A PARTY BY THE POOL

But before the party, sisters from Model Court No. 55 of the Order checked the blood sugar and blood pressure levels of the brethren so they get "tempered" before the annual Christmas feast begins.

Then a deluge of roasted pig and lamb, duck and chicken in various forms, all recipes related with the goat, an array of pasta and noodles, barbecue and hotdogs, a variety of rice dishes, an abundance of beer and whiskey, and the laughter and joy of winning a raffle prize and gifts from the parlor games while the kids cavorted in the pool of the Paseo Habida Resort in Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija.

  
On its annual Christmas party and family day, the brethren of Model Lodge and Model Court came together with their families to offer their thanks to a fruitful year.

But more than that is the strengthening of fraternal ties as families got to know each other more, and the conversations between Atengs that will bind them closer together as their "lesser halves" do.

The Model Lodge Family wishes everybody in the world the best of the Holiday Season!

BRO. JUNIOR WARDEN TURNS 40!

The brethren of Model Lodge wish its Junior Warden --- Bro. Jojit Floro --- and his family all the best things in life as he celebrate his 40th birthday!

Long life, peace, prosperity and more biking days ahead for you!

TEAM 373 BIKING CLUB KICKS OFF!

The Master of the Lodge, the Junior Warden, and the Senior Deacon officially initiated the formation of the Lodge's Biking Club by purchasing their individual bikes.

The Biking Club is the first of the Lodge's three sporting events scheduled for this year that was crafted to encourage a more meaningful fellowship for the brethren aside from the usual practice.

With this innovation on the definition of a fellowship, the Lodge hopes to create a stronger fraternal tie among the brethren while taking care of their physical well being.

A tennis clinic and a gun safety seminar for the brethren and their wives are the other sporting events programmed to be conducted this year.  

REFRESHMENTS AT A CHRISTENING

The brethren at the Hap Chan Tea House Restaurant in Cabanatuan City during the christening of Bro. Reynald F. Martin's youngest son.

GRAND MASTER ESPINO AND A HAPPY BIRTHDAY

No less than Grand Master Juanito R. Espino, Jr. came to grace the birthday celebration of Bro. Jose Dizon --- a former mayor of the Municipality of Guimba a Past District Deputy Grand Master of Nueva Ecija.

Several members of Model Lodge were also on hand to greet the birthday celebrant and the Grand Master namely Bro. Shubert L. Ciencia, Bro. Ramon Sabacan, and Bro. Jose A. Matutino, Jr.

Three of the birthday celebrant's sons are also members of the Craft --- Bro. Bopet Dizon who was also a 3-term mayor of Guimba and a Past Master of the Eulogio R. Dizon Memorial Lodge No. 264, Bro. Boyito Dizon who is in his last term as mayor of Guimba, and Bro. Bonbon Dizon who was recently elected as the No. 1 councilor of Guimba. 

CONGRATULATIONS BROTHER FITZGERALD!

The Lodge with Model Court No. 55 congratulates Bro. Fitzgerald and Sis. Daisy Hierco on the christening of their son Zaijan Gerald.

(Photo of the Godfathers and Godmothers taken at the Talavera Parish Church by Bro. James Mata)

CHRISTMAS IS FAMILY DAY

The brethren of Model Lodge wishes the world happy holidays as it celebrates its annual Christmas Party with their families. The party cum family day was held at the Marquez Resort in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija jointly with the Order of the Amaranth's Model Court No. 55.

(Photo taken by Bro. James Mata)

BOWLING 2011: FINALLY, WINS ON DAY 3 AND A CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ON DAY 4

After wins against San Leonardo Lodge No. 386 and the Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Lodge No. 262, Model Lodge barged into the Championship Match to defend the Class D champion's crown it won in last year's edition. But that was not meant to be as back-to-back losses against a suddenly fighting San Leonardo Lodge No. 386 relegated Model Lodge to a runner-up finish. But all's well that ends well as the brethren retreated to the chic Rosenda's Restaurant not to lick their wounds but to celebrate. It was after all a job well done, and the Worshipful Master and Senior Warden's birthdays too!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER ANTHONY!

Model Lodge greets Bro. Anthony "Astik" Reyes who recently celebrated his birthday in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija with good music playing from a live band and the company of the brethren.

OFFICERS FOR 2011 ELECTED AND APPOINTED

The following brethren were elected as officers of Model Lodge No. 373 for Masonic Year 2010 during its December regular stated meeting:

BRO. MARIONITO L. GUERRERO

Worshipful Master

BRO. SERGIO R. FRANCISCO

Senior Warden

BRO. AQUILINO M. VALINO, JR.

Junior Warden

BRO. FITZGERALD A. HIERCO

Treasurer

BRO. SHUBERT L. CIENCIA

Secretary

BRO. LAMBERTO B. MIRANDA

Auditor

After the election, Worshipful Master-elect Bro. Marionito L. Guerrero appointed the following co-terminus officers: Bro. Jojit DL Floro as Assistant Treasurer, Bro. Virgilio G. Santos as Assistant Secretary, Bro. Nathaniel N. Elegado as Chaplain, Bro. Anthony V. Reyes as Marshall, Bro. Lino M. Carandang Jr. as Senior Deacon, Bro. Ernesto T. Jimenez as Junior Deacon, Bro. Jomari B. Valino as Almoner, Bro. Rafael S. Perez as Orator, Bro. Jonathan P. Requintel as Senior Steward, Bro. Darwin S. Pastor as Junior Steward, Bro. Elpidio F. Dizon as Organist, Bro. Reynaldo L. Requito as Lecturer, Bro. Dean Barry Lao as Historian, Bro. Monico G. Delagdo as Harmony Officer, and Bro. Anacleto C. Fernandez as Chief of Staff. In keeping with tradition, outgoing Worshipful Master Bro. Manolo M. Mercado was appointed as the Tyler of the Lodge.

A Christmas party and family day was immediately held after the election at the swimming pool pavilion of the Central Luzon State University.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER FITZ!

It's not just Bro. Fitzgerald Hierco's birthday bash but also a snapshot of the Lodge's next regime with incoming Worshipful Master Bro. Marionito Guerrero, incoming Senior Warden Bro. Sergio Francisco, and incoming Junior Warden Bro. Aquilino Valino, Jr. leading the fellowship.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO. EDGAR CARRASCO!

Several brethren from Model Lodge joined Bro. Edgar Carrasco of Narra Lodge No. 171 in celebrating his birthday last Saturday namely (left side of the photo from the lower left corner) Bros. Roberto Samson, Anacleto Fernandez, and Marionito Guerrero; and (right side  from upper right corner) Bro. Joey Matutino who is the incumbent District Deputy Grandmaster of Masonic District RIII-F (partly hidden) and Bro. Sergio Francisco (partly hidden and third from Brother Matutino). Photo was taken by Bro. Shubert Ciencia.

DAY 2 OF DISTRICT 2010 BOWLING TOURNAMENT

Bowling pins fall inside as beer bottles do the same outside. Team Model Lodge again lost closely contested matches against Sta. Rosa Lodge No. 297, Kapatiran Lodge No. 228, and Factoria Lodge No. 331. Maybe that's the reason for the beer and whiskey. But then again, its the camaraderie and not the competition that matters most.

A BIKATHON, A TREE PLANTING, AND A BIRTHDAY

Aging knees and stomach paunches might have slowed the pace but the brethren from Lodges under the jurisdiction of Masonic District RIII-D still have what it takes to ride the 12 kilometers from Sta. Rosa town to Fort Magsaysay and still have some to spare to plant trees around the watershed of the 7th Infantry Division's (Philippines Army) Bahay Pahingahan. And they were amply rewarded with a feast and give aways prepared by District Deputy Grandmaster Bro. Alan Purisima. On the way home, Worshipful Master Bro. Manolo Mercado served lunch at his home for the Model Lodge contigent. The day ended with a dinner and a fellowship hosted by Bro. Jojit Floro on the occasion of his 27th birthday.

FOOTNOTE: The photo above shows the Model Lodge contigent led by Worshipful Master Bro. Manolo Mercado (left, in white shirt) after the District bikathon and tree planting in Fort Magsaysay's Bahay Pahingahan. Bottom photo shows birthday celebrant Bro. Jojit Floro (third from left, in blue shirt) with the brethren from Model Lodge No. 373, Pantabangan-Bonari Lodge No. 203, Eulogio R. Dizon Lodge No. 321, and Memorial Lodge No. 90 who attended his birthday bash. 

SUNDAY LABORS AND REFRESHMENT

It was a Sunday but the brethren of Model Lodge needs to fine tune the floorwork of its upcoming 3rd public installation of officers. So off to Cabanatuan Lodge No. 53 where sequences, timings, and cues were rehearsed under the supervision of Kuya Danilo Uy Tak (Talavera Lodge No. 273), Assistant Master of Ceremony Kuya Arnel Landingin, emcee Kuya Joey Matutino, and Kuya Laverne Manangbao (Kapatiran Lodge No. 228) who will be the Master of Ceremony. After almost 4 hours of practice, the brethren agreed that one more rehearsal day is needed then retired to Kuya Froilan Valino's place to celebrate Kuya Shubert Ciencia's 40th birthday(photos below).

A BROTHER TURNS 36 WHILE ANOTHER MOVES TO A NEW HOUSE

Bro. Fitzgerald Hierco (left from the photo above) turned 36 last November 14 and treated the brethren of Model Lodge No. 373 with a feast of pritong itik (fried duck), ginataang suso (river snails cooked in coconut milk), kalderetang kambing (goat meat cooked in tomato sauce), an array of sweet rice cakes and many more that were sumptuously washed down with bottles of ice cold San Miguel Beer. Also shown in the photo are (from left after Brother Fitzgerald) District Grand Lodge Inspector Bro. Prudencio Elegado, Bro. Reynaldo Requito, Bro. Ronaldo Sadural, Bro. Arnel Landingin, Bro. Monico Delgado, and Bro. Fredodrigo Hierco of Talavera Lodge No. 273 who is Brother Fitzgerald’s younger brother.

The next day, Bro. Val Santos hosted a fellowship for the brethren of Model Lodge No. 373 and the other subordinate lodges of Masonic District R3-D during the blessing of his spanking new house in Cabanatuan City. The photo below shows Brother Val (third from left in light blue shirt) and the brethren with Brother Val’s father (center in red shirt) Bro. Jose Santos who is a past District Deputy Grandmaster of Masonic District R1-A (formerly District No. 24). Behind Brother Jose on the left is District Grand Lodge Lecturer Bro. Froilan Valino who like Brother Val is a charter member of Model Lodge No. 373. Other Model Lodge members in the photo are Junior Warden Bro. Marionito Guererro (right of Brother Jose) followed immediately by Worshipful Master Bro. Anacleto Fernandez.