22 August 2009

Brethren,

Last night, August 21, 2009, we had a special meeting wherein we raised to the MM degree Bros. Mike Masangkay and Jovic Tribiana. I just want to share some thoughts about and arising from the said meeting. For me, the meeting was significant or "special" for the following reasons:

1. With the raising of Bros. Mike and Jovic, we have now raised 8 candidates for this year. From my experience in the lodge, this is a big number already for I don't recall having raised this many candidates in one year. I hope the lodge continues to attract not just more candidates but, more importantly, more "quality" candidates. Those who would bring honor to the lodge and to the Craft. Those who would be active in the lodge.

2. The 8 candidates we have raised so far, and whom I warmly congratulate, are Bros. Melvin Tesoro, Carlo Concepcion, Edsel Miguel, Giovanni Mata, Jun Torres, Emil delos Santos, Mike Masangkay and Jovic Tribiana. They comprise the big batch of FCs who, for one reason or another, caught up with each other in the second degree. What we, the more senior members of the lodge, have to do is to see to it that their enthusiasm while they were still candidates would continue now that they are full-fledged members of the lodge. And I think the first step in this direction is to give them the orientation lecture for MMs, which is part of our implementation of the lodge system of masonic education. I believe that a good and firm philosophical and educational foundation for our canddiates is one key to molding them into becoming good, upright and proficient MMs. In this connection, we shall be scheduling an orientation lecture for the 8 newly raised MMs this September.

3. Regarding the said orientation lecture, I am calling on members of the lodge who would be willing to lecture on a topic or two. In our last lecture for EAMs we already had two new speakers in the persons of Bros. Dexter Que and Ric Lumbre. I hope this time we will again have at least one or two new lecturers. I am especially calling on the more senior members of the lodge.

4. The special meeting last night was also significant because Bro. Ric Lumbre, for the first time, did the SD part in the first section of the third degree conferral. Congratulations, bro. This highlights the need for the younger members of the lodge to participate in the workings of the lodge. The lodge should always be conscious of the importance of developing new blood, so to speak, because by so doing the lodge is also developing future leaders of the lodge and of the Craft as well. Along this line, inasmuch as the next degree work of the lodge would be the passing of Bros. Charleson Tan and Royce Reyes, maybe some members may now think of volunteering to do the SD for the first section and SD for the second section (357 lecture) and already start studying the said parts. Of course, those who have been doing those parts in the past should help the new volunteers. Perhaps, we can also ask some to try out the position of stewards. I also believe that we have to get other members to deliver the charge. So far, it is only Kuya July who has been consistent in giving the charge although I recall seeing Bros. Deng Amisola, Gerson Lim and Anthony Sy give the charge at least once, if I am not mistaken. While I sincerely admire Kuya July in his dedication and commitment in doing certain parts during degree conferrals such as the giving of the charge, I still firmly believe that other members should share the load. I can see that the work of the brother secretary is very demanding and tiring and he is not getting any younger. I don't think he will resent it if our past masters would lend him a helping hand by volunteering to give the charge in the three degree conferrals. This is just my humble request to our PMs.

5. Equally significant is our use of slides during the lecture last night. It marked the third time we have made use of the power point presentation in our degree lectures - once in the first degree and twice in the third degree. It shows that we are learning to use modern technology for our purposes. I think we should continue to take advantage of the available technology to improve the way we do things. The use of slides, such as in the first and third degree lectures, is very effective in communicating ideas. We also make use of it in our four orientation lectures for our candidates. In this regard, I would ask the members, especially the Bros. Secretary and Treasurer, to seriously consider the use of this technology to project to the white wall in the lodge room the minutes of the past meetings of the lodge as well as the treasurer's report. By so doing, we are more able to communicate these matters to the members present and they, in turn, would be more attentive instead of simply talking to their seatmates or thinking of other things. I know this can be done as it is already being done by Mayon Lodge No. 61 in Legazpi City. I learned this from some members of that lodge whom I met more than two weeks ago when I went to Legazpi City. Just another humble suggestion, mga kuyang.

Dagdag lang tungkol sa special meeting kagabi, August 21, 2009. Nakalimutan kong sabihin na ang mga hindi nakadalo ay may na-miss na isang kakaibang pangyayari sa raising. Kung baga, ito ay ngayon lang nangyari at isang karanasang maaaring sabihing hinding hindi malilimutan. Kung ano iyon, magtanong na lang kayo, mga kuyang. :-)

On another matter, we might be having a fun activity this August 29, which is an airsoft game (iyong baril-barilan na parang naggegerahan tayo gamit ang airsoft na baril). If plans push through, it will be held at the place of Bro. Lito Sioson, our SW, at Pililla, Rizal. I understand that Bros. Emil delos Santos and Jun Torres, who are airsoft enthusiasts, will go to Kuya Lito's place tomorrow, Sunday, to check it out. This activity was discussed during the meeting of mentors and mentees on August 14 at the Causeway Restaurant. I think Bro. Eugene posted some pics of that meeting where MW Bunyi paid a short visit. Please wait for further announcements.
Fraternally yours,

Bro. Chicho Bawagan