MODEL LODGE IN CARRANGLAN

The Master of the Lodge --- Bro. Shubert L. Ciencia --- with Bros. Reynaldo L. Requito and Wilfredo G. Pagay recently attended the Carranglan Agro-Trade Fair upon the invitation of the Municipal Government.

While visiting the various trade fair displays, the Lodge's delegation was able to meet several notable Masons who were also there namely Bro. Romeo Momo who as the current Undersecretary for Operations of the Department of Public Works and Highways is the event's guest of honor and keynote speaker, Bro. Jose Francis Stevens M. Dizon who is the incumbent municipal mayor of Guimba, and several past and incumbent District Deputy Grand Masters.

MODEL LODGE HOST NEW DDGM

District Deputy Grand Master Bro. Ramiro Cruz (above) was received and given grand honors during his visit to Model Lodge. He was accompanied by his District Grand Lecturers and Bro. Julius Bisaya (below, with purple tassles) who is the assigned Grand Lodge Inspector of Model Lodge.

MOISES J. DE GUZMAN MEMORIAL LODGE NO. 161

Congratulations to Bro. Fernando Santos who was recently installed as Worshipful Master of the Moises J. De Guzman Memorial Lodge No. 161. Brother Fernando (left) is shown above with his younger blood brother and outgoing Past Master Bro. Val Santos (right), a dual member of Model Lodge, who served as the installation rites' Master of Ceremonies.

Photo grabbed from Brother Val's Facebook account.

APOLINARIO MABINI LODGE NO. 235

Congratulations to Bro. Ronaldo Sadural (photo below), a dual member of Model Lodge, who was recently installed as Senior Warden of the Apolinario Mabini Lodge No. 235 in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija. Model Lodge is also proud of Bro. Ernesto Jimenez (second photo from above) who delivered a stirring tribute to the flag during the installation rites. Brother Ernesto and Bro. Darwin Pastor are honorary members of the Apolinario Mabini Lodge No. 235 which is under the jurisdiction of Masonic District RIII-F (North Nueva Ecija).

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.

GRANDMASTER CONSTITUTES 2 NEW LODGES IN NUEVA ECIJA

And then there were 37.

Golden Beehive Lodge No. 388 in the Science City of Munoz and Kadanglaan Lodge No 392 in the upland town of Carranglan both within the jurisdiction of Masonic District RIII-F were recently constituted as regular Lodges in solemn ceremonies presided by Grandmaster Avelino Razon, Jr.

A contingent from Model Lodge No. 373 headed by Senior Warden Marionito Guerrero were on hand to witness this momentous event which culminated in the formal installation of the officers of both Lodges including one of Model Lodge’s own, Bro. Ramon Sabacan, who has been elected as Secretary of Kadanglaan Lodge No. 392.

The province of Nueva Ecija is divided into 2 Masonic Districts namely Masonic District RIII-D covering 16 regular Lodges in South Nueva Ecija and Aurora province, and Masonic District RIII-F covering 11 Lodges in North Nueva Ecija.

Model Lodge is within the jurisdiction of Masonic District RIII-D but its strategic location right the middle of Nueva Ecija province has made it a melting pot with its members coming from both Masonic Districts including Bro. Jose Matutino, Jr. who is the incumbent District Deputy Grandmaster of Masonic District RIII-F.

BROTHER VICE-GOVERNOR IN MODEL LODGE

Bro. Vice-Governor Edward Thomas Joson (highlighted) of Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73 paid a visit to the brethren of Model Lodge No. 373 during their regular stated meeting. Brother Edward Thomas is contesting the governorship of the province of Nueva Ecija against an equally worthy brother --- incumbent governor and Model Lodge charter member Bro. Aurelio Umali who is also the immediate past master of Kapitan Pepe Lodge No. 293. His visit to Model Lodge, according to the vice-governor, is his first outside his mother Lodge this year.