Louie Blake Saile Sarmiento, author

DUMAGUETE, PHILIPPINES - The Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Dumaguete, once again, participated during the 119th Philippine Independence Day Wreath-laying Ceremony in lieu of the "Odd Fellows Memorial Day" held every June to honor deceased brothers and sisters especially members who sacrificed their lives during World War I and World War II. Evolving from the traditions of the craft guilds in England on or before the year 1700, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) was imported to the United States in 1819 by members from England. From the United States, the Fraternity first spread in the Philippine Islands in 1872 when it was still a colony of Spain. When the revolutionaries unilaterally declared Philippine independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, there were at least 10,000 Odd Fellows from the United States stationed in the Philippines who formed the "Odd Fellows Association of Manila". After the Filipino-American war ended, the So...

CRAFT GUILDS AND JOURNEYMEN ASSOCIATIONS: EARLY ROOTS OF ENGLISH FRATERNAL ORDERS By Louie Blake S. Sarmiento Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology Juris Doctor - III The origin of fraternity , as a principle, is as old as humankind. Humans always have that natural desire to associate with each other for a common purpose – either for social, philosophical, political, religious, charitable, mutual-benefit, or business purposes. Fraternities or so-called brotherhoods existed since the early civilizations - first among sworn kinsmen, Roman collegias, Orders of Knighthood, craft guilds, box clubs and fraternal lodges. Although ordinary men did not yet have a recognized “right to association” when absolute monarchy ruled the world, fraternity as an idea existed in so-called ‘secret societies’ or ‘secret brotherhoods’- where the working class, middle-class and even some aristocrats fraternized with each other and practiced early democracy. Early Engl...

August 28, 2013 DUMAGUETE CITY, PHILIPPINES - The Odd Fellows of Dumaguete City, Philippines, celebrates the 2013 Hibalag Booth Festival of Silliman University as the "Most Outstanding Organization" (TOP 1) among 71 organizations recognized by Silliman University, during the year 2012-2013. Ranking top 3 last year, the fraternity is consistent in being one of the outstanding organizations recognized by Silliman University. Once looked-down upon by some people because of its down-to-earth character during its early revival, the fraternity now has gained a credible status.  Older members still remind its members to stay humble and just focus on doing good deeds and just  avoid competition with other organizations for the sake of ranking.  Members were surprised to find out that their lodge was ranked number 1 in the list of organizations because none of them really aimed for it.  The rank was simply achieved because of the vast humanitarian projec...

August 28, 2012 DUMAGUETE CITY, PHILIPPINES – Just three years after the revival of the Odd Fellows fraternity in the country, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Dumaguete City ranked Top 3 organization among more than 60 organizations recognized by Silliman University. The certificate and plaque was received by Sister Sheema B. Bajana, Noble Grand of Samahang Sillimanian Lodge no.3, during the founder’s week celebration. Nearly 40 members of the Lodge gathered for a fellowship dinner at the booth.

April 28-30, 2012 LOS BAŇOS, LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES – Kapatirang Marilag Lodge no.5 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was successfully instituted with 20 charter members.   Representatives from Kapatirang Watchdog Lodge no.1 of Dumaguete City, Kapatirang Midnanaon Lodge no.2 of Cagayan de Oro City, Samahang Sillimanian Lodge no.3 of Silliman University in Dumaguete City and Kapatirang Marilag Lodge no.4 of Caloocan City were there to help institute the lodge and attend the Odd Fellows membership educational seminar. It was a successful event. In Friendship, Love and Truth!

January 29, 2012 CALOOCAN CITY , MANILA , PHILIPPINES – Kapatirang Golden Luzon Lodge no.4 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was successfully instituted with 36 charter members. Sovereign Grand Master Delmar Burns, Deputy Sovereign Grand Master Charles Renninger, Past Sovereign Grand Master Paul Cuminale and Past Sovereign Grand Master George Glover III from the United States was in attendance as well as George Poon, Marie Poon and Virginia Menguito of Golden West Lodge no. 232 in San Francisco, California and brothers and sisters representing Kapatirang Watchdog Lodge no.1 and Samahang Sillimanian Lodge no.3 in Dumaguete City and Kapatirang Mindanaon Lodge no.2 in Cagayan de Oro City. The initiatory degree and first degree was conferred by the degree team representing the 3 existing Lodges composed of Brother Rex Boyson Olpoc, Brother Louie Blake Sarmiento, Brother Armel Cabale, Brother Paulo Pocholo Grande, Brother Antonio Torres, Brother Michael Veloso and Br...

September 17, 2011 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...