Part III: Golf & Barbeque Day

FilMasons NSW & Vic brethren and sister Do Placido (muse) take a breather for a photo.

VIC INDUCTION: A CROWNING GLORY

As reported by Bro Louie Reyes, FilMasons NSW VP
Dateline: Melbourne, 5-8 June 2008

Sunday, 8 June 2008 – GOLF & BARBY DAY

In what is almost certainly going to become a tradition, the day after the induction is for the golf match followed by barby (barbeque). The venue for the match was the Altona Golf Club because several of the brothers are members and regulars there.

The day was another beautiful and sunny Melbourne day and a total of fourteen players, eight from Victoria and six from New South Wales, took on the challenging course, albeit for only nine holes due to the late tee off of 9 am. The brethren were once again the perfect hosts, providing us with all the equipment we needed, and even coffee before tee off.

Allow me to say up front that our Victorian brethren are excellent players and we have much to learn from them. No excuses though, because we tried our best but they are streets ahead in golf skill. I, for example, was in the last squad to tee off, with Bro Roy, Sis Do, and Bro Manny Placido, and it quickly turned into a clinic by Bro Roy for us. Thank you very much for your valuable lessons and your patience, bro! Nonetheless, there were some high points for us as well. Our hosts were all praise for Sis Do’s style and were even willing to bet on her against some other ladies on the course.

At the end of the match, we all gathered at the car park around 1130 am for some photos before joining the others at Western Masonic Hall for the barbeque and fellowship.

Some of the sisters from Victoria.

The banquet was ready and waiting for us by the time we got to the lodge at Sunshine and we joined the others in enjoying the delicious food. WBro Reg De Leon was chief chef, ably assisted by the others brthren. Once again, there was plenty of softdrink, wine, beer, and even some cognac to help with digestion. The only minus for me was that Marilyn got sick with flu and was unable to join us in the celebration.

There is also no such thing as a Filipino get-together without karaoke and that had already been set up and was used constantly after lunch. Lunch is always a noisy and happy affair for Filipinos and the NSW contingent, though smaller in number, had no problem contributing to the general happiness and celebration going on throughout.

The Victorians had organized trophies for the golf match and first up were the Class C or rookie prizes which were won by Bro Cesar Solis, 1st placer; Bro Toti Mayo and Bro Bong Flores, runner ups; all of Victoria which was no surprise.

Sis Do Placido receiving her trophy from Bro Tito Mayo.

Sis Do deservedly got the encouragement award because her style is very good and she will improve very quickly. Much more surprising was the overall trophy which they awarded to NSW. Either they don’t know how to add or we don’t know how to count strokes. Either way, we decided to regard it as a "friendship trophy" and promised them that we would try harder when they came to visit us for our induction.

Some of the FilMasons Vic & NSW with their "trophies."

Kidding aside, it was a beautiful gesture on their part, and Bro Manny Placido was inspired to say "thank you" on our behalf by leading the sisters in an energetic rendition of Hurts So Good which got everybody to either join in the singing or to get up and dance.

Then, Sis Remy informed us that the Placidos’ had just celebrated their wedding anniversary and that meant, of course, a love song by them. They sang their favourite song, Endless Love, so beautifully that several of the brethren proposed to Bro Manny right then and there.

More songs and dancing followed, and a very fair raffle as well wherein NSW FilMasons was allowed to win a prize. Just kidding! This all added to the wonderful atmosphere which had taken over the banquet hall of the lodge.

Some of us were taken on a tour of the lodge rooms which are very beautifully laid out and furnished and we had to say that this was one of the best lodges we had ever seen, a true temple of Freemasonry.

It could have gone on for a long time yet, but this is where my part of the story ends because we had an 8 pm flight to catch at Tullamarine, so at a little past 3 pm, I began the sad task of saying farewell to all my Victorian brothers and sisters. It seemed to take a long time. Bro Fidel and sis Hilda, wonderful couple that they are; brought me to my home yet again and I will never forget their kindness.

What do you say to people who had given their all and then some to make our visit a most wonderful experience? I’m sure I speak for all of the visitors when I say that this was easily one of the high points of our lives, and we mean it. There is now a new definition for mason in the dictionary – "Victorian Filmasons". And a whole new meaning to our famous Filipino hospitality - "door to door hospitality" Victorian FilMasons style!