FilCan Cabletow Brethren Attend ANCOM in the Philippines

Several members of the FilCan Cabletow brethren attended the 93rd Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines which was held on April 23-25, 2009 at Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.

Newly Installed Grand Master, MW Peter Lim Lu Soy
(wearing top hat)
with Past Grand Masters and Grand Lodge Officers

Installation of Grand Master, MW Peter Lim Lu Soy

WBro. Nap Rosario with newly Installed Grand Master,
MW Peter Lim Lu Soy

Fellowship Night with more than 3,000 people in attendance

WBro. Ike Saab, Grand Master MW Peter Lim Lu Soy
and WBro. Nap Rosario

Taken during the opening day of the ANCOM.
Shown L-R are Bro. Ronel Manabat, W.Bro. Alex Lazaro,
MW Bro. Michael Setzer - Immediate Past Grand Master
of the Grand Lodge of Japan,
W.Bro. Chris Pabello and Bro. Ray Flores.

Brothers Chris Pabello & Ronel Manabat
(2nd & 3rd from right respectively)
enjoying a game of golf with Philippine brethren at
Del Monte Golf and Country Club in Bukidnon.
The brother 2nd from left is V.W. Bro. Patrick King a close friend
of Bro. Ervin Aspiras.

First 2009 General Membership Meeting

The first General Membership Meeting for 2009 was held last March 8, 2009 at the Thornhill Masonic Temple. RW Bro. Keith Mcdonald, President, presided over the proceedings. More than 20-members were in attendance. The discussion was focused on the financial standing of the club and the plans and programs for the different committees for the ensuing year.

The upcoming Ladies Night, which is chaired by Bro. Derick Manaois was given importance during the discussions. This event will be held on May 1, 2009 at the Crystal Fountain Banquet Halls.

For tickets, you may contact, Bro. Derick Manaois - derickmanaois@yahoo.com

VW Johnny P. Chua Visits the Philippines

VW Johnny P. Chua, a Past President of the FilCan Cabletow recently visited the Philippines for a month. He had the opportunity to visit Cagayan de Oro City, located in the southern part of the Philippines, where he used to work before coming to Canada. Cagayan de Oro is the site of the upcoming Annual Communication (ANCOM) on April 2009 of the M.W. Grand Lodge of the Philippines. The incoming Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Peter Lim Lu Soy hails from Cagayan de Oro who welcomed Bro. Johnny and his younger brother, Bro. Robert Chua. The hosts tendered a dinner for Bro. Johnny and had the chance to reminisce the good old days with him. Brod Johnny first saw the Masonic Light while joining Bugo de Oro Lodge, now Leonardo T. Panares No. 220 situated in Cagayan de Oro.

VW Johnny sent the following congratulatory note to RW Peter Lim Lu Soy.

Dear R.W. Bro. Peter,

It was indeed an honour and pleasure to dine with you, and the brethren during my visit to your hometown Cagayan de Oro City. Thank you for the warm hospitalty and delicious dinner you have accorded me, and my younger brother Robert.

On behalf of the officers and members of the Filipino Canadian Cabletow Service Club in Toronto, Canada, our advance congratulations to you on reaching this plateau in your Masonic carreer to be installed as Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines this coming April 2009. May the G.A.O.T.U. guide you thru your term in governing this high and important office, and may you have a wonderful and successful year ahead of you.

Sincerely and fraternally yours,

V.W. Bro. Johnny P. Chua
Grenville Lodge No. 629, G.R.C.
Toronto, Canada

Brothers Robert and Bobby Gan

Cagayan de Oro brethren headed by RW Peter Lim Lu Soy
(2nd from left) hosted a dinner for visiting VW Bro. Johnny Chua

VW Johnny Chua and RW Peter Lim Lu Soy, incoming Grand Master
of the M.W. Grand Lodge of the Philippines

George Goking and Johnny Chua

Johnny Chua with Cagayan de Oro brethren.

Visit of VW Bro. John Teng from the Philippines

Above picture (courtesy of VW Bro. Johnny Chua) was taken on Nov. 12, 2008 during Grenville Lodge's meeting
R-L front row Bro. Vedasto Maghirang; W. Bro. Eloy Cordon of Integrity Lodge (Chicago) and V.W. Bro. John Teng, PDDGM, Manila District NCR- E witnessing the 3rd Degree work for Bro. Randy Ham (4th from right).

This is what VW Jun (Geminiano) Galarosa Jr. has to say...

RW Chibu and VW Johnny:

Many thanks for accommodating VW John and his son Howell. I had the rare privilege of closely monitoring the Masonic footsteps of VW John since he and four others first appeared that the anniversary celebration of Laong Laan Lodge No. 185 in July 1997 and one way or the other, has acted as Intender for him when he and VW John Sy managed to complete the grades. Of the five, only the two of them succeeded.

With your reliable cabletows guiding him to attain his family;s residency requirements, I feel certain they will be able to move over, which in effect will mean Laong Laanʼs loss, probably forever. But it will be the Toronto brethrenʼs gain; VW John, after all, is a serious student of the Craft.

Again, my heartfelt thanks not only for this, but also for accommodating my youngest son Ivan earlier this month.

Jun

Bro. Ivan Galarosa Visits Toronto

(Sitting L-R) Bro. Rody Kua, Bro. Ivan Galarosa & Bro. Ervin Aspiras
(Standing L-R) Bro. Johnny Chua, Bro. Edwin Chua & Bro. Dan de Juan.

FilCan Cabletow President, Bro. Ervin Aspiras is shown pinning the the lapel pin with Square & Compass logo over the Maple Leaf on the guest of the evening, Bro. Ivan Galarosa. While Bro. Rody Kua, Bro. Edwin Chua
& Bro. Dan de Juan looked on.

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Bro. Ivan R. Galarosa who is a member of Quezon City Lodge No. 122 under the Grand Lodge of the Philippines was in Canada to attend a "Train-the-Trainer's" course in Belleville, Ontario, from October 4-11, 2008.

In spite of his hectic schedule, he found time to break bread with some members of the Filipino-Canadian Cabletow Service Club who treated him to dinner last Oct. 10, 2008 led by its President, Bro. Ervin Aspiras, its Secretary, Bro. Johnny Chua, Bro. Dan de Juan, Bro. Rody Kua, and Bro. Edwin Chua.

Bro. Galarosa, just like the FilCan President, is a Senior DeMolay and a member of A. Mabini Chapter.

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Here's what Bro. Ivan has to say when he thanked Bro. Jonathan Modo, also a Senior DeMolay and Past President of FilCan Cabletow for posting pictures in the PinoyMason yahoogroup.

Double-Brod Jonathan,

Thank you very much for posting the photos! Please extend my appreciation to Kuya Ervin as well. I showed the same photos to some of my friends, and they all asked one thing - "Matagal mo na ba silang kakilala? Mukha kasing nag-reunion kayo." They were surprised to learn that it was my first time to meet the brethren of Toronto, but then again, I think that's all part of the response to the question "How do Masons meet?". Maraming salamat ulit!

Warm fraternal regards,

Bro. Ivan Galarosa
A. Mabini Chapter (DeMolay)
Quezon City Lodge #122 (GLP)

++++++++++A Posting made in the PinoyMasons++++++++++

Thank you, Fil-Can Cabletow Service Club!

I would like to post this shout out to the brethren of the Fil-Can Cabletow Service Club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I cannot express how delighted I was with the warmth of brotherhood that they have afforded me in my short stay in the Province of Ontario. The Club is headed by its President, Bro. Ervin Aspiras (also a brother DeMolay), and was also represented by Bros. Johnny Chua (equipped with his superb driving skills), Rody Kua, Dan de Juan and Edwin Chua, who all treated me out to dinner and had a lengthy chat about our most favorite topic of conversation - Freemasonry. They also presented me with a lapel pin depicting a red maple leaf with the square and compasses, something that I would treasure forever.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat mga kapatid!

Bro. Ivan R. Galarosa
Quezon City Lodge No. 122
MWGLP

++++++++++ Ivan's e-mail to Bro. Johnny Chua ++++++++++

VW Johnny,

I can't express how thankful I am for the great experience that you and the other brethren in my one night stay in Toronto. I will forever have that night in my memory with the hope that I could somehow return the kind gesture to each and everyone of you. Please extend my regards to Bros. Ervin, Rody, Edwin and Dan, and to the rest of the Fil-Can Masons.

Fraternally,

Bro. Ivan R. Galarosa
Quezon City Lodge No. 122, MW Grand Lodge of the Philippines, F. & A.M.
A. Mabini Chapter, Order of DeMolay, Manila, Philippines
Thomas Michael Sherry Priory, Order of Knighthood, Manila, Philippines

2009 FilCan Officers

During an Election held last October 5, 2008, the following were elected Board of Officers by the General Membership.

1. Bro. Keith Macdonald - President
2. Bro. Ervin Aspiras - Immediate Past President (ex-officio)
3. Bro. Charles Frankland - Secretary
4. Bro. Nathaniel de Guia - Treasurer
5. Bro. Derick Manaois Exec. - Vice President
6. Bro. Ramon San Juan - Vice President- East
7. Bro. Johnny P. Chua - Vice President- Central
8. Bro. Christopher Pabello - Vice President- West
9. Bro. Rolando Castaneda - Public Relation Officer
10. Bro. William Tan - Board Member
11. Bro. Rodante de Juan - Board Member
12. Bro. Napoleon Rosario - Board Member
13. Bro. James Ignacio - Board Member

Bro. Jim Milroy was elected to the position of Auditor by the new Board. While the following brethren were appointed by the new President:

Bro. Noli Sagadraca - General Counsel
Bro. Alberto Tan - Ambassador of Goodwill to Quebec
Bro. Sonny Wang - Ambassador of Goodwill to the Phil.

Photo collage above show Jun Sienes giving a short talk on
Preparing and Delivering a Speech.
Pictures below show Chris Pabello, Jim Milroy, Sonny Bautista, Charles Frankland, Jan Jansen, Nap Rosario and Mario Cruz.

FilCan Donates to GM Petrisor's Charity Project

In the October 2008 issue of the D.D.G.M. Communique published by the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario, The Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Allan J. Petrisor thanked the Officers and members of the Filipino-Canadian Cabletow for the donation they made to his Prostate Cancer Research Program in the total amount $2,600.

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