By: Bro. Antonio S. Tiong III, Centennial Master Councilor
Jose Abad Santos Chapter No. 1
It has been a year since the first case of Novel Coronavirus 2019 was first detected in the Philippines. From that moment on, the country slowly closed its boarders to reduce the transmission of the virus.
There were several strangers who have knocked at the doors of our order, unfamiliar faces who wants to join DeMolay with whom has the dedication and the passion to meet all the requirements of belonging to us. But, one day before they will be conferred, the government has issued a nationwide lockdown pushing Jose Abad Santos Chapter No.1, Loyalty Chapter No.3, General Douglas MacArthur Chapter No.12, and Luzon Chapter No.79 to postpone its regional conferral. The new date of the conferral was set to April 2020 right after the first lockdown; Not a single thought in mind of the active DeMolays that the lockdown will continue for a very long time, maybe because of the optimism to welcome new brothers to the order.
A continuous effort was made by the different chapters just to be in touch with our future brothers. Nine months have passed, a circular from the Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay of the Republic of the Philippines (SCOD) states that there will be a limited conferral that will commence on January 16 (Saturday), and January 17 (Sunday), 2021, but it will be done in an online manner. Jose Abad Santos Chapter scrambled ideas on how the conferral will commence. Majority of the active DeMolays of our chapter does not reside in Metro Manila, hence making it more challenging to conduct an online conferral.
With the newly forged friendship with Cagayan Valley Chapter No.35, the Centennial Master Councilor of Jose Abad Santos Chapter No.1 has an idea to conduct the first ever inter-regional conferral, and it was then presented to the advisory council of our chapter including Cagayan Valley Chapter No.35, and Loyalty Chapter No.3 whom we conducted the recent conferral with. Date has been set on January 16, 2021 (Saturday) with the theme “Camaraderie and Commitment: The DeMolay Way.” Rigorous planning has been made by the chapters in which Cagayan Valley Chapter No.35 was tasked to perform and video the DeMolay Drama alongside other actions required by the ritual. Antonio S. Tiong III executed the Father Talk, and Krizten Clein Guzman conducted the Ceremony of Lights. All will be presented during the conferral.
During the conferral, Centennial Master Councilors from the three chapters carry out the three major positions. Bro. Antonio S. Tiong III as the Master Councilor, Bro.Sean Nuevo as the Senior Councilor, and Bro. Krizten Clein Guzman as the Junior Councilor. The conferral was attended by fifty individuals from the National Capital Region, and Region II-A. Supreme Council dignitaries present are our very own Grand Master, Hon. Leg. Dad Adriano B. Durano III, Hon. Leg. Dad Floren L. Ambatali the Executive Officer of Region II-A, Hon. Dad. Giancarlo George V. Yorobe the Executive Officer of NCR-North. On the other hand, National Congress dignitaries who attended were Brother Vince Edward Pintac the National Junior Councilor, and Brother Paolo T. Medina the Jurisdictional Master Councilor for Luzon. The conferral was an accomplishment, it was praised by the Grand Master as he delivered his closing remarks. There were some technical difficulties due to the unstable internet connection, but regardless of the slight complication, 16 newly initiated brethren were conferred to our order. Seven from Jose Abad Santos Chapter No.1, six from Cagayan Valley Chapter No.35, and three from Loyalty Chapter No.3.
