The CABLETO\ry vol.70 No.3 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1 993 I Srulpplrve oF ToDAy MtxED wtru NATtvE BoATs oN TtiE Pesrc Rwrn Cnscos, HousE Boers, oN THE Pnsrc RwEg Source: Sunday Tribune 1940 THE CABLETOW Contents Editorial Focus: Manila through the Eyes of the World's Great City Planners Reflections from the GM: The Fourth Ruffian PGM's Corner: MW Clinton F. Carlson U.S. Visitation of GM 'The Ladies of Filipino Masons of America NEWS Hiram Lodge No. 88 lnkq Pact with DENR DENR - Masonic Tree Planting Pro. ject Launched Free Cataract and Harelip Operation Project Launched' Dapitan Lodge No. 21: Growing Stronger Out-of-School Youths Finish Cosmetology Course Books for a Cause... Masons for a Better Philippines Bro. M.H. del Pilar Day Masonic District No. 9-A Sponsors Choral Concert Highlights of the Tri-Discon Bernardo Neri.Memorial Lodge Puts the Year's Theme to Action CSC Honors Four Brother Masons CA Confirms Two Masons Grand Lodge Extends Aid to Crippled Children VW ManuelVatencia Ko, PDDGM FEATURES Historical Notes: People-Masons in the Supreme Courts of Various Countries Lodge-A Tour of Duty that led to the Creation of a Lodge My Father and l: WB,Masons, PM My Father as I Know Him The Needs of a Lodge Q&A: Masonic Education. A Shriner Shines: Noble Rene C. Damian Masonic lnformation: The Masonic Hospitalfor Crippled Children The Essence of Masonic Visits to Senior Members Length of the Cabletow Did You Know... The Laying of the Cornerstone of the Capitol SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1 993 THE CABLETOW Editorial The Mason and His The Editorial Board Environment ABELARDO L. APORIADERA, JB. Editor in Chief or the past four decades, FreeMasons have ENRIQUE L. LOCSIN tirelessly engaged themselves in nationalistic Managing Editor causes. ln the first decade, there was the from colonial BAUL A, LAMAN struggle for freedom oppression; Features Editor then, in the second decade, the transition from a Commonwealth to a Republic. This was followed by a JOEL P. PALACIOS period of reconstruction and totalitarian rule. News Editor KARL U. MEGERLE As we enter t he last stage of the 20th century, we continue Photy'Layout Editor to see our brethren involved in the restoration of democracy and in the current movementto preserve our environment. lt RAMON B. PHOTACIO pressing concern now keeps blue lodges Circulation Manager is this that the of our fraternity very busy. HEYNOLO S FAJARDO Consultant The importance of protecting our environment cannot be REYNATO S. PUNO Consultant overemphasized. lt is something that should not be taken lightly. Our rivers, bays, and seas are polluted and life therein is slowly being suffocated. Our air is thick with smog; our The CABLETOW is pub- forests are depleted and can no longer provide us with their lished bimonbly by the Grand protective greenery. ln brief , our environment is deteriorat- Lodge of Free & Accepted Ma- sons of fre Philippines with ing and if we do not take action would eventually die.. principal office at the Plaridel Masonic Temple, 1440 San ln this issue of the Cabletow, we would like our brethren Marcelino St,, Mefo Manlla, D- to relive the nostalgic beauty and splendor of the Pasig River 2801, Reentered as second class mail matter at he Manila Post at the height of its splendor-when it was a beautiful and Otfioe on June 16, 1962. thriving river. Pasig River isasymbol of ourenvironment and a part of our history. lf it dies, we, along with everything else in our environemnt, dies with it. lf it lives, so willwe. ln this issue, we will highlight the Masonic concern of our different blue lodges for our environment. Let us remember, we should not only plant trees, but we should also make sure that these trees that we plant should grow strong and healthy and be uoeful to our environment. The cause for our environment must be sustained, not just for this decade, but for the rest of the 21st century and after. SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1 993 THE CABLETOW Focus Manila Through the Eyes of the World's Great City Planners by Bro. Joel P. Palacios, Walana Lodge No. 13 ne of the world's greatest said, at the turn of the century, that architects and city planners he wanted to turn Manila into a, "Pearl envisioned to turn Manila of the Orient." Burnham, who was into "a unified city equalto credited forthe monumental beauty of the greatest of the western Washington, personally designed world with the unparalleled and price- such landmarks in the United States less addition of a tropical setting." capital as the Union Station and City Post Office. Daniel Hudson Burnham, the archi- tectural genius who introduced the art ln keeping pace with the national of city planning in the United States, development and in working persist- SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER 1 993 THE CABLETOW ently and consciously toward an or- named Dewey Boulevard in honor of ganic plan, Manila may really hope to the American Admiral who led the become the adequate expression of American f leet that defeated the Span- the destiny of the Filipino people as ish armada in a battle in Manila Bay at well as an enduring witness to the the turn of the century. lt is now called etficient services of America in the Roxas Boulevard. Philippines," Burnham said in his re- port on 28 June 1905 to William Taft, "This boulevard. with roadways, the U.S. Secretary of War. tramways, bridle path, rich plantations and broad sidewalks should be avail- Burnham who was, at that time, the able for all classes of people in all soils doyen of American architects and city of conveyances and so well shaded planners, was sent by Taft to the Phil- with palms, bamboo, and mangoes as ippines "to make plans forthe beautifi- to f urnish protection f rom the elements cation of Manila and for laying out a at alltimes. lts seaward side should be capital in the mountains in the fine planted so as to interrupt occasionally climate of Baguio." the view of the sea and, by thus, adding somewhat of a mystery, enhance the After a brisk tour of 40 days in the value of the stretch of ocean and sky," country, Burnham culled a continuous Burnham said. parkway should be built from the bayfront at Luneta extending all the On the Pasig River, Burnham pro- way ru Cavite. After it was built, it was posed that shaded drives be built on 4 SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER 1 993 THE CABLETOW the banks of the river "beginning as practicaldepth and provided with ma- close to town as possible and continu- sonry banks. ing up the river." "So treated, they will offer an eco- nomica! and unobjectionable means of He said the nanow canals or esteros freight handling that will greatly con- ramifying throughout Manila can be tribute to the prosperity of the city," put to good use despite their stagnant Burnham said. "The estero, it should water and unsanitary mud banks. be remembered, is not only an eco- nomical vehicle for tl3e transaction of "For transportation purposes, they public business; it can become, as in are of the utmost value, and inspite of Venice, an element of beauty. Both the serious problems involved in beauty and convenience dictate a very properly widening, bridging, and main- liberal policy toward the development taining them, they should be preserved," of these valuable waterways." Burnham said. On the Pasig River itself, Burnham He said esteros play an important said, every effort should be rnade to role in the lives of people in many cities establish an open quay along the in the orient and, to develop the system riverbanks inthe business part of town some should be filled up but others so that'river steamers can make their should be widened and dredged to landings. SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER 1 993 THE CABLETOW "Large manufacturing houses can effect of such a Hall of Justice, magnifi- serve their own interests without incon- cent in outward form and aspect, com- venience to the public by building river pelling an attitude of respect, if not slips or branches of the estero system inspiring a feeling of awe, could be in their own grounds, as suggested for cheaply secured at large sacrifices of the proposed post office," Burnham space and money. maintained. Through his proposal, the court- As proposed by Burnham, the Post houses, including the Supreme Court, Office building at Plaza LaMon was were built several blocks away from designed to allowthe easy watertrans- the Post Office in what is now called portation of mails. Padre Faura Street. He brushed aside the American ln addition to the Pasig River, the practice of grouping the Hall of Justice esteros, the Post Office, and the Hallof and other courthouses with the post Justice, Burnham also spoke of the office which, he said, was unfitting. beauty of the old walls of lntramuros, the railway station, the official resi- Burnham's proposal spoke of his dences, the social clubs, public baths, sentiments. He said in his report: "The boat clubs, school cenlers, and the post office is a business machine af- construction of a hotel north of Luneta fecting public interests. lts character, Park. That hotel came to be known as consonant with ils practical necessi- the world-famous Manila Hotel. ties, is commercial. The Hall of Justice, on the contrary, far from being solely a Burnham envisioned the hotel to business machine, represents senti- become a strong attraction to draw to mentally and practically the highest Manila every traveller in the Orient, function of civilized society. Upon the "With threesidesfronting on parks and authority of law depend the lives and boulevards, and the fourth sidef ronting property of all citizens, and the build- the sea, the hotel site offers every ings which constitute the visible ex- possibility for a world-famous resoil," pression of the law, its symbol of dig- he said.