YEAR-LONG ADOPT-2-SCHOOLS PROJECT KICKS OFF

What more than a tree planting to start the school year --- which is actually preluded by a Brigada Eskuwela last May --- which is actually a late commemoration of last month's Environment Month.

Whatever is the case, the 100 guyabano seedlings from Bro. Junnie Fernandez of CENRO-Talavera found its way to the Felix Pascual and Rogelio Valdezotto Elementary Schools in Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija where these were planted by students, teachers, members of the Order of the Amaranth, and the brethren of Model Lodge for the benefit of today's Generation Z.

The project was spearheaded by Model Court No. 55 (Order of the Amaranth) and supported by the Lodge, and was graced by the presence of the District officers of the Order of the Amaranth led by its District Deputy Grand Royal Matron (Sis. Salud Cruz) and Patron (Bro. Antonio Manabat).

This year's Adopt-a-School project will be conducted throughout the year and will focus in providing the unmet needs of both schools and its students based on the inputs of the school principals and teachers.      

FELIX PASCUAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ROGELIO VALDEZOTTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

A nutrition supplement feeding for the students of the Rogelio Valdezotto Elementary School capped the tree planting activity that was attended also attended by officers of the school's Parents-Teachers Association. 

Through this small contribution, the Court and the Lodge hopes in helping the effort in totally eradicating severe cases of malnutrition among school children.

On the way back, the tree planting team checked on the progress of the ongoing construction of Model Lodge's Masonic Temple where Model Court will also have its permanent address.

Next year, both the Lodge and the Court are hopeful that they will be finally coming home...  

BRIGADA ESKUWELA AND A SUNSHINE VISIT IN TALAVERA

Reaffirming its commitment to support the charity and community service work of Appendant Bodies, Model Lodge provided the Brigada Eskuwela project of Model Court No. 55 of the Order of the Amaranth with cleaning materials that were turned over to the Rogelio DG Valdezoto and Felix T. Pascual Elementary Schools in Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija.

The Lodge also sent a team led by its “Adopt-a-School Project” coordinator Bro. Wilfredo G. Pagay which assisted Model Court No. 55 in the distribution of the cleaning materials to the recipient schools.

Later after the distribution, the Brigade Eskuwela project team paid a sunshine visit to Sis. Daisy V. Hierco --- the better half of Model Lodge’s Assistant Treasurer Bro. Fitzgerald A. Hierco --- who is currently recovering from a surgery. 

SANTA COMES TO BALOC

Santa Claus did not come in a sleigh pulled by reindeers.

He was not dressed in bright red with a beard and bulging stomach.

For the more than 500 students at the Rogelio Valdezotto Elemenatry School in Sitio Pudyot and the Felix Pascual Elementary School in Sitio Bulihan of Baloc in the municipality of Sto. Domingo, Santa Clause are the brethren of Model Lodge and the ladies of Model Court No. 55 of the Order of the Amaranth bearing new pairs of slippers for each of them.

The next day, the teachers got their gifts too!

The brethren of Model Lodge greets the world with Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

CHRISTMAS IN JUNE

Model Lodge extends its gratitude to the sponsors and patrons of its annual Adopt-a-School project which provided a complete set of school supplies to each of the 155 students of the Rogelio DG Valdezotto Elementary School.  

The Lodge is specially thankful to its partner --- the Order of the Amaranth's Model Court No. 55 --- who led in repacking and distributing the gifts, and in later facilitating a nutrient supplementation feeding program.

PHOTOS: Bro. James P. Mata

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)

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)

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.

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.

PLANT TREES, GIVE BOOKS

In support of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine's environmental conservation programs, some 200 mahogany and narra seedlings courtesy of Bro. Ronaldo Venturina (Pantabangan-Bonari Lodge No. 203) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources were recently planted by Model Lodge led by Worshipful Master Bro. Marionito Guerrero, the Order of Amaranth's Royal Court No. 31 led by Grand Patron Bro. Prudencio Elegado and Grand Matron Sis. Luisa Elegado,  and Baloc barangay officials led by Barangay Captain Diacono Lee at the Lodge's Masonic temple grounds.

June being the start of the school year in the Philippines, the Model Lodge and its partners proceeded to the Rogelio DG Valdezotto Elemetary School in Sitio Pudyot, Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija immediatley after the tree planting where school supplies were distributed to 138 pupils.  

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!

ADOPT-A-SCHOOL-PROGRAM

The brethren of Model Lodge No. 373 extends its gratitude to the following sponsors of its recent Adopt-a-School project: District Deputy Grandmaster Bro. Alan Purisima for the t-shirts; the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement for the shoes and notebooks; Bros. Dean Barry Lao, Jonathan Requintel, and Anthony Reyes for the crayons; Bro. Eduardo Sayco for the pad papers; Bro. Fitzgerald Hierco for the pencil sharpeners; and Juan Gabriel and Juan Pablo Ciencia for the pencils. The warm welcome accorded by barangay and school officials led by Brgy. Capt. Diacono Lee and Principal Danilo Mercado is also much appreciated.