373 BIKERS: RAINY DAY EDITION

TOTAL MILEAGE: 175.9 kilometers.

NEW RIDERS: Bros. Anthony Reyes and Jonathan Requintel.

MILESTONES: Farthest ride to the north to Puncan, Carranglan. Then the rains came...

373 BASKETBALL: TEMPLE BUILDERS UNVEILED

The First Team of the Temple Builders, the Lodge's official basketball team, was officially presented during a couple of friendly games at the Bacal 2 Gym in Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

Bros. Shubert Ciencia, Jojit Floro, Nathaniel Elegado, Virgilio Santos, Lino Carandang Jr., Angelito Dela Cruz, Reynald Martin, James Mata, Kristian Ronald Sioson, and Roberto Bulandi played with enthusiasm but lost both games, 15-10 and 15-12, as the Temple Builders yielded to a much younger and well-prepared opponent.

During the soft launching, Bros. Wilfredo Pagay and Marionito Guerrero were designated as the team's interim coach and manager, respectively, with Bros. Jose Matutino Jr. and Aquilino Valino Jr. as consultants.

The Temple Builders is the third of a 4-part Lodge sports and wellness program after the 373 Bikers and the 373/55 Tennis Club, and an integral stage of the effort to diversify the Lodge's form of fellowship.

It is also envisioned to be the Lodge's Ambassador-at-Large and plans to hold friendly games with other interested Lodges within the District.

But before that, a couple more of practice games will be held in Cabanatuan City to shake more of the rust and prepare for the long haul ahead.

AMARANTH SUNDAY AND A SUNSHINE VISIT IN MUNOZ

A joint workshop on organizational development was recently conducted by top officers of the Lodge and Model Court No. 55 of the Order of the Amaranth.

The workshop covered a progress assessment of the Court's first 3 months, a discussion on possible fund raising activities, membership matters and the Court's current financial status, and report preparation.

Model Lodge as the Host Lodge is committed to supporting the organizational development process of Model Court which is its partner in implementing charitable and community service projects.

A week after, both the Lodge's Master and the Court's Royal Matron led a joint delegation in visiting the mother of Bro. Jojit DL Floro --- the Lodge's incumbent Junior Warden and the Court's incumbent Royal Patron --- who recently underwent an angioplasty procedure.

TWO BIRTHDAYS IN JUNE

The first was of course the 116th birthday of the Philippines as a free nation which members of Model Lodge and the Order of the Amaranth's Model Court No. 55 commemorated with local government officials of Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija.

It was only the second time for the Lodge to celebrate Independence Day in its host municipality.

And it intends to be that way in the future as the Lodge gears for a more active and visible role within its immediate community.

The 116th Independence Day is also an indicator of the Lodge's maturity as an organization by showing its willingness to execute pipelined activities even in the absence of the Master who was out of country at that time.

The same is reflected during the District's 153rd commemoration of Bro. Jose P. Rizal's birthday in the grounds of the Cabanatuan City Hall.

It was a working day, an early morning rite, and the Master was still out.

But the Lodge as a disciplined organization responded and was able to participate through some of its members and the representatives of Model Court No. 55.

PHOTO CREDIT: Bros. Virgilio G. Santos and Rhomel A. Martinez.

BLOOD SPILLED AS GRAND LODGE INSPECTOR IS INSTALLED

A wee drop of blood actually as members of the Lodge lined up to have their blood glucose tested, and then their blood pressures measured too.

The project was sponsored and conducted by the ladies of Model Court No. 55 of the Order of the Amaranth and part of the Lodge's effort to refocus on the well-being of its members as its first and foremost priority.

During the Lodge's regular stated meeting, the entourage of District Deputy Grand Master Bro. Jerome T. Malaca was received after which District Grand Lecturer Bro. Rhommel A. Martinez presided over the installation of Bro. Lito Gapasin from Kapatiran Lodge No. 228 as the assigned Grand Lodge Inspector for Model Lodge.

Lunch was later tendered for the visiting District officers and the ladies of Model Court No. 55 at Model Lodge's temple-under-construction.

373 BIKERS: THE FLORES DE MAYO EDITION

Total Mileage: 434.5 kilometers

New Rider: Bro. Don King T. Barcelo

Milestones: The longest ride ever at 71.4 kilometers and two Top 10 finishes in the 373 Bikers' first ever competitive race. 

373 BIKERS SCORES IN ITS FIRST COMPETITIVE RACE

Two Top 10 finishes, and all of the 5-member 373 Bikers completed the race.

Bros. Shubert L. Ciencia, Virgilio G. Santos, Angelito E. dela Cruz, Reynald F. Martin, and Darwin S. Pastor mixed it up with almost 300 biking enthusiasts and scored big in their first ever competitive mountain bike race.

That was after 31.39 kilometers of the Masonic District R3-D Fun Ride Trail across paved roads that soon metamorphosed into the rough and rolling Guyabano Trail, two lung-busting steep climbs, and then the flatlands to the finish line.

Like most of the competing bikers, Brothers Darwin and Shubert required several stops while ascending the almost perpendicular twin summits of Guyabano Trail then pedaled furiously upon reaching flat terrain to catch several riders and clinch 7th and 8th places, respectively, in the race's Mason Category.

To commemorate this milestone, the 373 Bikers team decided to ride their bikes for the 40-kilometer trip back home.

They did so in a little over an hour and a bottle each of cold Pocari Sweat.