FilMason Aug 2008 Meeting: 17 Aug Sunday

One of the many pictures taken at the GM MW Bro Boy Aniag's visit to Sydney. Shown above are the FilMasons ladies, the Amasons and the delegation led by the GLP GM.


August 2008 monthly meeting is slated on Sunday, 17 August at WBro Romy and Sis Ellen Nieto's residence at Dalbertis St, Abbotsbury. Starting time is 12:00 noon.

Please bring a dish and/or dessert and drinks to share; otherwise just your presence will be good enough.

Main agenda is FilMasons Induction Ball at Corregidor on October 4.

The FilMasons would like to thank in advance WBro Romy and Sis Ellen for hosting this meeting and fellowship.

Social Golf & Barbeque Lunch: 27 July

Photo above shows The Honorable Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Bro Ernesto De Leon, GLP GM MW Bro Boy Aniag, WBro Romy Nieto, VWBro Fidel Pamplona and Bro Manny Placido, taking a breather after a round of golf and partaking of the barbeque lunch.

Social Golf and Barbeque Lunch at the Park: 27 July

Preparations for the Sunday barbeque and fellowship began at approximately the same time that the golfers teed off at Villawood, if not earlier. Bro Manny Santos was already at Flinders Slopes at 9 am to make sure that the Filmasons had their customary spot, marked off by the Filmasons banner.

VWBro Fidel and Sis Pen Pamplona joined him shortly afterwards and they worked so quickly that by the time the others started arriving they were greeted by delicious smell of cooking sausages and steaks.

The full menu was prawns, steaks, sausages, chicken and fried rice by Sis Ellen; grilled onions, a variety of salads, and chips, all of which could be washed down by a selection of softdrinks, juices, wines, and three bottles of whisky donated by our fearless president. There were also fresh fruits, cakes, and chocolate for desserts. A typical Filmason picnic spread and even after everyone had had their fill, there was still enough left over for take away.

I got the chronology slightly messed up in that the lunch got eaten in two shifts because the golfers arrived about an hour after it was served. Nonetheless, they also had their fill, led by MWBro Aniag and His Excellency, brother Ernesto De Leon, Philippine Ambassador to Australia; who has already been a guest on several occasions at our get-togethers. Bro De Leon had made his way all the way from Canberra to join us for golf and barby and we are most grateful for this, brother ambassador.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in pleasant fellowship – stories on every topic including but not limited to golf and masonry were exchanged among the brethren and sisters, punctuated only by the slight interruption of the record-breaking hail storm at around 3 pm. We were then grateful for Bro Manny Santos’ foresight because we had the best and most protected spot on the grounds and stayed relatively dry throughout the downpour. It was also quite cold but the brethren were fighting it off bravely with liberal doses of Bro Mario’s medicinal whisky. I personally favoured the Johnny Walker Black for this purpose.

We easily outlasted the storm and then, on cue, the paparazzi appeared from nowhere and began their work, as will be evident from the photos accompanying this article. You will agree that just about every angle to photograph the group was used. Then, and this is never my favourite part of any story, it was time to pack up and say our goodbyes.

Everyone who wanted take away got some, except for the whisky. Some of us brought our visiting brethren to their lodgings, some at Bro Ariel Gonzales’ and Bro Joe Diroy’s residences at Campsie and Darling Point, the others to the Masonic Club and Hotel at Castlereagh Street in town; and with this a great day of fellowship had come to a most satisfying end.

Epilogue

At the start of his address, MWBro Aniag thanked the Australian brethren and sisters for making him and his delegation so welcome. At the end of it, he also congratulated them for forming the Filmasons Club. He stated how important it was, particularly in foreign lands, to come together and provide an environment in which we can feel welcome and at home, and through this club, it was possible to do just that.

Finally, he extended an invitation to all present to inform him whenever anyone was going back home for a visit so that they could reciprocate the warmth and hospitality shown them this day; a food for thought for sure.

Reported by Bro Louie Reyes

GLP's GM Aniag Sydney Visit: Fellowship & Induction

FilMasons NSW Officers for 2008-2009, after the induction posed with GM MW Bro Aniag.

Official Welcome, Fellowship and Induction of Officers: 26 July

The Apollo Street at Greenfield Park home of Bro Romy and Sis Tessie Bernabe and their family, became the focal point of every brother and sister that evening. The Bernabes’ had very generously offered their home as the venue for the official welcome for GM Aniag and the brethren who accompanied him and for this all were most grateful.

WBro Abe Amores took charge of the official proceedings with some preliminary words of welcome then invited WBro Romy Nieto to lead all in the prayer of thanks which he did in his usual very capable way. Dinner was a traditional barby which included kangaroo steaks specially ordered for the visiting brethren. It was prepared under the supervision of Sis Tess Amores, many thanks for this.

After dinner, Filmason co-founder WBro Mat Armonio introduced our honoured guest in his usual inimitable style. MW Bro Pacifico Aniag was then invited to take the floor and address everyone assembled.

What followed was a tour de force by the head of Philippine masonry as he revealed and expounded on the theme of his term as grandmaster – Harmony. He used the example of a choir to develop his idea – many different and differing voices crafted to produce one harmonious sound, each member of the choir primarily charged with listening to those on their left and right and then singing so as to blend with them, subjugating individual voices to that of the group.

According to GM Aniag, Masonry is no different. It accepts men of the widest variety of races, backgrounds, and beliefs into its fold and then teaches them to concern themselves primarily with the needs and wants of those around them. The grandmaster stressed that unity of such a diverse group of men is very difficult, if not impossible, a pipe dream, unless harmony is first achieved.

I believe that all were touched by his oration and it was made amply clear to all why he is the grandmaster.

The official proceedings continued with outgoing president VWBro Fidel Pamplona sharing his final thoughts with his fellow Filmasons followed by the induction of the Filmason officers for 2008-2009 by MW Bro Aniag. Incoming president Mario Baylon Jr led his officers in taking the oath administered by the grandmaster and then the paparazzi closed in again, led by our official photographer Bro Ray Moncay who coordinated and choreographed the photos throughout the evening.

Newly-inducted president Bro Baylon shared his vision for the club for the coming year, saying that he would use a back-to-basics approach, reducing the number of business meetings and increasing the number of fellowships and socials, and also putting some emphasis on the charitable aspect of the fraternity on which the club is founded.

The guests were then presented with several gifts of welcome which included masonic banners from WB Amores, boomerang key rings, and an Aboriginal boomerang and mount for MW Bro Aniag as well. More group photos, including photos of the paparazzi at their work, an idea of Bro Ray. We were then entertained by a musical number from Jasmin, the granddaughter of Bro Romy and Sis Tessie, and she sang beautifully indeed.

The official proceedings having drawn to a close, the brethren and sisters resumed the fellowship that masonic gatherings are known for and this could easily have gone on all night but did not because there was a golf tournament and barby scheduled for the next day and the visitors were still to get some real rest from their trip.

Reported by Bro Louie Reyes.

GLP' GM Sydney Visit: 26 July - 2 Aug 2008 as reported by Bro Louie Reyes

One of the many pictures taken at the airport. Photo courtesy of Bro Louie Reyes.

Arrival - Sydney, Saturday, 26 July

Even as Philippine Airlines flight PR209, bearing Grand Master (GM) MW Bro Pacifico Aniag of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines (GLP) and his delegation, landed at Tullamarine airport in Melbourne and became PR210 for the return flight to Manila via Sydney, the elements of his welcoming party were already converging on Kingsford-Smith airport via various routes.

Keen eyes scanned the arrival information on the internet and on the flight information board until finally PR210 status turned “landed” at Sydney. The brethren and sisters took up their stations at Arrival Gates A & B and unfurled posters and banners of welcome for the visitors who emerged in due course, led by the GM himself.

Many words and handshakes of welcome were exchanged and the sisters, led by Sis Connie Angeles added their own touch with garlands of flowers for the visiting brethren and a full bouquet for the GM as well.

FilMasons NSW contigent was led by VWBro President Fidel Pamplona, Vice-President Bro Louie Reyes, Treasurer, Bro Manny Santos and Past Presidents VWBro Manny Maniago, WBro Abe Amores, WBro Romy Nieto and Bro Mario Baylon Jr. Also on hand are Bro Ved Reyes, WBro Zaldy and Sis Connie Angeles, WBro Leo Bautista, WBro Hermie Mateo, WBro Manny Reyes, Bro Edwin Balasa, Bro Al Toledo and Bro Bert Dooma.

Also present were WBro Jun Capili, organised for some of the welcome banners, flowers, and car stickers on his own volition and Bro Ariel Gonzales and Bro Joe Diroy; who volunteered to billet some of our visitors in their residences, as well as providing some of the vehicles to ferry the delegation.

The paparazzi did their work outside and there were at least a hundred group shots taken, I kid you not! The general public must have been wondering what celebrity had arrived. The visitors and their luggage were then efficiently whisked away to a yum cha lunch at Canterbury Bulldogs Club at Belmore.