THE TRESTLEBOARD

Honorable Congressman Rommel Rico Teh Angara of the Lone District of Aurora is the third District Deputy Grand Master to be appointed for Masonic District Nueva Ecija East and Aurora after PDDGM Rhomel Martinez in MY 2019-2021 and PDDGM Hossain Shamsoddin Vostakalaei in MY 2021-2002. DDGM Rommel is a scion of Aurora's most notable political clan --- his father served as mayor of Baler (founded 1609) which is among the oldest towns of the Philippines for 10 years (1978-1988), his uncle Arthur Angara as mayor of the same town  for 18 years (1992-2001, 2004-2013) while his brother was just reelected for a second term in the same position (2019-present). His uncle is of course the eminent former UP President and Senate President Edgardo Angara  while his aunt Bellaflor Angara-Castillo represented Aurora in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2004 before serving as a three-term governor of the province (2004-2023).  DDGM Rommel's father, the late brother Mayor Joselit...

As the afternoon waves of the Philippine Sea gently licked the shores of Luzon's southern coast line, the brethren of Masonic District RIII Nueva Ecija East and Aurora congregated at the Baler Beach Club in the Province of Aurora to witness the transition of the District's leadership from DDGM Hossain Shamsoddin Vostakalaei of Talavera Masonic Lodge No. 273 to DDGM Rommel Rico Angara of Kasiguruhan Masonic Lodge No. 423. And in recognition of DDGM Hossain's exceptional tenure in leading MD Nueva Ecija East and Aurora which earned him the recognition as an Outstanding District Deputy Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines, DDGM Rommel presented a token of appreciation to his predeccesor in behalf of the grateful subordinate Lodges of the District.    Past DDGM Jonald Hernandez of what was then MD Nueva Ecija South and Aurora graced the turn-over ceremony as the guest of honor and keynote speaker that were also witnessed by the District's Gr...