Sunday, June 27, 2010

DISTRICT BADMINTON TOURNAMENT


At exactly 7 am today at the Syquio Courts in Cabanatuan City. Prizes for the winners! Free tshirts, lunch and and a raffle draw for everybody!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER JOSE!


Today is Bro. Jose P. Rizal's 149th bithday which Masonic District RIII-D observed in simple rights at the grounds of the Cabanatuan City Hall. Also today, the brethren paid a surprise visit to Bro. Prudencio Elegado who will be having his own birthday on July 22.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

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.

Monday, June 14, 2010

112th INDEPENDENCE DAY AND LODGE VISITATION

Independence Day

The brethren of Model Lodge No. 373 joined Masonic District RIII-D in the commemoration of the Philippines’s 112th year of independence in simple rites led held at the grounds of the Cabanatuan City Hall. As flowers were offered, speeches made, and gun salutes fired under the shadow of the patriot Bro. Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s monument, Model Lodge remember those brother Masons who fought for freedom and earned for the province of Nueva Ecija the pride and honor of being among the 8 rays of the sun in the Philippine flag:

Bro. Gen. Mariano Llanera who started the War for Independence against Spain in Nueva Ecija by attacking the Spanish garrison in Cabiao on 02 September 1896 which is now celebrated as “The First Cry of Nueva Ecija”, and who is honored by the brethren in Nueva Ecija with the establishment of the General Llanera Memorial Lodge No. 168 in Gapan City.

Bro. Gen. Manuel Tinio, the Philippines’ youngest general ever, who led Bro. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s “Tinio Brigade” in liberating the Ilocos provinces from the Spanish colonists and honored by the brethren with the establishment of the Gen. Manuel Tinio Memorial Lodge No. 167 in Guimba.

The brethren of Penaranda’s Masonic Triangle No. 80 namely Bros. Pablo Padilla, Mamerto Natividad Sr., Pantaleon Valmonte, Domingo Cecilio, Marcos Ventus, Epifanio Ramos, Cipriano Sarile, and Teodorico Lagonera who bravely fought for independence and yet remained anonymous in the history books.

Bro. Apolinario Mabini is also honored in the province with the establishment of the Apolinario Mabini No. 237 in Cuyapo --- the town where he was captured by the Americans on 11 December 1899 during the Filipino-American War. Meanwhile in Cabanatuan City, a rundown historical marker is the solemn reminder of where Bro. Gen. Antonio Luna died.


Lodge Visitation

After the Independence Day rites, the Model Lodge contingent led by its Master Bro. Manolo M. Mercado visited Talavera Lodge No. 273 and later Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73 to start its Lodge Visitation program which aims to promote affinity and cooperation with other Lodges in Nueva Ecija.

Incidentally, the Lodges visited had their parts permanently woven in the tapestry of Model Lodge’s history being the wombs which nurtured its birth. Bro. Felicisimo Joson, Jr. who was supposed to be the Charter Master of the Lodge until his untimely demise belong to Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73 along with Bro. Prudencio J. Elegado who became Model Lodge’s Charter Master, Bro. Monico G. Elegado who is considered as “The Grand Old Man” of Model Lodge, Bros. Perfecto S. Parinas, Jimmy C. Obejas, Hermenegildo C. Gines, and Eugenio Ramirez who are all founding members of Model Lodge. Except for Brother Eugenio, all brothers mentioned served as Master of Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73.

Talavera Lodge No. 273 meanwhile gave the endorsements which enabled Model Lodge to be instituted and finally constituted as a regular Lodge. Bro. Antonino Z. Manabat authored the first endorsement in 2005 and Bro. Arnel M. Landingin the second endorsement in 2007. Brother Arnel along with Bros. Emil Andrew M. dela Rosa II, Lamberto Miranda, Arthuro Ilagan, Narciso B. Cuison, and Jun S. Capulong became founding members of Model Lodge while Brother Antonino later petitioned for dual membership. Except for Brothers Narciso and Jun, all brothers mentioned served as Masters of Talavera Lodge No. 273.

Fittingly enough, Model Lodge’s visitation program commenced on an Independence Day and to those who it considers are its Mother Lodges.


FOOTNOTE: The historical data cited in this article was taken from an article authored by Bro. Jose Ariel G. Domingo titled “Nueva Ecija Revisited” and previously published in a Cabletow special edition and in The Craftsman’s September 2008 issue. Brother Jose Ariel is a 2-time Master of the Apolinario B. Yap Memorial Lodge No. 328, a past District Grand Lecturer of Masonic District RIII-G, and one of Model Lodge No. 373’s founding members.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

MODEL LODGE WELCOMES ITS GRAND LODGE INSPECTOR FOR 2010-2011

The brethren of Model Lodge No. 373 warmly welcomes its assigned Grand Lodge Inspector for 2010-2011 --- Bro. Conrado Q. Sante.

Brother Conrado was installed as such during a visit to the Lodge by the officers of Masonic District RIII-D led by District Deputy Grandmaster Bro. Alan LM Purisima and his District Grand Lecturers, with Bro. Laverne L. Manangbao (District Grand Lecturer) as the Installing Officer and Bro. Cristino C. Castillo (District Grand Lecturer) as the Master of Ceremonies.

Brother Conrado is a member of both Kapatiran Lodge No. 228 and Palayan City Lodge No. 331 where he served as Master. He is also a former District Grand Lecturer.  



FOOTNOTE: Top photo shows Worshipful Master Bro. Manolo M. Mercado handing the gavel of authority to District Deputy Grandmaster Bro. Alan LM Purisima as the District Grand Lecturers look. In the next photo, District Grand Lecturer Bro. Isagani V. Galang (right) reads the duties and responsibilities of a Grand Lodge Inspector to Bro. Conrado Q. Sante (left) during his installation as such.