NO B r a k e s

By VW Virgilio S. Coronado, Jr., PDDGM (249)

This story happened 10 years ago. Grateful as I am to the assistance given me by our Brethren a Decade ago, I am now grateful to the Cable Tow Team for allowing me to share my experience in their pages. May this Truth inspire more Brotherly Love and Relief whithersoever dispersed. I had been in touch with Bro. Jefferson Uy for some time through the Masons yahoo group, SunBro and lately though Facebook, but we have never actually met. As I frequently pass Gumaca during my (almost) monthly visits to Naga City, he suggested that we meet in one of my trips. Since Gumaca is actually the halfway point between Manila and Naga, it was not difficult developing the habit of making Lita’s Restaurant our regular stop. The resto offers inexpensive but sumptuous seafood that can give their Manila counterparts a run for their money. But that is another story. On April 2, 2011, while on my way to Naga, I got in touch with Bro Jefferson. We met at the town proper before proceeding to their Lodge - Balintawak No. 28. There he gave me a tour of the Masonic Temple. As it was a first Saturday, and their Stated Meeting about to start in an hour, our meeting was brief. It always feels good to meet Brethren whithersoever dispersed. I then proceeded to Naga City for a surprise visit to my mom who celebrated her 76th birthday on this day. Nobody ever thought that three days later, the Brethren from the sad Lodge will unselfishly respond to a distress call from a brother. April 5, 2011 was an unforgettable day in my life. I was now on my way back to Manila. Leaving Naga at around 3:00 in the afternoon, I clocked my travel to avoid the inbound traffic of out-of-town-weekenders along the South Luzon Expressway. Upon reaching the town of Del Gallego along the Andaya Highway in Camarines Sur, I noticed a slight thud on the front wheel of my Innova, causing it to swerve a bit. It prompted me to stop by the road shoulder to check the tires. Finding them to be okay I continued with my trip hoping everything will be okay, at least until the next gas service station in Tagkawayan, Quezon. Seeing a tricycle turning to the highway a few meters ahead, I stepped on the brakes to slow down, only to realize that, whoa! I had no more brakes! Though a bit worried, I remained cool and alert not wanting to cause panic to my two passengers. Maintaining a comfortable speed and applying engine brakes whenever I needed to slow down on road curves or when there were slow vehicles in front of me. Things went on rather smoothly and I felt some relief after finally crossing the boundary of Camarines Sur and Quezon. Around 6:00 pm I stopped at the first respectable-looking shop offering roadside mechanical services. My suspicions were confirmed when the mechanic showed me the busted brake pads, a part of which chipped off causing the thud on the front wheels earlier. The diagnostics having been done, the next problem facing us then was where to get the needed parts as there were no available parts in the area.

Instinctively, I called up Bro. Jefferson Uy who is based in Gumaca, Quezon, and inquired whether we had any brother within the

area. After listening to my problem, he immediately mobilized some brethren to search for the part, literally begging a shop owner to open his store just to provide the brake pads. It was a good thing that the shop owner was a neighbor of a Brother Mason. Kuyang Jefferson and his group composed of Bros. Kin Sherwin Agawin, Antonio Gallegos, and Jorell Tan wasted no time and made the 80-kilometer trip to Tagkawayan just to bring the needed parts. For my peace of mind, the brethren assured me that they were on their way and will be arriving in an hour or so.

The group arrived in Tagkawayan at around 9:30 pm bringing four different types of brake pads for Toyota cars! The mechanic immediately installed the appropriate type on my vehicle’s front wheels and had me test-drive the car. All along, the responding Brethren never left us. They even offered some cash just in case we might need it. Having checked that I still had enough budget for the repair and for the rest of my trip, I humbly declined but nevertheless thanked the Brethren for their kind offer. It was only after the car repair was completely done that they started their way back to Gumaca.

As we resumed our trip, I texted Bro. Jefferson: “I can’t fully express my deepest gratitude for the fraternal relief you have extended to us, Brethren. Maraming Salamat mga Kuyang. Mabuhay ang Masonerya!” To which he replied: “No prob Kuyang. Just abiding by our OB. Dito lang kami sa unahan ninyo, mabagal lang ang takbo para nakaalalay pa rin.”

We arrived in Manila at around 6:00 in the morning, tired but safe. Thanks to the Brethren of Balintawak Lodge No. 28 for extending their cable tow to a brother in distress. Their unselfish and unconditional response all the more strengthened my faith in Freemasonry as a Brotherhood of Men under the Fatherhood of God.

Fast forward to November 12, 2015 - Our band, the RETROPOP Band was contracted to provide entertainment at the Convention of the Southern Tagalog Association of Water Districts at the Manila Diamond Hotel Ballroom. During our break in between sets, WB Jefferson Uy approached me. Apparently, he was a Board Member of the Quezon Water District. That was just our third meeting. We exchanged fraternal pleasantries and recalled the circumstances of our previous meetings. Indeed, what a joy and pleasure it is to meet with Brother Masons, withersoever dispersed.

VW Virgilio “Junjie” Coronado, Jr. was raised in Halcon Lodge No. 249. He is a Past District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District R-IV Mindoro (formerly MD No. 52 in 2002). He worked as a rural banker for 30 years and is a BSP-accredited lecturer on Corporate Governance. He has now returned to his first love – singing, as lead vocalist of the In-Transit Band (2004-2009) and the Retropop Band which he formed in 2009. The Retropop Band specializes in retro and ballroom music and has been doing the rounds providing entertainment in various Casino Filipino branches until 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.