March 18, 2010 is the 91st Founding Anniversary of the International Order of DeMolay.

On this occasion, I extend my fraternal greetings to all Brother DeMolays the young and the old alike the world over. Let us always remember that as long as there is the Order of DeMolay, We are One for Once a DeMolay is always a DeMolay.

“Let your light so shine before men that they may your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.”

HAPPY 91ST ANNIVERSARY, ORDER OF DeMOLAY!

Freemasonry

On the occasion of the 91st Founding Anniversary of the Order of DeMolay, I would like to greet my brother DeMolays all over the world.

I am a Proud DeMolay, and proud of my DeMolay Chapter, the erstwhile University Chapter of Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City…a long time ago. It is now gone. It now exists only in the hearts of those who took their vows as DeMolays upon its altar, and shared a unique bond of brotherhood experienced only by MSU DeMolays. Surviving MSU Marawi is already an accomplishment, you survived and experienced DeMolay in MSU Marawi, is a greater feat. I shall not forget.

In sweet remembering, here’s a video I made few years ago:

Freemasonry

Protrait of the Most Famous and Illustrious Filipino Freemason. Just take your pick…hehehe!

(Photo taken by my darling wife Vikki during our Mother’s Day Photo Walk at Fort Santiago)

Family and Me, Freemasonry

Last Sunday, Bambit, our little girl Maia and Ate Bibing went for a morning walk at Nayong Pilipino or whatever is left of it.

It was a stroll cum photo-shoot sortie. While Bambit was looking for picture-perfect-subjects, Maia called her up and said, “look mommy, look, it’s a MASON.” Maia found a word “MASON” chiseled on the road cement (inset photo).

Maia pronounces the word Mason as MAAH-SOON, the first time she read the print “MY DAD IS A MASON” at the back of one of her t-shirts. And yes, she recognizes Masonic symbols like the ubiquitous Square and Compasses, and gave all of them, including Masonic events, with a generic nomenclature as “MAAH-SOON”. Like, she would ask me while I am preparing to go to our Lodge meeting, “are you going to MAAH-SOON, Ama?”

Back to Maia’s find. I’m sure this mark carries with it many stories. But I’d like to fancy it as a mark left by one of the Masons who made the road. I guess it was not even his name. I think he just etched the word that instantly came to his mind that can collectively identify all of them - mga MAAH-SOON. This drift is consistent with an ancient practice among operative Masons.

According to WIKIPEDIA: A mason’s mark is a symbol often found on dressed stone in buildings and other public structures. Scottish rules issued in 1598 stated that on admission to the guild, every mason had to enter his name and his mark in a register.

Another: THE subject of Marks forms an interesting episode in the history of Masonry, both Operative and Speculative. A Mason’s Mark is a monogram, a symbol, or some other arbitrary figure chiselled by a mason on the surface of a stone for the purpose of identifying his own work and distinguishing it from that of other workmen.

I find the mark that Maia found fascinating and noble all together. The marker could have written, “Junrhey loves Jonahlyn” or “Carding was her,” for crying out loud, but instead he chose to put a mark that gives due recognition and distinction to their craft - that of him or them being Masons. Proud of their work, proud of of their craft.

More often, the nobility and virtues of Masonry can still be found marked in the hearts of those who truly build roads, buildings and other stately edifices, than those who just proclaim themselves Masons by flashing their fancy decals and titles, but doesn’t know how to build an edifice of virtue in their hearts nor spread the cement of brotherly love.

Family and Me, Freemasonry

I’m testing the SCRIBD, with this program of our 17th Public Installation of Officers for Masonic Year 2009.

jdml305_17thInstallation

Freemasonry