THE AGING LION AND HIS BOYS
If you were asked, “could it happen that two fraternal brothers, the first being raised in 1982 and the second in 1989, would have an intimate relationship where the former would endearingly call the latter “Dad” and mean it?!
Of course it would be rare, but some critical analysts would say it is possible. Take the case of WB Sancho Niedo of Quezon City Lodge No. 122 for example. He was initiated in 1979 by his biological son who came all the way from Micronesia Lodge No, 173 F & A. M. in Saipan. Despite the fact that the son was the one primarily responsible for his father’s initiation into the mysteries of Masonry, it cannot be denied that out of the lodge, the former would still call his father “Dad”!
But suppose the earlier supposition restricts condition excepting biological relationship; how then could that be??
Bro. Ernie Rivera of the Diego Garcia Square and Compass Club claims he was raised as a master mason in 1982 while the aging lion was raised in 1989, yet the former endearingly calls the latter “Dad”. And not through biological lines nor the direct ties of the Craft but through the appendant organization called the DeMolay movement. Let now subject ties be brought to close scrutiny.
This writer has no idea how old Bro. Ernie is nor of the circumstances of his involvement in the DeMolay movement. Other than the fact that he proudly says he is a Senior DeMolay, and aside from this, the lion knew nothing of any other detail.
But let’s now look at the circumstances surrounding the lion’s links with the DeMolays.
Last 1991 (or 1992 the lion could no longer be certain), the Ambrocio Flores Chapter of the Order of DeMolay was resuscitated after several years of hibernation by Masonic District No. 9 but more specifically by Quezon City Lodge No. 122. An elder mason was designated Chapter Advisor and the lion, then a fledgling member of the lodge, was also tasked to be active in its affairs. The lodge elders promised to finance its revival but after a year, the funds needed for the uniforms and paraphernalia did not arrive to the consternation of the Chapter Dad who ultimately resigned leaving the lion to take care of the orphaned wards. Since the lion’s youngest son has already joined the movement, the lion was caught in a bind, and so he enlisted the lion tamer to also register as a chapter Mom.
This arrangement worked with the lion acting his role the best way he could while the Mom not only ironed the DeMolay’s uniforms but also played the role as surrogate mother whose shoulders usually absorb the tears of these young boys when heartburns and heartbreaks with their girlfriends occur.
This writer recalls that sometime in 1993, during one of the Craft’s multi-district conventions that was held at Camp Crame in Quezon City, a be-moustached brother approached the lion and introduced himself as “Dad Mac Ramos.” He said he learned of the things the lion and his tamer were doing for the Ambrocio Flores boys and urged him to keep it up. The various DeMolay manuals can help, he said, but in fine all that are needed is to understand these young tykes and keeping at the pantry an ample supply of noodles, cans of sardines and mackerels. “You will need these because they easily get hungry”, the founding Grand Master of the DeMolay said.
In fine the wheels of fortune changed. From Chapter Advisor of Ambrocio Flores, the lion saw himself Asst. Chapter Advisor of the A. Mabini Chapter. The responsibilities were replaced but in essence, it was still the same. Caring for these young boys and being an influence to their gradual transformation from young boys to burgeoning adults were the fare of the day. Until finally, the lion lost touch of the movement when he and his tamer retired to the place where they are now today.
But it has left an indelible imprint on his now aging mind. For example, while the Craft instills in the brotherhood equality as represented by the level but retains the pompous titles of Most Worshipful, Very Worshipful and Worshipful, the DeMolays have no such thing; a brother is simply that on the surface. But it cherishes seniority- a DeMolay who joined the ranks ahead of another is senior than the one who joined later. And that reality does not change.
And the endearing word “Dad” is not due every Freemason, but only to those who have influenced their young minds as advisors inside the Chapter doors. And they will call the latter “Dads” even after joining the Fraternity.
Here is an amusing anecdote to tell.
One time, one Senior DeMolay upstart had the occasion to interact with the lion who was then having a gleeful exchange of pleasantries with other Senior DeMolays who have already joined the Fraternity. Wanting to impress, he called the lion “Brod” feeling he was already entitled to do so; but instead received a severe tongue-lashing from his DeMolay elders. Too late did he realize that a severe admonition from his elders is forthcoming by omitting the use of the endearing word that he once revered..
At another time, our only daughter asked his father a question if he knew an instructor in UP and rattled his name. When she received the reply in the negative, she said that “But he knew you quite well. He even claims he often sleep at our basement in the company of our youngest son Ivan. And the lion could only murmur. “But how the heck could I memorize all their names. More than a hundred DeMolays slept in our basement!
And this rule of calling an advisor “Dad” applies even to those Senior DeMolays who have already gone inactive, like the branch Manager of the SSS Tagbilaran branch who would not fail to call the lion “Dad” in conversation whenever they met.
Right, Bro. Ernie?!
If you were asked, “could it happen that two fraternal brothers, the first being raised in 1982 and the second in 1989, would have an intimate relationship where the former would endearingly call the latter “Dad” and mean it?!
Of course it would be rare, but some critical analysts would say it is possible. Take the case of WB Sancho Niedo of Quezon City Lodge No. 122 for example. He was initiated in 1979 by his biological son who came all the way from Micronesia Lodge No, 173 F & A. M. in Saipan. Despite the fact that the son was the one primarily responsible for his father’s initiation into the mysteries of Masonry, it cannot be denied that out of the lodge, the former would still call his father “Dad”!
But suppose the earlier supposition restricts condition excepting biological relationship; how then could that be??
Bro. Ernie Rivera of the Diego Garcia Square and Compass Club claims he was raised as a master mason in 1982 while the aging lion was raised in 1989, yet the former endearingly calls the latter “Dad”. And not through biological lines nor the direct ties of the Craft but through the appendant organization called the DeMolay movement. Let now subject ties be brought to close scrutiny.
This writer has no idea how old Bro. Ernie is nor of the circumstances of his involvement in the DeMolay movement. Other than the fact that he proudly says he is a Senior DeMolay, and aside from this, the lion knew nothing of any other detail.
But let’s now look at the circumstances surrounding the lion’s links with the DeMolays.
Last 1991 (or 1992 the lion could no longer be certain), the Ambrocio Flores Chapter of the Order of DeMolay was resuscitated after several years of hibernation by Masonic District No. 9 but more specifically by Quezon City Lodge No. 122. An elder mason was designated Chapter Advisor and the lion, then a fledgling member of the lodge, was also tasked to be active in its affairs. The lodge elders promised to finance its revival but after a year, the funds needed for the uniforms and paraphernalia did not arrive to the consternation of the Chapter Dad who ultimately resigned leaving the lion to take care of the orphaned wards. Since the lion’s youngest son has already joined the movement, the lion was caught in a bind, and so he enlisted the lion tamer to also register as a chapter Mom.
This arrangement worked with the lion acting his role the best way he could while the Mom not only ironed the DeMolay’s uniforms but also played the role as surrogate mother whose shoulders usually absorb the tears of these young boys when heartburns and heartbreaks with their girlfriends occur.
This writer recalls that sometime in 1993, during one of the Craft’s multi-district conventions that was held at Camp Crame in Quezon City, a be-moustached brother approached the lion and introduced himself as “Dad Mac Ramos.” He said he learned of the things the lion and his tamer were doing for the Ambrocio Flores boys and urged him to keep it up. The various DeMolay manuals can help, he said, but in fine all that are needed is to understand these young tykes and keeping at the pantry an ample supply of noodles, cans of sardines and mackerels. “You will need these because they easily get hungry”, the founding Grand Master of the DeMolay said.
In fine the wheels of fortune changed. From Chapter Advisor of Ambrocio Flores, the lion saw himself Asst. Chapter Advisor of the A. Mabini Chapter. The responsibilities were replaced but in essence, it was still the same. Caring for these young boys and being an influence to their gradual transformation from young boys to burgeoning adults were the fare of the day. Until finally, the lion lost touch of the movement when he and his tamer retired to the place where they are now today.
But it has left an indelible imprint on his now aging mind. For example, while the Craft instills in the brotherhood equality as represented by the level but retains the pompous titles of Most Worshipful, Very Worshipful and Worshipful, the DeMolays have no such thing; a brother is simply that on the surface. But it cherishes seniority- a DeMolay who joined the ranks ahead of another is senior than the one who joined later. And that reality does not change.
And the endearing word “Dad” is not due every Freemason, but only to those who have influenced their young minds as advisors inside the Chapter doors. And they will call the latter “Dads” even after joining the Fraternity.
Here is an amusing anecdote to tell.
One time, one Senior DeMolay upstart had the occasion to interact with the lion who was then having a gleeful exchange of pleasantries with other Senior DeMolays who have already joined the Fraternity. Wanting to impress, he called the lion “Brod” feeling he was already entitled to do so; but instead received a severe tongue-lashing from his DeMolay elders. Too late did he realize that a severe admonition from his elders is forthcoming by omitting the use of the endearing word that he once revered..
At another time, our only daughter asked his father a question if he knew an instructor in UP and rattled his name. When she received the reply in the negative, she said that “But he knew you quite well. He even claims he often sleep at our basement in the company of our youngest son Ivan. And the lion could only murmur. “But how the heck could I memorize all their names. More than a hundred DeMolays slept in our basement!
And this rule of calling an advisor “Dad” applies even to those Senior DeMolays who have already gone inactive, like the branch Manager of the SSS Tagbilaran branch who would not fail to call the lion “Dad” in conversation whenever they met.
Right, Bro. Ernie?!
Comments
An endearing tale, My Brother Mr. Lion Sir.
I myself was enthusiastic to be a mason because I was once an active
member of the M.H. Del Pilar Chapter, Order of DeMolay, sponsored by no
less than my mother lodge, Malolos Lodge # 46 with whom I, at first my
good Sir, have also having trouble calling my once chapter dads, "Brod or
Kuyang". I got cured of that by the brethren themselves by telling me to
call them brod or kuyang instead of Dad.
But what really lies underneath that is not just about being 'on the
level' but my respect for them when I was a young DeMolay which extends
even until now because what I am now, is because I was shaped and molded
during my DeMolay years by the people I call now as Kuyang or Brod. Yes,
my good sir, mr. lion sir, my chapter dads and all the other masons
looking after us then are still there at the lodge, still shaping and
molding me. Not as a DeMolay, but a young master mason.
Given a choice, I would still call Dad Noli, Dad Ceasar, Dad Jun, Dad Rody
(God rest his soul), Dad Tino (VW Junior Grand Lecturer) and Dad Chito
(Grand Bible Bearer) as my Dads and still be proud of it. That's how I
look up to them...but of course, they may ask still, to be called
Kuyang...hahaha (-:
Good day my brother and above is just my two cents worth...(-:
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2004 11:20:43 -0800 (PST)
From: "Geminiano Galarosa Jr."
Subject: Re: [glphils] THE AGING LION AND HIS BOYS
To: "Joselito Caceres Manuel"
Bro. Joselito:
That was a nice mail you wrote about the DeMolays. Other than visiting Cupang Lodge No. 295 three or four times in the past, the lion has not had any other interaction with brethren of Bulacan other than serving as Master of Ceremonies to WB Mario F. Ignacio’s installation at Kakarong Lodge No. 327 in year 2000
But the lion wonders; did the Gregorio del Pilar Chapter Order of DeMolay that he helped organize in May 2000 survived? The lion could not tell, for he transferred residence to this scenic island called Bohol.
It is of course the lion’s pleasure to receive mails from Senior DeMolays, it makes him feel young!
Happy New Year!
Bro. (or Dad) Jun, whichever you may like!