Prudencio Delgado with Bro. Lamberto Miranda went on with the urgent task of resubmitting the requirements for the institution of Model Lodge. Bro. Arnel Landingin who was then the Worshipful Master of Talavera Lodge No. 273 gave a second endorsement. Invaluable assistance was also extended by Bro. Emil Dela Rosa also of Talavera Lodge No. 273 who was then the District Deputy Grand Master, and Bro. Danilo Angeles who is a Past Grand Master and the Grand Secretary at that time.
(To be continued...)
FOOTNOTES:
(1) The photo above shows Bro. Monico Delgado (highlighted), a Past Master of the Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73 and Charter Master of Zaragoza Lodge No. 263, who first proposed the establishment of a Model Lodge in Nueva Ecija.
(2) The information and materials used in this article were culled from a document written by Bro. Monico Delgado (PM) titled “History of Model Lodge U.D.”and another article he co-wrote with Bro. Ramon Sabacan (PM) with the same title. Another source is a historical sketch from the archives of Model Lodge No. 373 with no title and no author/s listed. Bros. Lamberto Miranda (PM) and Arnel Landingin (PM) were also valuable resource persons for this article. Model Lodge No. 373's history is a work in progress and any ommissions and fallacies are unintended. Any additional information that will help illustrate a complete picture of our story will be highly appreciated.
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