REFLECTIONS OF A BLUE BOY AND A PROMISE (almost) KEPT

I am a Blue Boy.

Not those MMDA guys but of Model Lodge who were called as such by District Deputy Grandmaster Bro. Rodolfo Estrada for the blue suits we wore for this year’s installation rites.

The blue suits were a gift from Bro. Marionito Guerrero who, upon his installation as Master of Model Lodge, made a pact with us to attend all such rites within the Masonic District. And that means from the opening of the Lodges until the fellowships.

We were usually a car pool of two vehicles coming from the northern and southern parts of Nueva Ecija province.

We have assignments. We worked on schedules and rotations. Some have to file leaves of absence. Others have to go AWOL or drop commitments or delete schedules. It was tough sometimes. But were happier than blue.

It was at first a routine requirement for us. But we learned much at each installation and somehow developed a deeper appreciation on the ritual. Finally, it became our initiation into a broader fraternity beyond the confines our Lodge. We toasted, gut drunk, and made many friends on a first name basis. We finally let our hair down and with it our inhibitions. We are the blue boys and we are happily at ease now.

The Blue Boys were able to attend all 16 installations (including ours) within the District plus 4 more outside of it. We were there for the openings, stayed during the restrained moments, came back for the rites, listened to the speeches, and enjoyed the fellowships.

On a personal note, I made a promise last year to attend all 15 (minus ours) since I only made 6 then. I tried hard even if it meant wearing the same blue barong for 2 consecutive days at times. But I only made 13 (minus ours) because I got called to a conference in Batangas when the Blue Boys attended that of the manuel L. Quezon Memorial Lodge No. 262, and had to mind the kids as it was wife in conference when they went to San Leonardo Lodge No. 386.

But the Blue Boys were there, always there, and we are them.

FOOTNOTE: This essay was written by Bro. Shubert L. Ciencia and originally intended for publication in "The Craftsman" --- Masonic District RIII-D's official newsletter.

JOURNEY TO THE EAST: A Photo Essay of This Year's Installation Rites

The brethren of Model Lodge No. 373 made a promise to attend every installation ceremonies this year within Masonic District RIII-D. But this was not to be as work, crazy schedules, and things unforeseen came into the way. Bro. Shubert Ciencia for his part managed to attend the ceremonies of only 6 Lodges which he tried to capture with his camera and are featured in this photo essay. He apologizes to the other Lodges he missed and promise to attend their installation rites next year.

Brother Shubert has been a photography hobbyist since 2006. His photos have been published in various web sites, travel maps, magazines, brochures, and newspapers. His take on the Central Luzon Sate University’s main gate was used by the Philippine Daily Inquirer for that university’s centennial feature article. And just recently, several of his images were published in “Huling Hudhud ng Sanlibong Pagbabalik at Paglimot para sa Filipinas Kong Mahal”, a book authored by National Artist for Literature Rio Alma. Brother Shubert’s favorite subjects are old churches and various noodle recipes which is posted in his flickr account and narrated in his personal blog --- “Shooting Churches, Eating Noodles”.

THE BANGKOK CHRONICLES: NOTES BETWEEN CROSSWORDS AND YOSI BREAKS

I was busy doing a bundle of crosswords killing the 3 hours until my flight to Bangkok and did not notice the man seated in front of me.

“Saan ang lakad, bro?”

I looked up surprised but expecting who would be asking such question. That’s how I met Kuya Melo Naguiat (Pampanga Lodge No. 48) who was also on his way to Bangkok with Ateng to watch the Thailand Tennis Open. And that’s when I realized what is meant by the symbols where one brother may know another.

Kuya Melo was a past District Deputy Grandmaster. It would perhaps surprise the people around us if they would know that it was only our first meeting. And yet our long warm conversation would made it look like we had known each other for some time.

We were on the last plane out before the airport was closed due to heavy rains. I was on my way to attend the Bangkok-leg of the United Nations Framework for Climate Change as an official observer. Typhoon Ondoy has just arrived and would unintentionally thrust the Philippines into the limelight during the Bangkok climate change talks as the world’s reluctant poster country on how climate change affect people’s lives.

In Bangkok, I bumped into Kuya Usec. Fred Serrano (Makiling Lodge No. 72) of the Department of Agriculture during one of those yosi breaks in between sessions. I can see the quizzical looks of the other Philippine delegates with us. I’m sure they were thinking why would Kuya Fred call me kuya when he looks older than me? And then I called him kuya too?

That’s one mystery they’ll have to discover on their own, if they’ll ever will.

Outside the UNESCAP where the Bangkok talks are being held, wave after wave of protesters came. And the shutterbug that I am urged me to go out and shoot them, which I did, and ran into Kuya Milo Tanchuling (Rafael Palma No. 147) of the Freedom from Debt Coalition. Again, a yosi bonding moment. And these quizzical looks. I can almost read their minds: “Kapatid ba ni Milo yung kausap niya? E ba’t kuya ang tawag niya samantalang hamak namang mas may edad si Milo?”.

Kuya Serge Francisco (Model Lodge No. 373) of the Philippine Rice Research Institute was also in town for a conference. Unfortunately, our hotels were on the extreme sides of the city. That and the legendary traffic gridlock of Bangkok plus the inhumane schedules we have to work on prevented us from having an impromptu Singha Beer-cum-Thai spicy beef salad fellowship. Kuya Fred told me though during one of our yosi breaks that Kuya Serge is his college classmate at the University of the Philippines in Los Banos. “Malayong mas pilyo sa akin yan,” he added.

I did tried brother hunting in Bangkok too. And there are quite a few under the Grand Lodge of Ireland, the Grand Lodge of Scotland, the Grand Lodge of the Netherlands, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Delaware, and the National Grand Lodge of France. The lone lodge under the United Grand Lodge of England is Chula Lodge No. 9745 and they meet only once every third Saturday of the last month of every quarter at the Sukothai Hotel along South Sathorn Road, Bangkok. I leave on October 10. Maybe some other time then.

It was my fifth trip to Bangkok but an entirely new experience. The highlights of my previous trips were mainly shooting those old Buddhist temples, exploring the Thai noodle cuisine, and bargain hunting along Sukhumvit, Pratunam, and Chaktuchak Market. I went home with a more profound appreciation of the brotherhood in this trip.

In Bangkok, I met some brothers and I am one of them.

FOOTNOTE: This article's text and photo are both by Bro. Shubert Ciencia who recently attended the 2009 Bangkok Climate Change Talks. The photo above shows the author (left) with Kuya Usec. Fred Serrano (right) at the UNESCAP building in Bangkok, Thailand. This article was also published in the September-October 2009 issue of "The Craftsman".