DUMAGUETE AND THE 106th ANNUAL COMMUNICATION

The Diplomats did not embark from London's Winfield House.

Nor did they booked a Transatlantic flight from Marseille.

For the first time, delegates from more than 350 Masonic Lodges converged in Dumaguete, arriving by plane, motor vehicles and boats for the 106th ANCOM.

I came via a delayed PR 2355 to be dispensated with the authority of wearing the apron and circular jewel of a Junior Grand Lecturer and, with our District Deputy Grand Master, added a milestone to the history for our Lodge.

Nothing more than that although an adventure in Siquijor is in the works, and perhaps some Utagaki time too. 

At the Grand Master's Night, chunks of lechong baka at baboy hurriedly torn off from the roasting pit by a hungry horde were washed down with a sea of warm beer, and there was enough to be smuggled out to fuel two nights of debauchery at the Heart Hotel where Salome catered to a basketball team that was already pickled with free whiskey from the Grand Master's Banquet.  

The night after, I finally got what I came for: coagulating humba and and lukewarm batchoy from Eden's Kandingan, a serving of bland Dumaguete Express from Lab-as, a tiny slice of Sans Rival from its outlet at the Port of Dumaguete, and an amazing spread of chicken inasal, pork tocino, chorizo de Bacolod and talaba from Rizal Boulevard.       

The night after, the sleep deprived and hung-over delegation from Nueva Ecija East and Aurora walked through the Dumaguete Belfry, the main gate of Siliman University, Mt. Kaladias No. 91's Masonic temple, and the Negros Oriental provincial capitol. 

There is not much to see in Dumaguete but there must be a lot in Siquijor.

There were no bike tour packages in Dumaguete and Siquijor but I had two pre-ANCOM rides in Korokan and CLSU, and Tuesday's tiim na manok to send me off...