My tribute to our Brother Al Toledo – 30 Sept 2011

"One by one they pass away, the Brothers of our adoption, the Companions of our choice. A Brother whose hand we have clasped in the bonds of Fraternal Fellowship is now passing from our sight, and we know that we shall meet him on Earth no more."

At the outset, please accept my apologies for not being here physically tonight. I know that our Brother Al Toledo will understand my previous commitment. I thank Bro Rudy for sharing this to you tonight.

This is my third eulogy this year, I guess the saying that these unfortunate things come in threes. Some people dread giving eulogies & speeches, but I do take the view that it is both an honour & privilege to ask to give a tribute to a loved one. This is especially true to a good person like our Brother Al Toledo.

Brother Al and I have several similarities, I guess that is the reason that Sister Heidi requested me to say a tribute to him: we both come from Cavite, we both worked at TAFE and we are brother Masons.

I call him brother in the truest & sincerest meaning of the word – and he was a brother to me & us all. You’ll see a lot of men here with Square & Compasses – rings, pins, hats, etc. These are Freemasons – his Masonic Brothers; & together with their partners; forms his Masonic family.

For those who does not know of his membership in Freemasonry; Brother Al Toledo was initiated, passed & raised in Gen Emilio Aguinaldo Lodge No 31 in Kawit, Cavite long before he migrated here in Australia. Being a Caviteno, and him proudly telling me that the Lodge is just next door to their house in Kawit; his family has had a long history with Masonry. He’s a member of the Filipino Freemasons Association of NSW for more 15 years; one of the almost original members.

Although not a religion and we don’t have a formula for salvation, Freemasonry asked its adherents to believe in a God; whatever he conceives him to be and the immortality of the soul. That same toleration and respect of other’s people beliefs - whether political or religious, sets it apart from other associations & fraternities. It only asks that you follow what you believe in faithfully, never discuss those beliefs inside the Lodge to prevent animosity among those who believe differently.

Masonry also teaches the tenets of Brotherly love, relief & truth – it teaches a good person to be a better person; a better husband, a better father, a better brother, a better son, a better citizen. By being a better person, it reflects that one forms part of and contributes to a better family and society.

Why I am telling you about this is not to encourage or ask you to become one – as Freemasonry does not solicit membership. It is up to a good man of good repute to apply for membership.

The only reason I am letting you know about these; and they are not secrets & you can Google them; is that this is a part of who Bro Al Toledo is and was to me. He lived that same tenets & philosophies in his short life. I may not know him as his family does. I can only tell you what I know him to be – a good person, a faithful friend, and a true and a worthy Mason. He is slow to anger, and he will get angry at the perceived injustices committed to those he love.

See his pictures in the program, that is his patently original and always smiling face; whether he sees you in the mall, in the streets of Mt Druitt or in the Lodge. With an extended hand he will greet you “How are you? or Kumusta” with that same smile.

Your concern is always his concern. His last words & advice to most of us when we visited him in Mt Druitt Palliative Care is: “God gave us this body to take care of; if you feel anything wrong with your body please have it checked straightaway.”

Bloody very typical of Bro Al, there he lays in bed in pain, thin and frailty and dying and advises you to take care of yourself! This is the Brother Al I know and I am so sure that this is the same Bro Al you all know. As I’ve said before in the last two eulogies I gave; one to a long time friend dying of cancer as well & my 92 year old mother - they are not perfect but they sure do left us with great memories that we have immortalized them not only in our minds but also in our hearts.

I could go on and on talking about Bro Al, but since there is another tribute I would like you to pay tribute to our Brother Al by having your blood tested, do your colonoscopies especially if you are over 50 – which I think most of you are and just listen & respect yours and our bodies – it is a gift from God and we must take care of it. Brother Al wants us to live a little bit longer, happy, healthy and without pain. And that is our Brother Al!

As Gandhi said "Before the throne of the Almighty, man will be judged not by his acts but by his intentions. For God alone reads our hearts."

Bro M. Baylon Jr

[I am happy to say that Sis Heidi Toledo & daughter, Vanena liked the eulogy/tribute from the FilMasons' perspective.]