IMES inaugurates new Lecture Hall

eroso has been serving the department for more than thirty-five years. on May 29, 2021, ASec Calonge was appointed Commodore of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Auxiliary. Commodore is the Coast Guard or Navy rank equivalent to Brigadier General in the land forces. VW Generoso Calonge is a member of IslandLuz-Minerva Lodge No. 5 and have served as District Grand Lecturer in Masonic District NCR-B in 2011.

On September 30, 2020, the Grand Master and party courteously called on USec Rafael "Pye" C. Yabut at his office at the Department of Public Works & Highways where he was Under Secretary. The brother engineer is a member of Jose Abad Santos Masonic Lodge No.333. Accompanying MW Suan were VW Jaime Y. Pacanan, GLP Building Engineer; Senior & Junior Grand Stewards – VW’s Lini Hernando & Diosdado Melegrito, respectively.

A visit to then Deputy Chief for Administration of the Philippine National Police Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar by the Grand Master of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippines was fraternally arranged by VW Diosdado Melegrito on October 6, 2020. The Brother Police Officer is now serving the country as the 24th Chief of the Philippine National Police since May 8, 2021. He is a member of Labong Lodge No. 59 since 2012.

By Bro. Carlito H. Ocuaman (5)

In line with its mandate of providing continuing masonic education to the Craft, a newly renovated Lecture Hall was inaugurated by the Institute of Masonic Education & Studies (IMES) at the 2nd floor of the Museum Building in the Grand Lodge of the Philippines on April 17, 2021 during the conduct of classes for IMES Class No.167.

The air-conditioned hall now has sound proofing and more adequate lighting. Equip with high quality audio-visual components, both lecturers and audience will benefit from the pulldown projector screen augmented with two white boards for writing and other markings. With 87 theater style seats, arranged in 7 rows elevated from the back seat and descending down the front, the chamber is indeed conducive to learning. Its floor boast of new carpeting. An added exit door gives attendees easier access to the restroom which has been renovated as well. According to IMES President Rudy Ong, the Institute had a lot of cost-savings in its 2020 – 2021 Annual Budget resulting from the limited travels of the Faculty to conduct Masonic Classes throughout the jurisdiction due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. “We conducted online sessions instead which is way cheaper.” Said VW Rudy. “The savings were then invested in the improvement of IMES Learning Infrastructure.’’ He added.

The Renovation Project was made possible under the able leadership and support of Grand Master Agapito S. Suan, Jr. and the efforts of the following:

IMES Officers: VW Rudy Lim Ong - President VW Guillermo B. Lazaro, Jr. - Vice-President for Academics VR Vicente R. Hao Chin, Jr. - Vice-President for Research

IMES Lecturers & Staff:

VR Samuel P. Fernandez VW Ruben G. Azarcon III VW Edgar P. Borje VW Luisito F. Cornel, Jr. VW Caesar M. Ortega VW Florendo B. Opay VW Rosauro E. Regala VW Joseph Harold W. Santiago VW Nestor Y. Tampol VW Edgardo Villareal II WB Rempert C. Quijano Bro. Ericson B. Atanacio Bro. Enrico P. Gamboa Bro. Novid T. Mohammad Jafari Bro. Carlito “Lheng” H. Ocuama

Accompanying the Grand Master and the IMES Officers and Lecturers during the inauguration was Senior Grand Lecturer, VW Teorodo Alejandro Y. Kalaw IV. The new IMES Lecture Hall is situated at the 2nd floor of the Museum Building in the Grand Lodge of the Philippines.