A Commitment to

Bagumbuhay Elementary School

Adopt a School Program

Feeding Project

Three (3) years ago, in a simple ceremony held at Ladislao N. Diwa Elementary School, Caridad, Cavite City, Bagong Buhay Lodge represented by the incumbent Master VW Gorgonio V. Necessario, Jr., District Grand Inspector, Masonic District No. 1 and Managing Editor of The New Life Newsletter together with other sectors of society in Cavite City signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Education, Cavite City adopting small institution Bagumbuhay Elementary School.

The “Adopt a School and Brigada Eskuwela Programs” were established by the National government. The concept of the two programs is to assist the adopted school and support the poor but deserving students in terms of beautification, improvement and development, healthiness, character building, scholarship programs, donation of learning materials, and many more.

For the past, three years the Lodge religiously assisted the Bagumbuhay Elementary School and supported its poor but deserving students.


Although the adopted school is located inside the Porta Vaga Subdivision, almost all of the students came from low income families living in the nearby squatter’s area.

It was learned from the School Principal, Mr. Efren Jeciel, younger brother of VW Teodulo Jeciel PM, Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Lodge No. 5 that most of the students are malnourished. There were instances that the students reported to the school without having their breakfast, and some fainted while inside the lecture rooms, thus hampering the educational factors of the children.

Last February 21, 28 and March 6, 13 and 27, 2008, the brethren led by the three lights of the Lodge, WM Ricardo G. Marmolejo, SW Magno C. Herradura and JW Arnel F. Teodoro conducted feeding programs to more or less one hundred fifty (150) students of the adopted school.

The Lodge of the Modern Revolution, once again – established “War against Malnutrition”.

-Bro. Ric Alvarez-

Adopt a School and

Brigada Eskuwela Programs

True to its commitment in a Memorandum of Agreement signed between the Department of Education, Cavite City and Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 4 in “Adopt a School and Brigada Eskuwela Programs”, the brethren led by its energetic Master Bro. Ricardo G. Marmolejo with the support and assistance thru sponsorships of RW Armando L. Quion, VW Amorico M. Alvarez, VW Gorgonio V. Necessario, Jr., VW Joel B. Navera, Bro. Senior Warden Magno C. Herradura, Bro. Junior Warden Arnel F. Teodoro, Bro. Lamberto “Bay” Aquino, Bro, Michael Roland L. Cavinta, Bro. Samuel S. Aguila, Bro. Geraldo V. Agbunag, Bro. Jaime R. Tupas and Bro. Dario B. Tan conducted feeding program on February 21 and 28; March 6, 13, and 27, 2008 to more or less one hundred fifty (150) students.


In connection with the forthcoming opening of new classes, this school year, the brethren coordinated with the principal Mr. Efren Jeciel, younger brother of VWB Teodulo Jeciel and laid down their projects, to wit: conduct of “Free Hair-Cut” and construction of a small gate at the northern portion of the school premises to give access to students coming from the squatter’s area. The brethren also pledge to donate school supplies to more or less 180 students from Grade I to Grade VI of the adopted school.
There were also brethren of the Lodge who in their own initiative exerted efforts by having scholars of their own in different schools in the City.

Bagumbuhay Elementary School – Feeding Program Souvenir Photo

139th Birthday of WB Gen. Emilio F. Aguinaldo

On March 22, 2008, more or less one hundred twenty (120) brethren representing the eight (8) Lodges and one (1) Masonic District in the jurisdiction of the IGLPI attended the 139th birthday of WB Gen Emilio Famy Aguinaldo, President of the First Philippine Republic and First Master of Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Lodge No. 5 IGLPI formerly Lodge No. 31 GLP.

The exact birth of WB Aguinaldo was March 23, 2008 but the day falls on Easter Sunday, instead it was held on Holy Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 8:00 in the morning at the Aguinaldo Shrine, Kawit, Cavite in a simple ceremonies appropriate for the Easter event.

The affair was attended by the Aguinaldo clan headed by former Prime Minister Bro. Cesar Virata, Hon. Congressman Joseph E.A. Abaya, Jr., the local Kawit Municipal officials headed by Hon. Mayor Tik Aguinaldo, the group of Barangay Captains of Kawit, the officers and members of PNP Kawit Police Station, the National Shrines Commission, Kawit.

The event included Flag raising with the singing of the National Anthem led by the Philippine Navy NBC band followed by a prayer and homily given by the local Parish Priest of Kawit Catholic church, flower offering by attending delegation and photo session.

The IGLPI Masons was headed by MW Nicolas G. Ricafrente GM, MWB Jaime V. Bantolo PGM, RW Manuel L. Carranza, Jr. DGM, RW Joseph A. Capuyan SGW, RW Cesar L. Go JGW, VW Aldo G. Olaguer DGS, and WM Eduardo Tanjuatco, Master of EAML No. 5.

Breakfast was served at the shrine while another breakfast fellowship filled the halls of Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Lodge No. 5 in Kawit, Cavite.

Meet the Newly Raised Brethren of Bagong Buhay Lodge

No. 4

On March 22, 2008, right after the celebration of the 139th birth anniversary of WB Emilio Famy Aguinaldo held at Aguinaldo’s Shrine, Kawit, Cavite, the brethren of the IGLPI motored to Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 4 in Cavite City to participate in the scheduled degree works of the Lodge.

The visiting brethren from different lodges that participated in the raising to the Sublime Degree of Master Masons were from Cavite Lodge No. 2, Pilar Lodge No. 3, Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Lodge No.5, Bagong Ilaw Lodge No. 6 and La Naval Lodge No. 7. The activity was graced by the presence of MWB Jaime V. Bantolo PGM, RW Manuel L. Carranza DGM, RW Cesar L. Go JGW, VW Aldo G. Olaguer DGS and VW Javier G. del Rosario DGL.

After the labor that started in the morning, refreshment and fellowship follows wherein the brethren partakes the food and drinks appropriate for the observance of Holy Saturday.

Brethren, meet the newly raised Master Masons of Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 4 F & A M.

“LETTER OF AMBROSIO FLORES, ELECTED GRAND MASTER, TO MARCELO H. DEL PILAR, FOR THE CONSTITUTION OF THE GRAND REGIONAL COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES, 18 SEPTEMBER 1893”

Excerpt from a letter written on occasion of the constitution of a Grand Regional Council under the Grande Oriente Espanol

“…You know as I advised you in my first letter that our whole interest was fixed on establishing a Regional Council. This alone could lift us from the state of confusion in which we found ourselves; free us from the asphyxiating atmosphere of autocracy in which we could no longer breathe. The question of personalities was of least importance. Neither I nor the others with me would have any objection at all to accepting those persons over-ambitious for power and giving them free rein. They have already landed us in this morass. With all the lodges participating in the Council, it will be possible to keep these gentlemen in their proper place and insure that all things are done in accordance with principle, rule and law. But to be without a Council until
God knows when… with all that is going on now and may still be coming after this, you may take my word for it that everybody… is completely irritated…

Poor Filipinos! Hardly had they found a crack in the walls of their dungeon and ran towards it, yearning to breathe fresh outside air which they believed would save their lives, when they found that air as dense and lacking in oxygen as the air now stifling them. They expected to find in Masonry a remedy for all their ills, against all evil, and instead they only found in it the whip of Panday, the tyranny of Ramos, and the contempt of Ruiz; precisely the three from whose hands they thought the manna would be dropped.

It may perhaps seem to you that we put blame on an entire organization for the mistakes of a few. Please do not think for a moment that we are opposing in advance whatever suggestions you make; it is only that we cannot help doubting both the efficacy and integral soundness of an organization where a purely personal criterion and personal will almost invariably is permitted to prevail. This is what we have found in searching past records for data and evidence to guide us in our disheartening situation.

Finally, we trust that you will understand perfectly our despair and anxiety. Your interest in our welfare has never flagged, and we hope you will be kind enough to continue giving us your efforts and your advice on all matters we have written you.

Source:

Kalaw, Teodoro M. Philippine Masonry: Its Origin, Development and Vicissitudes up to Present time (1920). Translated by Frederic Stevens. Manila: McCullough Printing, Co, 1956, 87-89;

Gealogo, Francis Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of History, School of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines