Happy New Year! Welcome 2012!

I trust that you all had an excellent Christmas. I survived the numerous parties and get-togethers over the Holiday Season. Here's wishing that I can stay on my diet and exercise regularly to burn off all the calories ingested recently. Well, we all have New Year's Resolutions. Mine always start with dieting and exercising. Good luck to you on your Resolutions.

Here are my wishes for you in 2012 (a leap year) ...

12 Months of Happiness,

52 Weeks of Fun,

366 Days of Success,

8,784 Hours of Good Health,

527,040 Minutes of Well-Being,

31,622,400 Seconds of Joy.

Great start for January,

Love for February,

Peace for March,

No worries for April,

Fun for May,

Joy for June up to November,

Happiness for December,

Have a wonderful 2012!

I wish that 2012 will be as meaningful and fulfilling for you as 2011 has been. I hope that we will all continue to choose to help make a positive difference in our communities, wherever we may be.

Mae and I wish you and your family a blessed, safe, healthy, prosperous and a very Happy New Year!

Fil-Can Cabletow Lodge No 189 Meeting, December 17, Saturday

As in previous years, we moved our December Meeting from the 23rd, 4th Friday to the morning of 17th, Saturday. We conferred the EA Degree on Bro Joemel Perry (JP2) Arabe and Bro Dale Pineda, the son and son-in-law of our WM, WB Melvin Arabe. It was a proud moment for WB Melvin to be the Conferring WM.
It was a busy Meeting as it was also the Official Visit of RWB Randy Fraser, Unity Distric DGM.
The Lodge was called to Refreshment prior to the Degree Conferral to ensure that nobody would be hungry during the very important part or the Meeting. There was beef caldereta but somehow there was no rice, which prompted at least one Brother to wonder and ask why.
After the Meeting, there was the usual picture taking. Bro Norman Manlapaz brought his very fancy camera. Thanks to Bro Norman for taking the pictures.
As we all know, technology is great when it works. In these two pictures, Bro Norman Manlapaz and Bro Rey Galapon are shown trying to use the remote control to trigger the camera to shoot.

This is one of the "final" group pictures. Our two (2) new EA's are kneeling in front.

Bro Norman working again on the remote control.

Everyone in this picture rode together going to the Lodge. We all reside in Meadows West. All the ranks of the Craft Lodge from MM up are represented by the various Brethren in this picture.
L to R: Bro Jayson Angcaya (he is wearing the MM Apron from the MW GL of the Philippines), RWB Junn Manalang, MWB Chibu Uson, WB Glenn Baggao and VWB Mike Cruz. WB Glenn and VWB Mike are wearing PM's Aprons from the MW GL of the Philippines.
The Meeting and Degree Conferral went very well and were an excellent start for a busy weekend. After the Meeting, the Brethren rushed home to prepare for the Lodge Christmas party that evening.

Christmas Greetings

Dear Family & Friends,

As 2011 comes to a close, it is appropriate to reflect on the past twelve months and be thankful for all our blessings.

Let us celebrate with family and friends peace on earth and goodwill towards all men and remember those who have passed on or are not in our midst.

Let us also pray for those who are less fortunate, in distress, in sorrow or ill.

And let us specially remember those who have served or are serving near or far away to protect our liberties and freedom.

Faith makes all things possible. Hope makes all things work. Love makes all things beautiful. May you have all these three for this Christmas.

My wife Mae, our daughter Anna, our son Mikey and I wish you and your family a blessed, meaningful & merry Christmas and a safe, healthy, peaceful, fulfilling, prosperous & happy New Year!

Open Installation, Doric Lodge No 36, Boissevain, Dec 20, Tuesday

On Tuesday, December 20, Grand Secretary MWB Ted Jones, DGM RWB Al Hadley, Grand Treasurer RWB Nico Velthuys and I drove down to Boissevain for the Wild Game Night and Installation of Doric Lodge No 36.
Here we have a picture taken before the dinner.
L to R: MWB Morley McKay, RWB Al Hadley, RWB Nico Velthuys and MWB Ted Jones.

I took a picture of the photographer, RWB Bert Chambers, the WM-Elect.

This was after the main course and before the cake and ice cream. Those courses were very tasty! It took a lot of control not to get seconds and thirds.

A picture of everyone, except the new WM, RWB Bert Chambers, who took the picture.

 L to R: DGM RWB Al Hadley; WM RWB Bert Chambers; GM; Grand Secretary MWB Ted Jones

Joining in the picture is RWB Bob Kilpatrick, who was presented his corrected Lewis Jewel. His has three (3) bars because both his grandfather and father were Freemasons in good standing when they passed away. RWB Bob was very happy to receive his Jewel.

It was another wonderful evening - great food, excellent ritual, warm fellowship and great driving conditions and weather.

Open Installation, Ancient Landmark Lodge No 3, December 19, Monday

On December 19, Monday, Ancient Landmark Lodge No 3 held an Open Installation of their 2012 Officers. Here is a picture taken of the Brethren and guests after the dinner prior to the Lodge Meeting.

Getting the Lodge and Brethren ready for the Meeting.

RWB Gord Fardoe, outgoing WM, opening the Lodge.

These seven (7) new and young Master Masons were presented their Certificates of Proficiency. What an exciting time for the Lodge and for the Jurisdiction to have young men being accepted into the Craft.

Lewis Jewels were presented to Bro Justin Lapiña and Bro Jared Lapiña, sons of RWB Neil & Sis Espie Lapiña.

VWB Thor Weidenbacher also received his Lewis Jewel. He is the son of RWB Rudy and Sis Joanne Weidenbacher and the husband of Sis Tricia.

The WM-Elect, Bro Robbie Green, was also presented with his Lewis Jewel. He is the son of Sis Barb Green, the widow of the late WB Jim Green.

Another Lewis Jewel recipient was VWB Gord Greasley, the son of WB Gerv Greasley and the husband of Sis Karla.

The Lewises and their families.

RWB Gord Fardoe as presented his RAM Jewel by WB Gord Sumka. The RAM Jewel is presented to a RAM sitting as the WM, who can wear the said Jewel during his term.

RWB Gord Fardoe is presented his Past Master's Certificate by MWB Ted Jones, Grand Secretary.

WB Robbie Green is seated in the Oriental Chair by MWB Ted Jones.

WB Robbie Green looks quite comfortable in the East. It was a very proud moment for WB Robbie.
We all know that his late father, WB Jim, was smiling down very proudly on WB Robbie.

Congratulations to the newly Installed Officers.

WB Robbie with Bethel Guardians Candice Houston and Dana Homenick.

WB Robbie with his very proud Mom, Sis Barb, and me in the middle.
















WB Robbie with his Mom and relatives.

It was an excellent evening - a wonderful kickoff for the term of WB Robbie Green. I am sure that we will hear a lot of good things about him and his Lodge.

GM's Christmas Dinner, December 18, Sunday

The Grand Lodge Senior Officers, Staff had a Christmas Dinner in the evening of December 18, Sunday at the Kum Koon Garden. This was the culmination of a very busy weekend for most of the Grand Lodge Senior Officers and their Ladies.

This is a picture of one of the statues displayed in the room we occupied.

There were two (2) tables. Here is a picture of one before the food was served and eaten.

Here is a picture of the other table.

The Grand Secretary, after dinner, with a very contented look.

Smiles all around after the sumptuous dinner.











It was an excellent evening with the Brethren and Ladies - a wonderful way of thanking them for their support, cooperation and friendship.

Masonic Family Christmas Reception, December 18, Sunday

The weekend before Christmas was specially busy. On Dec 17, Saturday, Fil-Can Cabletow Lodge No 189 conferred the EA Degree at a Regular Meeting in the morning and held its 5th Annual Lodge Christmas Party in the evening.
On Dec 18, Sunday, in the afternoon, the Grand Lodge hosted a Masonic Family Christmas Reception at the Manitoba Masonic Centre (MMC). The very beautiful and colorful decorations were done by Debbie Clairmont and Marilynn Kowalchuk, Past Queens of Sphinx Temple No 116, Daughters of the Nile.
Beautiful entertainment piano music was provided by Sister Bernice Blakeman of the Order of Eastern Star.

Lady Carol Hadley and Lady Val Webster

Wearing my new toque, courtesy of Sister Grace Burke, Past Worthy Grand Matron, Grand Chapter of Manitoba, Order of Eastern Star (OES) and lovely wife of RWB Bruce Burke, current Worthy Grand Patron, Manitoba, OES.
L to R: Lady Mae, me, Sister Grace and RWB Bruce.

The Senior Grand Warden, RWB Doug Webster, and his lovely wife, Lady Val.

The Junior Grand Warden, RWB Stano Spina, and his lovely wife, Lady Linda.

The Deputy Grand Master, RWB Al Hadley, and his lovely wife, Lady Carol.

The Receiving Line made up of the Senior Grand Lodge Officers and their Ladies

Entertainment by the Khartum Pipe Band, one of the best pipe bands in Shrinedom.

The "Wrappers" before their presentation.










The future GM with his first grandson, maybe a future DeMolay and Freemason.
What a wonderful afternoon it was.