The DIGITIZATION Project

By VW Joseph Harold W. Santiago, GSc (48)

In Vol.96 – No. 4 Issue of the Cable Tow last March 2020 entitled GLP TimeTraveling Tools, we wrote about the importance of our ANCOM Proceedings as well as all issues of the jurisdiction’s official publication from the perspective of a lodge historian. By the end of the article, an appeal was made to the powers that be regarding the digital reproduction of the 2 GLP references for the benefit of the jurisdiction. It was not addressed to any specific Grand Master as the term of MW Suan was expected to end with the coming Annual Communication.

The Grand Lodge maintained its staff throughout the duration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). Some were given taskings that can be accomplished in the safety of their homes. Among their work from home (WFH) assignment was the digitization of GLP documents through digital scanning.

When we received our appointment last June 1 of 2020 among our initial tasks was to supervise the digital reproduction of each of the Cable Tow Issues. Imagine the joy of being involved with an activity one has been advocating for all these years…

Scanning of the Proceedings of Annual Communications (1912 – 2018) was assigned to Ms. Felina Villasanta with the assistance of other GLP Staff namely Cecil Amancio, Vangie Abarquez, Josie Barlaan, Mylene Diaz, Patrick Manalo, Lara Medalla, Ethelbert Ocampo, Mike Pineda, Bro. Sharkie Rodriguez (59), Marcial Salas, and Bro. Luisito " Tutoy" Salazar (14). They started in May and finished by October 2020.

The Cable Tow Issues (1923 – 2018) was assigned to GLP Librarian Jay Lauron and TCT Secretary Hazel Salavdor. The duo started scanning in June and finishing in November last year.

For these treasured tomes of Masonic Lore to be scanned properly, each book or magazine has to be dismantled until each page can be laid out for flatbed scanning and converted into digital format. But no matter how careful the approach, some sacrifices have to be made, old pages tore easily. The decision to proceed weighed more on the reproduction of the contents (which will benefit a lot of researchers) than preserving each page and locking them up in some forgotten archive until conflagration or inundation destroy them. We have learned the hard way from the fire of the old Plaridel Temple.

The digitized pages are compiled per Proceeding or Magazine Issue in Portable Document Format (PDF), renamed according to title, and uploaded in the GLP Website by Ms. Lara, our GLP IT Helpdesk. Thus, the contents of the RESOURCE Tab of the GLP Website has been greatly enriched with volumes of the most valuable references in Philippine Masonic Literature.

In September 2020 – VW Anthony Tan our Circulation Manager introduced a talented brother by the name of John Paul Narisma. The Lodge Secretary of Shangri-La 196 turned out to be adept in Computer Technology and in fact have started to develop several apps that can contain the above contents.

Knowing the sheer volumes of both Proceedings and Magazine as well as the difference in content privacy, we advised a separate app for each. The Cable Tow has close to 800 issues for the last 97 years and can be read by the general

public. We have at least 102 volumes of ANCOM Proceedings in the last 108 years and their contents are more private. Bro. JP was resourceful enough to produce separate apps for both.

Most pleased was our Grand Master who embraces technology for all its practicality. He supported the project, agreeing to release both apps for free.

First to be released during the 108th Anniversary of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines last December 19, 2020 (Circular 56 -MW Suan). The app is available in both Google Play Store and Apple App Store to cater both Android and IOS users respectively, the app contains all the issues of The Cable Tow Magazine. It was MW Suan’s Christmas Gift to the Brethren. Being a Magazine that showcases the activities of the Fraternity to the world, the app is also accessible to the general public.

Released in February 2021, the app is also available in both Google Play Store and Apple App Store for both Android and IOS users respectively, the app contains all the Volumes of the Proceedings of the Annual Communications. It is also free of charge but is password protected as its content are deemed private. To secure the password kindly email: helpdesk@grand-

Another offering by the Cable Tow Team are the Digital Compilations of Grand Lodge Communications during the term of MW Suan. This special project requested by the Grand Master are available in the following titles: Suan Edicts (2019 – 2021), GS Circulars 2019, GS Circulars 2020, GL Circulars MW Suan (01-20), GL Circulars MW Suan (21-40), and GL Circulars MW Suan (41-60). Introduced in Circular No. 56 - all six volumes were distributed online through the official email addresses designated to lodges. By the name itself there are no printed versions available.

An acronym for Grand Lodge ANCOM Digital Kit, the App is another offering from the Grand Master’s Trestle Board. It is the promised ANCOM Kit mentioned in Edict 340. It will be available to all registered attendees of the 104th Annual Communications in Olongapo this April 22 & 23.

The Digitization Program of our Grand Master has paved the way to adapting, connecting, and educating the Brethren. The program has compressed TIME in a manageable instant making both past and present available in a single touch of the finger. More so, these Applications when installed in smartphones or other gadgets have compressed the rich history of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippines in the palm of our hands. Philippine Masonic Education is now indeed on the level. Regardless of titles or how old one is in Masonry all Brethren have access to reference materials that was once restricted within the GLP Library. Imagine the amount of research that can be done be it by a Brother, a Lodge, or a Learned Society. Amang Del Pilar and the unretracting Rizal would have been proud! Sublime Brother MABINI shall be dancing…