Masons—builders of peace & development

“Haring Gangis!”—I overheard a brother Mason greet arriving fraternal guests to the 31st Public Installation of Officers at Glicerio Lim Memorial Lodge 222 (under the Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines) in Bagong-Dawis, Baroy, Lanao del Norte last February 7. This greeting, usually used in addressing the master of a Masonic lodge, is an attempted Visayan translation to warmly welcome visiting fraternal dignitaries.

After an elaborate ceremony in welcoming and presenting the guests, a more intricate and lengthy process followed in installing the new set of elected and appointed officers of the lodge for MY 2009:

Worshipful Master - Resnol C. Torres
Senior Warden - George C. Paderanga, Jr
Junior Warden - Diego P. Limbaring
Treasurer - Marconi J. Lim
Secretary - Lino R. Penaflor
Auditor - Victory L. Demiar
Chaplain - Efraim S. Sanes
Marshal - Timoteo F. Carwana
Senior Deacon - James T. Espinosa
Junior Deacon - Alexander B. Mitmug
Orator - Casimero D. Tamparong
Almoner - Francisco B. Jagonia
Lecturer - Marconi J. Lim
- Diosdado V. Yap Jr.
- Nicolas J. Lim
Senior Steward - Laloy A. Pajiji
Junior Steward - Mark Anthony B. Gomez
Organist - Musa M. Sanguila
Tyler - Florendo B. Opay

Brother Macapado A. Muslim, the Mindanao State University President, as the guest speaker cited widespread poverty, armed conflict, and mal-governance as problems in our society that needed intervention. He asked the masons to get involved by taking a more active role in building peace and building development; he challenged everyone to operationalize the Masonic basic teachings.

In addressing the group, I committed my brigade to support the activities of the fraternity similar to what is being extended to the other NGOs and civil society organizations which are all pursuing peace and development in Lanao del Norte. I also openly pointed my interest to explore Brother Muslim’s suggestions with reference to Yohan Galtung’s triangle of violence (direct/personal, structural and cultural) as an approach to curb armed conflict.

My congratulations to the new and the outgoing sets of officers of Glicerio Lim Memorial Lodge 222. May all of you continue to live by the principles of Freemasonry of “brotherly love, relief, and truth” not only within the fraternity but for all of humanity.