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.

Humane side of the uniform

Here is an interesting post by Violeta Gloria entitled Dining with a Colonel providing a civilian-writer's insight of the "man in uniform." The article reveals the hidden and human side of a soldier rarely exposed to the public. At the same time, it shows the critical and observant eye of a true journalist.

Sexual abuses forbidden even in war—military

Similar/Related Articles:
Mindanao Examiner: Philippine Army partners with civil groups, NGO to fight abuses and violence against women

Also in Philippine Army Website

Also in AFP Website

Iligan City (25 November). “Sexual violence is outlawed in the Armed Forces of the Philippines even in times of war or armed conflict.”

This was the message of Col Benito de Leon, Commander of 104^th Infantry Brigade, speaking during the “Observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women” held in the city by the Gender Equality Network for Peace (GEN4PEACE) in cooperation with the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Forum for Peace and the British Embassy. The activity was organized in consonance with UN Security Council Resolution No. 1820 covering the issues on rape and sexual violence in conflict situations. Adopting the theme “Women, Peace, and Security: Issues of Rape and other Forms of Sexual Abuse in Times of War,” the consultation was attended by the delegates from the 13 NGO-member groups of the CSO Forum with its President Jane Bernardo, and participated in by the military and police. Ms Anita Sescon, the Commissioner of the Mindanao Commission on Women Forum provided the inputs for the UN Resolution. On the other hand, Atty Florante Ursua of the Commission on Human Rights spoke on the responsibility of the government to prevent human rights violations.

In responding to concerns that women have been portrayed as a booty of war and that the incidence of sexual molestations were high during times of armed conflicts, Col de Leon explained that the notion of war booties were things of the past long gone by. As societies became more civil, laws and norms were adopted to forbid this practice, he adds. Further, he says, the military aside from the existing criminal laws enforces the punitive Articles of War governing the conduct of military personnel. Furthermore, the officer clarified that other measures are in place to ensure that members of the military observe the prohibitions as provided in our legal system including the adoption of the AFP Code of Ethics outlining the professional conduct, the inclusion of all these as discussion points in military education courses, and the regular conduct of troop information. Accordingly, commanders at all levels have to see that these are all observed and enforced.

“All abuses or violations of the law, including rape or violence on women, committed by any military personnel at any given time especially during times of conflict will not be tolerated by the AFP,” the army commander underscored.