THE TRESTLEBOARD

Past DDGM Hossain Samsoddin Vostakalaei of Masonic District Nueva Ecija East and Aurora was nominated by a landslide as the top candidate for Junior Grand Lecturer of Central Luzon with a total of 131 votes. His nomination and that of VW Kenneth Yambao (72 votes) and VW August Roxas (51 votes) was the highlight of the 31st Central Luzon Multi-District Covention that was hosted by Masonic District Bulacan East and West in San Rafael, Bulacan.     Despite his busy schedule, DDGM Rommel Angara ensured that all voting delegates of  subordinate Lodges under the jurisdiction of Nueva Ecija and Aurora are in attendance to support the bid of PDDGM Hossain with the other three Masonic Districts of Nueva Ecija. Grand Master Johnny Pimentel graced the occassion with his presence as the guest of honor with Past Grand Master Pacifico Aniag and Junior Grand Warden Raul Canon also in attendance.  Before the convention proper, a Grand Master's Night was tendered by the host dis...

Team Nueva Ecija East and Aurora copped the special award on being "Best in Uniform" at the Central Luzon Multi-District Sportsfest that was held in SM-Clark Pampanga as well as taking 1st runner-up honors for billiards courtesy of Bro. Diego Saad and finishing as 2nd runner up for bowling through the efforts of Bros. Ernie Cortez, Dennis Villasenor, Bobby Faronillo, Dennis Daquiz and RJ Menorca.  And in celebration of their achievement, DDGM Rommel Angara feted Team Nueva Ecija East and Aurora to a sumptuous dinner and fellowship at the Waves Bar and Grill in Cabanatuan City that was arranged by VW Alfred Leonard Domingo (DGL) who was the Team Manager.  Team Nueva Ecja and Aurora also competed in table tennis though Bros. Agelito Dela Cruz (DGL), Ernesto Jimenez and Rex M.; darts with Bros. Rewel Gungon, Reynald Martin and Jun Coronel; and golf with Bros. Rewel Gungon, Roger Lugtu, Rodel Leonardo, Larry Camatu and Janong Ramos.  Bros. Elmer Santiago and Jun Coronel also ...

"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." These wise words from Chinese philospoher Lao Tzu are the inspiration for a livelihood project that DDGM Rommel Angara and the brethren of Maosnic District Nueva Ecija East and Aurora provided to more than 50 farming households from the municiplaity of Maria Aurora who received more than 400,000 tilapia fingerlings for backyard fish production.     The project was facilitated by Manuel L. Quezon Masonic Lodge No. 262 and Kasiguruhan Masonic Lodge No. 423 with the support of the National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources through VW Angelito Dela Cruz (DGL) who provided the tilapia fngerlings, and aims to provide an additional source of income for poor farming households.  Beyond the fingerlings distribution, DDGM Rommel and the Municipal Government of Maria Aurora through Mayor Ariel Bitong and Bro. Coun. Eleazar ...

The ritual of the "Padugo" is an enduring tradition in the Philippines where blood is spilled in the foundation of a structure to be built to drive away evil spirits and ensure its sturdiness. As an appreciation of this cultural practice, the blood of a wild boar was offered to appease the spirits on the eve of the cornerstone laying ceremony for Kasiguruhan Masonic Lodge No. 423's Masonic Temple.    In Freemasonry, the first stone to be set in building a Masonic edifice is the cornerstone that will determine the position of entire structure and laying the cornerstone is a significant Masonic ceremony both from the operative and speculative points of view. Grand Master Johnny Pimentel of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines himself presided over the cornerstone laying ceremony of Kasigurahan 423 upon the invitation of DDGM Rommel Angara who warmly received him and his entourage upon their arrival in the remote town of Casiguran, Aurora which is 358 kilometer...

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 Hos...

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 W...

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 tha...