TIVOLI 2011: 7 April

Tivoli 2011 - to support masoniCare's Flood Victims Appeal


Lodge Thespian & masoniCare invite you to attend Tivoli 2011 to be held on Thursday, April 7 at the Sydney Masonic Centre from 6.30pm.

Tickets are $40 per person which includes a complimentary drink on arrival.

Tivoli 2011 will raise money for the masoniCare Flood Victims Appeal and will feature a fantastic line-up of entertainers.

Rizal in Dapitan

by Manuel L. Quezon III

(from an article, 1996)

The following extract is taken from Luis Serrano’s translation (from Tagalog) of the “controversial” memoirs of Dr. Pio Valenzuela, recounting the conversation he had, as emissary of the Katipunan, with Rizal on June 21, 1896, at Dapitan. Valenzuela’s memoirs conflict with the testimony he gave on October 6, 1896, when he was captured and interrogated by the Spaniards, in which he said Rizal vehemently refused to have anything to do with the Katipunan or a revolution. But his memoirs, and testimony he gave at court (he was cross-examined by Vicente Sotto, who had been sued for libel by a former Katipunero) in 1917, after the Spanish era, said that Rizal really favored a revolution but not just yet; some historians explain the discrepancy as Valenuela’s attempt to not implicate Rizal after his capture. The Rizal in Valenzuela’s memoirs is the Rizal I choose to admire.

Rizal: You have to use all precautions to prevent the discovery of the association.

Valenzuela: And if the precautions fail?

R: You, the principal chiefs, must see that the resolutions of the Katipunan are faithfully complied with; you are duty-bound to avail yourselves of all means to prevent the shedding of blood. When the generals do not command, the soldiers stay still.

V: The case of the Katipunan is different; if the generals do not give orders, the soldiers will order the soldiers. If the Katipunan is discovered, the revolution will inevitably break out…

R: Does the association count with its membership many persons in high society in Manila and in the provinces?

V: Unfortunately, no; in Manila and the provinces, there are about a hundred from the middle class; the rest are poor.

R: There is no other remedy but to attract to your association all the rich and influential persons of Manila and the provinces. You may also avail yourselves of Antonio Luna who is a very intelligent man, and who has free access to the homes of wealthy Filipinos. Luna, at the same time, can direct the campaign in case hostilities break out.

V: What shall we do if we fail to attract these aristocratic people to the Katipunan?

R: These Filipinos will be your worst enemies if you commit the imprudence of attacking the Spaniards without the necessary preparation. When they see you without arms, they will go over to the side of Spain and persecute you; and being Filipinos and rich too, they will win over your soldiers with their money.

V: And what are we to do then?

R: See to it that these persons are at least neutral -that they help neither the Spaniards nor the Filipinos.

V: Neutrals (sic)? By what means can we make them neutrals?

R: That is difficult to answer now. The means are born of circumstances and events…

The doctor invited me to talk on the beach, and upon arriving at a certain place he pointed to a spot in the sea where the boat to take him to a foreign land may drop anchor. Later, we returned to his house and during the walk the following conversation took place between us:

Rizal: Tell our countrymen that, at the same time that we are preparing for a war against Spain, I desire to see college established in Japan which will be converted later into a university for Filipino youths. I shall be greatly pleased to be the director of said college.

Valenzuela: I shall bear in mind all what you say and counsel, but I believe you would rather direct the revolution than manage the college.

R: I am ready for both.

V: As soon as we have arms and munitions we shall try to take you out of Dapitan before the revolution starts in order that the Spaniards may not get to you and shoot you.

R: As soon as you obtain arms, start the war against Spain right away; do not bother about me for I will know how to get out of here by any craft with the help of the Moros. When it comes to the redemption of the country, you must not look behind for just one man.

V: If the revolution breaks out before schedule and you are still in Dapitan, the Spaniards will hold you and have you shot.

R: To die and conquer is pleasant; but to die and be conquered is painful.

This is a Rizal far different from the one a Fr. Alfeo Nudas, S.J. chooses to proclaim as great; the Rizal who wrote, from prison, that “I have recommended study and the civic virtues, without which no redemption is possible. I have also written… that reforms, if they are to bear fruit, must come from above, for reforms that come from below are upheavals both violent and transitory… I cannot do less but condemn, as I do condemn, this ridiculous and barbarous uprising, plotted behind my back, which both dishonors us Filipinos and discredits those who might have taken our part. I abominate the crimes for which it is responsible and will have no part in it. With all my heart I am sorry for those who have rashly allowed themselves to be deceived. Let them, then, return to their homes, and may God pardon those who have acted in bad faith.”

And yet the Spaniards, as Fr. de la Costa (another Jesuit) once wrote, refused to release this “reasoned” condemnation of the revolution on the grounds that (as the Spanish Judge Advocate General commented) “Dr. Jose Rizal limits himself to criticizing the present insurrectionary movement as premature… as far as Rizal is concerned, the whole question is one of opportunity, not of principles and objectives… a message of this sort, far from promoting peace, is likely to stimulate for the future the spirit of rebellion.”

An individual’s choice of heroes, one’s decision to admire -and venerate- a particular character out of the past, says a lot about that person. What is even more interesting is that one’s choice of which particular facets to emulate in a hero -and, people being what they are, which facets to suppress or simply gloss over, since they are incompatible with one’s preconceptions, biases, or goals- reveals a great deal, too.

But reveals nothing about the true nature of the hero.

“I do not mean to say that our freedom must be won at the point of the sword. The sword now counts for very little in the destinies of our time, but do I say that we must win our freedom by deserving it, by improving the mind and enhancing the dignity of the individual loving what is just, what is good, what is great to the point of dying for it. When a people reach these heights, God provides the weapon, and the idols and the tyrants fall, like a house of cards, and freedom shines in the first dawn.” — Jose Rizal, FILI (1891)

Lodge Jose Rizal Installation (13 November 2010)

By RWBro Bruce Quirk [reposted from District 32 website]

With large numbers expected, the members of Lodge Jose’ Rizal took great care in setting up the Festive Board at the Castle Hill Masonic Centre to achieve maximum capacity and their expectations were realized when all of the one hundred and sixty places set out were filled for the First Installation Ceremony and Banquet of Lodge Jose’ Rizal where VW Bro Emmanuel [Manny] Maniago was to Install VW Bro Fidencio [Fidel] Pamplona as Worshipful Master of this young and vibrant Lodge, Lodge Jose’ Rizal No 1045. 

The members and their wives arrived early on the Saturday afternoon to complete the final touches of the festive board and organize the food and as the hour approached the Centre became a flurry of activity and excited chatter as more, more, and still more arrived to both witness, take part in, and enjoy the first Installation Ceremony of Lodge Jose’ Rizal.  

The Lodge tyled at 6pm sharp and after the usual business was dispatched, all visitors were admitted including many large Faternals including a very large delegation from ‘The Cedars’ who have been keen supporters of Lodge Rose’ Rizal since it’s concept. As the Lodge was raised to the Third Degree, the Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts were respectively retired, many of which were members of Lodge Horizons and all were greeted and became acquainted with the RGC for Region Three, RW Bro Nigel Hamilton. At the same time, a large contingent of  Grand Lodge Officers were assembling under the care and direction of The Grand Director of Ceremonies, VW Bro Antoine Georges, who was assisted by VW Bro Peter Miller, Grand Steward. As seven o’clock approached and a photo opportunity taken, the Grand Lodge Delegation assembled and after an alarm was sounded and duly responded to, the Grand Lodge Delegation was led into the Lodge Room by The Grand Director VW Bro Georges, headed by MW Bro Raymond Barry Brooke PGM and all were warmly received by the Installing Master VW Bro Manny Maniago. 

With the Grand Lodge Officers seated and made comfortable and notice papers distributed, the officers of the Lodge divested themselves of their insignia of office and all Master Masons were retired and the ceremony of Installation began, commencing with the second presentation of the Worshipful Master Elect, by his sponsors W Bro Jacinto 'Jack'  Sta Maria and W Bro Rolando 'Rolly' Manarang.

The ceremony that followed was a joy to watch and a pleasure to listen to as the age old ceremony of Installation unfolded and soon VW Bro Fidel Pamplona became The Worshipful Master of Lodge Jose’ Rizal No 1045 at Lodge Jose’ Rizal’s first Installation ceremony.  

Before the Lodge was closed in the Third Degree, the usual announcements and proclamations were given in the South, the Herald on the night being W Bro Duncan Muir. The Third Working Tools were delivered by Bro Alfredo 'Fred' Sese and in resuming in the Second Degree, all fellow crafts were re admitted, an entered apprentice almost slipping by unnoticed but was quickly retired and after the usual announcements and proclamations given in the West the second Working Tools were presented by Bro Manuel 'Manny' Santos. The Lodge was closed in the second degree and the Lodge was resumed in the First Degree and all Masons were admitted and after the announcements and fanfare in the South the First Degree working tools were presented by Bro Israel 'Izzy'  de Guzman. A beautiful rendition of ‘What a Wonderful World’ was then sung by Bro Edward Banting which, on completion, drew loud acclamation from all in the Lodge Room. The presentation of the Warrant or Charter, the book of Constitutions and the By Laws as well as the codifications and decisions of the ritual committee was then presented before the new Worshipful Master of Lodge Jose’ Rizal invested his Officers for the ensuing year. The three closing addresses were then given, The Address to The Master delivered by Bro Micvi 'Mick' Fidel, the address to the Wardens, by Bro Antonio 'Tony' Saputil, and the address to the Brethren by W Bro Rolando 'Rolly' Manarang, and in closing the ceremony, a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace was sung by Bro Daniel Vincent Placido. The Installing Master VW Bro Maniago then, with some reluctance, told the newly installed Master VW Bro Pamplona that the ceremony of Installation was complete and in handing him the keys of the Castle Hill Masonic Centre told him that Lodge Jose’ Rizal was now under his complete control. 

 VW Bro Pamplona immediately gave welcome to the Representative of The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the ACT and in response Most Worshipful Brother Raymond Barry Brooke related the long association he had had with both the Newly Installed Master and the Installing Master during his term as The Most Worshipful Grand Master, where they had traveled together all over the State to attend the wide and varied Lodge Functions including Lodge Dedications, Balls, the laying of Foundation Stones Installations and many more. MW Bro Brooke then asked the Grand Director to present Bros Mario Baylon Jnr. Jose’ Elizes, and Robert Maneze and duly presented them with their Master Mason’s Certificates [affiliation certificates]. Before retiring from the Lodge Room MW Bro Brooke gave an enlightening and inspiring address which motivated many of the Brethren present into trying harder to achieve greater. MW Bro Brooke then indicated his desire to retire and both he and the Grand Lodge Delegation left the Lodge Room to disrobe and to join the Ladies and were soon joined by the Brethren from the Lodge Room. 

Somehow one hundred and sixty found a seat and sat down for the Installation Banquet in a Banquet hall that eighty was the recognized maximum number and soon all were enjoying beautiful food prepared with great care and expertise by the Ladies and in response to the toast to the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the ACT. MW Bro Brooke gave recognition to the vigor and success of Lodge Jose’ Rizal in it’s short term of existence and in wishing them well, complimented them on their twenty five percent increase in numbers. In proposing the toast to The Worshipful Master and his Officers, in closing W Bro Ronaldo Manarang recited these words of great wisdom --- ‘Learn from Yesterday, Live for to-day and Dream of Tomorrow’, and said how proud he was to be the one who initiated the Newly Re Installed Master some years ago and he wished them well. In response to the toast to the Ladies and visitors proposed by W Bro Russell Dobson, and the Worshipful Master of Lodge Woronora, W Bro Luis 'Louie' Reyes.

The hour was late when the Junior Warden's toast was given but no one cared as all had had shared a thoroughly enjoyable evening with a thriving Lodge that is really going forward, carried by good officers, supported by keen members and have the unceasing devotion of their Ladies, may it long continue and be an example for all Lodges to take heed.     

http://www.masonicregions.org.au/page28302734.aspx

Renato Constantino’s false choices

Newsstand column by John Nery
Philippine Daily Inquirer  [First Posted 04:40:00 06/15/2010]


The classic critique of Rizal, whose 149th birthday we mark on Saturday, has itself become venerable. Renato Constantino’s “Veneration without Understanding” was the astounding Rizal Day Lecture of 1969, over 40 years ago. In my view, it does not fare as well as any of Rizal’s key writings. But it continues to be a popular read, and is sometimes used to punctuate, or even stop, a discussion. Everything that a genuine nationalist ought to know about Rizal, I can remember a friend saying, is in Constantino.


What, exactly, did Constantino say, in the courageous, cobweb-clearing lecture that perhaps best reflects his approach to history? He says Filipinos who hold Rizal up as the ideal hero do not understand that he was, in truth, a counter-revolutionary—and therefore insufficiently nationalistic. “Rizal repudiated the one act which really synthesized our nationalist aspiration, and yet we consider him a nationalist leader.” That “one act” is the revolution of 1896.

In rereading Constantino’s “Veneration” yet again, however, I found myself struck by the profusion of false choices he presents to the reader (or the shell-shocked member of his original audience). His critique is based, not only on a Marxist reading of history and nationalism (for instance: “The exposure of his weaknesses and limitations will also mean our liberation, for he has, to a certain extent become part of the superstructure that supports present consciousness”) but also, and tellingly, on a rhetoric of false dichotomies.

A Marxist reading of Rizal is not necessarily impossible; E. San Juan Jr. has written incisively on Rizal’s writings from just such a perspective. For instance, in his post-2001 riposte to Constantino entitled “Understanding Rizal without Veneration,” San Juan wrote: “As I have tried to argue in previous essays, Rizal displayed an astute dialectical materialist sensibility. One revealing example of concrete geopolitical analysis is the short piece on Madrid and its milieu excerpted in Palma’s ‘The Pride of the Malay Race’ (pp. 60-62).” (I took a peek at the previously unpublished piece, originally written in French, in the Ozaeta translation; it is an intriguing read.)

But an argument anchored on false choices is not only deceiving; it fosters a new misunderstanding. In 1969 (and again in 1979, when he published the lecture as one chapter in “Dissent and Counter-Consciousness”), Constantino may have been moved by a genuine desire to offer a corrective to the hero-worship of Rizal. But a corrective based on false logic can work only if it itself is based on false consciousness; in other words, if a reader or an auditor did not know any better.

Right at the start, “Veneration” offers a false choice between revolutionary leader and national hero. “In the histories of many nations, the national revolution represents a peak of achievement,” Constantino writes. “It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that almost always the leader of that revolution becomes the principal hero of his people.” He then offers mostly martial examples: Washington, Lenin (writing in 2010, I am tempted to ask, of the Soviet what?), Bolivar, Sun Yat-sen, Mao, Ho Chi Minh. But if we take a closer look at his phrasing, we find that he has in fact qualified his sweeping statement: thus, “many nations,” not all; “almost always,” not always. If he admits exceptions, then his starting assumption that a country’s “principal hero” is the leader that scaled the peak of that revolutionary achievement is not exceptional. In other words, if there are exceptions to this apparent rule, why take Rizal to task for being yet another exception?

It seems to me that the rhetorical objective of this first false choice is to imply that the Philippines, by choosing Rizal as its preeminent hero, is less of a nation. “In our case, our national hero was not the leader of our Revolution. In fact, he repudiated that Revolution.”

Constantino’s main proof for this repudiation is the famous Manifesto of Dec. 15, 1896, which Rizal prepared as part of his legal defense. (It was actually written five days before, Rizal scholar Floro Quibuyen reminds us in “A Nation Aborted.”) It is a controversial read, because as foremost Rizal biographer Leon Ma. Guerrero has noted, apropos of the Manifesto, “There can be no argument that he was against Bonifacio’s Revolution.” But again the nationalist historian offers us a false choice: Either Rizal was for the revolution, or his words “were treasonous in the light of the Filipinos’ struggle against Spain.”

But in fact there was a third alternative. The Judge Advocate General refused to publish the Manifesto, which would surely have been read by the revolutionaries, because Rizal “limits himself to condemning the present rebellious movement as premature and because he considers its success impossible at this time, but suggesting between the lines that the independence dreamed of can be achieved. For Rizal it is a question of opportunity, not of principles or objectives. His manifesto can be condensed into these words: ‘Faced with the proofs of defeat, lay down your arms, my countrymen; I shall lead you to the Promised Land on a later day’.” (Guerrero’s translation)

This reading of Rizal’s statement from the Spanish perspective, which Constantino did not acknowledge or advert to in his lecture, shows the fundamental flaw behind his historical approach. In using “historical forces unleashed by social development” to situate Rizal’s “treason”, he fails to reckon with the actual, life-or-death context in which Rizal wrote. Indeed, he fails to see Rizal the way the revolutionaries themselves, beginning with Bonifacio, saw him. Shouldn’t their understanding serve as the standard for ours?

Lodge Committees - 2010-2011

Executive Committee Members

VWBro Fidencio 'Fidel' Pamplona, AGDC

VWBro Emmanuel 'Manny' Maniago, AGDC [PDGIW]

RWBro Rey Porras, PJGW [PRGC]

WBro Rodolfo 'Rudy' Romerosa

WBro Vicente 'Vince' Flores

WBro Herminigildo 'Hermie' Mateo

Bro Manuel 'Manny' Santos

Bro Mario Baylon Jr

Bro Manuel 'Manny' Placido

Bro Jose Dan Elizes

Trustees

VWBro Fidencio 'Fidel' Pamplona, AGDC

VWBro Emmanuel 'Manny'Maniago, AGDC [PDGIW]

WBro Rodolfo 'Rudy' Romerosa

Bro Manuel 'Manny' Santos

Bro Mario Baylon Jr

Ritual, Mentoring & Education Committee

Director of Ceremonies & Assistant DC

WBro Vince Flores & WBro Kristan Regalado

Senior Warden - WBro Rudy Romerosa

Education Officer - RWBro Ray Porras, PJGW [PRGC]

Membership Officers

WBro Rolly Manarang & Bro Butch Canicula

and other qualified members.

Nominations & Benevolence Committee

Worshipful Master - VWBro Fidel Pamplona

Senior Warden - WBro Rudy Romerosa

Junior Warden  - Bro Manny Santos

Treasurer - Bro Mick Fidel

Secretary - VWBro Manny Maniago

and Trustees [with a minumum of 7 to form a quorum.]

masoniCare Committee

masoniCare Officers

 WBro Russ Dobson & WBro Kristan Regalado

Secretary - VWBro Manny Maniago

Treasurer - Bro Mick Fidel

& all other interested officers & members.

Social Committee

President - Wor Master, VWBro Fidel Pamplona

Secretary - VWBro Manny Maniago

Treasurer - Bro Mick Fidel

Representatives of the Ladies Steering Committee

all LJR members & their families are encouraged to participate.

Ladies Steering Committee

Team Leaders

Mrs Penny Pamplona     Mrs Remy Maniago

Mrs Mila Romerosa      Mrs Odeng Santos

Mrs Eugene Fidel       Mrs Irene Baylon

Mrs Elvie Sta Maria     Mrs Dodo Placido

Officers for 2010-2011

Worshipful Master  -  VWBro Fidencio 'Fidel' Pamplona, AGDC

Immediate Past Master - VWBro Emmanuel 'Manny' Maniago, AGDC [PDGIW]

Senior Warden - WBro Rodolfo 'Rudy' Romerosa

Junior Warden - Bro Manuel 'Manny' Santos

Chaplain - WBro Jacinto 'Jack' Sta Maria

Treasurer - Bro Micvi 'Mick' Fidel

Secretary - VWBro Emmanuel 'Manny' Maniago, AGDC [PDGIW]

Director of Ceremonies - WBro Vicente 'Vince' Flores

Senior Deacon - Bro Manuel 'Manny' Placido

Junior Deacon - Bro Mario 'Mar' Baylon Jr

Director of Music - WBro Herminigildo 'Hermie' Mateo

Organist - Bro Rene Ilaya

Membership Officers - WBro Rolando 'Rolly' Manarang

& Bro Eulogio 'Butch' Canicula

masoniCare [Caring] Officers - WBro Russell 'Russ' Dobson

& WBro Kristan Regalado

Inner Guard - Bro Israel 'Izzy' de Guzman

Stewards - Bro Roy Purificacion, Bro Antonio 'Tony' Saputil

& Bro Alfredo 'Fred' Sese

Tyler - Bro Numeriano 'Nomie' Adriano

Lodge Mentor - RWBro Rey Porras, PJGW [PRGC]

Appointed Officers

Assistant Treasurer - Bro Noelidesto 'Noel' Obrero

Assistant Secretary - Bro Vedasto 'Ved' Reyes

Assistant DC - WBro Kristan Regalado

Education Officer - RWBro Rey Porras, PJGW [PRGC]

Communication/IT Officer - Bro Mario Baylon Jr

Auditors - Bro Roland Martinez & Bro Jose Dan Elizes

Welfare Fund Representative - VWBro Fidencio 'Fidel' Pamplona

Social Committee Representative - Bro Manuel 'Manny' Placido

More new members.

We wish to welcome to LJR the following newly initiated & affiliated brethren:

Bro EAF Moises Andaya

Bro EAF Teofilo Reyes

Bro Meinard Leonor, affiliated from The Hills Lodge No 1025.