200K RAISED IN PLEDGING SESSION, THE "FREE LUNCH" PROJECT LAUNCHED

Members of the Lodge toasts a successful fundraising that raised more than P200,000 when the brethren responded to WM Jojit Floro's call for funds that brought in pledges of P1,000 to P50,000 for the installation of the the their Masonic Temple's ceiling in preparation for next year's Installation Rites.

A week later, the Lodge launched the school year-long "Free Lunch" project with Model Court 55 of the Order of the Amaranth, the Munoz Bodies of AASR, and Sto. Rosario National High School to provide meals to poor students who have to walk long distances to have lunch and sometimes don't come back to their school. By providing them lunch in the school, these students stays in the school.

And the annual Bowling Games concluded with Team 55 clustered in the familiar confines of the Class D category, a pulsating win over the joint San Leonardo-Aliaga Team anchored by the Worshipful Master himself, a 3rd runner-up finish, and a fellowship night at Vicentico's tendered by the Worshipful Master for his tired but happy team.

ANNUAL SCHOOL PROJECT HELPS 350 STUDENTS IN 3 SCHOOLS

WB Jojit Floro requested the Lodge's Past Masters' Council to convene for the first this year to consult on some urgent concerns before opening the Lodge's regular meeting that was highlighted by a Dignitary's Time in honor of VW Emmanuel Antonio Umali who was recently elected as vice-mayor of Cabanatuan City.

After the meeting, Model Court No. 55 of the Order of the Amranth presented the medical diagnosis of the blood samples extracted from the members a month ago as part of the Court's Year-Long Diabetes Awareness Program.

The Lodge's annual Adopt-a-School project, co-implemented this year with Model Court No. 55 of the Order of the Amaranth and the Munoz Bodies of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites, benefited three rural schools in Sto. Domingo with donations of a requested water pump, a portable sound system, and electric fans.

And then the annual Bowling Games, with the opening game featuring Model Lodge's most senior member with the incumbent Master of General Llanera Memorial Lodge No. 168, who are both in their 80s, and the all time oldest participants of the District Bowling Tournament.   

A YEAR-LONG DIABETES AWARENESS LAUNCHED, 100K RAISED IN ANNUAL FUN RUN

That is, partial liberation from lifestyle diseases as the brethren of the Lodge got pricked and profiled for a Year-long Diabetes Awareness project, now on its third year, and once known as Model Court's "Dugo Mo, Babantayan Ko" wellness project, but still is Model Court's project.

Then the real Independence Day, the 118th year in fact, with the Sto. Domingo LGU and Model Court as was the tradition, before the brethren shed their barong tagalogs for the 373 Temple Temple Builders' jersey and hand Team Pantabangan-Bonari their third loss in three years in, as always, their own home court.

June also ushered the 5th Edition of the Lodge's "Takbo para sa Bahay ni Kuya" project whose raffled draw component raised P100,000.00 for the continuing construction of its Masonic Temple, the glass window panes halfway though its transition into the ceiling installation works, the Temple grounds cleared of growth during the annual post-fun run general cleaning, all in commemoration of the Lodge's 9th founding anniversary.

And finally, the Lodge bids farewell to its former Grand Lodge Inspector, Bro. Leonido De Guzman, Jr., as the Mayor of the Lodge's host town who stepped down after serving two terms, and say hello to Mayor Imee Llado-De Guzman who will betaking over from her husband.

CHANGING OF THE GUARDS

This month, WB Jojit Floro of Model Lodge was recognized as the Most Outstanding District Deputy Grand Royal Patron of the Order of the Amaranth's Grand Court of the Philippines by Honored Lady Alona (Grand Royal Matron) and Sir Knight Florencio (Grand Royal Patron) Padilla as they turned-over the gavel of leadership to their successor --- Honored Lady Elspeth Deborah and Sir Knight Gilbert Gille.  

The month of May also heralded the hand-over of leadership in the Southern Nueva Ecija and Aurora jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines from outgoing District Deputy Grand Master Ravinar Austria to his successor, VW Alfredo Soriano, whose first official function is to visit Model Lodge. 

The District Deputy Grand Master's visit coincided with the launching of Model Court No. 55's "Year-Long Diabetes Awareness Program" for the benefit of the Lodge's members and their immediate families. 

And as a way of expressing the Lodge's gratitude, WB Jojit Floro later hosted a Mother's Day dinner for the members of the Court. 

The merry and busy month of May ended with the holding of the Lodge's annual "Operation Tuli" with Model Court and Team 40, this time in Cabanatuan City which benefited 26 young boys from urban poor families.

THE 100th ANNUAL COMMUNICATIONS AND THE DAY OF THE AMARANTH

The highlight of April is of course the 100th Annual Communications in Tagaytay City where the Lodge's delegation led by WB Jojit Floro witnessed the installation of Bro. Voltaire T. Gazmin as Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, and its very own Past Master Bro. Aquilino M. Valino, Jr. as a District Grand Lecturer of Southern Nueva Ecija and Aurora.

But before the 100th ANCOM is the installation of Past Master Bro. Shubert Ciencia as Royal Patron of Model Court No. 55 with Sis. Baby Liza Ciencia as Royal Matron...

...and a visit from UK-based Bro. Crescencio De Asis who is a founding member of the Lodge...

...in between a Lodge Executive Committee meeting, a series of fellowship with the ladies of the Amaranth, and the year's first charity project --- a medical outreach project with the Munoz Bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites and Model Court No. 55 of the Order of the Amaranth that benefited 131 urban poor families in Cabanatuan City.

LODGE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REVIVED, KUYA VAL INSTALLED AS AASR VENERABLE MASTER

The Lodge's Executive Committee (Execom) was first organized in 2014 during the incumbency of Bro. Shubert Ciencia as Master to oversee the Lodge's labors in between its regular meetings.

The Execom is composed of the Master, the Senior and Junior Wardens, the Secretary and the Treasurer, and the Auditor which was again convened by the incumbent Master, Bro. Jojit Floro, mainly to prepare the monthly Lodge reports.

March Meeting Top Lines

Since 2015, the Honored Ladies of Model Court No. 55 of the Order of the Amaranth has been conducting Fasting Blood Sugar tests for the brethren of the Lodge which is a pet project of Royal Matron Jocelyn Villanueva.

On her last month of incumbency after a two-year term as Royal Matron, Ate Joy and her team conducted what will be the last of such under her supervision of which the brethren of Model Lodge owe their grateful appreciation.

After the Lodge's March meeting, the Lodge's 373 Temple Builders basketball team unveiled its new uniform and announced its readiness to engage in friendly games with other Lodges.

District Installation Rites

As the first quarter of the year unwinds, the last public installation rites in Masonic District RIII-D were held: Zaragoza Lodge No. 263 on March 5, Factoria Lodge No. 311 on March 18, Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Lodge No. 262 on March 12, San Leonardo Lodge No. 386 on 19, and Kapatiran Lodge No. 228 on the last week of March.

Scottish and Amaranth Days

The month of March also announced the start of the installation rites of Courts under the the jurisdiction of District 5 of the Order of the Amaranth.

That of Nueva Ecija Court No. 31 was held on March 18 with Model Court No. 55 registering the biggest number of delegation, particularly among the Sir Knights present, including the Master of the Lodge in his capacity as the District Deputy Grand Royal Patron who traveled all the from from the Grand Lodge of the Philippines with the Lodge Secretary and Treasurer where they submitted the final requirements for ANCOM 2016 accreditation.

Next is that of the Munoz Royal Court No. 17 on March 19 that was preluded by the 373 Bikers competing in the First Guimba MTB Fun Ride and a sumptuous fiesta lunch hosted by Royal Matron Jocelyn Villanueva.

And as March closed, the Lodge celebrated another milestone with the installation of Bro. Val Santos as the 35th Venerable Master of the Munoz Bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites.

LODGE 2016 WORK AND FINANCIAL PLAN RATIFIED

On his first regular stated meeting, Bro. Jojit Floro as Master of the Lodge presented his proposed Work and Financial Plan for 2016 that was ratified for implementation by members of the Lodge.

The broad strokes of the plan was collectively prepared by the Lodge Transition Team at its concluding meeting and cover activities related to the Lodge's continuing Temple building work (i.e. completion of the Lodge window panes and ceiling), fund raising events (i.e. the annual editions of the "Takbo para sa Bahay ni Kuya" fun run and "Temple Cup" golf tournament), traditional Lodge activities (i.e. "Operation Tuli", the Adopt-a-School project), revival of the 373 Bikers and the Temple Builders basketball, and expected District activities. The plan will be implemented with a budget of P487,372.00.

The financial plan was further refined and fleshed by the Lodge's Executive Committee before it was presented and approved by the brethren.

As February unfolded and after its maiden grudge match with Team Pantabangan-Bonari, the Lodge's Temple Builders resumed its friendly basketball match with the Cabanatuan City-based Team Forty, wrapping up two games within one month with Team Forty prevailing in each.

Then there were the installation rites of fellow subordinate Lodges of Masonic District RIII-D --- AR Lamson Memorial Lodge No. 290 on February 5, Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73 on February 6, MS Garcia Memorial Lodge No. 306 on February 12, Pantabangan-Bonari Lodge No. 203 on February 13, Kapitan Pepe Lodge No. 293 n February 19, Palayan City Lodge No. 331 on February 20, and Sta. Rosa Lodge No. 297 on February 27 --- that were all attended by the Lodge's delegation.