Post Induction Thank You From the President, 21 Oct

Photo left: Newly inducted President, WBro Fidel Pamplona (far left) receiving the Presidential Plaque from outgoing President, Bro Manny Santos.

Below is the thank you note delivered by our President at his first official meeting:

"Brethren and Ladies,

Thank you very much for your support and assistance during the Induction Night. This consisted of selling the induction tickets, raffle tickets, voluntary donations of gifts and drinks, and many more that made the occasion successful. Most of all; to our friends, visitors, and families, who continuously support this association every time there is an occasion. It is an excellent effort of everyone concerned.

My special appreciation goes to our ladies (the Amasons) and fellow brethren who participated in the cowboy dance choreographed by Sis Odeng, Bro. Bro Louie Reyes and Bro. Manny Placido. The good teamwork shown by our dancers earned a tremendous applause from the audience especially from our guest speaker and distinguished guests.

Special mention goes to the following:

Emcee: Program and BBQ in charge: WBro. Abe & Tess Amores
Invocation: WBro. Romy & Sis Ellen Nieto
Vote of Thanks: WBro. Ted & Sis Lourdes Balgos
Flowers & Decorations: Sis Dodo Placido and Sis Nanette Briones
Raffle Tickets: WBro. Vince Flores & Bro Bert Dooma
Reception: WBro. Rudy & Sis Mila Romerosa

Photo at right: Sitting down from left to right: Our first lady, Sis Penny, Sis Lourdes and Sis Tess.

Back standing, again from left to right: Sis Irene, Sis Remy, Sis Nanette and founder WB Mat and Bro Manny P. With flower arrangement by Sis Dodo in foreground.

Assisting the President in many ways:
Bro. Mar and Sis Irene Baylon
Bro. Manny & Sis Odeng Santos
VWBro. Manny & Sis Remy Maniago
Bro. Manny & Sis Dodo Placido
WBro. Bobby & Sis Nanette Briones
Bro. Louie & Sis Marilyn Reyes
Bro. Dan & Sis Amy Elizes
Bro. Ted & Evy Robiso
RWB Rey & Madelene Porras
WBro. Jack & Elvie Sta Maria
And my loving wife, Penny

The motif of the night which was the cowboy dance mixed with line dancing; cha-cha-cha and progressive dancing very much fitted and well participated by our visitors and our members.

My congratulations to everyone and well done!"

WBro Fidel Pamplona, President

Sis Josie Bautista's Mom, Mrs Eugenia Santos, Dies at 89

Text messages from Sis Nanette Briones, Irene and Sis Josie herself conveyed the death of Sis Josie's mother; Mrs Eugenia Santos, age 89 at their hometown in Bataan.

Spoke to Sis Josie today and she said she is planning to go home this coming Monday, 29 October.

Prayers will be held at their residence at Rooty Hill at about 6:30 PM starting tonight.

Our deep condolences and prayers to the late Mrs Eugenia Santos, Sis Josie and WBro Leo Bautista and their family here and in the Philippines.

Bro Mario

Despedida for Bro Fred Sese, 24 Oct

Saw and spoke to Bro and Dr Fred Sese (of Lodge Alpha) last Sunday General Membership Meeting and spoke to him at lenght. He is our very own "pussy cat whisperer", a veterinarian by profession.

Bro Fred recently sold his veterinary business and retired. He is currently going to the Philippines next week for a four-month "holiday", thus this hastily conceived despedida. Actually the idea was broached last Sunday meeting, FilMasons only need an excuse to have fellowship even mid-week!

IPP Bro Manny Santos is hosting said affair at his Burrinjuck Drive home tonight, so if you and sis are available please drop by with your favorite drinks. I am sure red wine will be the preferred drink, as our Bro Fred has a penchant for red wines.

Prior to his retirement, Bro Fred is a perennial visitor to Masonic Lodge meetings in the district, together with Lodge Alpha's WM, WBro Vince Flores and Bro Bert Dooma. According to him he will visit lodges at the Capitol Masonic Temple in Quezon City. I am sure Bro Fred will have a grand time visiting lodges in the Philippines and having fellowship with our Filipino brethren.

Bon Voyage Bro Fred.

Bro Mario 3:36 PM 24 Oct Sydney EST

Sis Connie Subijano's 40th Day Get-together, 11th Nov

As per traditional Filipino custom, the FilMasons will be hosting a 40th day get-together for our beloved Sis Connie Subijano on 11 Nov, 4PM at the Blacktown Masonic Hall (corner First and Boys Avenues, Blacktown, near Blacktown Railway Station).

I was curious as to what the significance of the 40th or 40 days. Thus in true Google form, I Googled it and found out (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40_(number) the following:

1. "Forty days was the period from Jesus' resurrection till his ascension into heaven."

2. "In modern Christian practice, Lent consists of the 40 days preceding Easter. In much of Western Christianity Sundays are excluded from the count; in Eastern Christianity Sundays are included."

3. "The dead are usually mourned for forty days in Muslim cultures."

4. "Ad-Dajjal roams around the Earth in forty days, forty days that can be as many as forty months, forty years, and so on."

In short, "The number 40 is significant in Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and other Middle Eastern traditions..." I guess this where we got the 40th day tradition, otherwise it is as good as any excuse to meet and celebrate the life of so beloved, respected and much loved Sis Connie!

See you there!

Bro Mar 12:48 PM 24 Oct Sydney EST

Lodge Woronora Annual Ladies Night, 27th Oct

WBro John Spooner, WM, cordially invites you and your partner to attend their Annual Ladies Night, Saturday (27 th October), commencing at 7:00 PM at the St George Masonic Club, Roberts Avenue, Mortdale.

The invite reads: "An interesting and pleasurable evening has been arranged consisting of International and Formal Dancing Displays (that's us! Ed), together with a three-piece orchestra that will provide plenty of opportunities for you to "trip the light fantastic" yourselves."

"A two course meal will be served at your table."

This invitation was relayed to us by our VWBro Manny Maniago. For more details please contact him directly. Cost is $40.00 per person.

Dinner & Dance Practice, 26th Oct

Corollary to this, we have a dance practice at Bro Rudy and Sis Zen Olaco's residence at Bardwell Park (near Earlwood), this Friday, 26th October. Meeting and dinner place at Auburn Soccer Sports Club, 5 -7 Northumberland Rd Auburn 2144 (near Auburn train station) at 7PM or earlier. Telephone number (02) 9646 3511 at the club.

Even if you are not participating in the dance practice, you are very welcome to join us for Friday dinner. Auburn Soccer Club serves one of the best Chinese cuisine at very affordable prices, I mean very affordable! Try it, maybe we'll get further discounts and commissions.

Bro Mar 10:46 AM 24 Oct

LA/SD Bush Fires

I've just received some updates from our PinoyMasons Yahoo Group, JoDem Olongapo City Yahoo Group and friends from the Los Angeles and San Diego areas. These are mostly brother Masons and families, as well as Job's Daughters and DeMolays.

As you can see on the news, it is not looking good and we all know too well the devastating effects of bush fires. Please spare a moment to pray for all LA/SD residents, that they may be spared and if ever no harm come to them.

Thanks!

Bro Mar

October News: Good and Bad

For the record, and for those not in the know:

1. This year is a very sad one for the Club with the death of RWBro Arthur Thomas, the very first member; honorary or otherwise. Very recently, we've lost also to cancer our dear Sister Connie Subijano, a very distressing times especially for our lady Amasons.

2. We have a couple of our ladies who are not in the best of health. I hope they won't mind me to request you to pray for their recuperation: Sis Mela Reyes and Sis Connie Angeles. Without getting into too much details, please offer a prayer for their recovery. Prayers are all too powerful to be ignored. The support and well wishes of everybody, I hope would add to their well being and full recovery.

3. Also our VWBro Cecil Uy is not too well, and we hope to see him in one of our meetings. He is in Sydney and Sis Rosie, whom we know retired from work; is back at it at Woodcroft Asian store on a part time basis. If you are in the area please say hello but no discount... hehehee. I guess she's a bit bored at home with Bro Cecil sick as well!

4. Our WBro Mat Armonio is back in the Philippines just last week to attend to his brother's funeral. A very sad reunion. Will get more details when he come back.

5. Now for some good news: Bro Al Toledo will be back from his extended trip to the Philippines this January 2008, per his son whom I spoke to on the phone. I was calling Bro Al to invite him to our induction of officers, but unfortunately he is out of the country.

6. Bro Dan and Sis Amy Elizes, from the grapevine was heard back in the Philippines. Hopefully for a much well earned R & R.

7. Bro Ved Reyes and daughter, Diane (who just arrived from the Philippines a couple of months ago), became new Australian Citizens last Saturday, 20 October; at ceremonies at Bankstown. Sis Ruth and son, Sonny Reyes and family; were on hand to witness the event. Congratulations to our new Aussies!

8. Birthday wishes for the month: Sis Elvie Sta Maria (Oct 9), Sis Elsa Arreza (Oct 12), Sis Amy Elizes (Oct 16) and Sis Sony Romero (Oct 28).

I am using an old FilMasons Newsletter announcements. So I am sure I have missed some of the new bretheren and sisters' birthdays. Please let me know as I don't have the secretary's records/details. My advance apologies to those I missed.

Any other news; good or otherwise, please let me know so I can post or you can add it to this post's comment section.

Bro Mario 2:28 PM Sydney time (I find, for some reason that the time is not Oz time, maybe because the blog's website is in the US???).

Welcome!

Welcome to the first ever post (actually posted another article months ago but got lost in cyberspace :(, hopefully this one won't!) of Fil Masons of NSW Blogazine!

Why a blog? Actually this is more of a "Blogazine" to supplement our FilMason Newsletter. While some of our members are not on the net or does not have access to a PC, a large group are. Also this is for those of our family and friends who can not regularly attend our meetings to get updated of what is going in the Club. They can even comment and post their own stories and pictures.

Gone are the days of WB Leo Tan's editorship of our FilMason Newsletter. While our present editor, WB Bobby Briones and his Chief Editor, Sis Nanette; are working full time and can only come up with a quarterly version of our newsletter. Besides, being grandparents they are busy as well with their family. We know how much effort goes into a full blown newsletter, plus the printing and posting costs involved!

This is second best, a tree saver for those whose advocacies include the environment and into recyling (that's me! Ask Irene!). Also with a new job, I got some free time to post... hehehehee. I hope this will provide a positive contribution to our Club.

A few ground rules and if we have a solicitor; these are the items or small print they will ask us to put:

1. Comments here are just that: personal comments of this blogger as he sees it. They are not or does not reflect the official stand of both Freemasonry in general or the members and officers of The FilMasons Association of NSW, Inc.

2. Errors and ommissions excepted. Constructive comments and contributions are welcome.

3. There will be no gossips or rumour mongering of any kind as any unMasonic comments and conduct. As your Blogazine Editor and owner, I will assure that this will be strictly mandated.

4. Forwarding of email contents, such as virus warnings and "what-have-you" info are allowed. But please check with Snopes.com, Urbanlegend.com or Google it to check the veracity and correctness of item or items you want us to post here.

5. As much as possible, postings will be given priority to our activities which we won't be able to get on the net anyway.

I think I have included the basic ground rules.... too much would ruin the nature of our Blogazine anyway... so with the help of our fellow editor designates (you know who you are), we will provide as much info and entertainment to you via the web/net. Obviously this is not a substitute for attending our meetings and fellowship. We want to see you and your family in person from time to time.

Again, welcome to your FilMasons Blogazine and I/we hope you will enjoy our postings.


Bro Mario