Kicking my way in 2010

Late last year after a hiatus from my Pilates training, I rediscovered my love for kicking butt, literally. I signed up for my first class though I will still in the process of recovering from a long haul trip but it got me going.

Why Kickboxing? Aside from getting me to deal with some anger issues (LOL), it gives a great body workout and boost your confidence.

I saw some definition in my waist and found more definition and confidence to go sleeveless. You see I am blessed to get what we call in our family the Barrios arms. While my sister has those wonderful toned arms since birth, I on the other hand had fat magically moving towards one direction - arms. So I just work around it by always covering them up.

You hit two things at the same time so great for working moms like me - cardiovascular and strength training. And definitely your core is always contracting.

If you are familiar Tae Bo training videos, you will know that boxing and kickboxing exercises are made popular by it.

The movement in aerobic exercises share a lot of similarities with boxing training. In cardio boxing classes you will immediately realize that the clever variations of aerobic movements is evident in their sparring jabs, power punches, defenses, leg works and overall body positioning.

To step up towards a more demanding workout you will need to learn the proper techniques of the punch and kick combinations. With knowledge of the right techniques, you will build up your confidence and thus your strength will develop faster.

We use the heavy bag, and pads for working out. If I commit to an hour of working out, I know that I burn 350 to 500 calories. Isnt that great!

Another thing to take note is that your heart rate can achieve 75 to 85 percent of regular heart beat and this is in the zone of recommended range during training any exercise period.


Another benefit I see is self defense. The feeling you get from executing a proper punch and kick is priceless. It is my relaxation and my happy place.

Stress can be greatly reduced from your everyday life and you will feel a sense of relief. With stress minimized, you will be able to eliminate any feeling of anger that is within you.

And did I mention that it is one-on-one training? Ayus!

And you dont have to be dressed up in all the latest outfits to train. You spend so much in working out, then you have to buy outfits as well. Ayayay!

By Special Request- Cookie Monster Cake

For everyone who have been emailing me for a copy of the recipe... This is the recipe I personally use for my back to Greenhills memories cake. Enjoy.



Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Unsweetened Cocoa or Dutch Processed Cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk*
1 cup strong black coffee
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans
or one 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and
salt in large bowl. Add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil and vanilla; beat
on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes (batter will be thin). Pour batter
evenly into prepared pans.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes for round pans, 35 to 40 minutes for
rectangular pan or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10
minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost as
desired. Yields 10 to 12 servings.



fudge frosting

2 cups sugar
1 1/4 c cocoa powder
1/4 c all purpose flour
1 cup water
1 1/4 c condensed milk
2 cans evap milk
1/2 c butter

combine sugar, cocoa powder and flour in a sauce pan. in a mixing bowl combine all liquid ingredients then pour into a saucepan. whisk until well combined. place the saucepan on low heat and keep whisking until frosting is thick and of spreading consistency . blend in butter when ready, spread on cooled cake.


This is another frosting I do:

1 1/2 cups Evaporated Milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1/4 cup butter

cook together in a double boiler or a heat diffuser using a wire whisk until creamy. cool for 5 minutes then add the butter.


For the caramel filling you will need to boil a can of condensed milk and cool before pouring.

Would love to hear your comments .

Outrageous Cookies by Mareng Stewart

Welcome to Mareng Stewart - The Hostess with the Mostess

I am a self taught cook and baker and have opened up my kitchen to orders for my cookies and panna cotta.

Our cookies are baked the same day that they are purchased providing a fresh, hand measured and gourmet product. No preservatives are used to ensure quality and home baked taste. Because our cookies are soft in texture, they arpackaged in a reusable, airtight container to ensure freshness.

For GIFT GIVING, we have available a RED TIN CAN that will easily fit 12 cookies for an additional PHP30.00. Other available option is a "Paul Smith" like tray for an additional PHP40.00. Please call or text at 0917-5181728. Pick up at Valle Verde

The Outrageous Chocolate Chip Cookie - You cant just have one!

A Cookie A Day

Chunky Monkey
A Chocoholics dream - Double the Chocolate to make you go bananas

Choco-O's
A yummy surprise of oats and chocolate

Good Morning Cookies
The Goodness of Oats in the Morning

PB Choos
Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

My Little Artist

Fetching Diego

Hand Picked

Self Portrait - The Funny Face

Doggy Feelings - Sad

The Attack of the Swallows

Chinese Lantern

Self Portrait
My personal favorite

Self Portrait - Transforming me to a Transformer

Self Portrait - The Bad Face

Germy Wormy Philippine Edition inspired by Edvard Munch
She painted this while I was reminding her to clean her hands.

Self Portrait - My Mad Faces
Sketches

This is her Part 3 from her The Prince and Princess Series
1 The Prince VS The Dragon
2 The Prince Marries The Princess
3 And They Lived Happily Ever After

Doggy Feelings - Happy

Doggy Feelings - Mad

Here are the latest paintings of my little one. She explored Boucheareau, Norman Rockwell, Mary Cassatt, Salvador Dali and of course Pablo Picasso. The little one became more self aware and painted herself and didn't forget to include her brother.

I will soon be running out of walls to hang her paintings.

The Philippine Flag - A masonry flag?

As I accidentally found the mason website in the country while searching for Tomas Earnshaw, I found this very interesting information. The Philippine flag had mason symbols. A very logical conclusion as Emilio Aguinaldo was a mason and acknowledged Masonry as a major influence in acquiring independence, (A similar statement was said by George Washington as well).

Read on...
The Philippine flag - its masonic roots

---

Time and again it has been asserted that masonry played an important role in the design of the Philippine flag and that some of its symbols were meant to memorialize the Craft. These assertions are essentially plausible, for the man principally responsible for its design — President Emilio Aguinaldo — was a zealous masonic partisan. In one of his speeches delivered after the Revolution, Aguinaldo said; "The successful Revolution of 1896 was masonically inspired, masonically led, and masonically executed. And I venture to say that the first Philippine Republic of which I was its humble president, was an achievement we owe, largely, to masonry and the freemasons." Speaking of the revolutionists, he added; "With God to illumine them, and masonry to inspire them, they fought the battle of emancipation and won." During the Revolution, Aguinaldo frequently displayed a marked bias in favor of freemasons and masonry. He made membership in the masonic fraternity an important qualification for appointments to government positions. His nepotism was so pronounced, a critic of masonry denounced it as one of the "evils" of the Revolution. In his Memoirs, Felipe Calderon, the President of the Malolos Congress, claimed that the "sectarian masonic spirit" undermined the insurrection. He also argued that some serious dissensions among Filipinos originated, "more than for anything else, from the mania of Aguinaldo, or rather of his adviser, Mabini, to elevate any person who was a mason" It should not come as a surprise to anyone, therefore, if Aguinaldo decided to extol masonry in the Philippine flag. Some of the claims made in favor of the masonic link of the Philippine flag, however, are so lavish they strain the reader’s credulity. If all are to be accepted at face value, we cannot avoid the conclusion that our national emblem is a clone of the masonic banner and that all the devices and symbols used in it are of masonic origin, from the triangle, to the sun and stars, down to its colours. The lavish claims, however, were made by freemasons and, therefore, the possibility of exaggeration or embellishment, owing to over enthusiasm, cannot be discounted. Moreover, Aguinaldo did not make a written affirmation of the masonic connection of the flag. On the contrary, some of his official statements do not jibe with the exceedingly generous assertions of the freemasons. A close scrutiny of the claims in favor of Freemasonry must, therefore, be undertaken. But first let us describe the Filipino flag. The Hong Kong designed flag that Aguinaldo brought with him from his exile on board the US dispatch boat McCullock, and which became the official flag of the first Philippine Republic, consisted of two horizontal stripes, blue on top and red below. It had a white equilateral triangle at the hoist that is smaller than that in our flag today. Within the triangle, at its center, a mythological sun was depicted with eyebrows, eyes, nose and mouth in black, bearing eight rays without any minor ray for each, and three five-pointed stars, one at each angle of the triangle. All these devices were in gold or yellow colour. Shortly after its landing on Philippine soil, the flag saw a baptism of fire and blood in several combats with Spanish colonial troops. On June 12, 1898, it was officially consecrated as our national flag at the ceremonial Proclamation of Independence held at Kawit, Cavite. The signer of the proclamation took their oath of allegiance saying: "The undersigned solemnly swear allegiance to the flag and will defend it to the last drop of their blood." The Aguinaldo flag served as our national emblem up to the conquest of our country by the Americans. During the American régime, the display of the Philippine flag was proscribed from 1902 to 1919. In October of 1919, the ban was officially lifted, but seventeen years of non-use blurred memories about its details. The generation born under the aegis of the new dispensation was unfamiliar with the flag and the few samples that survived were either tattered, faded or termite-eaten. Hence, when Philippine Flag Day was observed on October 30, 1919, there was no uniformity in the design of the Filipino flag. Any tricolour with or without the sunburst device and three stars within a white triangle was taken as the Filipino flag. For well over a decade the confusion surrounding the design of the flag persisted. To do away with irregularities and discrepancies, President Manuel L. Quezon issued Executive Order No. 23, on March 25, 1936, specifying the different elements of the flag. Quezon not only set a uniform pattern for the making of our national emblem as to the size and arrangement of its symbolic elements, he also caused major amendments of its features, to wit:

the mythological sun was changed to a solid golden sunburst without any marking; the eight single rays in Aguinaldo’s flag replaced by eight major rays with two minor beams for each ray; the size of the equilateral triangle was made larger by making any side equal to the width of the flag at the hoist; and the colour blue in the upper stripe was standardized to dark blue.

Let us now evaluate the statements that postulate the link between the flag and masonry, viz a viz official announcements on the origin and meanings of the flag’s symbols. Masonic Claims - Among the more credible assertions relied upon to establish the tie between masonry and the flag are the following: In October 1899, Ambrocio Flores, Grand Master of the Gran Consejo Regional and at that time a general in the army of Aguinaldo, wrote letters to the Grand Lodges in the United States appealing to them to employ their influence to help the fledgling Philippine Republic. In these letters he compared the Philippine flag to the masonic banner saying, "...this national flag resembles closely our masonic banner starting from its triangular quarter to the prominent central position of its resplendent sun surrounded in its triangular position by three 5-pointed stars. Even in its three coloured background, it is the spitting image of our Venerable Institution’s banner so that when you see it in any part of the world, waving with honor amidst the flags of other nations and acknowledged by these nations, let us hope that with this flag, and through it, our common parent, Freemasonry will likewise be so honored." In his beautiful Grand Oration pronounced in 1928, historian Teodoro M. Kalaw, Sr., uttered these words: "And the triangle appearing on the Philippine flag, the loftiest symbolism of the struggles of the Filipino people, was put there, according to President Aguinaldo, as an homage to Freemasonry." Felipe Calderon, writing with a pejorative and anti-masonic tone, said in his Memoirs:

It is not a secret to any person that one of the causes of the Philippine insurrection against Spain, ... was the animosity of the people ... against the religious corporations .... As a result of this animosity against the religious corporations, a tendency which we might call anti-Catholic developed in certain organizations and individuals of the Revolution so that masonry considered the insurrection, and therefore also the revolution , as it own work and even put the triangle in the Filipino flag. As I have already said, this was an evil that had a noxious influence upon the entire body of the Revolution, because Mabini and its followers considered every mason as qualified to carry out any undertaking, and at that time membership in a masonic lodge was the best recommendation a man could possess.

In the Question and Answer column of the April 1929 issue of The Cabletow, there appeared the following: Question - The statement was frequently made that the triangle, sun, and stars in the Philippine flag are of masonic origin. This same statement, made by the managing editor of the CABLETOW in a lecture delivered by him, has lately been repeated in Bro. Emmanuel A. Baja’s book entitled "Our Country’s Flag and Anthem." Having heard the correctness of this statement doubted, I would like to know on what authority it is based. Answer. - The Editor of this column has heard this statement made by several freemasons who can be considered authorities on the subject, including Wor. Bro. Emilio Aguinaldo, erstwhile president of the Philippine Republic, Bro. Tomas G. del Rosario, M. W. Bro. Felipe Buencamino, and several others. x x x." PGM Emilio Vitara, a long time private secretary of President Aguinaldo, revealed that Aguinaldo personally acknowledged the indebtedness of the Philippine flag to masonic emblems and symbols. Official and semi-official explanations of the symbols - Ranged against the forgoing claims, are the following official and semi-official pronouncements relative to the symbols in the flag: In the Proclamation of Philippine Independence signed in 1898 by Aguinaldo and 96 other Filipino leaders, which consecrated the Hong Kong-designed flag of Aguinaldo as the national emblem of our country, it was stressed:

The white triangle represents the distinctive emblem of the famous Katipunan Society, which means of its blood compact suggested to the masses the urgency of insurrection, the three stars represented the three principal islands of the Archipelago, Luzon, Mindanao and Panay, wherein this revolutionary movement broke out: the sun represents the gigantic strides that have been made by the sons of this land on the road to progress and civilization: its eight rays symbolize the eight provinces: Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna and Batangas, which were declared in a state of war almost as soon as the first revolutionary movement was initiated; and the colours blue, red and white, commemorate those of the flag of the United States of North America in manifestation of our profound gratitude towards that great nation for the disinterested protection she is extending to us and will continue to extend to us.

In a speech before the Malolos Congress, Aguinaldo added the following nationalistic interpretation of the meaning of the three colours of the flag:

Behold this banner with three colours, three stars and a sun, all of which have the following meaning: the red signifies the bravery of the Filipinos which is second to none, a colour that was first used by the revolutionists of the province of Cavite on the 31st of August 1896, until peace reigned with the truce of Biak-na-Bato. The blue signifies that whoever will attempt enslave the Filipinos will have to eradicate them first before they give way. The white signifies that the Filipinos are capable of self-government like other nations… The three stars with five points signify the islands of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao…And, lastly, the eight rays of the rising sun signify the eight provinces of Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Morong, Laguna, Batangas and Cavite where martial law was declared. These are the provinces which give light to the Archipelago and dissipated the shadows that wrapped her… By the light of the sun, the Aetas, the Igorots, the Mangyans, and the Moslems are now descending from the mountains, and all of them I recognize as my brothers.

Further explanation was supplied by a letter, dated 6 September 1926, from Carlos Ronquillo, the then private secretary of Aguinaldo, addressed to Emmanuel A. Baja.

The sun I am referring to ... was the mythological sun with eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth. It was not the artistic one nor the Japanese sun. It was the same sun which appears on the flag of some South American Republics. And I can assure you of this because I drew the design myself by order and instruction of the President, General Aguinaldo.

The adoption of the sun was resolved in order that the flag of the Katipunan could be transformed into "the flag of the republic" sustained and defended heroically not only by the Katipunan men but also by the whole people who had joined the Revolution which was started by the worthy "Association of the Sons of the People." A few months before the Peace of Biak-na-Bato, the Battalion of Pasong Balite, whose commander was the brave gallant General Gregorio H. Del Pilar, had adopted as their ensign a flag which much resembled the present national flag. It had a blue triangle without a sun or stars, the upper half portion was red and the lower half was black. Like the present Philippine flag, its general outline was inspired also by the Cuban flag. From these statements it would seem that the devices in the flag were adopted for reasons other than paying homage to Freemasonry. Only the triangle is traceable to Freemasonry through the Katipunan which itself was admittedly and unabashedly patterned after Freemasonry. Even the models would appear to be not the masonic banner, but the flags of Cuba, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. With all these as a backdrop, let us now evaluate and examine the contentions of the freemasons. The letter of Flores - The assertion of Ambrocio Flores that the Filipino flag was a spitting image of the masonic banner definitely packs a lot of weight. As a General in the army of Aguinaldo, Flores was familiar with the Filipino flag, and as Grand Master of the Gran Consejo Regional he was also thoroughly conversant with the masonic banner. He, therefore, knew what he was thinking about when he compared the flag of the masonic banner. Unfortunately no document has come down to us that corroborate the statement of Flores. His claim, therefore, cannot be verified. The triangle - The loftiest and most sublime symbol of masonry in the days of the Revolution was the equilateral triangle. The masonic ritual called it the most perfect figure that could be drawn with lines and regarded it as an appropriate emblem of perfection or divinity. The triangle was the first masonic object shown to a candidate for the admission into the mysteries of the craft. Prior to initiation he was brought to a chamber of reflections by the "Terrible" and placed in front of a table upon which was laid a triangle. Here he was obliged to answer questions concerning his concept of man’s duty to God, to himself and to his fellowmen. Inside that lodge the triangle was everywhere. It was on aprons worn by all the officers and members. Stone triangles were placed upon the throne of the "Venerable Maestro" (Worshipful Master) and on the altars of the "Prime Vigilante" (Senior Warden) and the "Segundo Vigilante" (Junior Warden). The tables of the Senior and Junior Wardens and the "Limosnero" (Almoner) were triangular in shape and so were the stools provided for the initiates. The perfect ashlar was represented by a "cubico pyramidal." And the noblest emblem in the lodge, the one which is equivalent to today’s letter "G" suspended in the East in all lodges, was the "Delta Sagrada" (Sacred Triangle) with the name of the Great Architect of the Universe inscribed in the center in Hebraic characters. The triangle also appeared constantly in masonic communications. Many words frequently employed in documents, like taller, logia, hermano, Venerable Maestro, bateria, Salud, Fuerza y Union, were abbreviated and the abbreviations ended not with single dot but three dots arranged in a form of triangle. In as much as the triangle was the heavyweight among masonic emblems, it became the favorite symbol of the freemasons, including Aguinaldo. This is the symbol the freemasons inscribed on their rings, cuff-links and other jewelries. Aguinaldo, for his part, used it repeatedly in his letters and documents. He incorporated it in the postage and telegraph stamps issued by his government and on the coins which he ordered minted. Even the insignias on the chevrons of the officers of the Revolution bore the triangle. In social gatherings Aguinaldo never forgot the triangle. On his 31st birthday (22 March 1900), he served lunch to his guests in his mountain hideout on a "triangular table for 150 persons." When the anniversary of the ratification of Philippine independence by the Malolos Congress was celebrated in Palanan, Isabela on 29 September, Aguinaldo again tendered lunch for the celebrants on a huge triangular table that could seats 200 persons. Years later, when he entertained his guests in the spacious yard of his mansion in Kawit, Cavite after his installation as Master of his lodge, had all the tables where food was served arranged in the form of a giant triangle. The Spanish authorities were also aware of the importance placed by freemasons upon the triangle. Its discovery on any document was taken as a dead give-away that it was masonic. Thus, among the pieces of evidence accepted as proof of the guilt of the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite, were a booklet with a triangle on its frontispiece and a large photograph confiscated from Hugo Perez, the Master of España en Filipinas lodge in Cavite containing several pictures of the members of his lodge arranged in triangular form. In light of the important role the triangle played in masonic rituals and symbolism it would be the logical and natural choice of any endeavor to pay tribute to Freemasonry. Taking into account Aguinaldo’s ardent love affair with the masonic triangle, and considering further that the claimed masonic tie of the triangle in the Filipino flag does not collide with official explanations of the symbols in the flag, and considering, finally, that even a masonic critic in the person of Calderon asserted that the triangle was included in the flag by freemasons, I submit we can accept the statement which Kalaw attributed To Aguinaldo that the triangle in the flag was placed there as a tribute to masonry. The Sun, Stars, and Colors - The sun, stars, and colours red, white and blue are minor emblems in the pantheon of masonic symbolism. They were overshadowed by the square, compasses, level, plumb, etc. The only place were the sun, stars, and the three colours had a degree of importance was in the "Decoracion de la Logia" (Decoration of the lodge). The rituals of the Grand Oriente Español most emphatically stated that the lodge was a representation of the universe. It directed that the lodge be rectangular in shape and its four walls be denominated East, South, West and North. In the East it was required that a "disco radiante" (radiant disk) be placed representing the sun. Rays radiated from the East, diminishing in brilliance until they reached the West where they were convered with clouds. The ceiling was painted to represent a starlit sky. Stars were also used on the fingers of the canopy covering the throne of Venerable Master. Likewise the altar was draped with red velvet on which was embroidered the square and compasses with a five-pointed stars in the center. Furthermore, a five-pointed star, with the letter "G" in the center, was the symbol of the fellow craft degree. Red and blue were the dominant colours in the lodge. The walls of the lodge were draped with blood red colour (colgaduras encarnadas) and the altars of the Wardens, the tables of the Orator, Secretary, Treasurer and Almoner, the long benches, the stools for initiates, and all the chairs in the lodge were upholstered or covered with red. On the other hand, the canopy covering the throne of the Worshipful Master was sky blue and even the ceiling of the lodge had a hint of blue. To a Master, therefore, sitting upon his throne, the colours which he saw if he looked straight ahead or to either side was red, and blued if he looked up. Also, the banner which the Statues prescribed for the Federation of the Gran Oriente Español had a blue stripe on top and a red one at the bottom. That for a Blue lodge was blue and the one for a Chapter of Rose Croix was red. If we give a free reign to our imagination, a similarity between the decoration of the lodge and the Filipino flag could easily be perceived. But imagination cannot be the basis for the historicity of the masonic heritage of the flag. Moreover, it is doubtful if Aguinaldo in those days ever saw a lodge decorated in strict accordance with the specification of the ritual. Masonic meetings were then held on the run, because of the persecution of freemasons by the Spanish colonial powers. Meetings had to be kept secret from profane eyes and were moved from one place to another to avoid detection. Even the triangular tables and other paraphernalia had to be so designed that they could be dismantled and rearranged at a moment’s notice to resemble ordinary furniture. For freemasons to have painted the walls and ceiling of their meeting place in conformity with ritual would have been the height of imprudence. The most that can therefore be said is that Aguinaldo must have been aware of the prescribed decoration of the lodge through the rituals with which he was undoubtedly familiar. In conclusion, I submitted that of all the symbols and devices in the flag it is only the triangle whose masonic parentage may be accepted. The basis for the masonic link of the sun, stars, and colours of the flag are too slim to make out a solid case. But the presence of even only one masonic symbol in the flag should make freemasons proud. After all, it was the premier symbol of the Craft — the symbol of perfection — that was selected for inclusion. The masonic connection of the Philippine flag does not end with its design. Freemasons have played significant roles during the most memorable events where the flag has been unfolded on Philippine soil. On June 12, 1892, when Philippine independence was proclaimed at Kawit, Cavite a Proclamation of Independence, written by freemason (Ambrocio Rianzares Bautista) and signed by another mason (Aguinaldo), was read. Thereafter a freemason (Rianzares Bautista) displayed the flag before the populace. On October 14, 1943, Philippine Independence was proclaimed anew under the sponsorship of the Japanese Imperial forces. A freemason (Jorge B. Vargas of Sinukuan lodge) read the proclamation terminating the Japanese Military Administration and thereafter another freemason (Aguinaldo) hoisted the flag marking the first time since the start of the Japanese occupation that the flag was displayed in public. On July 4, 1946, for a third time, Philippine independence was announced to the world. On this occasion a Proclamation signed by a mason (President and PGM Harry S. Truman) was read by another freemason (Paul V. McNutt) at the Luneta after which a third freemason (President Manuel A. Roxas, Past Master of Makawiwili lodge No. 55), raised the Philippine standard. Considering the historic link between the Philippine flag and Freemasonry, no one should begrudge the freemasons of the Philippines if they behold our flag with unbounded pride. To Philippine freemasons, the flag is not only an emblem of liberty and a symbol of the valour and sacrifices of our people, it is also a memorial to the fraternity which they so dearly loved. Text provided by MW Bro. Reynold S. Fajardo, PGM, GMH. Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge of the Philippine, 2004/11/15

MASONS IN THE PHILIPPINES- from http://www.pinoyonboard.com/pob/2004/1203_ramos.html

I was looking for more information on the great grandfather of my cousin - Tomas Noguera Earnshaw, the FIRST MAYOR OF MANILA. More on him in succeeding posts.

It is so interesting as it talks about masonry in the Philippines and even identifies who the Grand Masters are. Aside from Jose Protacio Rizal who is really Jose Rizal Protacio being a Mason, other famous people in more modern times are: During the American and Japanese era we had Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmena, Manuel Roxas, Jose Abad Santos, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Gen. Vicente Lim, Dr. Jose P. Laurel, Claro M. Recto, Camilo Osias, Benigno Aquino Sr. and more surprising revelations: the first Filipino initiated was Jacobo Zobel, an ancestor of the Ayala and Zobel Business Empire. In the Constitutional Convention of 1935, 41 delegates were Masons; among them were Manuel Roxas, Jose Laurel, Camilo Osias, Conrado Benitez, Rafael Palma, Pedro Guevarra, and Vicente Francisco. Claro M. Recto and Jose P. Laurel, Pedro Guevarra, Camilo Osias, Rafael Palma, Rafael Alunan Emilio Tria Tirona, Teodoro Yangco, Filemon Perez, Ceferino de Leon, Tomas Earnshaw, Quintin Paredes, Jose Abad Santos, Conrado Benitez, Jorge Vargas, Maximo Kalaw, Arsenio Luz. The legacy of freemasons in Philippine history

Rodel J. Ramos

No fraternal organization has ever been persecuted, maligned, suspected, or blamed more for things that happened in the World than the Freemasonry. This secret society has developed a certain mysticism that intrigues many people because of their behind closed door meetings, secret handshake and passwords. Communists, dictators, religious fundamentalists and even the Catholic Church banned this fraternity centuries ago. Still others think they can manipulate governments just like what happened in Italy decades ago. But if this group is as evil as feared by some, why would many of our intellectuals, heroes, and martyrs join such a brotherhood? In many instances, Freemasons were not mere participants but leaders of movements. History records them as pioneers, martyrs, heroes, liberators, and nation builders. The French and American and Philippine revolutions had inspiration and leadership of Freemansons. The tenets Members explain that Freemasonry is a voluntary association of men, a fraternal society. It is a system of moral conduct, and a way of life. It is religious in its character, teaches the Golden Rule and morality through symbolism. It uses secret rites and ceremonies. It is based on a firm belief in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of Man and the Immortality of the Soul. Its great tenets are: Brotherly love, Relief, and Truth. Its motto was used in the French revolution “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.” Their sacred triangle can be found in the American dollar and the Philippine Flag. In its ranks you can find Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, and even followers of Confucius embrace each other as brothers. Are they not the forerunner of ecumenism that the Churches are just fulfilling now? Albert Pike expresses the libertarian principles of the brotherhood ”Masonry is engaged in her crusade, - against ignorance, intolerance, fanaticism, superstition, uncharitableness, and error. She does not sail with trade-winds, upon a smooth sea, with a steady free breeze, fair for a welcoming harbor; but meets and must overcome many opposing currents, baffling winds, and dead calms.” Because the Spaniards, Americans, the Church and our very own elite society wanted to hide their atrocities, they censured our history and the truth was never revealed. Even the two novels of Rizal were banned for decades. Because Filipino Masons were able to hide and preserved records, their archives are a great source of historical facts. In researching these achieves, we found out that four of our Presidents were Masons, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Manuel Quezon, Manuel Roxas, and Jose P. Laurel the puppet Government during the Japanese occupation. Most of the leaders of the Spanish revolution were masons - Graciano Lopez Jaena, Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Emilio Aguinaldo, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Jose Alejandrino, Antonio and Juan Luna and many others. During the American and Japanese era we had Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmena, Manuel Roxas, Jose Abad Santos, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Gen. Vicente Lim, Dr. Jose P. Laurel, Claro M. Recto, Camilo Osias, Benigno Aquino Sr. and many more. Persecutions During the Inquisition, Freemasonry was one of those banned and actively persecuted by the Church and kings of Europe. A Royal letter Patent issued by the Council of Regency of Spain was the first official prohibition of Masonry. In 1814, Ferdinand VII of Spain abolished the constitution and re-established the Inquisition. The Roman Catholic Church considered Masonry then as godless, anti-Christ and heretics. The Masons in the Philippines waged a long, arduous struggle for religious freedom and against bigotry. In the 1872 Cavite mutiny, along with three Filipino priests Burgos, Gomez and Zamora 13 martyrs were executed, seven were Freemasons. In July 2, 1896, a Royal Degree was issued in Spain ordering more stern measures against member of the Masonic Order in the Philippines. “Secret societies among them and very specially Masonry have used their influence widely and regrettably in a most disruptive manner, in our colonial problems. These societies, by the mere fact of being secret, are illicit and illegal, harmful in every state and a source of insidious evil in a territory like the Philippines. During the reign of terror (1895-1897) our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was executed by firing squad in Bagumbayan, now Rizal Park Dec. 30, 1896 for being a Freemason. Days after, 11 other masons were executed including Ariston Bautista, Faustino Villaruel, Luis Villareal, Agustin de la Rosa, et. al. They were blamed for the growing rebellion against the injustice and abuses of the Spaniards and friars. The suppressive Spanish rule lasted more than three centuries (1665-1898). The Japanese authorities during their Philippine occupation looked upon Masonry with aversion and revenge. They claim the Masonic and Shrine movement originates in Paris and is a Jewish revolutionary organization designed to overthrow established government… indirectly, that they must be persecuted, tormented, humiliated, reviled without respite. Supreme Court Justice Jose Abad Santos, a mason was executed in Malabang, Lanao for refusing to cooperate. Grand Master John R., McFie was killed by Japanese shell while interned at U.S.T. (Concentration camp), Deputy Grand Master Jose P. Guido was beheaded in the presence of his family; Jose de los Reyes, P.G.M. was also killed. And because Masons never answer allegations, nor are allowed to brandish their good deeds, their mysticism continued. Beginning Although Masonry existed in the Philippines even before 1756, the first Filipino initiated was Jacobo Zobel, an ancestor of the Ayala and Zobel Business Empire. In 1871 King Amadeo of Spain appointed Lt. Gen. Rafael de Izquierdo as Governor General of the Philippines. They were both masons. It was during the term of Grand Master Miguel Morayta in 1889 that masonry was opened to the natives. Others were able to join abroad before that. In April 1, 1889, Graciano Lopez Jaena in Barcelona, Spain founded Lodge Revolucion. This was later dissolved and Lodge Solidaridad was formed. Jose Rizal, Mariano Ponce, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Jose Alejandrino, Antonio and Juan Luna and Pedro Serrano Laktaw were initiated here. It was this group of intellectuals who petitioned the Spanish Parliament for the restoration of Philippine Parliamentary representation. They called attention to the sad fate of the Philippines that languished under the shadow of intolerance and tyranny. They published the La Solidaridad newspaper to further their cause. They implored the support of masons all over Europe. Marcelo H. del Pilar and Pedro Serrano Laktaw were appointed to organize Philippine Masonry. It was through this secret society that the Noli and Fili were distributed discretely among Filipinos and it took sometime before it was discovered. It had already opened the eyes of Filipino intellectuals. In July 3, 1892 Dr. Jose Rizal founded the Liga Filipina, a peaceful, civic association of Filipinos aimed at seeking reforms. Its motto was Unus Instar Omnium (One Like All.) Four days after, Rizal was arrested and imprisoned at Fort Santiago and then deported to Dapitan until July 31, 1896. Andres Bonifacio the “great plebeian” with fellow masons Valentin Diaz, Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa and Deodato Arellano founded the Katipunan July 7, 1892 in Azcarraga St., Tondo, Manila. Its initiation rites and secrecy was similar to the Freemasons. By 1896 this revolutionary society swelled to 100,000 members. On August 19 of that year Spanish authorities discovered its existence by the confession of the wife of a Katipunero to a parish priest. Many members and sympathizers of the movement were arrested. In August 26, the “Cry of Balintawak,” was shouted. Later, a new revolutionary leader arose from Kawit, Cavite. Emilio Aguinalo was inducted to Freemasonry in Imus January 1, 1895. He was initiated by Bonifacio in the Katipunan. But while Bonifacio believed that the Katipunan should carry on the fight, Aguinaldo as a military leader insisted that a new revolutionary government should be established to supervise the struggle. On October 31, 1896 Aguinaldo issued at Kawit his manifesto proposing that the new government shall be based on the principles of “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” the motto of masonry. Spanish-American War In April 25, 1898, the United States declared war against Spain. Aguinaldo who was exiled in Hong Kong was approached by emissaries of Admiral Dewey to collaborate with the Americans to defeat the Spaniards in the Philippines. Arms were supplied and Aguinaldo was spirited to the country. On May 24, 1898 General Aguinaldo proclaimed the establishment of the Dictatorial Government followed by the proclamation of Philippine Independence at Kawit on June 12. Another Mason, Apolinario Mabini was responsible for laying down the foundations of the First Philippine Republic. He was Premier and Secretary of Foreign Affairs in the first Cabinet of President Aguinaldo. Antonio Luna, another Freemason was Director of War. Separation of Church and State During the promulgation of the Constitution of the Philippine Republic in Malolos in 1899, the Masons led by Antonio Luna fought and won the separation of Church and State. Felipe Calderon, another delegate proposed Catholicism be the state religion. In the Constitutional Convention of 1935, 41 delegates were Masons; among them were Manuel Roxas, Jose Laurel, Camilo Osias, Conrado Benitez, Rafael Palma, Pedro Guevarra, and Vicente Francisco. They incorporated the Masonic Principles and saw to it that “No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.” Later, two Masons, Claro M. Recto and Jose P. Laurel sponsored a bill for all students to study the banned Rizal books, Noli and Fili. Filipino-American war The Americans did not honor their word with Aguinaldo that independence will be granted to the Filipinos after Spain was defeated. The Treaty of Paris ceded the country to the Americans and it started the Fil-American war. Against a powerful war machine, the Filipinos with shortage of arms could not win the war. In March 23, 1901, General Funston arrested Aguinaldo. He was imprisoned in Malacanang Palace but was treated well by a fellow mason, Gen. Arthur MacArthur who was the Military Governor General. To expedite the transfer of the government from military to civilian authorities, Pres. William McKinley, a mason appointed the First Philippine Commission (Schurman Commission) on January 20, 1899. The Second Commission (Taft Commission) was appointed March 16, 1900 with legislative and executive powers. A Civil Government was inaugurated July 4, 1901 with Judge William H. Taft, as first Civil Governor. Taft was also a mason. He popularized the “Philippines for the Filipinos”. He worked for the passage of the Philippine Bill of 1902 establishing complete civilian government. In July 31, 1899, Ambrosio Flores, Grand Master beseeched the American Masons to use their influence to end the war and recognize the independence of the Philippines. Rafael del Pan was commissioned to coordinate with American Masons. Mark Twain, and other Masons led the media campaign to sway the American public. Masons in the U.S. Congress and Senate sponsored bills to give back independence. When the Americans were debating whether the Filipinos were civilized or barbarians due to the massacre of an Infantry in the Visayas by women of a Village whose husbands were murdered by that Infantry, a U.S. Senator, a Mason stood before the august body and read the poem of Dr. Jose Rizal “Last Farewell” and asked, “Is this the work of a barbarian.” This ended the debate. The proclamation of the existence of complete peace in the Philippines was by President Theodore Roosevelt, also a Mason raised in Long Island, New York. Filipinos then began to organize political parties. An election of all-Filipino delegates for the First Philippine Assembly was held. Sergio Osmena was Speaker and Manuel Quezon as majority floor leader. Both were Masons. In 1913, under President Woodrow Wilson’s administration, Francis Burton Harrison, another Mason was appointed governor-general. He placed within the reach of the Filipinos the instruments of their redemption. He worked for the Jones Law of 1916 - Philippine Autonomy Act - which stated the purpose of the United States is to withdraw their sovereignty over the Philippine Islands and to recognize their independence as soon as a stable government can be established. Harrison Filipinized the Government and at the end of his term in 1921 it was 96% controlled by Filipinos. During all these times, missions were formed to work for the independence of the Philippines, majority of them were chaired and manned by Masons - Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmena, Pedro Guevarra, Camilo Osias, Rafael Palma, Rafael Alunan, Emilio Tria Tirona, Teodoro Yangco, Filemon Perez, Ceferino de Leon, Tomas Earnshaw, Quintin Paredes, Jose Abad Santos, Conrado Benitez, Jorge Vargas, Maximo Kalaw, Arsenio Luz and others. They worked and influenced masons in the U.S. Government, the media and the Masonic Lodges all over America. As early as January 12, 1916, Senator James P. Clarke, a member of Western Star Lodge No. 2 of Arkansas introduced an amendment to the Philippine Bill, which would grant independence to the Philippines within a few years. His amendment was approved by the U.S. Senate, but was defeated in the House of Representatives by a slim margin, thus the Filipinos had to wait another 40 years before Philippine independence was finally proclaimed by the United States. The first Philippine Independence measure passed by the American Congress was the Hare-Hawes-Cutting bill vetoed by Pres. Herbert Hoover. Another mission led by Senate President Quezon secured the passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Law approved on March 24, 1934 by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Freemason of New York City. It called for a Constitutional Convention to frame the Constitution of the Philippines. It provided for Commonwealth Government and upon the final withdrawal therefrom of United States sovereignty, said Commonwealth shall be known as the Republic of the Philippines. Manuel Quezon became President and Sergio Osmena as Vice President. World War II The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the Philippines on December 8, 1941. The United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) was under Lt. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, inducted as member at Manila Lodge No. 1. Because the Americans gave Europe priority in the war and send no support, the Philippines lost the battle. Brigadier Gen. Vicente Lim, a Mason was in charged of 7,000 officers and men of the 41st division, which became known as the “Rock of Bataan” was in the frontline of the battlefield. Out of the 78,000 Fil-American troops in Bataan, only 4,000 were Americans and they were held at the rear as reserves. Vicente Lim was the first Filipino to graduate in West Point with former President Dwight Eisenhower in 1914. As we know, the Japanese expected the country to fall in days but the fighting lasted for four months giving time for the Allied forces to re-arm and save Australia and New Zealand from invasion. In April 9, 1942, Bataan fell. Prisoners were forced to march from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga. Those who survived the summer heat, hunger, thirst, disease, and execution were herded into trains to Capas Tarlac Concentration Camp. More than 40,000 soldiers were estimated to have perished in this battle. In the airwaves that day, Voice of Freedom echoed, “Bataan has fallen, but the spirit that made it stand, a beacon to all the liberty loving people of the world cannot fall.” On May 6, 1942 Corregidor fell. Dr. Jose P. Laurel of Batangas Lodge with fellow masons Jorge Vargas, Rafael Alunan, Antonio de las Alas, Quintin Paredes, Camilo Osias, Benigno Aquino Sr. and others were ordered to serve the Japanese colonizer, a puppet government. Laurel was appointed President. They accepted their duties to ease the pains of their people and lessen the damage. Most of the masons however refused to submit to the new invaders and joined the Guerrilla resistance movement. President Quezon with his family and other masons left for the United States early in 1942 to influence the government to support the war in the Pacific and give independence to the Philippines. Gen. Douglas MacArthur fought hard to convince the Americans to come to the aid of their colony. In June 29, 1944, the American Congress passed Joint Resolution No. 93 authorizing the President of the United States to proclaim the independence of the Philippines on July 4, 1946. Gen. MacArthur returned October 20, 1944 landing in Leyte and the Philippine Commonwealth was restored October 23, 1944 with Osmena as President. Quezon died in Saranak Lake, New York August 1, 1944 never to see the fruits of his efforts. Manuel Roxas followed as President of the Commonwealth April 23, 1946. In July 4, 1946, the Philippine Independence was proclaimed at the Luneta. U.S. President Harry Truman’s Proclamation was read by High Commissioner Paul McNutt, both were masons. After the war, Gen. MacArthur helped spread the seeds of Philippine Masonry in Japan, Korea and Saipan. In 1955, Prime Minister of Japan Ichiro Hatoyama, and Yahachi Kawai, President o the House Counselors of the Japanese District were introduced to the mysteries of Freemasonry under Philippine jurisdiction. Other contributions The first labor union, the Union Obrera Democratico Filipina was founded by Isabelo de los Reyes, a mason. In 1902, May 1, Dr. Dominador Gomez led the first Philippine Labor Day. Act. No. 1818 was passed 6 years later declaring May 1 Labor day. Gomez was a mason too. Bishop Gregorio Aglipay, founder of the Philippine Independence Church was a Mason. The Katipunan took control of many of the Roman Catholic Churches and gave it to the Aglipayan Church. The Americans gave it back. Pres. Carlos P. Garcia paid tribute to the Masonic fraternity. “I cannot help but take cognizance of the great and noble work which your grand fraternity had done and is still doing for freedom of thought and conscience, for democracy and for equality. In our country and in the U.S., members of your brotherhood led in the fight for the sacrosanct cause of liberty, equality and fraternity. The late Rafael Salas, the brilliant Executive Secretary of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos who resigned because he cannot stand the abuses was a member of the Order of Demolay, a Masonic fraternity for young men. Salas became the head of the Population Control of the United Nations. During the years of Marshal Law, Sen. Jose Diokno, a mason fought fearlessly against the evils of the Marcos regime. He was imprisoned with Sen. Benigno Aquino and accused of being too friendly to the NPA but contributed much to the nationalistic cause. Justice Calixto Zaldivar stood pat on his principles defying the dictatorship. He also was a mason. At the EDSA revolution, Worshipful Master Col. Tirzo Gador who was the provincial commander of Cagayan at that time led one hundred Cagayanos in defense of the rebellion. The so-called “Cavaliers” composed of Masons surrounded Gen. Rene Cruz, Senior Warden of Araw Lodge No. 18 in Camp Crame. Past Grand Master Rosendo Herrera - together with his family - defied tanks in that glorious EDSA experience. Past Grand Master Reynato S. Puno, Deputy Minister of Justice, met with Senator Jovito Salonga when Justice Estelito Mendoza was nowhere to be found. MW Teodoro M. Kalaw, past Grand Master of the Philippines observed: “In these days of peace and goodwill, under a government that neither condemns nor persecutes, but rather encourages and helps those who work for the benefit and progress of humanity, Masonry which is a universal institution to which many honest men belong, irrespective of religion, race or nationality, will be able to teach the Filipinos that the ideal life is that in which nobody interferes with the beliefs of others; in which everybody may profess the ideas that each considers best, if within the law; in which everyone is free to adore his God in his own way; in which all may practice as they deem advisable the commandment of “Love they neighbor as thyself; charity towards the needy, tolerance and humility towards the poor, justice and truth towards all; in which there is no hatred, but love, no division of classes, but fraternal cooperation, no monopolies for the few, but opportunities for everybody; and in which all will understand that morality is not expressed in words, or even in thoughts, but in daily deeds, in every industrial, commercial, agricultural activity, in every phase, in short, in human existence.” Even today, Masons are working for the preservation of our freedom, equality, unity and peace. Truly, the words “Masonry is in the heart of great men among nations” was upheld. Perhaps if more Masons were involved in our Government and Filipino Communities abroad, our dream of unity will be hastened. But many seem to be content with following the blind rather than leading them.