HISTORY of the FILCAN CABLETOW

It was in the early 70s when thirteen Filipino masons, Pablo Balatbat, Teofilo Labo, Rudy Zalameda, Luis "Lou" Gana, Louis de Juan, Jimmy Ham, Jimmy Meneses, Florante Reyes, Angelo Nepomuceno, Tony Sanvictores, Willie Beltran, Moises Velasco and Roger Jose, met accidentally at different Masonic lodges and on various occasions. They got acquainted with one another and to keep the acquaintance alive, they thought of holding fellowship with their families regularly twice a year to celebrate Christmas and have a picnic to enjoy the sun in the summer time. Spearheading these activities was the late Luis "Lou" Gana who had that lofty ambition to establish a Lodge composing of Filipino Masons. With this goal in mind, these masons stood the rigors of time to keep the group alive.

It became not only as an "information centre" for Filipino masons but also a channel through which other Filipino masons from other places in North America revive their fraternal ties. Visiting Masonic dignitaries from the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, Filipino Masonic lodges, brethren from neighbouring Montreal and the United States and elsewhere across the globe were warmly welcomed through this group. It also has become a place where a brother mason can find comfort and a helping hand. The thirteen always made effort to be there, visiting the sick, comforting families in times of bereavement, helping a brother update his dues card, endorsing a brother or a friend who wants to join or affiliate with a Lodge upon arrival in Toronto.

After a decade the group subsequently called themselves the "Filipino Masons of Metropolitan Toronto," with no officers, no charter or by-laws to speak of but functioning with a semblance of order and noble intentions - members linked stronger by a mystic friendship in the Masonic tradition.

In July of 1994, eleven of them gathered at the house of Roger Jose to finally elect their officers as a prelude to registering the organization with the Ministry of Consumers and Commercial Relations. Elected officers were Sam Rabanillo as Chairman of the Board; President - Roger Jose; EVP - Nap Rosario; VPs - Efren Recuenco and Jerry Rabanillo; Secretary - Angelo Nepomuceno; Treasurer - Moises Velasco; Auditor - Teofilo Labo; Liaison Officer - Johnny Chua and PRO - Rudy Zalameda. Official name of the group was either FilCan or Acacia. Subsequently, they filed an application and the signatories to the petition were the thirteen-chartered members. The initiative did not prosper, as the ministry people wanted them to change the name "Cabletow" to something that the general public can understand. Frustrated, the group satisfied themselves and gets to meet regularly as an informal club.

A year thereafter membership grew by leaps and bounds. The early part of 1995 marked the influx of 20 new breed of dedicated members, 19 Filipinos and 1 Canadian such as VWB Noli Sagadraca, VWB Fernando Manas, WB Rolly Castaneda, WB Gene V. Sicat, WB Cito Bacalso, WB Aurelio Sienes Jr., WB Jesse Hombrebueno, Bros. Del Cruz, Jr., Benjie Francisco, Joey Ferrer, Leo Lapidario, Conrad Belisario, Roland Bautista, Elpidio Calla, Vic Abaggu, Noel Telan, Manny Farin, Rod Agris, Andy Peñaflor and Tom Seager.

With this addition in the roster of quality members, the chartered members aspired harder to reach great new heights to become a truly legitimate club of Freemasons.

A couple of months later a general membership meeting was called to elect the first set of officers to hold office under the "FILCAN CABLETOW Association of Toronto." Elected were the following: President - Roger Jose; Executive Vice President - Gene Sicat; VP Central - Tom Seager, VP East - Del Cruz, Jr., VP West - Jerry Rabanillo; Treasurer - Conrad Belisario; Secretary - Angelo Nepomuceno; Press Relations Officer - Rudy Zalameda and Auditor - Joey Ferrer. Elected members of the board were Noli Sagadraca, Nap Rosario, Roily Castaneda and Efren Recuenco.

Immediately after the election, plans and programs were made. The first and foremost in the agenda were to come up with a constitution and by-laws and see that the club is registered with the Ministry of Consumers and Commercial Relations as a non-profit and non-political service club. A core team was created to address these issues and Gene Sicat was selected to chair in the drafting of the Constitution, Tom Seager to follow-up the registration with the Ministry. At no point in time, the two started work hell bent of accomplishing the assigned task.

After a month the Constitution was ready and consultative meetings were held to finalize the draft. New names were chosen but without dropping "FilCan Cabletow" - Filipino Canadian Cabletow Service Club, FFilipino Canadian Association of Toronto and FilCan Cabletow Acacia Club. On October 30, 1995, the club celebrated a significant milestone in their journey to a full-pledged and legitimate club functioning under Canadian laws. Eventually it was recognized by the Grand Lodge of Canada in the province of Ontario as a club co-existing with many other Canadian Masonic clubs not classified as appendant.

In April 1996, the first formal induction of officers was held at the downtown Prim Rose Hotel. RWB Cecil Latchos, PDDGM, inducted the officers in a very unique and solemn manner. The rite was more like an installation sans the signs and masonic paraphernalia. Eyewitnesses were one in saying that it was a unique induction ceremony. Thereafter, at the ANCOM that followed in July, the Club hosted a hospitality room to welcome visitors, Filipinos as well as Canadians. It was also a venue to showcase our Philippine Masonic heritage. A complete set of Philippine Masonic paraphernalia was displayed. On hand to explain each jewel, apron, rod and charts for the lectures was WB Nap Rosario. The affair was a roaring success that the Club became known in the region overnight. Requests were pouring in that the Club should perform an exemplification of any of the three Masonic degrees.

Today, there are more than 100 Filipino and quite a number of Canadian brothers who are regular and transient members of the Club, which is better known in short as the "FILCAN CABLETOW".