AN OPEN EMAIL FROM THE AGING LION TO HIS ELDEST CUB
My dear son:
Your statement that you will soon petition for membership in Masonry was a pleasant surprise to your Tatay (Dad), for nowhere in time did he ever encourage you to join the Craft. The only occasion he recalls having invited you to a Masonic gathering was during his installation as master of his old lodge; but that was already a good ten years ago. Not that he objects to your intention but any self-respecting Mason will want that anyone, his son included, should join the Fraternity “of his own free will and accord.”
But since you have courageously expressed your desire to join, it may benefit you if you are apprised of the three most basic, yet very important tenets of the Craft before your petition is processed by the lodge where you intend to become a member.
I. BELIEF IN THE ALMIGHTY
You may well remember that your Tatay has dutifully took you, your Nanay and the rest of your siblings to church almost every Sunday from the time you could ever manage to walk. The three of you, that is, including both your sister and your youngest brother, were all enrolled at Angilicum School during your elementary and high school years thus enabling you to get a solid foundation of the faith where he himself was born to and though quite frankly your Dad may not be a deep-rooted Catholic (your Mom certainly is) ever since, we did endeavor to expose you to the Almighty the best way we knew.
But being nurtured to religion, as most Freemasons should be, will now offer a different twist. You should henceforth familiarize yourself to the fact that other members within the Fraternity may share diverging views. God may be called Yahweh, Jehovah, El Shaddai, Lord Krishna, Buddha, and even Allah, and that prudence should now dictate that you allow these members to practice their own respective beliefs they same way you will be allowed to practice your own. In many of his writings your Dad often calls the Almighty by the acronym GAOTU, the meaning of which you will surely learn later. Suffice it to say that these apparently divergent names meant all the same to him.
II THE IMMORTAILITY OF THE SOUL
The word “soul” in this context refers to your own and that it survives the grave, even when time shall be no more.
III THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN
Being a bona-fide graduate of UP Los Banos, the word “brotherhood” should no longer be alien to you, especially because you have been very active in the Eagles Fraternity while still in college. But here are a few words on “Man” as symbolized in the context of the Craft.
“Man” is a generic term that should start with you, then to your wife Vicky and then to your two children on the first ladder of idyllic thought. In descending order of priorities, the ladder next involve your parents- your mother and myself. Then come your sister and your younger brother, their respective spouses and their children grouped together. Then come in lower rung your relatives from us, -your parents, and then to Vicky’s relatives. Next but still in descending order your officemates at San Miguel, and then your drinking buddies that you have accumulated from school and from your workplace all through the years. And then almost all in particular who somehow are interacting with you hence will also be added to the list.
“Brotherhood of Man” can get a little complicated since it is is extremely difficult to uphold harmonious relationship with all of them. But as the saying goes: “if you cannot maintain good relations with one or two, there is still no need to quarrel, simply shun those you don’t like and it will already suffice.” As Freemasons are wont to say: “cultivate relationship with those who can best work and best agree.”
Your Dad recalls with fond memories how he and your mother tried to raise you and your siblings the best way they could.. They spiritedly sent you all to Angelicum School in your formative years and also endeavored to enroll you all at the State University when you were already in the collegiate level. He also still recalls with clarity the time he handed you a bottle of beer after your graduation from high school since you have already qualified to study at UP in Los Banos, and subsequently enrolled you at a karate class that summer, with a terse reminder that since you will henceforth be away from the family, you might as well be ready to fight you own battles. He also cannot help but chuckle every time he remembers the date you were deposited at the Men’s Dorm at Los Banos where your Nanay dutifully presented you with a Catholic Edition of the Holy Bible, not knowing that inside it your Dad inserted a primer on “How Not to Contact Sexual Disease” that was issued by the United States Military Service. Even to this date however, he never had a chance to know which printed material you’ve read more often; you mother and your Dad never found out what the heck ever happened to these two priceless manuals of instruction.
You later graduated and in fine asked permission to get married with nary an objection heard from you father. All is well, he thought, you have aptly prepared yourself to face the world’s myriad of challenges, using your own wings and feathers that is the unseen vehicle of your soul..
And now you desire to join him in this oldest Fraternity.
It’s not a complicated thing really. You will be investigated upon by three members from the lodge where you intend to join and they will submit their evaluation on your strengths and weaknesses, on whether you are bad or good, and if the latter, can be made better. It is possible the record of your two sponsors may help but beyond that, it is your accomplishments that will really count as the basis of your eventual admission..
Your Dad is glad Vicky consented to your plan to join Freemasonry. That will loosen up some misimpressions that Masonry is not God fearing; also the fact that your sponsor is close to her because there might be some events you may not be free to relate to her and thus cause minor problems. But with the wife of your sponsor familiar with the actuations of her husband as a Mason, these possible irritants will considerably be lessened.
Wilfred Philip (Bong) Leano, your school buddy from way back in the upper eighties, is furnished a copy of this email and as such, may wish he is physically around during the time you will be raised. He may even daydream that he is once again a vaquero out to tame a young bull as you did together during your memorable and indeed suspenseful collegiate years..
Good luck on your petition, your Tatay hopes you make it.
My dear son:
Your statement that you will soon petition for membership in Masonry was a pleasant surprise to your Tatay (Dad), for nowhere in time did he ever encourage you to join the Craft. The only occasion he recalls having invited you to a Masonic gathering was during his installation as master of his old lodge; but that was already a good ten years ago. Not that he objects to your intention but any self-respecting Mason will want that anyone, his son included, should join the Fraternity “of his own free will and accord.”
But since you have courageously expressed your desire to join, it may benefit you if you are apprised of the three most basic, yet very important tenets of the Craft before your petition is processed by the lodge where you intend to become a member.
I. BELIEF IN THE ALMIGHTY
You may well remember that your Tatay has dutifully took you, your Nanay and the rest of your siblings to church almost every Sunday from the time you could ever manage to walk. The three of you, that is, including both your sister and your youngest brother, were all enrolled at Angilicum School during your elementary and high school years thus enabling you to get a solid foundation of the faith where he himself was born to and though quite frankly your Dad may not be a deep-rooted Catholic (your Mom certainly is) ever since, we did endeavor to expose you to the Almighty the best way we knew.
But being nurtured to religion, as most Freemasons should be, will now offer a different twist. You should henceforth familiarize yourself to the fact that other members within the Fraternity may share diverging views. God may be called Yahweh, Jehovah, El Shaddai, Lord Krishna, Buddha, and even Allah, and that prudence should now dictate that you allow these members to practice their own respective beliefs they same way you will be allowed to practice your own. In many of his writings your Dad often calls the Almighty by the acronym GAOTU, the meaning of which you will surely learn later. Suffice it to say that these apparently divergent names meant all the same to him.
II THE IMMORTAILITY OF THE SOUL
The word “soul” in this context refers to your own and that it survives the grave, even when time shall be no more.
III THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN
Being a bona-fide graduate of UP Los Banos, the word “brotherhood” should no longer be alien to you, especially because you have been very active in the Eagles Fraternity while still in college. But here are a few words on “Man” as symbolized in the context of the Craft.
“Man” is a generic term that should start with you, then to your wife Vicky and then to your two children on the first ladder of idyllic thought. In descending order of priorities, the ladder next involve your parents- your mother and myself. Then come your sister and your younger brother, their respective spouses and their children grouped together. Then come in lower rung your relatives from us, -your parents, and then to Vicky’s relatives. Next but still in descending order your officemates at San Miguel, and then your drinking buddies that you have accumulated from school and from your workplace all through the years. And then almost all in particular who somehow are interacting with you hence will also be added to the list.
“Brotherhood of Man” can get a little complicated since it is is extremely difficult to uphold harmonious relationship with all of them. But as the saying goes: “if you cannot maintain good relations with one or two, there is still no need to quarrel, simply shun those you don’t like and it will already suffice.” As Freemasons are wont to say: “cultivate relationship with those who can best work and best agree.”
Your Dad recalls with fond memories how he and your mother tried to raise you and your siblings the best way they could.. They spiritedly sent you all to Angelicum School in your formative years and also endeavored to enroll you all at the State University when you were already in the collegiate level. He also still recalls with clarity the time he handed you a bottle of beer after your graduation from high school since you have already qualified to study at UP in Los Banos, and subsequently enrolled you at a karate class that summer, with a terse reminder that since you will henceforth be away from the family, you might as well be ready to fight you own battles. He also cannot help but chuckle every time he remembers the date you were deposited at the Men’s Dorm at Los Banos where your Nanay dutifully presented you with a Catholic Edition of the Holy Bible, not knowing that inside it your Dad inserted a primer on “How Not to Contact Sexual Disease” that was issued by the United States Military Service. Even to this date however, he never had a chance to know which printed material you’ve read more often; you mother and your Dad never found out what the heck ever happened to these two priceless manuals of instruction.
You later graduated and in fine asked permission to get married with nary an objection heard from you father. All is well, he thought, you have aptly prepared yourself to face the world’s myriad of challenges, using your own wings and feathers that is the unseen vehicle of your soul..
And now you desire to join him in this oldest Fraternity.
It’s not a complicated thing really. You will be investigated upon by three members from the lodge where you intend to join and they will submit their evaluation on your strengths and weaknesses, on whether you are bad or good, and if the latter, can be made better. It is possible the record of your two sponsors may help but beyond that, it is your accomplishments that will really count as the basis of your eventual admission..
Your Dad is glad Vicky consented to your plan to join Freemasonry. That will loosen up some misimpressions that Masonry is not God fearing; also the fact that your sponsor is close to her because there might be some events you may not be free to relate to her and thus cause minor problems. But with the wife of your sponsor familiar with the actuations of her husband as a Mason, these possible irritants will considerably be lessened.
Wilfred Philip (Bong) Leano, your school buddy from way back in the upper eighties, is furnished a copy of this email and as such, may wish he is physically around during the time you will be raised. He may even daydream that he is once again a vaquero out to tame a young bull as you did together during your memorable and indeed suspenseful collegiate years..
Good luck on your petition, your Tatay hopes you make it.
Comments
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VW Sir:
It will be in a rural lodge where he is based, Ivan, although being subtly pushed by his wife, and assured by MW Rody Herrera that he will foot the conferral bills should he join the Craft, is adamant. He says there is time for the rain to pour and for the sun to shine.
It turned out he has a bet with his elder brother that he who joins the Craft first will inherit the lion’s ring should the latter finally expire, and with his brother’s declaration has now conceded that that dream is now wishful thinking.
Happy New Year to you and Mariver
Jun and Lorma
What an inspiring letter. Being a father of 2 boys (10 and 6) I always look up to parents who have raised their children to be a fine men/women. You are one of them Bro. Jun.
Congratulations.
Bro. Ron
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Bro. Ron:
Happy New Year!!
You know what?! If you were in the NBA, then you would easily have achieved a Three peat!
Consider these:
You were first to be sent an email upon the aging lion’s arrival to his den.
You were also first to react to his article “Retracing Footprints” his first article for the year 2006.
Consequently, you will also be the first to receive the lion’s rejoinder on the said article that he just sent.
A few remarks on your two emails are in order:
The cub who signified his intention to join the Craft is not the same as that who wrote the article titled “Si Tatay, si Da Vinci at si Nicholas Cage.”
The youngest cub do write articles that is posted in another “Blog Website.” However, since most of the topics concern his own impressions on how he dealt with his own life, which involves his reflections as a 28 year old lad, it may not look attractive reading materials for those who are already forty- ish old and above.
These two cubs were raised differently and under obviously separate circumstances. The eldest, having studied at Los Banos, had to be trained via remote control. After all, he can only go home once or twice a month and therefore, had to be governed by the rules of “truth and consequence” and that is the reason why the lion, still not aged at that time, had to hand him a bottle of beer with an admonition: you can drink while you’re away, but if I ask you if you did drink, the question is answerable by a simple yes or no. There is no need to lie. That lesson had to be made because his Dad and the six uncles by his father’s side (his mother is an only child, hence had no brothers to be called uncle) all drink. So how the heck can the aging lion tell his son not to drink?!
You need not worry on your intended research if you enjoy reading the lion’s articles. All you do is click http://lionrroar.Blogspot.com and there you will find almost all the articles that are classed as Masonically Related Articles. You can just pick those that suits you without any subsequent permission from me. This one will do.
This email does not augur well with the spirit of the day. You are supposed to enjoy it away from the drudgeries of the computer’s addictive power. Enjoy the day with your loved ones and not with a seventeen inch computer monitor inside the house.
Happy New Year once again and to your loved ones, your wife and your children, over there at the other side of the hemisphere!
Bro. Jun
It is with utmost pride that I congratulate you on this recent development. I would say without a doubt that you are one of the happiest masons in the world, if not the happiest to learn of your son's decision to join the craft.
Please send Ian my warmest regards and that I say Mabuhay on his resolve to trace the footprints of the most revered Lion.
If only I had the opportunity, I would respectfully volunteer to be his guest Senior Deacon(my favorite degree work position) from the 1st to the 3rd degree. I have always believed that the SD is the closest, physically and emotionally to the candidate, he being the guide to all the novice's movements.
Again Kuyang Jun, as before.........yes I know.......you are expecting my apologies for not being able to communicate with you more often. You wouldn't believe I have shed a few pounds here instead of gaining weight with all the steaks and ribs around town. My job requires a lot of movements and it involves physical work rendering me too worn-out to even flick a few letters in the keyboard. Still....that is no excuse to at least spare a few lines of greetings especially to a worthy brother.
If not for Brother Chibu Uson's New Year greetings, I would have failed to check on your mail.........ipagpaumanhin mo APO KJ.
Anyway, Kuya Jun....I am back.
Please extend my warmest regards to my future brother Ian, Vicky my barkada and of course, the good hermana, the one and only Lion-tamer. hahaha
I wish you good health, more blessings and more roaring GROWLS this 2006!!!
Mabuhay ka!
BONG LEANO
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Ading Bong:
Sabi ko na nga ba, makokonsensiya
ka at papalag kaagad. Akala ko pa naman pe-pwesto ka sa trangkahan para alisin man lamang ang libag sa torong nagnanasang maging mason. Matandang dekano lang pala ang gusto mo. At ano na nga ba ang nangyari sa pagiging “vaquero” mo?
Pero di na bale, takot ka lang sigurong masuwag at mabalian uli ng buto, ay, ngipin nga lang pala..
Huwag mo nang banggitin
yong “steak”, naglalaway tuloy ako. Ang magiging utol mong si Ian ay padadalhan ko ng kopya nitong email, kaya siguradong babalitaan na lang niya si Vicky. Ipapabasa ko naman sa tagapag-alaga ng matandang leon yong email mo at ang sagot na ito.
At ipakikumusta mo na rin ako kay Ate Rina at sa dalawa mong dalagita. Sabihin mo Masaganang Bagong taon, na galing kamo sa bungal na leon.
Apo KJ
What you wrote was a mouthful. The goal in life is not only to make oneself good but to make it better. You may not be aware of it but your Dad often reminds your sister that her goal should be to see to it that her own two kids perform better than what she has achieved for surely that is not an easy thing as the standard of performance had to be jacked up a little bit each time.
But that is the only way this world could be harmonized for the sons of darkness are also doing their level best to improve their lot.
You are indeed on the right track at raising your own son; Mika, aka Ace, is a fine young boy and definitely as articulate and more handsome than you are.
We are expecting with waited breath the arrival of your second child. The sex would be unimportant; if a girl, then she will be the nina bonita of the third-generation clan loudly complaining “puro utos, puro utos, or if a boy- the third male who can later stamp the Galarosa brand that you and your elder brother has done.
Of course the race is not yet over, but the main goal should never be to beat your brother but always to do your utmost, that is, with or without the ring but with the satisfaction that one has ran the race the best way he can.
Tatay