MAY DAY

Lodge 373 Fetes their "Bunso"

Bro. Monico "Kuya Monic" Delgado was raised to the sublime degree on August 12, 1967 and has been with the Craft for more than 47 years.

He served as Master twice: in Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73 which is his Mother Lodge, and as Charter Master of Zaragoza Lodge No. 263 which he helped established.

Brother Monico is also the acknowledged father of Model Lodge No. 373 who, on the occasion of his 77th birthday, presented to him the Hiram Award from the Grand Lodge of the Philippines which, other than being elected as Master, is the highest honor that can be bestowed by a Lodge to its member in recognition of outstanding service to the Fraternity and "indicates the esteem, respect, and admiration of the members".

Brother Monico envisioned Model Lodge as a resource center that will “encourage proficiency in Masonic rituals” and a showcase of compliance to “the edicts of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines concerning conferrals”, with the mission of elevating “Masonic relationship to a higher level” and developing “competent, respectable and honorable leaders” who will be “models of Masonic demeanor”.

The month of May also saw the transition from outgoing District Deputy Grand Master Jerome Malaca to incoming DDGM Ravinar Austria of Masonic District RIII-D who immediately convened a seminar/workshop for the better understanding and due implementation of the recently approved edicts and reform agenda of Grand Master Tomas Rentoy III which the incumbent and immediate Masters of the the Lodge with the Junior and Senior Wardens committed to support by affixing their signatures in the District Covenant for such.

May also saw the installation of Bros. Sergio Francisco and Shubert Ciencia, both Past Masters of the Lodge, as the assigned Grand Lodge Inspectors for Model Lodge No. 373 and Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73, respectively.

The merry month of May ended with the 4th Edition of the Lodge's "Takbo para sa Bahay ni Kuya" fund raising project which raised P100,000.00 for the continuing construction of the Lodge's Masonic temple, and a visit to Malinaw Lodge No. 25 in San Pablo City, Laguna to convey the Lodge's gratitude for their invaluable assistance during a moment of distress.   

A CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM NEW YORK

The day before Christmas, the Lodge received a donation from the brethren of Manahatta Lodge No. 449 of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York through Bro. Romeo Villanueva.

The gift is intended for the continuing construction of the Lodge's Masonic Temple and the brethren of Model Lodge No. 373 are grateful especially to the following:

WB JON TISON

BRO. ROMEO VILLANUEVA 

BRO. SAMUEL DEL ROSARIO

BRO. ROY CRUZATA

BRO. DWIGHT OCHOTORENA

BRO. LOUIE RAZON

BRO. JASON BUERANO

BRO. EFREN LAZCANO

BRO. DINO VILLAREAL

BRO. ROLLY TUPAZ

BRO. BOB MARTIN

BRO. BENJIE SANTOS

BRO. JASON LUGTO

BRO. EDGAR PILI

BRO. DAVID VINLUAN

Merry Christmas and may you be blessed by the Great Architect of the Universe forever! 

SECOND BLOOD AND A GIFT FROM UK-BASED BRODS

On Month 2 of Model Court No. 55's blood sugar and blood pressure monitoring, the brethren were more relaxed as they got pricked, and more aware as a 2-month chart of the results was shown to them.

Those who got high and borderline results were eager to know of any improvements, while those who stayed within normal values are happy of being "normal".

This wellness program will be conducted by the Court on a monthly basis every regular stated meeting for the benefit of the members of the Lodge, and part of the shift to focus on the well-being of the brethren with charity work and community service delegated to partner Appendant Bodies who are actually mandated to do such. 

Also highlighting the month's regular stated meeting was the turn-over of a donation from the Novo Ecijano Travelers of United Kingdom who, on their own and through the efforts of Bro. Benjamin Fe, Jr. of Eltham Palace Lodge No. 2980, collected funds in support of the continuing construction of the Lodge's Masonic Temple.

The brethren of Model Lodge is grateful to them...   

8TH CONSTITUTION DAY CELEBRATED WITH A TRIPLE TREAT

Model Lodge was constituted as a regular Lodge on May 17, 2007.

To commemorate the 8th year of this milestone, the 3rd edition of the Lodge's traditional "Takbo para sa Bahay ni Kuya" fun run was held covering a distance of 3 kilometers from the Temple construction site to the Sto. Domingo National Trade School and back.

District Deputy Grand Master Bro. Jerome T. Malaca arrived after the fun run with Bros. Rhommel A. Martinez (District Grand Lecturer) and Rey Samonte (District Treasurer) and joined the participants for breakfast. 

He also delivered the occasion's inspirational message and drew the lucky winner of a brand new top-of-the-line mountain bike from a raffle draw that was held to help raise funds for the continuing construction of the Lodge's Masonic temple.

The Lodge's acknowledged founding fathers, Bros. Prudencio J. Eelegado and Monico G. Delgado, also gave the members of the Lodge and their families a walking tour of the Lodge-under-construction and shared with them vignettes that helped shaped the history of Model Lodge No. 373.

After the fun run and raffle draw, a tennis clinic for the members and their families was held at the Central Luzon State University in partnership with Model Court No. 55 of the Order of the Amaranth.

The tennis clinic is part of the Lodge's continuing effort to diversify the mode of its fraternal fellowships while at the same time expanding the participation of immediate family members in its out-of-the-Lodge activities and strengthening ties with Appendant Bodies. 

The day's activities was highlighted by a lunch tendered by the Lodge for the activity organizers --- Bro. Virgilio G. Santos who supervised the fun run and raffle draw, and Bros. Jose A. Matutino, Jr. and Elpidio F. Dizon who took care of the tennis clinic.

TAKBO PARA SA BAHAY NI KUYA II

Model Lodge is grateful to all those who supported and attended the second edition of its Fun Run project that was held at Central Luzon State University which helped raised funds for the continuing construction of its Masonic temple.

Warming up.

Let's run! 

Takbo, mga Kuyang, takbo!

After the Fun Run.

100@4 (Part 2)

"Takbo para sa Bahay ni Kuya!"

And they did run and had fun during Model Lodge's Fun Run at the grounds of Central Luzon State University which raised P100,000.00 for the continuing construction of the Lodge's Masonic temple.

The successful fund raising was partly supported by the Central Luzon State University who provided the venue, Bros. Eduardo T. Sayco and Anacleto C. Fernandez who hosted the post-Fun Run lunch and fellowship, District 5 of the Order of Amaranth and its subordinate Courts, and the following Lodges whose patronage and sponsorship Model Lodge acknowledges with grateful appreciation:

Patrons

Pantabangan-Bonari Lodge No. 203
Bro. Mayor Jose Francis Stevens Dizon (Guimba, Nueva Ecija)

Sponsors

General Llanera Memorial Lodge No. 168

Mario S. Garcia Memorial Lodge No. 306

Zaragoza Lodge No. 273

FOOTNOTE: Model Lodge is also holding a week-long celebration of the 4th year anniversary of its constitution as a regular Masonic Lodge. The Lodge is grateful to Bro. Virgilio G. Santos whose hard work as the Fun Run committee chair ensured the success of the project.  

THANK YOU BROTHER NARCISO!

Yehey!

The P100,000.00 donation of Bro. Narciso Nieto, a Senior Warden of Model Lodge before being appointed as a District Deputy Grand Master in 2008, will certainly go a long way in the continuing construction of the Lodge's Masonic edifice.

Thank you Brother Narciso and God bless your kind heart!

A TRIPLE TREAT FOR MODEL LODGE'S 3RD ANNIVERSARY

Three years ago, Grandmaster Jaime Gonzales presided over the constitution of Model Lodge No. 373 at the historic grounds of Cabanatuan Lodge No. 53. This year, the brethren of Model Lodge No. 373 commemorate that significant event with 3 activities: a community outreach project in its host community, a day of getting-to-know-you and bonding for the brethren and their families, and a fundraising to help build the Lodge’s Masonic temple.

Operation Tuli

At least 65 young boys were led to their summer rite of passage in a mass circumcision held at the Barangay Health Center of Baloc in Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija. The operation was conducted by a team of nurses from the Eduardo L. Joson Memorial Hospital and supervised by Bro. Dr. Dennis Galang of Factoria Lodge No. 311, and in cooperation with the Baloc barangay government.

Model Lodge is grateful to all those who took the project as their own especially Bro. Dr. Dennis Galang and his team of nurses. Medicines were provided by the brethren of AG MW Pedro M. Gimenez Memorial Lodge No. 370, Sta. Rosa Lodge No. 297, Factoria Lodge No. 311, and Bro. Dr. Gil Suratos of Cabanatuan Lodge No. 53. Senator-elect Franklin Drilon through the facilitation of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement donated umbrellas that were given as tokens to the medical team. Bro. Fitzgerald Hierco and his wife Sister Daisy graciously hosted the lunch and ensuing fellowship for the brethren and medical team.

And while the brethren sang and frolicked, the Board of Trustees of Model Lodge’s corporate arm --- the Moringa Technology Development and Resource Center Incorporated --- was convened by its president Bro. Prudencio Elegado to finalize and consolidate the architectural plans submitted by Bro. Reynaldo Villaflor and Bro. Jose Matutino, Jr. for the Lodge’s future Masonic temple.

Family Day

The day right after Operation Tuli, Model Lodge held its first ever family day at Sarmiento’s Resort in Talavera, Nueva Ecija. As the kids frolicked in the pool, their parents went back to the joys of childhood play in the parlor games which everybody won and nobody lost. With such joy and gladness, the jug of premium brandy brought for the occasion by Bro. Jojit Floro tasted like vintage wine.

Fund Raising

The climax of Model Lodge’s family day is the drawing of the winning tickets of its fund raising project that was initiated to help raise funds for the building of the Lodge's Masonic temple. The grand prize of a 3-day and 2 nights round trip to Hong Kong for 2 was won by Bro. Edison Rivera of Talavera Lodge No. 273. The second prize of a laptop computer went to Bro. Jose Matutino, Jr. of Memorial Lodge No. 90 and the third prize of a 29-inch JVC colored TV to Mr. Ricardo Valdez of the Land Bank of the Philippines. Ten consolation prizes of a cavan of premium rice each was also won by the following: Bro. Aquilino Valino, Jr., Bro. Jomari Valino, Bro. Fitzgerald Hierco, Bro. Lino Carandang, Jr., Bro. Anacleto Fernandez, and Bro. Anthony Reyes all of Model Lodge No. 373; and Mr. Carlos Medina, Bro. Bobby Faronillo of Palayan City Lodge No. 331, Bro. Errol Santiago of the Eduardo L. Joson Memorial Lodge No. 326, and Bro. Michael Valenzuela of Pantabangan-Bonari Lodge No. 203.

MODEL 373 AND MLQ 262 GOLF TOURNAMENT: TYPHOON-ed BUT SUCCESFUL

The night before the tournament, Typhoon Feria did its war dance in the sky with swirling dark clouds and blowing winds threatening to break out anytime. Typhoon Signal Number 2 has been declared and classes suspended in Metro Manila.

But by next day, the winds calmed down. The sun broke through the dark sky and blessed the green with the warm rays of its golden light. It’s tee-off time!

And so it was that Model Lodge No. 373 and the Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Lodge No. 262 successfully held their golf tournament to raise funds in building their respective Masonic lodges. In no time, the club house of the Veterans Golf Club and Country Club along Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City emptied as brethren and guests prepared to conquer the rain-washed golf course.

Col. Toots Tutaan topped the Class A competition while Gardy Cruz lorded it over the Class B bracket. Bro. Ben Garrido of Laong Laan Lodge No. 185 was the champion in the Class C category.

A fellowship dinner after the tournament was hosted by Model Lodge No. 373 and Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Lodge No. 262 for those who came to play, and the brethren and friends who gave their support to the project. Prizes were raffled in between the awarding of trophies for the champions and all who attended went home happy with their Adidas sports shirts. But some were happier by winning brand new colored TV sets, DVD players, a personal refrigerator, rice cookers and flat irons, and gift certificates.

The golf tournament was supported mainly by the Land Bank of the Philippine and Ampani Cemets Corporation, and the following hole sponsors: Bro. Jojit Floro of Model Lodge No. 373, Bro. Freddie Ruiz and Bro. Teody Sayco of the Munoz Memorial Lodge No. 90, Bro. Joey Matutino of Model Lodge No. 373 and Munoz Memorial Lodge No. 90, Bro. Bobby Villarosa of Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73, Bro. Junjun Sebastian of the Eulogio R. Dizon Lodge No. 321, Bro. Waldo Geli of Teodoro R. Yango Memorial Lodge No. 351, Bro. Bernie Bolisay of T.M. Kalaw Memorial Lodge No. 136, Bro. Col. Ray Romero, Bro. Gary Maningas, Bobby Asis, Baby Isip, St. Jerome Petron Services and Station, VRF Construction, Pako’s Restaurant, and the Mass V Group of Companies.

Bro. Col. Rey Romero who is the manager of the Veterans Golf Club and Country Club also gave a 45 percent discount on the green fee of the tournament while Nestle Philippines provided free drinks.

The golf tournament is actually the second to be held at the Veterans Golf Club and Country Club with the first having been hosted by Model Lodge No. 373 last year. Already, plans are being drawn for a third edition next year. Same time, same place. Typhoon and all.

FOOTNOTE: This article by Bro. Shubert L. Ciencia first appeared in the July 2009 issue of “The Craftsman” --- the official newsletter of RIII-D under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines. The photo shows Model Lodge 373's WB Anacleto Fernandez (left) and MLQ Memorial Lodge 262's VW Rick Gutierrez (right) awarding a trophy to one of the tournament champions.