BRO. JOSE P. RIZAL'S 115th YEAR OF MARTYRDOM

Breaking from tradition, Masonic District RIII-D held its annual commemoration of Bro. Dr. Jose P. Rizal's martyrdom at the grounds of the Gapan City Hall which also occasioned the inauguration of the National Hero's monument that was erected through the efforts of the General Llanera Memorial Lodge No. 168. Similar wreath offering ceremonies were previously held at the grounds of the Cabanatuan City Hall.

This year's commemoration rites was co-hosted by the Gapan City government under the leadership of Citys Mayor Christian Tinio who is shown speaking in the photo below, and past District Deputy Grand Master and City Vice-Mayor Bro. Rodel T. Matias (3rd from left) who is also shown with incumbent District Deputy Grand Master Bro. Mariolito O. Carlos (2nd from left) at the National Hero's new monument.     

After the ceremonies, the newly elected Wardens and Masters of all Lodges under the jurisdiction of Masonic District RIII-D proceeded to the General Llanera Lodge No. 168 Masonic Temple where they took their proficiency examinations with the District Deputy Grand Master presiding as shown in the photo below. Masonic regulation requires that all incoming Wardens and Masters must pass the proficiency examination before they can be formally installed as such.

MORE CHRISTMAS GIFTS

There are no rich or poor families on Christmas. Only happy families.

As such, Model Lodge willingly accepted an invitation to be one of the patrons of a gift giving project for indigent families that was initiated by the Barangay Government of Baloc in the municipality of Sto. Domingo.

Lodge Master Bro. Marionito L. Guerrero personally handed several boxes of grocery goods to Barangay Captain Diacono Lee as its part in making the Holiday Season more meaningful to those who are less fortunate in life.

"Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile." - WILFRED T. GRENFELL 

CHRISTMAS IS GIVING AND SHARING

The images below shows moments of the gift giving and Christmas party that was hosted by Model Lodge with the Order of the Amaranth's Model Court No. 55 for the students and parents of the Rogelio DG Valdezotto Elementary School in Sitio Pudyot, Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija. 

The Lodge is grateful to Sis. Lyn Valdez of the Order of the Amaranth's Nueva Ecija Court No. 31 for her donation of slippers for the school's 150 students plus 25 of the parents who attended, and to the generosity of the Master of the Lodge --- Bro. Marionito L. Guerrero --- who also gave cash gifts.    

"The only way on earth to multiply happiness is to divide it." - PAUL SCHERER

 

(Photos were taken by Bro. Marionito L. Guerrero)

FINALLY, MASONIC DISTRICT RIII-D NAILS ONE

It was a friendly game between Masonic Districts RIII-D (South Nueva Ecija) and RIII-F (North Nueva Ecija) during their annual Dual Sportsfest. But this time around, Masonic District RIII-D of which Model Lodge is part went home with the overall champion's trophy. Way to go brethren!

(Photo taken by Bro. Errol V. Santiago)

CONGRATULATIONS BROTHER FITZGERALD!

The Lodge with Model Court No. 55 congratulates Bro. Fitzgerald and Sis. Daisy Hierco on the christening of their son Zaijan Gerald.

(Photo of the Godfathers and Godmothers taken at the Talavera Parish Church by Bro. James Mata)

CHRISTMAS IS FAMILY DAY

The brethren of Model Lodge wishes the world happy holidays as it celebrates its annual Christmas Party with their families. The party cum family day was held at the Marquez Resort in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija jointly with the Order of the Amaranth's Model Court No. 55.

(Photo taken by Bro. James Mata)

MODEL COURT NO. 55 RULES DISTRICT 5 SPORTSFEST

Congratulations to the brothers and sisters of the Model Court No. 55 for emerging as the overall champion of the Order of Amaranth's District 5! Congratulations also to all the participating Courts namely the Munoz Royal Court No. 17, Nueva Ecija Court No. 31, Pantabangan-Bonari Court No. 46, and San Jose Court No. 55.

(The photo above is taken by Bro. James Mata and shows Model Court No. 55 in the tug-of-war competition.)

REGULAR MEMBER (026-2011)

Bro. Amidon P. Nicolas 

14TH BATCH (026-2011): Bro. Amidon P. Nicolas is the Lodge's first Muslim member. He was initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason on 23 September 2011, passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft Mason on 14 October 2011, and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on 19 November 2011 at Model Lodge No. 373's temporary Masonic temple in Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija.

MALUNGGAY PROCESSING PROJECT LAUNCHED

This time, it is sweeter with the sisters from the Order of the Amaranth's Model Court No. 55.

The monthly nutrition supplement project (first photo below) at the Rogelio DG Valdezotto Elementary School is also the first joint activity of the Lodge with it's Amaranth Court. And Sis. Joy Villanueva was on hand to share to the members of the schools Parents-Teachers Association her expertise in the production of malunggay juice (second photo below).

(Photos taken by Bro. James Mata)

THANK YOU

The brethren and sisters of Model Lodge No. 373 extends its grateful appreciation for the support in the constitution and organization of Model Court No. 55 of the Grand Court of the Philippines' Order of the Amaranth. We wish you all good health, eternal happiness, and prosperity.

FINALLY, MODEL COURT NO. 55...

For a long time, the brethren of Model Lodge have been in constant conversation on how to get their spouses more involved in Lodge activities.

Organizing a Court of the Order of Amaranth emerged as the most appropriate option for that purpose.

And after much thought and through the sponsorship of Model Lodge No. 373, Model Court No. 55 of the Order of Amaranth’s Grand Court of the Philippines was constituted, organized, and its officers installed during a well attended program for such at the Philippine Rice Research Institute Social Hall in the Science City Munoz.

No less than the Grand Royal Matron Sis. Elenita David and other Grand Line officers of the Order of Amaranth presided over the ceremonies.

Grand Royal Patron Bro. Danilo Angeles with the assistance of District Royal Matron Sis. Jennifer Martinez and District Royal Patron Bro. Val Santos officiated the installation of the Court’s officers led by Royal Matron Sis. Emilita Fernandez and Royal Patron Bro. Monico Delgado.

Police general and Grand Lodge of the Philippines Organist Bro. Tomas Rentoy III also graced the occasion as the guest of honor and speaker.

AFTER SMOKED FISH COMES THE FINGERLINGS

Some 10,000 tilapia fingerlings were recently turned-over by the Lodge to residents of Baloc's Sitio Bulihan in the municipality of Sto. Domingo. The Lodge hopes that the donation will help jump start a livelihood project for Sitio Bulihan that will follow the success of a similar project in Sitio Pudyot which is now producing smoked fish under the brand of "Pudyot Special Tinapa".

The fingerling donation was made possible through the generous assistance of Bro. Michael Valenzuela who is also Model Lodge's assigned Grand Lodge Inspector.

  

REGULAR MEMBERS (024-2011 to 025-2011)

Bro. Reynald F. Martin 
Bro. James P. Mata 

13TH BATCH (024-2011 to 025-2011): Bros. Reynald F. Martin and James P. Mata were initiated as Entered Apprentice Masons on 06 August 2011, passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft Mason on 03 September 2011, and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on 01 October 2011 at Model Lodge No. 373's temporary Masonic temple in Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija.

PHOTO ESSAY: MODEL LODGE AT 21ST MULTI-DISTRICT CONFAB & GLP CENTENNIAL LAUNCH

PHOTOS EXPLAINED: (Top to bottom): [1] Model Lodge and other brethren from Masonic District RIII-D arrives at the Malolos Sports Complex for the 21st Central Luzon Multi-District Convention; [2] Model Lodge with Grand Master Bro. Juanito Abergas and [3] Deputy Grand Master Santiago Gavionza, Jr. of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, and [4] Sec. Mar Roxas of the Department of Transportation and Communication whose grandfather Pres. Manuel Roxas is a Master Mason; and [5] the formal launching of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines' centennial celebration in the historic city of Malolos, Bulacan.

SEEDLINGS FOR A SCHOOL, PAINT FOR A PARK

Another 150 seedlings was recently turned-over by Model Lodge through its incumbent Master Bro. Marionito L. Guerrero to the Felix Pascual Elementary School. The donation is part of the Lodge's continuing program on local climate change adaptation and mitigation.

At the same time, 16 liters of paint was also donated to the Baloc barangay government to help refurbish the Gen. Noriel Memorial Park for the annual Baloc fiesta.

THEY ASKED FOR CLEAN WATER...

... and they got clean water.

Worshipful Master Bro. Marionito Guerrero ceremonially turns on a water tap for the schoolchildren of the Rogelio DG Valdezotto Elementary School during the inauguration of the school's safe water system that was made possible possible through a donation from the brethren of Model Lodge, the Order of Amaranth's Royal Court No. 31, and the Cabanatuan Bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites.

"Clean water is not an expenditure; clean water is an investment in the future of our country." 

COMMUNITY LIVELIHOOD PROJECT LAUNCHED

"Give man fish and you fed him for a day..."

For Model Lodge, feeding a man means pots of freshly cooked chicken-and-rice congee fortified with powdered moringa leaves for the schoolchildren of the Rogelio DG Valdezotto Elementary School. 

"Teach him to fish and you fed him for a lifetime..."

But man cannot leave by chicken-and-rice-congee alone so a team headed by Bro. Angelito Dela Cruz of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' (BFAR) Asian Fisheries Academy of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (AFA-NFRDI) came over and trained members of the school's Parents and Teachers Association in the art of smoked fish or tinapa production.

"Teach him to sell fish and he eat steaks."

The idea is to introduce livelihood opportunities that will enable the schoolchildren's parents to generate additional household income and therefore improve their families' quality of life. By realizing this objective, Model Lodge hope that household food security will be assured and feeding projects will be a thing of the past.

"ONE NUEVA ECIJA" ARBOR DAY

For one rainy day, the brethren of Masonic Districts RIII-D (South Nueva Ecija and Aurora) and RIII-F (North Nueva Ecija) came together with the appendant bodies of the Order of the Amaranth, Job's Daughter International, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites, the International Order of Rainbow for Girls, and the Order of DeMolay to plant trees in Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City. The photo above shows Worshipful Master Bro. Marionito Guerrero (left) and Bro. Angelito Dela Cruz (right) planting Model Lodge's tree.

AFTER 4 YEARS, LODGE INTERNAL RULES IS REVIEWED AND UPDATED

When the founding Fathers named the Lodge as "Model", they were serious about it and drafted an internal rule based on the Landmarks of Freemasonry, and the Edicts and Constitution of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines to guide future brethren in practicing, upholding, and defending the tenets and principles of Freemasonry.

Four years after, the 23 sons of Model Lodge No. 373 since it was constituted in 2008 sat down to discuss, review, and update these internal rules and reaffirmed their solemn obligation to uphold the following guiding principles of the Lodge:

"This Lodge shall exist for the protection and welfare of its members and the communities where their families reside.

This Lodge will encourage the formation of appendant bodies to enhance the participation of the brethren’s immediate family in the practice and exemplification of the teachings and tenets of Freemasonry.

This Lodge shall be self-sustaining, self-developing, and self-enduring and will accept worthy and qualified men who will bring honor and dignity to Freemasonry with due priority to the brethren’s immediate family, relatives, and friends.

The brethren of this Lodge have faith in the Almighty, hope for immortality, and charity for all humanity and as such shall practice the greatest attribute of charity, and participate in all activities that will improve the lives of those who are marginalized, displaced, and sickly.

The brethren of this Lodge shall make available their resources, skills, and time to implement socio-economic projects for the benefit of the Lodge and welfare of the brethren, and as such shall establish a social enterprise which it shall supervise for this purpose.

The brethren of this Lodge shall strive to become model Masons and citizens, and shall therefore earnestly care for their families, do service for the community, and offer their talent to national development."

BOWLING 2011: FINALLY, WINS ON DAY 3 AND A CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ON DAY 4

After wins against San Leonardo Lodge No. 386 and the Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Lodge No. 262, Model Lodge barged into the Championship Match to defend the Class D champion's crown it won in last year's edition. But that was not meant to be as back-to-back losses against a suddenly fighting San Leonardo Lodge No. 386 relegated Model Lodge to a runner-up finish. But all's well that ends well as the brethren retreated to the chic Rosenda's Restaurant not to lick their wounds but to celebrate. It was after all a job well done, and the Worshipful Master and Senior Warden's birthdays too!

BOWLING 2011: THREE LOSSES (AGAIN) BUT (STILL) HAPPY ON DAY 2

Another set of 3 straight losses to traditional powerhouses Factoria Lodge No. 311, Kapatiran Lodge No. 228, and Kapitan Pepe Lodge No. 294 going into the second day of the Masonic District R III-D Inter-Lodge Bowling Tournament. But Model Lodge is not worried. They are happy.

FEEDING PROGRAM LAUNCHED

The following photo essay depict scenes from the Rogelio DG Valdezotto Elementary School in Sitio Pudyot, Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija during the launching of a 6-month supplementary feeding project that will benefit 138 pupils and their mothers. The project is initiated by Model Lodge and Worshipful Master Bro. Marionito Guerrero in partnership with the Baloc Local Government Unit and the support of the Order of the Amaranth's Royal Court No. 31 led by Royal Patron Bro. Prudencio Elegado (who is a past master of the Lodge) and Royal Matron Sis. Luisa Elegado, the Order's District 5 led by District Deputy Grand Royal Matron Sis. Jennifer Abalos-Martinez, and the Cabanatuan Bodies of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites led by Venerable Master Bro. Laverne Manangbao.

Post Script

After the feeding project, Brother Marionito in behalf of Model Lodge No. 373 turned-over a ceiling fan to the school teachers [first photo below]. Brother Prudencio in behalf of the Lodge, the Order of the Amaranth, and the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites next turned-over a donation of P6,000.00 [last photo below] for the establishment of a safe water project in the school. Brother Laverne also promised to donate a water for the project which the Baloc Local Government Unit has also committed to support. The Parents-Teachers Association will also provide a counterpart to the project.

From Sitio Pudyot, Model Lodge next visited Bro. Antonio Pascual (Memorial Lodge No. 90) who has been a gracious supporter of the Lodge, then proceeded to Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija to visit the brethren of Apolinario Lodge No. 235.