Friday, August 20, 2010

Message from the Worshipful Master - August 21, 2010

Greetings my brother,

Thank you - seems inadequate to express my deep gratitude to everyone who helped and contributed to the success of our district project Masonry: FYI last July 31st.  The enthusiastic effort of many brethren and sisters of inviting friends and guests was responsible for the huge turn-out: 125 in attendance.  And they were not disappointed for they were informed, enlightened and entertained by four of our most knowledgeable and erudite Freemasons: WB Vic Mariano, VW Warly Sanguila, VW Roy Trinidad and VW Fem Calio.  And just as the open forum was becoming more exciting with the audience earnestly participating.  I had to end the program because we had exceeded our time by one hour already.  My thanks also to the Masters of the other Lodges for their unstinted support and to all brethren who attended, specially those who performed as lodge officers.  Most of all, my thanks to the project chairman, WB Vic Mariano for acceding to my suggestion of reviving this activity after a lapse of about eight years, and to our DDGM VW Ben Alipio, for his trust and all out support.

In the spirit of cooperation and collaboration, I would like to urge the brethren to also extend their support to the forthcoming district activities: Walk For Your Health on Saturday morning of August 21 with Manticao Lodge 243 as lead lodge and Novatos Golf on Sunday, August 22nd with Maranaw Lodge 111 as the lead lodge.  Let us practice outside the lodge the Masonic Fellowship that we so proudly talked about during the bring a friend program.  Let us support and participate in all of our district and lodge activities.  See ya...
- WB Oscar V. Badelles


* * * * *
AGENDA FOR THE STATED MEETING AUGUST 21, 2010

5:00 P.M. OPENING OF LODGE OF MASTER MASONS
5:30 P.M. MAIN BUSINESS
*  Reading & Approval of the Minutes of Last Stated Meeting
*  Reading & Approval of Secretary's Financial Report
*  Reading & Approval of Treasurer's Report
*  Reading of Communications

6:00 P.M. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
*  Bring-A-Friend - WB Victor G. Mariano
*  Sister Lodge Visitation - Bro. Jaime P. Magnetico

6:30 P.M. MASONIC EDUCATION
"Our Glorious Past and Deplorable Present" - VW Moises G. Dalisay, Jr.

6:40 P.M. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF VISITING BRETHREN -
6:45 P.M. Messages / Commentaries Visiting WMs, GLI, DGLs, and DDGM
6:50 P.M. CLOSING OF THE LODGE
7:00 P.M. Fraternal Dinner


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PLEASE BE REMINDED OF THE FOLLOWING DISTRICT ACTIVITIES:


*  WALK FOR YOUR HEALTH @ UDLMC, SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 2010 @ 5:30 A.M.


*  NOVATOS GOLF @ GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB OF ILIGAN, TIPANOY ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2010 @ 7:00 A.M.




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GREETINGS to our AUGUST BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS:

WB Mervin C. Salazar - August 4
Bro. Jose B. Montejo, Jr. - August 7
Bro. Rainato L. Sy - August 11
Bro. Angelo Guisseppi C. Loceo - August 14
VW Dominic W. Siao - August 30

FELICITATIONS also to the love birds of Iligan Lodge on their WEDDING ANNIVERSARY:

Bro. Angelo Guisseppi & Sis. Patricia Loceo - August 23


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"In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves." - Thomas Carlyle


               

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Our Junior Warden's Daughter Got Zapped!

By God!  It was Abby's 1st Birthday Celebration and her Christening at the same time.  The proud father, Brother Hilario Abel Gomez organized a party attended by a few church friends, family members and a lone eater (outsider who is not actually related to the family, so I went there to eat...and brought along my lovely wife...and take photos...and wrote this blog...and posted these pictures)...

Beeday...cakes!

The candle symbolizing the light of the path towards God, the water
which symbolizes the cleansing of the soul. 

Sacred corner.

Officiating pastor.

The guests...with the proud Grandpa (right).

Some of the guests during the prayers for the newly baptized baby girl, Abby

Cute Abby curious of the camera while her dad, mom and kuyas are
all singing the hymn!

Proud Dad giving baybee Abby one of his
glowing smiles.

And God's words were broadcast in the air for everyone to hear
that this child Abby is in HIS protection.

The proud parents and the God parents.

Abby's energy was passed to her by these proud parents.

And the ritual of baptism is performed on Abby to proclaim
to everyone that she is GOD's precious child.

Baybee Abby dipping her cute little hands on the holy water.

Grand Pa leading the prayers for the blessings of the food.

The 3 Kings or Musketeers 

A pose with Ninang Marlene with Grand Pa at the background.

Hopping around to get acquainted with the rest of the guests of her baptism.

 
Struggling to grab her Grand Pa here standing beside Lolo Warly.

Baybee Abby grabbing herself a handful!

Friends...Relatives...Neighbors...


Party's OVER! wwaaahhhhh!!! I wanna go home!


Baby Abby, May God always protect you and guide you as you make your way to this world.   To our Junior Warden, Brother Abel, the father, May you continue to shower your love ones with abundant love, wealth, attention and not failing to show them the way to our eternal creator.


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"Just as a flower gives out its fragrance to whomsoever approaches or uses it, so love from within us radiates towards everybody and manifests as spontaneous service." - Swami Ramdas


Thursday, August 5, 2010

Freemasonry: For Your Information - A HUGE SUCCESS!!!

Around 8 years ago, Iligan Lodge No. 207 led the district in the first Bring A Friend program.  Its intention is to let the people know all about masonry and its work in general, and of the lodges and appendant bodies in the district RD-X and Armm (Lanao) in particular.

The event, scheduled last Saturday, July 31, 2010, started with a registration of all Masons present, all guests, friends and families included.  Everyone then was escorted to the lodge room and seated comfortably by the deacons.  The lodge was opened with a prayer followed by the singing of the national anthem and the lodge hymn.  After the welcome remarks of the Worshipful Master, it went directly to the business of the day.  Lectures followed by another lecture gave the guests a colorful insight of what freemasonry is all about.  After the lectures at the lodge room, everyone was led by the Worshipful Master and the District Deputy Grand Master to the function hall for some refreshments and continuance of some queries.  The pictures below will somewhat give the sequence of the story...


Sisters of the Order of the Eastern Star, led by their 
Worthy Matron Sister Girlie Miguel (extreme right) eagerly
awaits the start of the program.

This picture is one of my favorites because it showed a true
meaning of commitment to the lodge activity: The Charter
Master of Iligan Lodge No. 207, WB Gerardo Padilla (1975)
and the immediate past Worshipful Master, 
WB Eduardo Ulindang (2009).  Of course the present
Worshipful Master of the lodge is presiding the activity.


The brethren and guests standing for the entry of the Philippine flag.

Occupants of the east led by the WM, WB Oscar V. Badelles
of Iligan Lodge No. 207 and the District Deputy Grand Master,
VW Ben Alipio.

Southwest corner of the lodge is almost to the rim with people.

Northwest of the lodge likewise in the same condition.

WB Victor Mariano, PM of Iligan Lodge No. 207 giving the
walk-about the Lodge Room.  Bro. Mariano by the way,
also chaired the event.

The north side of the lodge room as viewed from the west.

WB Ian Uy, WM of Maranaw Lodge No. 111 occupied
the south, while the west was occupied by
WB Dodong Fernandez of JVVR Lodge No. 259.

VW Warlito Sanguila, PDDGM and PM of Iligan Lodge
No. 207 delivering the history of freemasonry entitled
"England to Iligan City" in 15 minutes!
Your imagination is as good as mine!

The north east corner of the lodge was likewise jam-packed
with people.

VW Roy Trinindad, PDDGM and PM of Iligan Lodge No. 207
delivering the "Community Service and Involvement"
portion of Freemasonry, also in 15 minutes.
I really don't know what's with 15 minutes...

VW Warly and the Senior Warden of Iligan Lodge No. 207, 
Brother Jaime Magnetico following the lecture of VW Roy.

This picture is a testimony that everyone inside the lodge room
were all ears to the topics prepared by the speakers.


VW Fem Calio, PDGL, gave a very important topic...the
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) which answered majority of
the doubts of the attendees and guided majority of the questions
during the open-forum that followed. 

Brethren from Lake Lanao Lodge No. 227 and
Rajah Indrapatra Lodge No. 387 also graced the occasion
bringing with them their families and guests.  Their presence
gave a sense of camaraderie and brotherhood in the
relationship of Muslims and Christians in our vicinity.

Then the questions during the open-forum started.


WB Vic Mariano acted as moderator.


VW Dicky Castro, PDDGM and PGPursuvant answering
some of the questions thrown by the participants.

Brother Manny Sambilay likewise gave answers to
some questions from the floor.

VW Ben Alipio, District Deputy Grand Master of RD-X
and Armm (Lanao) giving his message before
the program ended.

Sisters of the Order of the Eastern Star posed at their
exhibit area at the function hall during the fellowship.

Members of the Order of the Amaranth, led by the
Royal Patron Brother Ali Bari (left, kneeling)
at their exhibit area.


The working tools of a Master Mason.

The exhibit of the Order of Amaranth.

Some literature brought in by the brethren of show to the
guests of the wide range of materials available in the market
today...if one wants to study about masonry.

Some of the regalia used by the Scottish Rites exhibited at their area.

Another exhibit of the higher bodies.

Exhibit table of the Order of the DeMolay.

Pictures exhibited by different lodges during the fellowship
greatly added to the information that was given to the guests
by just merely viewing them.

Sisters of the Order of the Eastern Star posing in front
of the exhibited pictures, showing their activities and
installation of officers.

And the picture exhibit of Iligan Lodge No. 207
showing some of our lodge activities, brethren
during their travels abroad, etc.



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"Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think." - Benjamin Disraeli