DUMAGUETE CITY, PHILIPPINES – The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Kapatirang Watchdog Lodge no.1 and Samahang Sillimanian Lodge no.3, held a joint-installation of officers at Café Antonio Function Hall.

A total of 45 members attended the event. The installing officers were Brother Joseph Ian Parreno (Installing Past Grand), Louie Blake Sarmiento (Installing Noble Grand), Sister Maria Katrina Mercado (Installing Marshall), Sister Karmen Amparo Arenas (Installing Warden), Sister Frencille Tabaloc (Installing Secretary), Sister Christyriz Tolosa (Installing Treasurer) and Sister Rena Vey Flores (Installing Chaplain).

The officers installed for Kapatirang Watchdog Lodge no.1 were Brother Rex Boyson Olpoc (Noble Grand), Brother John Carlo Buhia (Vice Grand), Brother Anatoly Karpov Buss (Immediate Past Grand), Brother Kennith Misamis (Secretary), Brother Hener John Limbaga (Financial Secretary), Brother Eric Sanchez (Treasurer), Brother Answer Arquio (Warden), Brother Antonio Torres (Conductor), Brother Jesse Emmanuel Garcia (RSNG), Sister Christyriz Marietchen Tolosa (LSNG), Brother Rolando Martinez, Jr. (RSVG), Brother Joseph Ceriales (LSVG), Brother Armel Cabale (Chaplain), Brother Lemeul Culminas (Left Scene Supporter), Brother Willand Joe Uy (Right Scene Supporter), Brother Reiden Lopez (Color Bearer), Brother Adrian Mark Bonocan (Inside Guardian), Brother Matthew Guevara (Outside Guardian).

The officers installed for Samahang Sillimanian Lodge no.3 were Brother Paulo Pocholo Grande (Noble Grand), Sister Ivana Mae Canlas (Vice Grand), Brother Kahlil Reu Reyes (Past Grand), Sister Rochelle Cepe (Recording Secretary), Sister Sheila Lyn Francisco (Financial Secretary), Sister Maelene Bastillada (Treasurer), Brother Deo Somoza (Warden), Brother Genesis Ege ( RSNG), Sister Abigail Mendoza (LSNG), Sister Fionna Mae Chuang (RSVG), Sister Cherry Mae Gumapac (LSVG), Brother Gil Earl Galileo Bation (Chaplain), Brother Sheema Bajana (Conductor), Brother Jerzon Cañolas (Color Bearer), Brother Don Carlo Olpoc (Right Scene Supporter) and Brother Raymund Fabillar (Left Scene Supporter. The first one year and several months since Odd Fellowship was revived in the Philippines was not just all about success. There were several challenges and obstacles outside and inside the Order. There were some misunderstandings and even conflict of ideas in terms of how to run the organization but it is a good news that the organization is now in a state of harmony and working towards sustainable development. The formation of the third lodge within the city is a vision by the past leaders of Kapatirang Watchdog Lodge no.1 to be able to maximize what the Order can do in the City. 

The first one year and several months since Odd Fellowship was revived in the Philippines was not just all about success. There were several challenges and obstacles outside and inside the Order. There were some misunderstandings and even conflict of ideas in terms of how to run the organization but it is a good news that the organization is now in a state of harmony and working towards sustainable development. The formation of the third lodge within the city is a vision by the past leaders of Kapatirang Watchdog Lodge no.1 to be able to maximize what the Order can do in the City.

“The aim here is not to tear apart the Odd Fellows in our City but to maximize what we can do as an Order. We have approximately 86 members within the city. With one lodge, not all are working for the Order. With distributed and delegated leadership, we can accomplish more. Usually groups that have about 30 members will no longer be that effective because some people will feel useless because they hold no responsibilities in the lodge. As a result, these members will either stop attending meetings or even leave the organization. It is very important that we imply to our members that they are important and they are needed. Kapatirang Watchdog Lodge no.1 will focus on the activities of the Dumaguete City community while Samahang Sillimanian Lodge no.3 will focus on answering the needs and attending activities in Silliman University community. We will soon open another lodge in Negros Oriental StateUniversity community so that there will also Odd Fellows there who can make a difference. But these lodges will also conduct joint activities every year so everyone from different lodges in the City will still know each other” said Brother Louie Sarmiento.

The opening of Samahang Lodge no.3 is also an answer to the time differences of members who are already professionals and graduates who do not have that much free time and those who are still college students and have more free time. With more than one lodge, professional and graduate members can set a mutually-convenient meeting date while college student members will also have their own mutually-convenient meeting date.

After the public installing ceremony and institution of Samahang Sillimanian Lodge no.3, the members viewed a re-arranged version of an Odd Fellows video that contains clips gathered from various Odd Fellow videos found on the internet. Afterwards, brothers and sisters enjoyed a small dinner fellowship. “The event is full of enthusiasm and excitement. The brothers and sisters are willing to continue the search for lifelong friendship, love and truth” said brother Anatoly Karpov Buss.

It was a success!