Dear Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Kappa Delta Sigma Sorority
– Alumni and Chapter Members, Fellow Human Beings,
These last two days have been by far, the heaviest I
have ever dealt with.
The decision to expel me and Brother Eric Jimenez from
the Kindred was very swift and without a doubt, bereft of any semblance of a
proper procedure and due process. Initially, I agreed to meet the Council of
Master Sigmans (CMS) on the 18th of this month in order seek
clarification and perhaps be given a chance to defend myself from whatever charge or accusation made against me, my
honor or person. However, seeing that the Sigman Scribe of Alumni already
posted on Facebook an official notice of our expulsion, the meeting set this
month would only be an exercise in futility.
Before going any
further with this letter, let me be perfectly clear that I have no intention to
seek any reconsideration from the decision of the CMS and neither am I inclined
to question the judgment rendered by the esteemed members of the CMS. The
purpose of this letter is to benefit the Members of the Kindred of Sages who
are not privy of what happened to me and Eric Jimenez and the violations we
allegedly committed against the Fraternity. The brethren
of Kappa Sigma should fear being the future victims of the whimsical procedures
and so called “due-process” being exhibited by a few members of the CMS.
Although it appears I have been deprived of my right to
due process, I have faith that there is still wisdom behind the CMS’ swift and
unilateral method of imposing the most severe penalty known to us. This faith I
have despite being illogical, is borne out of my absolute loyalty to the
Fraternity I once belonged to, the same Fraternity I once lead.
Simply put: The CMS was unfair, narrow minded and blind when it
passed judgment upon me as a brother and yet despite the crudeness and injustice,
I am still declaring my unmoving loyalty.
I never knew that hypocrisy in the practice of our
principles could be possible until yesterday when I received via facebook
messenger, the decision of the Alumni CMS. I am still looking for the exercise
of “Brotherhood of Equals” in the CMS’ procedures and processes until this day
and I have faith that objectivity was present when they passed judgment on me
and Bro. Eric.
Yesterday (October
10, 2015), during the brief conversation with the Sigman Herald of the Alumni
and the Sigman Scribe of the Alumni, I was informed that I was found guilty of
having a concurrent membership with another Fraternity – to be more specific,
the Free and Accepted Masons or the Brotherhood of Freemasonry. Suffice it to
say, my loyalty to the Kindred was questioned and later on I was found to have
been disloyal.
I was made a Kappa
Sigman in July of 1995 (Batch 95-E
Foundation Day) in UP San Fernando. I was recruited by Romeo “Kiko” Ducusin
Jr. and during the orientation; I was very fascinated with the 6 guiding
principles of the Fraternity and was actually enticed by the promise of an uncompromised
“free thinking” and the overflowing of free ideas within the Fraternity.
After the October 1,
1995 Typhoon “Mameng” UP San Fernando was washed away by Lahar. Because of the Diaspora
of UP students to other campuses the KS Alumni concluded that the UP Chapter
was already extinct. But the set of Alumni Corps at the time was wrong. I was
there with a handful of Brods and Sisses and we struggled to keep the Kindred
alive.
By the time UP moved
to Clark, KS/KDS already had 32 chapter members which was triple the number from
when I first set foot in UP. By 1997, KS/KDS was setting the trend in UP Clark
in terms of recruitment, projects, and other campus activities. The chapter
membership even reached over 40 members during my two terms as the Grand Lord
Sigman. It was during these periods that the relationship of UP Chapter and the
KS Alumni core flourished.
Those who were with me during the glory days of KS/KDS
Chapter in UP know that we did the impossible during our time and that KS/KDS
has made a huge x-mark in the history of UP Clark.
In my life, no
matter how trivial or how simple it has become, I’ve always made it a point to
apply the Kindred Principles in every endeavor I pursue.
I joined the Brotherhood of Freemasons because my
pursuit to further explore and improve my self has brought me to the doors on one
of Freemasonry’s Masonic Temple. It is important to note that the forefathers
of Freemasonry were the first free thinkers of their time. I recall the
official publication of Kappa Sigma called “Xeretic”
(Heretic). The June 1995 issue spoke of the elder heretics being compared and contrasted
to the Kappa Sigmans who are tagged as the modern heretics or the modern
freethinkers of our generation. Names like Leonardo Da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Jose
Rizal and many other heretics were mentioned in the article and they were
praised for their deviation from what was accepted by society as normal,
despite being persecuted by church and the general population – this trait is
the mark of true Kappa Sigma.
Many years after 1995 I once again came across these
names and many other names during my exploration of the ancient brotherhood of
the freethinkers known to others as the Masons, Knights Templar, Illuminati and
Priory of Sion. These people whom we looked up to as Kappa Sigmans are also
Freemasons.
My decision and act
of joining the Freemasons is not an act of disloyalty but rather a concrete
manifestation of my loyalty to the fraternity. It is precisely because I am
loyal to the Kindred that I joined an organization which I believe would complement
the existing principles embedded in me. In freemasonry, not only am I allowed
to practice the tenets of the Kindred but I am also encouraged to promote these
principles since they are the same principles practiced by the ancient brethren
like those persons in the 1995 Xeretic.
I did not join another collegiate fraternity which could
conflict with the Kindred but rather, I joined an ancient brotherhood of men
who believes that an individual can further improve himself as a person and as
member of society by applying to his life a certain set of ancient principles
which are constantly validated by reality and integrated into a progressive
moral science which is called Freemasonry.
In my constant travels and lessons inside the symbols
and mysteries of the ancient craft of Freemasonry, I am filled with confidence
knowing that my heart and my mind is guided by the tenets of Kappa Sigma
Fraternity… that even in the dark, I know that my mind will always be
illuminated by our doctrine.
The tragedy now, is that the CMS
was not able to see that the KS/KDS and Freemasonry compliments each other. And
thus my loyalty was gauged based on my affiliation with Freemasonry and not the
underlying causes as taught in the KS’ guiding principles.
The principle of Absolute Loyalty as taught to us in the
Kindred, states:
“…To be loyal to the
fraternity is to be faithful to the principles the fraternity stands for, which
are the very same principles that make man; and give meaning to man’s existence
in this world. To be loyal to Kappa Sigma is to be loyal to one’s mind.”
(Excerpted from the “Notes on the New Doctrine”/ Xeretic, ©
1995)
My membership in Freemasonry is an act which reflects my
loyalty to the principles of the Kindred and my loyalty to my mind.
Also, for the record I would like to clarify the
statement of Sigman Scribe for the Alumni- Rosendo Makabali that during their research/investigation,
they found that Freemasonry uses a paddle to initiate its new members. The initiation rites of Freemasonry or what
is properly termed as “Conferrals” or “Degree Works” does not employ the use of
paddles or any similar material/equipment. These rituals are mostly
symbolic and ceremonial in nature since Freemasonry uses symbols and analogies
in teaching its principles and philosophies. I do not know the source of the
CMS’ research but I am assuming that their informant is not a Mason, hence the
inaccuracy.
As a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, I will
never allow another Fraternity’s paddle to touch my skin, more so strike my
flesh. That is why I never joined any Fraternity during my studies at the
Arellano University School of Law.
Now I pose this hypothetical question now because I was
never given a chance to ask it because there was no trial given, when the CMS
expelled me: What if during the course
of my pursuit for self-development I was made to join a religion-based
organization which performs rituals and ceremonies to its new members and call
each other “Brother” or a Brotherhood or Fraternity of a particular Church?
Would this act be construed as an act of disloyalty to the Kappa Sigma
Doctrine? I asked this because this is exactly what I did (minus the
religion and church of course).
So now being an expelled Sigman, I am left to
ponder… to wonder whether or not the incumbent Council of Master Sigmans were
guided by the 6 greatest principles I have ever known; Objectivism, Free
Thought, Individual Excellence, Brotherhood of Equals, Absolute Loyalty and
Fraternal Discipline. I fear that some of KS members specially the young ones,
will be left to fear future conflicts in the leadership with respect to balance
between the exercise of the political will of the KS/KDS CMS and the very
delicate interpretations of the 6 Guiding Principles.
The 6 Guiding Principles while they are the
Principles of the Fraternity, they are also the Principles of being human. And
to be human is to be: Imperfect. Evolving. Coping. Longing to Thrive.
Live by these principles. Never cease believing
the Guiding Principles and never doubt them. I am already expelled (as decided
by some of the members) from the Fraternity and yet I remain loyal to these
principles.
These principles will naturally bear rules
and regulations in order to instill discipline within the Fraternity but keep
in mind that should there be any conflict between the rules and the actual
doctrine, the latter should always prevail simply because the rules are made
only by the incumbents and are naturally relative to the truth of the moment
when they were enacted. The Kappa Sigman, his thoughts, his abilities and his
perception of the world changes constantly and the rate and speed is always
faster than the evolution/amendment of the laws, rules and regulations.
This set of Guiding Principles/Doctrine was
never created to stunt the growth of an individual and neither to prevent him
from exploring the unknown, the unfamiliar and the level the consciousness
which others might misinterpret or even fear. It is not my fault that the CMS
and some of the Kindred failed to understand what Freemasonry is and how it
does not affect the status of a Kindred… or better yet, its effect to a Sage or
to a person who desires and endeavors to understand a deeper meaning of being a
Sage by immersing himself in an organization which embraces the Philosophies of
the known Sages of history – the same Sages admired by the founders of Kappa
Sigma. So if ever the day would come when you are faced with the dilemma of
being crippled by the 6 guiding principles, think again and hold tighter to
your beliefs as Kindred. Perhaps it is not the principles which hold you back
but rather the temporary rules made from the interpretations of those who are
tasked to manage the Fraternity for a specific period of time.
Note that these principles will survive for
many years to come and will even survive long after the founders and senior
members are dead. This is how I see these principles; that they will forever be
the principles of humanity (whether practiced or not).
The Kindred of Sages more than a fraternity,
is an idea… a principled way of living, of interacting with others who share
the same passion. The KS Fraternity will not survive without these principles;
but these principles will live forever, even without the Fraternity. Suffice it
say, the 6 Guiding Principles are more important than the Kindred itself.
Hence the idea: I am the Kindred (and yes and so are you).
So when someday you are faced with a dilemma
between the Kindred, the 6 Guiding Principles and your pursuit to further
develop your mind, skills and intellect – follow what you think is right but always
remember that you are the Kindred because you remain loyal to the Principles
for which it stands. A day from now, a month from now or probably year/years
from now you will be faced with that which I have already faced, remember this
kind letter… it might help you… and by then perhaps you would know what to do.
Whether it’s joining Freemasonry, joining
the Knights of Columbus, a change in career, a change in your life’s
perspective, change in sexual preference or a change in your favorite
basketball team… do not let the Fraternity dictate what is right or wrong. Your
guide and your only guide should be the letters of the Doctrine and not the
dictates of a few members whose interpretations of the Principles have been
taken over by time and the changes brought about by humanity’s greatness or its
stupidity. Not to mention the dictates of some whose interpretations of the
Doctrine is asserted and forced in order to serve their personal motives.
Finally, I would like to express my
immeasurable gratitude to the Kindred of Sages – Kappa Sigma Fraternity for the
20 best years of my life. My life in UP would not be purposeful and meaningful
had it not been for Kappa Sigma.
Titus Toledo, you will always be my favorite
person in the world. I remember the many times I’ve asked my self: “What would Titus say or do in a situation
like this?” and somehow, knowing that you are out there somewhere… in some
dark corner, creating something great… something profound – whether it’s a
book, a small note, a sketch, a doodle, a web page, a magazine or a t-shirt
design, I feel safe knowing that this world will be fine because you are living
in it.
To the UP Clark Chapter, I do not know you.
I do not even know your idiosyncrasies. But I am happy just by knowing that you
are member of the Kindred. The Confraternity will be great once more because
you are there in UP, spitting out and coughing out brilliant thoughts and ideas
that no other org or frat can ever think of.
To the KS/KDS members whom I worked and
served with, it was an honor working with you. The strength and wisdom of a
Grand Lord Sigman is determined by the strength and wisdom of its members… and
thank you for teaching this lesson to me.
To the Alumni Corps and Alumni CMS, rest
assured that all the secrets of the Kindred will remain as such. All the
knowledge gathered are safely deposited in my heart until there is a need from
the Kindred for me to lay them down once again. Until then, I remain loyal to
the Principles of your fraternity as we have been taught during our initiation:
that loyalty to the 6 Guiding Principles shall not cease even after membership
has been terminated.
Thank you very much.
Forever loyal to the
Doctrine,
JAIME PROTACIO MENDOZA JR.
