A BROTHER TURNS A NEW LEAF

He just turned a year older. And still smells of jet lag from a recent trip to France.

But there was no mistaking his resolute determination as Bro. Narciso Nieto announced his joining the political arena during a gathering of selected brethren at the Lakewood Golf and Country Club in Cabanatuan City. There were no regrets as Brother Narciso recalled his 31 years of government service which saw him rose as a temporary low level employee to undersecretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform, and no fear at whatever challenge his new career as a politician would bring.

Brother Narciso is one of the nominees of AA-KASOSYO, one of the 187 party list groups accredited for the Philippines’ upcoming May 2010 election. The group's vision is to “protect and uplift the lives of farmers, fishermen, and small processors/manufacturers by providing them supervision and technical expertise in productions either in the farming, processing of the produce but more specifically on the marketing of all the produce thru AA-KASOSYO Exchange Centers”.

Brother Narciso was a past Master of Factoria Lodge No. 311 in Nueva Ecija and was serving as Senior Warden of Model Lodge, then under dispensation, when he was appointed as the District Deputy Grandmaster for Masonic District RIII-D in 2008.

PARTY LIST EXPLAINED: The Philippine party list system was enacted into law in 1995 though Republic Act 7941. It seeks to enhance the representation of marginalized and under-represented sectors in the House of Representatives and was first introduced in 1998. Because of this law, Philippine voters vote for two congressional representatives: the district representative and a party-list representative. Of the 269 seats in the Philippine House of Representatives, 20 percent or 52 seats are reserved for party-list representatives who garnered 2% of the total votes cast for all party-list candidates. Each party list group is allowed a maximum of 3 seats or 6 percent of the total votes cast for it.

HOLY WEEK MOTORIST ASSISTANCE CENTER

The photo shows a motorist being given medical attention by Pvt. Kristine Joy Rillon of the Fort Magsaysay Special Operations Command (Medical Section) at Model Lodge No. 373’s Motorist Assistance Center in Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija. The center was established to provide assistance to motorists during this year’s Lenten vacation. Model Lodge is grateful to the support extended by the Fort Magsaysay Special Operations Command which was facilitated by Bro. Erwin Macalinao, and the St. Jerome Petron Service Station through Bro. Lino Carandang, Jr.

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”.

PROJECT MORINGA BOARD MEETING

Project Moringa President Prudencio Elegado (second from right in the photo below) presides over the Board of Trustee’s meeting that was hosted by Trustee Monico Delgado (first from left). Also in the meeting after Trustee Monico are (counter clockwise) Vice-president Anacleto Fernandez, Board Secretary Sergio Francisco, Trustee Manolo Mercado, Bro. Nathaniel Elegado (after President Prudencio) who was one of Project Moringa’s incorporators, Technical Consultant Reynaldo Villaflor, and Trustee Marionito Guerrero.

Project Moringa is the acronym for the Moringa Technology Development and Resource Center, Incorporated which is a corporation established by Model Lodge No. 373’s members to supervise and manage the Lodge’s social enterprises and income generating projects, take charge of its community extension and charity work, and develop and manage its properties and resources.

MASONIC TEMPLE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

Two more proposed architectural designs from Bro. Jose Matutino, Jr. and Bro. Reynaldo Villaflor for Model Lodge No. 373’s Masonic temple were accepted by the Lodge’s Masonic Temple Development Committee during its first formal meeting hosted by Bro. Marionito Guerrero. These are in addition to the first design that was commissioned by Bro. Anacleto Fernandez and that submitted by Bro. Jimmy Obejas.

During its deliberation, the Masonic Temple Development Committee narrowed its choices to that of Brothers Jose and Reynaldo. The committee also viewed a video presentation on pre-cast concrete technology as it seeks the most efficient method of constructing the Lodge’s Masonic temple.

After the committee’s meeting, the brethren of Model Lodge No. 373 led by Lodge Master Bro. Manolo Mercado (photo below, center in white shirt) jointly presented the immediate past Master’s certificate to Bro. Anacleto Fernandez (photo below, in red shirt). Certificates of Proficiency were also presented to Bros. Angelito Dela Cruz, Jojit Floro, Lino Carandang Jr., and Fitzgerald Hierco.

Brother Manolo chairs the Lodge’s Masonic Temple Development Committee with Brothers Jose, Reynaldo and Anacleto as members including Bro. Eduardo Sayco, Bro. Prudencio Elegado, and Bro. Lamberto Miranda.