THE TRESTLEBOARD

Pursuant to Edict 340-B of Grand Master Rolen Paulino providing for a "Special Communication for the Election of Junior Grand Warden", DDGM Hossain Shamsoddin Vostakalaei convened the subordinate Lodges of Masonic District RIII Nueva Ecija East and Aurora at the gymnatorium of the Dr. Gloria Lacson Foundation Colleges in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija to cast their votes for the next Junior Grand Warden of the Most Workshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.  The election was held simultaneously across the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines through online and physical voting with MW Pacifico Aniag (PGM) presiding as Chairman of the Election Committee that was convened en banc at the Plaridel Masonic Temple under the autorithy of the Grand Master. After the election was closed, DDGM Hossain presided over the counting of votes cast by the voting delegates of MD RIII Nueva Ecija South and Aurora that were unanimously delivered in favor of V...

DDGM Hossain Shamsoddin Vostakalaei led the brethren of MD RIII Nueva Ecija East and Aurora in remembering the heroism of Bro. Jose P. Rizal on the occassion of his 160th birthday in a simple ceremony that was hosted by WB Rick Yerro and Pantabangan-Bonari Masonic Lodge No. 203. Immediately after the ceremony, DDGM Hossain turned over antigen testing kits to the District's subordinate Lodges to be used in compliance with Grand Master Rolen Paulino's directive requiring mandatory COVID-19 testing before any Masonic meeting or activity. Later in the afternoon, DDGM Hossain and his District officers were officially received by WB Alfred Leonard Domingo at the regular stated meeting of Talavera Masonic Lodge No. 273 to mark his first official Lodge visit.     PHOTO CREDIT: VW Dominador Matias (PDGL)

DDGM Hossain Shamsoddin Vostakalaei formally initiated MD R3 Nueva Ecija East and Aurora's annual Brigada Eskuwela program by teaming up with WB Alfred Leonard Domingo and Talavera Masonic Lodge No. 273 in donating materials and equipment to 4 barangay schools in Talavera. Mayor Nerivi Santos was on hand to witness the turnover of a printer, 5 bottles of printer ink and 40 reams of bond paper each for the Basang Hamog, Pantoc Bulac, Tagaytay and Casulucan Este elementary schools to support their module production.   PHOTO CREDIT: VW Dominador Matias (PDGL)

The constraints of the pandemic has toned down this year's commemoration of the annual independence day rites but just the same, a number of the brethren joined DDGM Hossain Shamsoddin Vostakalaei in celebrating the nation's 123 years of independence that heroes and distinguished members of the Craft have fought for so valinatly. The subdued commemoration was held at the grounds of the Talavera Municipal Hall and joined by Mayor Nerevi Santos who is also a member of the Order of the Amaranth, representatives of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites and Shriners International, officers of MD RIII Nueva Ecija East and Aurora, and the delegations of Talavera Masonic Lodge No. 273 and Model Masonic Lodge No. 373. The District's subordinate Lodges also joined the commemoration in Rizal and Palayan City in Nueva Ecija and in Casiguran, Aurora.  After the independence day rites, the District officers travelled to Fort Magsaysay where DDGM Hossain led in donating blood for the AA...

Amidst strict health protocols that included a mandatory COVID-19 antigen test for all attendees, Grand Master Rolen Paulino presided over the joint turn-over ceremony of Masonic Districts Nueva Ecija East and Aurora, Nueva Ecija South and Nueva West at the Crystal Waves Events Center in Talavera, Nueva Ecija.    By receiving the District Symbol from outgoing DDGM Rhomel Martinez, incoming DDGM Hossain Shamsoddin Vostakalaei formally assumes the responsibility of steering Masonic District R3 Nueva Ecija East and Aurora in complying with the Grand Master's theme of a "Clear Vision of Masonic Harmony" while guiding the District in adapting to the realities of the "New Normal".    The appointed Grand Lodge Inspectors for the three Masonic Districts were also installed after the formal turn-over including the following Grand Lodge Inspectors for Nueva Ecija East and Aurora: VW Fitzgerald Hierco for Pantabangan-Bonari ML No. 203 VW Artemio Valenzuela Jr. for Manuel L...

On 29 May 2021, DDGM Hossain VC Shamsoddin Vostakalaei performed his first offcial function as the District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District Nueva Ecija East and Aurora by hosting MW Rolen C. Paulino, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines, as he presided over the Rite of Constitution of the Ang Bagong Bayan Masonic Lodge No. 463. The ceremony was held at the Model Masonic Lodge No. 373 Masonic Temple in Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija where VW Edwin B. Ubungin was also duly installed as the first Worshipful Master of the Lodge together with its elected and appointed officers. The brethren's dream to establish a Masonic Lodge in the town of Llanera that was first conceptualized in September 2017 was thus realized, after overcoming several challenges, and amidst the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.     PHOTO CREDIT: WB Dean Barry Lao of Model Masonic Lodge No. 373

After being postponed for a year by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 104th Annual Communications of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines was finally convened in a historic hybrid virtual and limited face-to-face meeting on 22-23 April 2021 that was highlighted by the installation of the 103rd Grand Master of Masons in the Philippines, MW Rolen C. Paulino, and his team for Masonic Year 2021-2022 that included VW Hossain Shamsoddin Vostakalaei as the second District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District R3 Nueva Ecija East and Aurora and the District's Grand Lecturers. The virtual installation rites was another historic first in the annals of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines where Grand Line Officers from across the jurisdiction were installed remotely through the magic of the internet after the Grand Master's installation at the Lincoln Masonic Lodge No. 34 Temple in Olongapo City in a ceremony that was presided by MW Hermogenes Ebdane (PG...