Freemasonry As I See It

by Dominador S. Carreon, Master, Maynilad Lodge No. 1521

It was in 1980 while on active duty with the U S Navy and stationed at the naval base in Yokosuka, Japan when I became interested in joining a local masonic lodge. I had always known that masons were good people, charitable and God loving. Several of my buddies were actively attending a local Philippine lodge at the navy base and it seemed natural that I join also. I’m glad I did.

While the core values of masonry are many; the three that caught my fancy were, universal charity, providing opportunities for self-development, and building friendships with like-minded folk. It wasn’t until I joined Maynilad Lodge, No. 1521 in Washington, DC and also recently retired, that I nally felt able to more actively enjoy the fruits and workings of freemasonry.

I grew up in the Philippines close to Manila; however, I was attracted to the town of Padre Garcia about 60 miles south-east where I had family. e area was beautiful. It was entirely agricultural. e citizens were mostly farmers with small plots of land, maybe a cow or two, several goats, a few chickens and always a couple of pigs. Americans would call the economy… subsistence farming. Oen, I thought I’d like to devote my life towards the betterment of conditions for this community. So, aer retiring from the U S Navy, I started to help this village with some of its needs. In 2012, I shared these eorts with the brethren of Maynilad Lodge. Several of our brothers immediately oered to contribute. en the suggestion was made that Maynilad Lodge could take on the project as an ocial lodge charity venture. Our brethren in the Norfolk, Virginia area got on board and sponsored annual golf tournaments to help raise money. So far we have had three, and this year will be our fourth in the Norfolk area. Likewise, several of our brethren living in the Manila area of the Philippines started participating and devoting time and eort to the Padre Garcia project. Now, these lodge brethren – all golfers – are sponsoring another annual golf tournament, this time in the Philippines during January when it is dry and average temperatures are in the 80’s.

To date, through our eorts, two local school buildings in the village of Padre Garcia which were quite dilapidated aer several hurricanes have been rebuilt and totally refurbished. is year, our charity will concentrate on providing school supplies, book bags, preschool school books and hygiene kits for each of the 200+ students in Padre Garcia.

For these four years, the mayor of the town has issued a proclamation welcoming the brethren of Maynilad Lodge. He has also presented each year a most beautiful certicate of appreciation. Our brethren are happy we have been able to bring together our Norfolk contingent as well as our several brothers living in Manila for this project. To the brethren of Maynilad this is what freema

sonry is all about! 