THE TRESTLEBOARD

  The idea of establishing a Masonic lodge in the Municipality of Llanera was conceived by VW Geronimo Pascua of Narra Masonic Lodge No. 171 and Kadanglaan Masonic Lodge No. 392, whose wife is from the said town, after a casual conversation with WB Egay Cruz at the Central Luzon Multi-District Convention held at the Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija on September 2017. A few months later on January 2018 after the installation ceremonies of Kadanglaan Masonic Lodge No. 392, a group composed of VW Pascua, VW Freddie Lozano and VW Eduardo C. Vendivil of Molave Masonic Lodge No. 392, and VW Virgilio Catbagan Jr. of San Jose City Masonic Lodge No. 309 agreed to spearhead the establishment of the lodge. On March 2018 during a wake for the late VW Michael Valenzuela, the group again met with WB Gary Sinagose of Molave Masonic Lodge No. 392 and Bro. Riberto Chua Jr. of San Jose City Masonic Lodge No. 309 and decided to invite other interested brethren to join the initiative. The first informal

The idea of establishing a Masonic lodge in Bongabon started when WB Dr. Daniel A. Razon and WB Danilo V. Ilagan, two visiting brothers from Chicago, invited WB Virgilio S. Baldovino Sr. to a fellowship in Brgy. Tulay na Bato, Bongabon. In that gathering, the idea of organizing a Masonic lodge in the Municipality of Bongabon was discussed. Immediately thereafter, efforts were made by WB Virgilio Baldovino and other Master Masons to inform other brothers residing in Bongabon of this plan. VW Prudencio J. Elegado of Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73 and Bro. Gen. Ricardo I. Padilla of Antonio R. Lamson Lodge No. 290 next invited all Masons residing in Bongabon to a fellowship at the residence of Bro. Romeo Tolentino in Brgy. Sampalucan on 02 November 2012. The meeting was attended by 7 Master Masons who agreed to organize a Lodge and formed an informal working group called the Bongabon Onion Travellers Club with the following officers: Bro. Ricardo I. Padilla as President, VW Prudencio J. Elegado

In May 2009, a fellowship was held at Moreno’s Restaurant in Baler, Aurora where a group of Master Masons who are mostly from the Manuel Luis Quezon Memorial Lodge No. 262 unanimously decided to organize Kasiguruhan Lodge. VW Jonald E. Hernandez was designated to oversee and spearhead the organization of the new lodge. On 13 June 2009 during the stated meeting of MLQ 262 and in the presence of the officers of Masonic District RIII-D, VW Eduardo M. Yambot Sr. took the floor and formally put to vote the creation of Kasiguruhan Lodge. On 11 July 2009, the brethren of MLQ No. 262 led by then Worshipful Master Noel DV Vedad travelled to Casiguran, Aurora to hold its stated meeting under dispensation at the NFA Compound in Brgy. Calangcuasan where a resolution formally recommending the formation of Kasiguruhan Lodge was approved. However, supervening events led to the withdrawal of the petition to form a new lodge from the Grand Lodge of the Philippines in 2011. After a few years however, an

The Formative Years It all started in 1999 with a conversation during a degree work for Entered Apprentice Masons at Talavera Lodge No. 273. Among those in a huddle were Bro. Monico Delgado of Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73, Bros. Lamberto Miranda and Arnel Landingin of Talavera Lodge No. 273, Bro. Angelito Tomas of Eulogio R. Dizon Memorial Lodge No. 264 and Bro. Virgilio Catbagan Jr. of San Jose City Lodge No. 309 who are mostly employees of the Talavera municipal government. The discussion was on the challenges that confront Masonic lodges in Nueva Ecija and Bro. Monico Delgado’s proposal of establishing a model lodge as a resource center that will “encourage proficiency in Masonic rituals” and a showcase of compliance to “the edicts of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines concerning conferrals”, with the mission of elevating “Masonic relationship to a higher level” and developing “competent, respectable and honorable leaders” who will be “models of Masonic demeanor”. Then the meetings beca