ANNOUNCEMENT

4th Public Installation of Officers

08 January 2010 @ 1:00 pm

Philippine Rice Research Institute Gym

Maligaya, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija

Please come in your Masonic attire.

2010 DISTRICT CHRISTMAS PARTY

Bro. Dean Barry Lao is certainly cute laying in a manger. Likewise, Bros. Rafael S. Perez and Jojit DL Floro did their part well as Joseph and Mary, respectively. The 3 kings were regale indeed: Bros. Anthony V. Reyes, Marciano T. Dela Cruz, and Aquilino Valino, Jr. Not to be outdone are Bros. Manolo M. Mercado, Monico G. Delgado, and Ramon Sabacan as rock stars from the 1970s. And with Bro. Elpidio F. Dizon conducting, Model Lodge's skit of the "Panunuluyan" and rendition of "Rock Baby Rock" and "Feliz Navidad" earned it a prize in the annual District Christmas party's chorale competition.

MODEL LODGE GIVES LOVE (AND SLIPPERS) FOR CHRISTMAS

They wanted new pairs of slippers and the generosity of those who have made this possible lifted the hearts of more than a hundred school children of the Felix Pascual Elementary School in Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija a success. Happy Christmas and God bless us all!

OFFICERS FOR 2011 ELECTED AND APPOINTED

The following brethren were elected as officers of Model Lodge No. 373 for Masonic Year 2010 during its December regular stated meeting:

BRO. MARIONITO L. GUERRERO

Worshipful Master

BRO. SERGIO R. FRANCISCO

Senior Warden

BRO. AQUILINO M. VALINO, JR.

Junior Warden

BRO. FITZGERALD A. HIERCO

Treasurer

BRO. SHUBERT L. CIENCIA

Secretary

BRO. LAMBERTO B. MIRANDA

Auditor

After the election, Worshipful Master-elect Bro. Marionito L. Guerrero appointed the following co-terminus officers: Bro. Jojit DL Floro as Assistant Treasurer, Bro. Virgilio G. Santos as Assistant Secretary, Bro. Nathaniel N. Elegado as Chaplain, Bro. Anthony V. Reyes as Marshall, Bro. Lino M. Carandang Jr. as Senior Deacon, Bro. Ernesto T. Jimenez as Junior Deacon, Bro. Jomari B. Valino as Almoner, Bro. Rafael S. Perez as Orator, Bro. Jonathan P. Requintel as Senior Steward, Bro. Darwin S. Pastor as Junior Steward, Bro. Elpidio F. Dizon as Organist, Bro. Reynaldo L. Requito as Lecturer, Bro. Dean Barry Lao as Historian, Bro. Monico G. Delagdo as Harmony Officer, and Bro. Anacleto C. Fernandez as Chief of Staff. In keeping with tradition, outgoing Worshipful Master Bro. Manolo M. Mercado was appointed as the Tyler of the Lodge.

A Christmas party and family day was immediately held after the election at the swimming pool pavilion of the Central Luzon State University.

MODEL LODGE DONATES TO INMATES

Bro. Val Santos (second from right) receives the donation of used clothes from Worshipful Master Bro. Manolo Mercado (with red visor) for the Moises J. De Guzman Memorial Lodge No. 161's "Alay kay Kosa" Christmas project. Brother Val is a dual member of Model Lodge and the incumbent Worshipful Master of the Moise J. De Guzman Memorial Lodge in Lingayen City, Pangasinan. Also in the photo are (from left) Bro. Lino Carandang, Bro. Sergio Francisco, Brother Manolo, Bro. Anacleto Fernandez, Brother Val, and Bro. Prudencio Elegado.

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS

The construction of Model Lodge's Masonic temple officially started on 16 November 2010 with the laying of the foundations. The Lodge is grateful to Sto. Domingo Mayor Bro. Leonido De Guzman (Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73) who lent the backhoe shown in the top photo below, and to Bro. Eduardo Sayco of ETS Construction and Mr. Amidon Nicloas of Ampani Cemets who lent the required steel braces and the truck that delivered these from Manila to Nueva Ecija (bottom photo below).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER FITZ!

It's not just Bro. Fitzgerald Hierco's birthday bash but also a snapshot of the Lodge's next regime with incoming Worshipful Master Bro. Marionito Guerrero, incoming Senior Warden Bro. Sergio Francisco, and incoming Junior Warden Bro. Aquilino Valino, Jr. leading the fellowship.

FINALLY, A DREAM COME TRUE FOR MODEL LODGE

It started as a dream. Then came the plan. Finally on October 31 this year, the brethren of Model Lodge No. 373 witnessed Sto. Domingo mayor Bro. Leonido De Guzman broke the ground to announce the construction of the Lodge’s Masonic temple in Baloc.

As the groundbreaking started, Brother Leonido who is the incumbent Junior Warden of Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73 was teased by Bro. Prudencio Elegado to dig a 1 meter hole to which the good mayor good naturedly responded that he is not a petitioner. Laughter filled the air as the temple ground was finally broken. Brother Leonido then committed his support to the project and expressed his happiness that a Masonic temple will finally be erected in his municipality and during his term. Immediately after the groundbreaking, the lay-outing of the temple foundations and the installation of batter boards proceeded.

 

October 31 is an ominous date for Model Lodge because it was the day of its institution way back in 2007 at Cabanatuan Lodge No. 53 which was presided by Grandmaster Jaime Gonzales. Among those who witnessed the institution rites were Grand Secretary Danilo Angeles, Grand Chaplain Manuel Palomo, Senior Grand Lecturer Flor Nicolas, District Deputy Grand Masters Emil Andrew Dela Rosa of Masonic District RIII-D and Celso Paderes of Masonic Disrict RIII-F, and other luminaries from other lodges. Brother Prudencio was then Worshipful Master with Bros. Narciso Nieto as Senior Warden and Anacleto Fernandez as the Junior Warden.

The temple will measure 15 meters in width and 33 meters long in reference to the Lodge’s 33 Charter Members as conceived by Brother Prudencio in a allusion to the highest degree of the thirty-third and last degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites of Freemasonry.

It will be a long way before the temple will be completed but such is not built instantly. Even King Solomon’s Temple took years to be constructed. Model Lodge is hopeful that its dream will be realized through the help of its members and the Good Samaritans among the brethren. Then it can be said that dreams can indeed turn to reality.

 

FOOTNOTE: This article was written by Worshipful Master Bro. Manolo M. Mercado for the "The Craftsman". All photos unless cited were taken by Bro. Shubert L. Ciencia.

CLASH OF THE RUFFIANS 2

South Nueva Ecija (Masonic District RIII-D finally won in basketball. But in the end, North Nueva Ecija (Masonic District RIII-F) tallied the most wins and emerged as the clear winner. Model Lodge have players from both sides and, as far as the Lodge is concerned, they are all champions.

 

PHOTOS: Top photo shows Masonic District RIII-F District Deputy Grandmaster Bro. Jose "Joey" Matutino, Jr. (in red shirt) receiving the overall championship trophy from District Junior Grand Lecturer Bro. Alfredo Geronimo of Masonic District RIII-D. Brother Joey is a member of Model Lodge No. 373 which is under the jurisdiction of Masonic District RIII-D. Bottom photo shows Team Model Lodge with the championship trophy borrowed from masonic District RIII-F. Bro. Errol Santiago (front row in black shirt, second from left) played in the volleyball team of Masonic District RIII-F while Bro. Sergio Francisco (front row in white shirt, third from left) is a member of the Masonic District RIII-D tennis team.

ALL IN A DAY'S WORK: A PROFICIENCY TEST, A CORPORATE MEETING, AND A BIRTHDAY

PHOTOS EXPLAINED (from top to bottom): Top photo shows incumbent Junior Warden and incoming Senior Warden Bro. Sergio Francisco performing the role of King Hiram during Masonic District RIII-D's proficiency test for the incoming Lights of all Lodges under its jurisdiction. Immediately after the proficiency test, the Lodge corporate arm met where Bro. Prudencio Elegado is shown in the middle photo reviewing the architectural plan submitted by Bro. Darwin Pastor for the Lodge's Masonic temple. The Lodge's corporate arm meeting was hosted by Bro. Rafael Perez (standing in white shirt in the bottom photo) on the occasion of his birthday.

OF CONFLICTS AND RITUALS

Worshipful Master Bro. Manolo Mercado led Model Lodge's contingent in the District Alternative Dispute Resolution seminar that was also attended by Junior Warden Bro. Sergio Francisco, the Lodge's immediate past Master Bro. Anacleto Fernandez who is currently assigned as the Grand Lodge Inspector for the Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Lodge No. 262, Bro. Val Santos who is the incumbent Master of the Moises J. De Guzman Memorial Lodge No. 161, Bro. Aquilino Valino Jr. who is touted as next year's Junior Warden, and Harmony Officer Bro. Monico Delgado.

Later in the afternoon, another contingent led by the Lodge Secretary Bro. Shubert Ciencia with Bros. Elpidio Dizon, Rafael Perez, Jojit Floro, and Fitzgerald Hierco arrived and participated in the Basic Floor Works workshop.

The seminar was hosted by Masonic District RIII-D and held at the District office in Cabanatuan City which is being hosted Kapatiran Lodge No. 228. 

YELLOW WINS!

Congratulations to the Yellow Team for being declared as the co-champions of the District basketball tournament, and to Bro. Dean Barry Lao who represented Model Lodge in the team!

Yellow Team

General Llanera Memorial Lodge No. 168

Antonio R. Lamson Memorial Lodge No. 290

Mario S. Garcia Memorial Lodge No. 306

Model Lodge No. 373

MODEL LODGE MASONIC TEMPLE PLAN FINALIZED

The basic architectural elements of Model Lodge's Masonic temple were finally firmed-up during a meeting of the Lodge's corporate arm --- the Moringa Technology Development and Resource Center, Inc. --- who will supervise its construction. The final architectural template was drawn from the template submitted by Bro. Darwin Pastor that was based on the proposed designs of Bros. Jose Matutino, Jr. and Reynaldo Villaflor. The final architectural plan will be presented during Model Lodge's stated meeting on October 2.

REGULAR MEMBER (021-2010)

Bro. Darwin Pastor

ELEVENTH BATCH (021-2010). Bro. Darwin Pastor was initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason on 23 February 2008 at the Talavera Lodge No. 273. His work entailed him to travel to faraway places immediately after his initiation and he would after 2 years be passed as a Fellow Craft Mason on 07 August 2010 and finally raised as a Master Mason on 11 September 2010 at Model Lodge No. 373’s temporary Masonic temple in Baloc Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija. Brother Darwin is considered as Model Lodge's first son to hail from its registered address in Sto. Domingo town.

MODEL LODGE CITED IN DISTRICT MEETING

Worshipful Master Bro. Manolo Mercado led the Model Lodge delegation to Masonic District RIII-D meeting held in Subic, Zambales where it was cited as among the few Lodges within the District's jurisdiction with no outstanding arrears. Also attending the meeting in behalf of Model Lodge are Bro. Prudencio Elegado, Bro. Jose Matutino, Jr. who is the incumbent District Deputy Grandmaster of Masonic District RIII-D, and Bro. Ramon Sabacan. 

MODEL LODGE COMMEMORATE NATIONAL HEROES DAY

For this year’s National Heroes Day, District Deputy Grandmaster Bro. Alan Purisima has encouraged Lodges under the jurisdiction of Masonic District RIII-D to spruce up the monuments of heroes who are brother masons.

Model Lodge No. 373 for its part opted to conduct this activity at the Gen. Mariano Noriel Memorial Park at the Baloc Junction although it is not sure if he is a brother Mason as most of his contemporaries in the Katipunan were. What is important is General Noriel fought for independence against the Spanish colonial government and has distinguished himself as the leader of Katipuneros who successfully defended Pintong Bato in his hometown of Bacoor, Cavite against repeated attacks from Spanish forces. It is also a convenient choice for Model Lodge as the park is just a short walk away from its temporary Masonic temple.

The activity was conducted in coordination with the Baloc barangay government and in partnership with a local women’s organization. Sto. Domingo mayor Bro. Baby Boy De Guzman who is the incumbent Junior Warden of Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73 also dropped by to meet the brethren.

After cleaning the park, the brethren continued their labors at Model Lodge’s temporary Masonic temple which was given a thorough cleaning and which have another air conditioning unit installed through the kindness of Bro. Fitzgerald Hierco. Birthday celebrant Bro. Lino Carandang, Jr. and his gracious wife Sister Baby served lunch during which the conversation shifted back to the life and times of Gen. Mariano Noriel.

Gen. Mariano Noriel: Hero or Heel?

His brilliant victory at the Battle of Pintong Bato and his being a Caviteno ushered General Noriel into the inner circle of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s Magdalo faction of the Katipunan where he would be half of a tandem with Katipunan “bad boy” Gen. Pio Del Pilar. But both Generals Noriel and Del Pilar switched allegiance to Andres Bonifacio’s Magdiwang faction after the tumultuous Tejeros Convention and were 2 of the 5 signatories of the Naic Military Agreement that declared the establishment a government and army separate from that of General Aguinaldo.

Generals Noriel and Del Pilar after being confronted by General Aguinaldo again switched side to the Magdalo group and abandoned Bonifacio who was later treacherously arrested by General Aguinaldo’s men. As it was, General Noriel presided over the court martial of his former boss who was accused of sedition and treason, and whom he sentenced to die despite the inadequacy of material evidence. General Aguinaldo commuted the death sentence to deportation but was persuaded by Generals Noriel and Del Pilar to stick to the court martial decision. On 10 May 1897, the Great Plebian and his brother were executed in the mountains of Margondon, Cavite.

Not much is written about General Noriel after those events. What is known is he was one of the 5 generals who were with General Aguinaldo as he retreated to the North. He would resurface later when at 6:30 am on 27 January 1915, he and 2 others were hanged after being convicted of murdering a man in a cockpit in Bacoor six years earlier. The Supreme Court of the United States had on appeal reversed the conviction but its verdict came too late for General Noriel.

Postscript

Over lunch, one of the brethren spoke of a scholarly brother who told him that General Noriel is indeed a Mason. There is however no hard evidence to support this. A senior brother also narrated that General Noriel eventually settled in what is now Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija and that one of his descendants eventually married into what would become an influential political clan. But this needs more research and validation.

But whatever has General Noriel done, it cannot be denied that he took the side of independence. He is therefore a patriot. But is he a hero? Perhaps this is best answered by an excerpt from William Wayne’s “A Book of Heroes”: “We must conclude that heroes do not have to be good, or brave, or polite, or industrious, or noble. If they are any of these things, they are them by accident… A hero has some quality that makes him what he is… It is in the memories of his friends, memories of what he did and what he was like, that his heroism resides”.

FOOTNOTE: The main reference materials used for this article are the following blogs/websites/forums/book: Arnaldo Dumindin’s “Philippine-American War, 1899-1902”, Cavite Forum, Joel C. Paredes’ “Lighting the Dark Side of Revolution in Cavite: A Rigged Election, a Salvaging”, Wikipilipinas, All Philippines: All About the Philippines, and Orlino A. Ochosa’s “Pio Del Pilar and Other Heroes”. Any fallacies in the interpretation of their work are unintended and the author’s fault alone.

DISTRICT LADIES' BOWLING TOURNAMENT

Congratulations to the Yellow Team for copping 3rd place, and kudos to Bro. Jonathan and Sis. Liberty Requintel for ably representing Model Lodge in the team!

YELLOW TEAM

Cabanatuan Lodge No. 53

Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73

Talavera Lodge No. 273

Model Lodge No. 373 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO. EDGAR CARRASCO!

Several brethren from Model Lodge joined Bro. Edgar Carrasco of Narra Lodge No. 171 in celebrating his birthday last Saturday namely (left side of the photo from the lower left corner) Bros. Roberto Samson, Anacleto Fernandez, and Marionito Guerrero; and (right side  from upper right corner) Bro. Joey Matutino who is the incumbent District Deputy Grandmaster of Masonic District RIII-F (partly hidden) and Bro. Sergio Francisco (partly hidden and third from Brother Matutino). Photo was taken by Bro. Shubert Ciencia.

DAY 3 OF THE 2010 DISTRICT BOWLING TOURNAMENT

Finally, a win against San Leonardo Lodge No. 386. Then another over Pantabangan-Bonari Lodge No. 203. Which brought Team Model Lodge to an unexpected championship match in the Class D bracket with Team San Leonardo. Team Model Lodge won by a whisker.

FOOTNOTE: Bottom photo shows Model Lodge's Worshipful Master Bro. Manolo Mercado (center) receiving the Class D championship trophy from District Deputy Grandmaster Bro. Allan Purisima (right) while Bro. Antonino Manabat beams (left). Photo was grabbed from Bro. Ian Caraganillo's (Talavera Lodge No. 273) Facebook page. 

CLASH OF THE RUFFIANS 1

For 2 days this year, Masonic Districts RIII-D (South Nueva Ecija) and RIII-F (North Nueva Ecija) will test each other in the disciplines of tennis, badminton, volleyball, and basketball. In the first meeting held in Cabantuan City, North Nueva Ecija won in volleyball and basketball and South Nueva Ecija in tennis and badminton. The second meeting to decide the overall champion will be held on October 30 in San Jose City.

  

DAY 2 OF DISTRICT 2010 BOWLING TOURNAMENT

Bowling pins fall inside as beer bottles do the same outside. Team Model Lodge again lost closely contested matches against Sta. Rosa Lodge No. 297, Kapatiran Lodge No. 228, and Factoria Lodge No. 331. Maybe that's the reason for the beer and whiskey. But then again, its the camaraderie and not the competition that matters most.

DAY 1 OF THE 2010 DISTRICT BOWLING TOURNAMENT

Bro. Eugene Ramirez (left), Model Lodge's best bowler, in action against the bowling team of General Llanera Lodge No. 168. Team Model Lodge lost the closely contested match and eventually to Kapitan Pepe Lodge No. 293 then to Cabanatuan Lodge No. 53 who finally settled its only lose --- and Model Lodge's only win --- in last year's edition. But it was no gloomy day for the team. Every member played not in the spirit of competition but for the joy of being among brothers.

BALER: A PHOTO ESSAY

PHOTOS EXPLAINED (from top to bottom): [1] A hot pot of malunggay tea was served to the brethren by Bros. Anacleto Fernandez and Jayson Simon (Manuel L. Quezon Lodge No. 262) during a stop-over at Maria Aurora town on their way to the Masonic District RIII-D meeting in Baler, Aurora; [2] Bro. Wilson Tan, District Treasurer and a dual member of Model Lodge, reads his financial report during the District meeting; [3] Band of Brothers --- the Model Lodge contingent in Baler, Aurora; [4] Bros. Fitzgerald Hierco (left) and Virgilio Santos (right) with Worshipful Master Bro. Manolo Mercado (center) plant propagules at the Mangrove Reforestation Project in Baler of the Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Lodge No. 262; [5] the Model Lodge contingent in a coffee moment with District Deputy Grandmaster Bro. Alan Purisima (center, between trees); [6] the installation rites of Bro. Anacleto Fernandez, Model Lodge’s immediate Past Master, as the Grand Lodge Inspector for Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Lodge No. 262; [7] a post-District meeting boodle fight in Dipaculao, Aurora among the Model Lodge contingent.

A BIKATHON, A TREE PLANTING, AND A BIRTHDAY

Aging knees and stomach paunches might have slowed the pace but the brethren from Lodges under the jurisdiction of Masonic District RIII-D still have what it takes to ride the 12 kilometers from Sta. Rosa town to Fort Magsaysay and still have some to spare to plant trees around the watershed of the 7th Infantry Division's (Philippines Army) Bahay Pahingahan. And they were amply rewarded with a feast and give aways prepared by District Deputy Grandmaster Bro. Alan Purisima. On the way home, Worshipful Master Bro. Manolo Mercado served lunch at his home for the Model Lodge contigent. The day ended with a dinner and a fellowship hosted by Bro. Jojit Floro on the occasion of his 27th birthday.

FOOTNOTE: The photo above shows the Model Lodge contigent led by Worshipful Master Bro. Manolo Mercado (left, in white shirt) after the District bikathon and tree planting in Fort Magsaysay's Bahay Pahingahan. Bottom photo shows birthday celebrant Bro. Jojit Floro (third from left, in blue shirt) with the brethren from Model Lodge No. 373, Pantabangan-Bonari Lodge No. 203, Eulogio R. Dizon Lodge No. 321, and Memorial Lodge No. 90 who attended his birthday bash. 

REGULAR MEMBERS (018-2010 to 020-2010)

Bro. Jonathan Requintel
Bro. Anthony Reyes
Bro. Dean Barry Lao

TENTH BATCH (018-2010 to 020-2010). Bros. Jonathan Requintel (018-2010), Anthony Reyes (019-2010), and Dean Barry Lao (020-2010) were initiated as Entered Apprentice Masons on 01 May 2010, passed as Fellow Craft Masons on 05 June 2010, and raised as Master Masons on 03 July 2010 at Model Lodge No. 373’s temporary Masonic temple in Baloc Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija.