Dugong Bayani, Buhay Para sa Bayan (Dugong Alay, Dugtong Buhay)

Dugong Bayani, Buhay Para sa Bayan

(Dugong Alay, Dugtong Buhay)

by Bro. John Paul R. Narisma (196)

The blood letting project of the District of which the lead lodge was Shangri-La Masonic Lodge No.196 with WM Albert Y. Veloso and the brethren, pole-vaulted again in spite of the pandemic and health protocols. This was the day when masonry calls even at your sickbed you would try to get up and answer those calls; the last time our lodge made a cellphone call to VW Adriatico Tan Tee to make sure that the 60th IB of Philippine Army would participate through the leadership of Bro. Col Roland D. Sarmiento of Biak na Bato Masonic Lodge No.7. The Ika-Apat na Yugto Dugong Bayani Blood Letting Project was participated by the PNP Provincial Command of Davao del Norte, 10th ID of the AFP and different sectors of the government including the Davao Regional Medical Center, and the City Health Office of Tagum City as the lead agency in blood extraction. We were able to produce 121 bags of 500 ml (each) blood given to Davao Regional Medical Center which through their medical director express gratitude to the Grand Master MW Bro Rolen C. Paulino for the great and noble undertaking

of which only a few organizations would dare to accomplish from the fear of the pandemic’s risks.

This noble undertaking was made possible by our District Deputy Grand Master VW Bro. Edgar C. De Guzman who suggested that the bloodletting being one of our Grand Master’s program in this masonic year should not only be done once but regularly to have a steady supply of blood. VW Edgar C. De Guzman was assisted by his DGL VW Bernabe G. Cruz and the rest of the Grand Line Officers. Among the district lodges that were present was Panabo Dalisay Lodge No. 237 through the leadership of WM Jose C. Carumba bringing with him the brethren of Panabo Dalisay Lodge No. 237.

Anent to this activity, was the informal talk of making a charity project in the area of responsibility of 60th IB of Bro Col Roland D. Sarmiento which is the hinterlands of Talaingod and San Fernando, Bukidnon; thus on October 30, 2021, the District went to the area which was just recently discovered by the troops of the 60th IB and the charity project through

the leadership of VW Edgar C. De Guzman, bringing the flagship of the Grand Master MW Bro Rolen C. Paulino, and Davao de Oro Lodge No.443 and WM Joselito C. Caballero and Tagum Lodge No.204, as lead lodges, were able to give more than 600 food packs, including rice, noodles, canned goods, salt and sugar; as the Ata Manobo residents would narrate, this was their first time a group of individuals went to their village giving food directly to them and the first time to taste salt and sugar! A small part of the contribution of the goods was given by Bro Ritchie Mansukhani of Biak-naBato Lodge No.7, no distance was spared in extending masonic relief among nonmasons at a time when the world was dark and everyone was hesitant to give a helping hand.