The first object that greeted the lion’s view upon reaching their residence on the evening of April 22, Friday, was his dirty-white 1989 Nissan Sentra that was parked outside of their garage. While still at his den in Guindulman, his youngest cub informed him that last December, he decided to push it outside of the garage since his best friend entrusted to him the latter’s late-modeled car prior to vacationing at the States, and fearful that it might be car-napped if parked outside the gate, decided to have his friend’s car parked inside and the immobilized Sentra parked outside instead.
The lion’s heart sunk. His now-dilapidated car, bought for P200,000 in 1992, the biggest single cash purchase he and his tamer bought in their entire lifetime, was now a sorry sight. Left to the elements, it is now rusty and the once regal car that the lion meticulously maintained in tip-top condition for ten whole years prior to their transfer to Bohol was now headed for the junkyard, He earlier learned also that a neighbor wanted to buy it for a measly P5,000 since anyway, she said, it is now no more than a scrap..
The next day when his youngest cub returned home from his Call Center office , the lion was told that another neighbor also wanted to buy the car but did not name the price, making the lion just shake his head in despair.
Two days later, he went to a repair shop owned by Bro. James Macarilay, a brother from Juan Sumulong Lodge No. 169 whom he had guided through the conferral of degrees before he transferred residence to Bohol and told him about the car. The lion’s request was to the point; he wanted the said brother to tow the car to his garage, have it fixed and put it back in tip-top condition, sell it and from whatever proceeds, deduct his expenses and a reasonable amount of profit, and if there is still something left, would be glad if the lion can still get something out of it. But the most important thing is to have it towed as it might be inadvertently hauled by the MMDA where VW Philmore Balmaceda reigns and it would indeed be a source of shame to the aging lion if this awkward possibility happens.
Bro. James had a better suggestion. He said he will arrange that the car be towed to his repair shop, have it body-lifted for the needed repair estimate and once done, would give the lion his best offer for the car. The lion, much like the refrain in the third-degree conferral could only say “Agreed.”
The next day, Bro James was at the house accompanied by his wife and offered to buy the car “as is” for P25,000, which made the lion remark, are you sure you will not lose from the deal? Both James and his wife were categorical in saying “No!” The profit may not be as big as in other transactions, but who would not help a brother who has had a very good influence in his joining the Craft?! Some three years back, the lion guided him and Bro. Jun de la Vega in the conferral of the three degrees where the two would often be at the lion’s residence at Project 8 patiently being taught to memorize the coded monitor while munching the Dunkin donuts that they brought along with them.
But the car’s Certificate of Cover (COC) and the Official Receipt were nowhere to be found and so the attendant dilemma. How does the lion proceed?
Bro James asked where the lion usually pays the annual registration fees and on learning that the latter does it at LTO Caloocan said that it would not be a problem; the LTO Registrar is a brother. Posthaste, the lion copied the number printed in the LTO sticker and promptly went to LTO Caloocan and there found out the registrar is named Rodolfo Panganiban, past master of Hiram Lodge No. 88. There also, he met Bro.Diosdado Meligrito of Labong Lodge No. 59 and another brother surnamed Gualberto from Cavite Lodge No. 2; and while sipping coffee together, a secretary attended to the papers and in about an hour’s time, WB Panganiban handed it over to the lion and forthwith scribbled a short to the LTO Registrar (a lady whose name the lion forgot) at Sta. Mesa where the new Certificate of Cover needs to be issued, but not after giving the lion a calling card saying he does not expect a problem on the issuance of the COC but that the lion should not fail to call just in case.
As expected the lady was very accommodating and the COC was promptly re-issued without the lion getting himself entangled into the messy red-tape, whereupon the lion handed it later to Bro. James and the check for P25,000 collected, after signing the required papers.
The transaction on the Nissan Sentra would have ended right there, except that during the May 28 stated meeting of Juan Sumulong Lodge No. 169,the lion again met Bro. James who said: “Kuya, I’m no longer selling your car. I already had it repaired and brought to serviceable condition and I intend to use it in going to and from my work at Bicutan, in lieu of my late-modeled CRV” where he daily reports as a member of the PNP.
And what can the brethren learn from this short article? But can’t you see? The unseen hands of the mystic Craft enabled the aging lion to consummate the transaction through the help of two fraternal brothers with nary a sweat at all!
The lion’s heart sunk. His now-dilapidated car, bought for P200,000 in 1992, the biggest single cash purchase he and his tamer bought in their entire lifetime, was now a sorry sight. Left to the elements, it is now rusty and the once regal car that the lion meticulously maintained in tip-top condition for ten whole years prior to their transfer to Bohol was now headed for the junkyard, He earlier learned also that a neighbor wanted to buy it for a measly P5,000 since anyway, she said, it is now no more than a scrap..
The next day when his youngest cub returned home from his Call Center office , the lion was told that another neighbor also wanted to buy the car but did not name the price, making the lion just shake his head in despair.
Two days later, he went to a repair shop owned by Bro. James Macarilay, a brother from Juan Sumulong Lodge No. 169 whom he had guided through the conferral of degrees before he transferred residence to Bohol and told him about the car. The lion’s request was to the point; he wanted the said brother to tow the car to his garage, have it fixed and put it back in tip-top condition, sell it and from whatever proceeds, deduct his expenses and a reasonable amount of profit, and if there is still something left, would be glad if the lion can still get something out of it. But the most important thing is to have it towed as it might be inadvertently hauled by the MMDA where VW Philmore Balmaceda reigns and it would indeed be a source of shame to the aging lion if this awkward possibility happens.
Bro. James had a better suggestion. He said he will arrange that the car be towed to his repair shop, have it body-lifted for the needed repair estimate and once done, would give the lion his best offer for the car. The lion, much like the refrain in the third-degree conferral could only say “Agreed.”
The next day, Bro James was at the house accompanied by his wife and offered to buy the car “as is” for P25,000, which made the lion remark, are you sure you will not lose from the deal? Both James and his wife were categorical in saying “No!” The profit may not be as big as in other transactions, but who would not help a brother who has had a very good influence in his joining the Craft?! Some three years back, the lion guided him and Bro. Jun de la Vega in the conferral of the three degrees where the two would often be at the lion’s residence at Project 8 patiently being taught to memorize the coded monitor while munching the Dunkin donuts that they brought along with them.
But the car’s Certificate of Cover (COC) and the Official Receipt were nowhere to be found and so the attendant dilemma. How does the lion proceed?
Bro James asked where the lion usually pays the annual registration fees and on learning that the latter does it at LTO Caloocan said that it would not be a problem; the LTO Registrar is a brother. Posthaste, the lion copied the number printed in the LTO sticker and promptly went to LTO Caloocan and there found out the registrar is named Rodolfo Panganiban, past master of Hiram Lodge No. 88. There also, he met Bro.Diosdado Meligrito of Labong Lodge No. 59 and another brother surnamed Gualberto from Cavite Lodge No. 2; and while sipping coffee together, a secretary attended to the papers and in about an hour’s time, WB Panganiban handed it over to the lion and forthwith scribbled a short to the LTO Registrar (a lady whose name the lion forgot) at Sta. Mesa where the new Certificate of Cover needs to be issued, but not after giving the lion a calling card saying he does not expect a problem on the issuance of the COC but that the lion should not fail to call just in case.
As expected the lady was very accommodating and the COC was promptly re-issued without the lion getting himself entangled into the messy red-tape, whereupon the lion handed it later to Bro. James and the check for P25,000 collected, after signing the required papers.
The transaction on the Nissan Sentra would have ended right there, except that during the May 28 stated meeting of Juan Sumulong Lodge No. 169,the lion again met Bro. James who said: “Kuya, I’m no longer selling your car. I already had it repaired and brought to serviceable condition and I intend to use it in going to and from my work at Bicutan, in lieu of my late-modeled CRV” where he daily reports as a member of the PNP.
And what can the brethren learn from this short article? But can’t you see? The unseen hands of the mystic Craft enabled the aging lion to consummate the transaction through the help of two fraternal brothers with nary a sweat at all!
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