Grand Master for Masonic Year 2021-22

by VW Victorio V.G. Vizcocho III, PDGL (372)

SANS fanfare nor pageantry, now Most Worshipful Rolen C. Paulino was installed on April 23, 2021 as the 103rd Grand Master of all Masons under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.

In simple ceremonies held at Lincoln Masonic Temple in Olongapo City, home of his mother lodge Lincoln Masonic Lodge no. 34, MW Paulino was installed by no less than MW Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr., Past Grand Master (MY 2005-2006), along with the other elected and appointed Grand Line officers that included Deputy Grand Master Johnny T. Pimentel, and Senior Grand Warden Don Terng R. Uypitching.

“I congratulate you on your ascension to the Grand Oriental Chair,” Most Worshipful Agapito S. Suan, Jr., erstwhile Grand Master said, “I am confident that you will live up to your rank and position and serve this Grand Jurisdiction in the same manner that you have shown as a very capable and well-loved public servant of the city of Olongapo.”

The day before, MW Paulino was elected to serve as Grand Master in proceedings held at the Grand Lodge of the Philippines’ (GLP) headquarters in Manila as part of the “hybrid-type” 104th Annual Communications (AnCom) of the ancient fraternity. The election of a Junior Grand Warden was, however, deferred to a future date. Dubbed as “Hybrid Ancom” with virtual attendance from all over the country, and physical participation of a limited number who were required to undergo and clear RT-PCR swab tests, the proceedings were successfully completed under strict compliance to protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

MW Paulino is the first Grand Master from Masonic District R3-Zambales since the official launch of the GLP on December 19, 1912. He could have assumed office as Grand Master in 2020 but the AnCom was postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Raised as a Master Mason at 37 years old, he went on to serve as Worshipful

Master of Lincoln Masonic Lodge no. 34, then

District Grand Lecturer before finally being elected as Junior Grand Warden in the GLP’s Annual

Communication in Tagaytay City in 2016.

Aside from MW Ebdane and MW Suan, MW Abraham “Bambol” N. Tolentino (MY 2017-2018) was another Past Grand Master physically present. Other Past Grand Masters and dignitaries joined most of the brethren online from various parts of the country.

A devout family man, GM Paulino was joined by his family in the momentous event, namely Spouse sister Cynthia Co - Paulino and children, Francisco (Kiko), Robert Reginald (RR), incumbent City Olongapo Mayor Rolen, Jr. (Lenj), all brother masons, Cristabelle Marie (Tata), incumbent City Councilor, and Zaza Paulino – Peña. To MW Paulino, everyone’s safety is paramount. “We dropped the pomp and celebrations,” MW Paulino said, “ang mahalaga, walang malalagay sa panganib at walang mapapahamak na buhay. Basta tayo, magta-trabaho para sa kapatiran at mamamayan.” (VW Victo-

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