Headquarters Letter Issued by the National President October, 2009 Past Issues

New Hodson Book Published

The Theosophical Publishing House has published a 2-volume collection of all the known articles of the well-known theosophist, Geoffrey Hodson. The compilation has more than 400 articles that cover a period of more than 50 years. It is compiled by John and Elizabeth Sell, and edited by them together with Dr. Roselmo Doval-Santos.

For more information, the reader may refer to the website of the book: http://theosophy.ph/sharinglight.html.

Golden Link Now a College

The Golden Link School is now Golden Link College with the opening of its college department with two course offerings: Bachelor of Secondary Education and Bachelor of Elementary Education. The first batch of college students consists of 12 freshmen and 7 sophomore students. Most of them have applied for scholarship grants as they mostly come from very poor families. There were many other applicants who applied but did not meet the minimum entrance qualifications of Golden Link.

The total enrollment for school year 2009-2010 has risen to 432 students, which is about 32% higher than the previous year of 326. Of these, 58 are in preschool, 219 in elementary, 136 in high school and 19 in college.

Last year, the College received donations from the TOS USA and Kern Foundation totalling US$$74,613.86. It has also received donations from the French NGO, ASMAE, for the computer laboratory of the college department, totalling 20 computers with internet and network connections. Kern Foundation has again offered to give a matching grant equivalent to what the TOS USA will be able to raise this 2009 up to US$20,000. The donations from the TOS USA and Kern Foundation will be used for the establishment of a new four-story building that will house the assembly hall, the canteen, the library and additional classrooms.

For more news and photos of Golden Link College, please see http://theosophy.ph/glcnews.html.

Next National Convention in Bacolod

The next national convention will be held in Bacolod City with the theme "The Role of the TSP in Effecting Fundamental Social Change" on November 20-22, 2009. The venue will be the Quiet Place in Bago City, and will be hosted by the Bacolod Lodge, under the presidencys of Mrs. Susana Cruz. The convention will be preceded by a retreat on Nov. 21 to be conducted by Dr. Roselmo-Doval Santos, National Vice President of the TS in the Philippines. There will be symposia on the strategic directions of the work of the TS, plus a workshop on specific plans by the lodges and clusters. A public lecture is also scheduled on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, at 5:00pm on "Molding Our Own Destiny" by Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., National President.

Typical room in the Quiet Place, and its pond

Those who will be attending should notify the Bacolod Lodge on their arrival schedule so that they can be fetched from the airport or from the pier. Bacolod has a new airport which is quite far from the city. The contact number of Mrs. Susana Cruz is 034-7310010.

Bacolod to Open New School

Next school year, Bacolod Lodge will establish a new school named Lumen School, a project of Herbie Foundation, a family foundation of Donato and Susana Cruz. This will be the third school opened by the Lodge, the first being Besant School, and the second is Rainbow Play Center. Lumen School will open a preschool next June 2010, and will progressively open elementary and high school classes in the succeeding years. It is envisioned to be a college in the future.

This year, the Bacolod Lodge has sent two teachers to Golden Link College to be trained for one year after which they will take charge of the Lumen School in Bacolod.

This is the architect's perspective of the Lumen Preschool Building which is currently under construction.

Vismin and Luzon Federation Conferences, 2009

The 2009 Visayas-Mindanao Federation Conference was hosted by the Cebu Lodge in Cebu City last May 1-3, 2009 at the Holy Family Retreat House, Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City. The first day was devoted to a retreat. Eleven new members were inducted which later formed their own study group, the coordinator of which is Letty Lim. A public lecture was scheduled on April 30 on "The Ageless Wisdom in Daily Living" by Vic Hao Chin, Jr.

The Luzon Federation Conference of 2009 was held at the BFAR Training Center in Munoz City, Nueva Ecija, last May 22-24, 2009. It was hosted by Munoz Lodge, one of the oldest lodges of the TS in the Philippines. The theme was "Service and the Theosophical Life."

Below are photos of the two conferences:

Group photo of the VisMin Federation Conference in Cebu City

Bebot Rodil of Godea Lodge giving a talk

New members being inducted by the National President. Eleven new members signed up during the conference.

Group photo of the Luzon Federation conference at Munoz, Nueva Ecija

Bohol Buys Lot for Future School

The Bohol Lodge has initiated the purchase of a 1.1 hectare land in Bohol which will be the site of a future theosophical school. It is located in the border of Tagbilaran and Cortes, and is about 15 minutes from the city center of Tagbilaran. The lot was bought with funding assistance from Golden Link College. The lodge also envisions that the site will also be a future retreat center. Mrs. Cora Ponteres, Lodge President, has enrolled to obtain units in Education to enable her to take the Licensure Exam for Teachers.

Cora Ponteres, Bohol Lodge President, (in white cap at right) and Boni Quirog (with blue shirt at left) visit the lot that will be the future site of a theosophical school in Bohol.

In the meantime, the Bohol Lodge is now on its fourth year in issuing out a weekly column on Theosophy in one of the major local newspapers, the Bohol Standard. Below is one of the recent articles featuring an article by Radha Burnier, the international President. The Lodge has also began to put out weekly announcements of the meetings.

The Bohol Lodge has sustained for four years a weekly column on Theosophy in one of the newspapers in Bohol.

Two New Lodges Chartered

The International Headquarters has approved the chartering of two study groups into lodges: The Wisdom Seekers Lodge and the Toril Lodge. The Wisdom Seekers Lodge meets at the Plaridel Masonic Temple in Ermita, Manila and is headed by Laida Dangan. Toril Lodge meets at Toril, Davao City, and is headed by Jun Aling.

Some officers and members of several lodges and study groups in Southern Mindanao. Seated at the back, third from right, is Jun Aling, the President of the newly chartered Toril Lodge. In front is Cris Sumajit, organizer of the new study group in General Santos. Second from left is Nene Tan, President of Maharlika Lodge of Davao City.

General Santos Study Group

A new study group in General Santos has been formed and being coordinated by Cris Sumajit, former President of the Maharlika Lodge in Davao City. General Santos is one of the most progressive cities in Mindanao. The study group was organized during a visit of National President Vic Hao Chin, Jr., who conducted lectures in the colleges and universities in General Santos and other cities in Mindanao.

New Study Group in southern Metro Manila

Through the initiative of Justice Flery Ruth P. Romero, president of Soliman-Raja Lodge, a new study group in Paranaque-Las Pinas-Muntinlupa area of Metro Manila was established and is called the Logos Study Group. It meets every 1st and 3rd Saturday at Room 909, 9th Floor, ALPAP Building II, Investment Road (also known as Daang Hari), Alabang at 4:00 pm.

Lectures on Transformative Education in Mindanao

More than ten universities and schools in Mindanao invited the GLC President, Vic Hao Chin Jr., to speak on "Transformative Education and Character Building" to their faculty and students last July 8-11 and October 9-11, 2009. They were Notre Dame of Marbel University (Koronadal), Mindanao State University (General Santos), Polytechnic College of Davao del Sur (Digos), Cor Jesu College (Digos), University of Immaculate Conception (Davao), Philippine Women's College (Davao), Rizal Special Education Learning Center (Davao), Magsaysay Memorial Colleges (General Santos), Ramon Magsaysay Central Elementary School (Digos), Shalom Crest Wizard Academy (General Santos), and Cabantian National High School (Davao City). Many of the institutions requested for future seminars or follow up sessions.

The Department of Education of the province of Sarangani also convened all the principals and superintendents at Alabel to attend the lecture of Vic on Self-Transformative Education and Character Building. Four of the schools immediately requested if they can have the Self-Transformation Seminar for their faculty.

Vic Hao Chin Jr. speaking before faculty and students of Notre Dame University in Marbel, South Cotabato.

At the Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges at General Santos City

At the Philippine Women's College, Davao City

At Alabel, Sarangani Province, attended by the principals and superintendents of the public schools of the entire province

Trauma Healing in Baguio and Mindanao

Facilitators of the Theosophical Society helped in dealing with the trauma of war and typhoon in northern Mindanao and in Baguio City.

On October 24-25, Bimboy and Jo Penaranda traveled to Baguio City to train facilitators who have been helping victims of the recent typhoon Pepeng. About 28 volunteers joined the training, 11 of whom were from the NGO Tublay from Itogon, others were journalists, nuns and other volunteers. It was organized by Cafe by the Ruins in Baguio, which also engaged actively in relief and rescue efforts. It was held at Orchidarium, Baguio City.

Bimboy Penaranda had previously assisted the Godea Lodge facilitators of Iligan City to handle the traumatized victims of the recent armed conflict in Lanao del Norte, especially from the massacre site of Lapayan. He and Bebot Rodil also conducted a training on self-awareness processing to volunteers of other organizations (NGOs and schools such as MSU-IIT, Balay Mindanaw and Xavier University) who were assisting the victims.

Ambassador Soliven Speaks on
Universal Brotherhood and UNESCO

Ambassador Preciosa Soliven, the Secretary General of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, spoke on "UNESCO and Interfaith: Brotherliness for All" at the TS Headquarters last August 23, 2009. In her message, she spoke of the importance of religious tolerance and understanding and the work that UNESCO is doing in order to bring this about.

TS Sweden Head Visits RP

Pertti Spets, the General Secretary of the Theosophical Society in Sweden, visited the Theosophical Society in the Philippines last June 27, 2009. He spoke on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali at the Rizaliana Lodge. He wrote later that he felt very impressed with the education work in the Philippines. Below is the photo of Pertti Spets with the Administrator, Rekha Nahar.

Pertti Spets with Rekha Nahar, Golden Link College Administrator

Vic Hao Chin's New Zealand Lecture Tour

TSP National President Vic Hao Chin Jr. was invited to a lecture tour in New Zealand from September 1 to 17, 2009. Hosted by the TS in New Zealand, he conducted a Self-Transformation Seminar in Auckland, followed by a Facilitator's Training Seminar as in Auckland. He was asked to deliver two talks on theosophical work during the National Council meeting of the TS in New Zealand. The lodges of central region of New Zealand gathered together in Wanganui and arranged for a series of five talks in three days time. This led to a subsequent workshop of the group that planned for various programs and activities, such as the holding of a family camp this October, the holding of three Self-Transformation Seminars, and the support to the educational work of the Theosophical Society. In addition, Vic traveled and gave talks at Tauranga, Dunedin and Christchurch.

Vic at the Christchurch Theosophical Building where he delivered a public lecture.

Participants to the Self-Transformation Seminar in Auckland, New Zealand

Vic with the National President of New Zealand TS, Warwick Keys (right) and his wife, Pamela (center) who is also the Editor of Section's magazine Theosophia.

Youth Study Group Formed

A new study group composed of young people has been formed last March, 2009. Called the Chiron Study Group, the group meets every Tuesday evening at 6pm at the headquarters of the Theosophical Society. Its President is Dr. Andrew Navarro. Its current studies involves the chapters of the manual: The Ageless Wisdom.

Krishnamurti Study Group Resumes

The Krishnamurti Study Group has resumed its meetings every Wednesday at 5:30 pm at the national headquarters. Dr. Art Perez of the University of the Philippines continues to be the coordinator of the gathering. It had been meeting for several years but temporarily suspended its meeting last year. The group regularly shows videos of talks of Krishnamurti followed by interactive discussions.

Self-Transformation Seminar

The national headquarters conducted a Self-Transformation Seminar for the public last August 8, 9 and 15, 2009. This was the second public seminar conducted during the year at the headquraters.

Gerard Brennan Visits TSP

Gerard Brennan trying to dance Tinikling with Dr. Gloria Tariga, Dean of the College of Education of Golden Link College. At left is Mrs. Eiren Galang, the coordinating teacher of the Basic Education Department.

Gerard Brennan, TS member in Australia, has returned again to the Philippines to teach in Golden Link College for two weeks. Last October 11, 2009, he delivered a lecture at the national headquarters on "Theosophy: The Bridge to Wisdom." This is the third time that Gerard has visited the Philippines. He was here during the Indo-Pacific Conference in 2007. Then he returned in 2008 to teach for two weeks at the Golden Link School. He plans to return again next year to teach.

Past Issues:

2008 December

2008 April

2008 January

2007 August