THE PINK LADIES RULE!

Congratulations to the PINK TEAM of Cabanatuan Lodge No. 53, Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73, Talavera Lodge No. 273, and MODEL LODGE NO. 373 for emerging as the CHAMPION of the 2014 edition of the District Ladies Bowling Tournament!

The brethren of Model Lodge is proud of their BETTER HALVES  who through a team organized by MODEL COURT NO. 55 (Order of the Amaranth) did much much better than their husbands who placed last in the just concluded Annual District Tournament.

And hooray to SIS. MARY GRACE MATEO-SANTOS who was among the top scorers of the tournament!

PHOTO CREDIT: DDGM Jerome Malaca

SIX FRAMES FROM THE DISTRICT LODGE OF INSTRUCTION

It was a full house as officers of Masonic District RIII-D walked its subordinate Lodges through a review of the proper floor works and Masonic decorum in the historic hall of Cabanatuan Lodge No. 53.

The Master of Model Lodge, its Senior and Junior Wardens, and the Senior and Junior Deacons came in yellow.

And they learned a lot as mistakes were pointed out and corrected, and lingering questions fielded and clarified.

They stayed for the fellowship dinner too and enjoyed a table with District Deputy Grand Master Bro. Jerome Malaca.

 
PHOTO CREDIT: The last frame courtesy of Bro. Alex Manuel

373 TENNIS: THE FIRST DRESS REHEARSAL

First introduced was the forehand, then the backhand, then the mixed use of both.

That was the inaugural tennis clinic two months ago.

For the second clinic, the members tried their new 373 Tennis jerseys.

Then slam and bang as the forehands and backhands were applied in a tennis court for the first time.

The balls did fly wild but then, that might have happened too when Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras took up tennis rackets for the first time.

After the clinic, the would-be tennis superstars trooped to Bro. Reynaldo Requito's place to extend to him the Lodge's comfort and support as he tends to his ailing wife...

THE 2014 BOWLING GAMES: THE BATTLE OF CHAMPIONS

There were never winners and losers in this tournament.

All 17 teams who competed are champions.

There was indeed the usual cheering and occasional heckling but all in the spirit of fun and friendship.

After all, the Bowling Games was conceived to strengthen the fraternal ties that binds the subordinate Lodges of Masonic District RIII-D tightly together.

Thus was every team a champion, including Team 373 who engaged in a Class D championship knockout match with the combined forces of Team 262/404, the team's Cabanatuan Squad leading the charge, losing by a whisker, slugging it out with Team 73 for runner-up honors, and losing that one too.

In the end, every team got a trophy, including Team 373 who placed last among the 17 teams but won big with its biggest team ever to the games, the most active participation of the members' spouses through Model Court No. 55 of the Order of the Amaranth, and the fact that every team member played although many held a bowling ball for only the first time in their lives. 

In the conclusion of a successful bowling season, Team 373 raises a tall glass to every team it lost to, a taller glass to the two teams it was able to go through, and the tallest glass to District Deputy Grand Master Bro. Jerome Malaca and the District officers who made it all possible.

THE 2014 BOWLING GAMES: CLASSIFICATION DAY

Another lose to Team 53 before a win [finally] against Team 203 has sealed Team 373's fate.

It will compete for the champion's trophy in the familiar conditions of the Class D category with equally familiar opponents.

Hurray for Team 373 and a photo ops with Grand Master and PNP Chief Bro. Allan Purisima!

Hurray for Model Court No. 55 (Order of the Amaranth) who were always there for Team 373!

And hurray for the beer served by those nice ladies from Manila Beer! 

PHOTO CREDIT: Bro. Jojit Floro

THE DAY BIRDIES FLEW HIGH AND RAFFLE TICKETS SOLD OUT

No tickets were sold and there was actually no champion's cup. 

After all, it was strictly a "by invitation" tournament among brothers and close friends organized by the Lodge to raise funds for the continuing construction of its Masonic temple. 

The Lodge is thankful to all the sponsors who supported the 3rd edition of its Temple Cup golf tournament, and to Bros. Eduardo Sayco and Amidon Nicolas who made it possible. 

And that's the story why several gentlemen braved the high noon sun at the Capitol Hills Golf and Country Club to confront all 18 holes of the golf course. 

Later after the post-tournament reception at Gerry's Grill as the whiskey bottles were opened, the sponsors lined up and filled Model Lodge's cup with their generosity.

Meanwhile 113 kilometers away at the Manrio Bowling Lanes where most of the Lodge's members stayed for Day 3 of the District Bowling Tournament, the remaining raffle tickets sold like there is no tomorrow.

District Deputy Grand Master Jerome Malaca picked the winning ticket and made one brother a happy owner of a brand new Acer Aspire Switch 10 lap top.

Back in Quezon City, the Lodge team to the golf tournament emptied their whiskey glasses and said their good byes.

Those at the bowling tournament in Cabanatuan City finished their last pizza and beer.

They all slept late that night but with the happy reassurance that the Temple works will continue, and that they might actually move into their new home within the year... 

PHOTO CREDITS: Bros. Shubert Ciencia and Jojit Floro

THE 2014 BOWLING GAMES: TOTAL SHUT OUT

First is a crushing defeat from perennial Class A contender Team 297.

Then a closer but another losing contest from one-time Class A champion Team 228.

And a final send-off from Team 263 who is also of the Class A genre.

But perennial Class D dweller Team 373 --- anchored this time by its CLSU-Munoz Squad ---don't mind at all as Day 2 of the 2014 Bowling Games concluded with 3 straight losses.

After all, everybody was able to play although it was the first bowling experience for most members of the team.

And it helps that the Lodge's Temple Builders was able to bring home 2 wins [and 2 loses too] against Bro. Virgilio Santos's Team Forty at the Acropolis Basketball Gym in Cabanatuan City earlier in the day.

Add to that the sumptuous lunch tendered by District Deputy Grand Master Bro. Jerome Malaca for the incumbent Masters of all Lodges within Masonic District RIII-D before the 2014 Bowling Games resumed.

Overall, it was a good day...

BLOODY SATURDAY

For the 3rd straight month, blood was spilled at the Lodge's temporary Masonic Temple.

But not on the ground or anywhere else, but on cotton balls prepared by sisters from the Order of the Amaranth's Model Court No. 55 as the brethren lined up to have their fingers pricked and their fasting blood sugar levels measured and recorded.

And their blood pressures too!

It seems that all is still well because after the testing and the stated meeting, this is what happened:

But for a good reason [maybe] as the brethren toasted the election of a candidate's petition after four long years of trying.

373 BIKERS: THE 4TH OF JULY EDITION

TOTAL MILEAGE: 173.7 kms

MILESTONES: For the first time, the 373 Bikers broke through the boundaries of Nueva Ecija to Aurora, Tarlac, Pangasinan, and Nueva Vizcaya. 

The 373 Bikers also welcome the company of Bro. Erwin Ferry [Eulogio R. Dizon Lodge No. 321 / Pantabangan MPS CoP] and Bro. Ranny Casilla [Aurelio Mendoza Memorial Lodge No. 283 / Carranglan MPS CoP], and delighted in riding with PO1 Karen Castaneda [bottom photo] and the bike she won from the Lodge's "Takbo para sa Bahay ni Kuya 3" raffle draw.