Sunday, October 11, 2015

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE KAPPA SIGMA FRATERNITY AND KAPPA DELTA SIGMA SORORITY PHILIPPINES

October 11, 2015


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.