THE TRESTLEBOARD

As Jose Mari Chan's carol filled the air waves to usher the distinct 4-month Christmas celebration in the Philippines, the subordinate Lodges of Nueva Ecija East and Aurora were convened by DDGM Rommel Angara in Baler, Aurora for their 3rd Annual District Convention that was hosted by WB Leo Avellano and the brethren of Mnuel L. Quezon Masonic Lodge No. 262.    During the Convention, a resolution providing that dispensation fees paid to the District for the conferral od degrees, requests for dispensation and reballoting of candidates will only be allocated for the develoment or lease of a District office was unanimously adopted. DDGM VW Ramon Mañalac of MD Bulacan East also personally conveyed the host district's invitation for this year's Multi-district Convention in San Rafael, Bulacan while  VW Randy Macadangdang, Junior Grand Lecturer for Central Luzon A, delivered the Masonic Education.   The highlight of the Convention is the unanimous nomination of VW Hossain Shamsod

It was a poignant image: two of the province of Aurora's outstanding sons, DDGM and Cong. Rommel Angara of MD Nueva Ecija East and Aurora with Worshipful Brother and Sen. Sonny Angara of Pangarap Masonic Lodge No. 448 waiting to be received by WB Leo Avellano and the brethren of the Manuel L. Quezon Masonic Lodge No. 262, DDGM Rommel for his official visit to the Lodge and WB Sonny and his party for their Lodge visitation. After their reception and messages, WB Sonny who presently is Baler's most reknowned son was bestowed with a token by WB Leo in behalf of the brethren of MLQ 262, and a plaque of appreciation for the visiting brethren of Pangarap 448.  Likewise, WB Leo and DDGM Rommel also presented a plaque of appreciation to the RW Grand Junior Warden Raul Canon Jr. who was also visiting at that time.  DDGM Rommel also pledged to donate a heavy duty split type aircon to MLQ 262 while another P100,000 donation for the continuing work on the Lodge was handed by WB Sonny to WB

The sleepy town of Bongabon at the foothills of the mighty Sierra Madres has its own chapter of Philippine history during the Philippine Revolution against colonial Spain and the Philippine-American War. And Masonry has always been intertwined with history since the Craft took hold in the Philippines but it was only recently that a Lodge was established in Bongabon with the constitution of Allium Cepa Masonic Lodge No. 453 on July 5, 2021. Today, Grand Master Johnny Pimentel laid the cornerstone where the Lodge will pursue its labors in Barangay Tugatog, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija in a 1,000-square meter lot that the brethren of Allium Cepa 453 bought for P1.2 million.      DDGM Rommel Angara himself applied the square to the corners of the stone and reported to the Grand Master that the Craftsmen of Allium Cepa 453 have done their duty before pouring the corn of nourishment that will symbolically strengthen and sustain the Craftsmen who will build King Solomon's Temple in that place. A