WB Greg Macasaet Special Fund

By VW Teodoro Alejandro Kalaw IV, Senior Grand Lecturer

Of all the Grand Lodge initiatives I managed during this extended term, this is the one I feel most blessed to be associated with. In March 22 of last year at the onset of the current public health crisis and pursuant to the instructions of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, we set up a one-time special purpose fund for Brethren directly affected by the crisis and in memory of its first victim among Brethren in the medical community: Anesthesiologist and WB Gregorio Macasaet of Keystone Lodge No. 100.

Above and beyond the call of duty and in the finest traditions of our Craft, WB Greg honored his Hippocratic Oath as a medical doctor and remained on duty attending to the sick until he himself was infected by the Corona virus. GM Circular No. 39 as issued last 12 May 2020 highlights the rationale and objective of the Fund as follows:

Above and beyond the call of duty and in the finest traditions of our Craft, WB Gregorio Macasaet of Keystone Lodge No. 100 honored his Hippocratic Oath as a medical doctor and remained on duty attending to the sick until he himself was infected by the Coronavirus. In honor of WB Macasaet’s ultimate sacrifice, the Grand Lodge recognizes the efforts of various Brethren who have pledged and provided financial assistance for either the widows and orphans of Brethren who drop their working tools or Brethren who have immediate families who are adversely affected as a result of being infected by the Corona virus during this crisis.

At the close of the collection period on 15 May 2020, the total collection of the fund amounted to exactly Three Million Pesos (PHP 3,000,000.00) pledged and subsequently do-

nated by over three hundred Brethren and various parties for the following beneficiaries:

• Brethren who drop their working tools as a result of being infected by the Corona virus during the ECQ period, regardless of location of death; or • Brethren who have wives or children that have died as a result of being infected by the Corona virus during the ECQ period, regardless of location of death.

All funds collected are to be distributed to the families of all confirmed beneficiaries in accordance with the following classification scheme:

• Class A - Departed Brethren who are medical or allied health personnel that sacrificed their lives responding to this public health crisis: One (100%) full pro-rata share of the fund; • Class B - Other departed Brethren: Seventy-Five Percent (75%) pro-rata share of the fund; • Class C - Affected Families of Brethren:

Fifty Percent (50%) pro-rata share of the fund (limited to one distribution per nuclear family only).

On 22 October 2020, the first tranche of beneficiaries was selected and confirmed. Their families were provided with an initial distribution of nearly two-thirds (2/3) of the fund collected, or One Million Eight Hundred Forty-Nine Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (PHP 1,849,500.00), as follows:

• WB Gregorio Macasaet [Medical Doctor], Keystone Masonic Lodge No. 100 • Bro. David Jonathan Pagaduan [Medical

Doctor], Dr. Filemon Aguilar No. 332 (23

April 2020)

• VW Gerardo A. Ibasco, Mt. Mainam

Lodge No. 49 (22 March 2020) • Bro. Virginio C. De Leon, High Twelve

No. 82 (4 April 2020) • VW Orlando Dela Cruz, Koronadal Masonic Lodge No. 209 (29 April 2020) • VW Francisco L. Yap, Mayon Lodge No. 61 (28 July 2020) • Bro. Clifford Jay Calanoga, Union Lodge

No. 70 (17 August 2020) • Bro. Angelito Parreno, Kalantiao Masonic

Lodge No. 187 (19 August 2020) • WB Salvador Dizon, Lincoln Masonic

Lodge No. 34 (1 September 2020) • Bro. Prudencio Galindez, Kapatiran Masonic Lodge No. 228 (7 September 2020) • VW Conrado L. Nati, Jr., Mt. Mainam

Lodge No. 49 (8 September 2020) • VW Edwin Amene, Macajalar Lodge No. 184 (1 October 2020) • Bro. Arthur S. Callanta, MW Roberto

Pagotan Lodge No. 282 • WB Leven S. Puno, Hiram Lodge No. 88

• Mrs. Celerina Rabaya, Mother of Bro.

Colbert Rabaya, JW Macajalar Lodge No. 184 (7 July 2020) • Mr. Francis Arcy B. Cruz, son of Bro.

Narciso L. Cruz, Cagayan Valley Lodge

No. 133 (2 August 2020) • Mrs. Siu Kien Loo, mother of Bro. Henry

Loo, Jose Rizal Lodge No. 22 (26 September 2020)

A candidate beneficiary for Class A was subsequently found to be ineligible, his death not being related to the CoVid disease. Accordingly, the remaining One Million One Hundred

1,150,500.00), shall be distributed to the families of the following beneficiaries, as identified, and confirmed by the GLP, beginning 19 April 2021:

No. 15 (31 July 2020) • Bro. Jeffrey B. Ayroso, Magat Lodge No. 68 (28 August 2020) • WB Amante V. Paa, Muog Lodge No. 89 (4

October 2020) • VW Edito Vicente C. Balauag, Walana

Lodge No. 13 (16 October 2020) • VW Melchor G. Taob, Maharlika Lodge

No. 180 (5 November 2020) • WB Julio A. Pizarro, Mount Musuan

Lodge No. 155 (4 December 2020) • WB Cornerlio L. De Leon, Nueva Ecija

Lodge No. 73 (20 December 2020) • VW Tomas A. Reyes, Isarog Lodge No. 33 (4 January 2021) • VW Danilo Lim, MW Roberto Pagotan

Lodge No. 282 (6 January 2021) • WB Edgardo M. Martinez, Gregorio O.

Calit Masonic Lodge No. 154 (26 January 2021) • Bro. Jose Dizon Cerrudo, Jr., Pampanga

Masonic Lodge No. 48 (30 March 2021) • Bro. Hernani T. Barrios, Luzon Masonic

Lodge No. 57 (12 April 2021)

After the initial distribution list on 22 October 2020, GLP Accounting Department subsequently reported that an additional Three

tavos (PHP 325,571.51) has been collected from additional donations to date. It was therefore decided to provide an additional TwentySeven Thousand One Hundred Twenty-Five Pesos (PHP 27,125.00) to each beneficiary family in the second distribution list, or a total of

sos (PHP 123,000) Pesos for each of the 12 cases, as follows:

• Bro. Fernando B. Hernandez, Pilar Lodge

No. 15 (31 July 2020) • Bro. Jeffrey B. Ayroso, Magat Lodge No. 68 (28 August 2020) • WB Amante V. Paa, Muog Lodge No. 89 (4

October 2020) • VW Edito Vicente C. Balauag, Walana

Lodge No. 13 (16 October 2020) • VW Melchor G. Taob, Maharlika Lodge

No. 180 (5 November 2020) • WB Julio A. Pizarro, Mount Musuan

Lodge No. 155 (4 December 2020) • WB Cornerlio L. De Leon, Nueva Ecija

Lodge No. 73 (20 December 2020) • VW Tomas A. Reyes, Isarog Lodge No. 33 (4 January 2021) • VW Danilo Lim, MW Roberto Pagotan

Lodge No. 282 (6 January 2021) • WB Edgardo M. Martinez, Gregorio O.

Calit Masonic Lodge No. 154 (26 January 2021) • Bro. Jose Dizon Cerrudo, Jr., Pampanga

Masonic Lodge No. 48 (30 March 2021) • Bro. Hernani T. Barrios, Luzon Masonic

Lodge No. 57 (12 April 2021)

In honor of WB Greg’s ultimate sacrifice, summary of the total collections to the Fund amounted to Three Million Three Hundred

(PHP 3,325, 571.51), which resulted in total

Pesos (PHP 3,325,500.00) to 29 beneficiary families. The remaining amount of SeventyOne Pesos and Fifty-One Centavos (PHP 71.51) has been turned over to GLP Treasury in view of its marginal nature.

The family of WB Macasaet as represented by his widow, Dr. Evalyn Macaset, were present when WB Macasaet was memorialized and recognized during the GLP Anniversary Commemoration at the Plaridel Masonic Temple last 19 December 2020.

Fund proceeds are in addition to the other charitable and fraternal assistance to be provided by the GLP and the individual lodges of these Brethren as per existing Masonic regulations and traditions.

All collected proceeds of the fund (less the marginal amount of less than Seventy-Two Pesos and Fifty-One Centavos [PHP 71.51] that has been turned over to GLP Treasury) have and will be distributed only to the families of the above beneficiaries as identified and confirmed by GLP Staff. Collection and disbursement of the Fund shall be audited by the Grand Auditor and reported to the Brethren at this year’s Annual Communications.