The Grand Master Of Manitoba

2011 - 2012

Most Worshipful Bro. Jose Constante (Chibu) Sison Uson

M. W. Bro. Jose Constante (Chibu) Sison Uson, was born in the Philippines in Lingayen, Pangasinan and grew up in Quezon City. He is the only child of the late Bro. Jose Elpidio (Pepe) Raguine Uson, a former City Engineer of Caloocan City, and the late Rosa Felicidad (Eling) Canapi Sison Uson. He received his Degrees in B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Philippines and M.B.M. from the Asian Institute of Management.

While in business graduate school, Chibu met Virginia Mae (Mae) Jacinto Flores at a school party. A year after completing his M.B.M., they were married and later became the proud parents of Anna Margarita (Anna) and Miguel Luigi (Mikey). Chibu has worked mostly in supply chain, operations and general management of organizations in meats processing, soft drinks bottling and electronics manufacturing. He is currently the Materials Manager of Iders Inc. in Oakbank.

Mae works at the RCMP. Anna received her B.A. in Psychology and B.Sc. in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Winnipeg and recently completed her final year in medical school and hospital rotations in Chicago. Mikey is in his second year taking up Actuarial Science at the University of Manitoba.

In the Philippines, Chibu was an active Rotarian, both at the club and district levels. Some of the Rotarians he met and worked with were Freemasons. By then, his father has been a Freemason for almost a decade. Chibu found the Freemason Rotarians to be good and sincere men. After working with such great community servants, he knocked at the doors of Freemasonry. Although he was with Freemason Rotarians almost every day and night, including the weekends, and his father was a Freemason, the next step was elusive. We say that “To be one, ask one”, so he pestered his Freemason friends. After almost three years, the doors of Freemasonry were opened to him.

In April, 1991, one week after Mikey was born, Chibu and Mae were visited by the Investigating Committee of Capitol City Lodge No. 174, F.&A.M., M. W. Grand Lodge of the Philippines. After a month, Chibu was accepted into Freemasonry. In 1992, he became a York Rite Mason at Plaridel Bodies (Manila) and in October 1996, he became a Shriner at a Ceremonial in Manila put on by Afifi Temple (Tacoma, WA). In 1997, he was made a 32° Scottish Rite Mason (Philippine Jurisdiction) at the Quezon City Bodies.

In August 1997, Chibu and his family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba to give better opportunities for the children. Upon their arrival, Chibu was brought to visit a number of Lodges by R. W. Bro. Bernie Gross and R. W. Bro. Bob Galbraith. When they learned that his Philippine Mother Lodge was named Capitol City Lodge No. 174, the Brethren of Capitol Lodge No. 136 told him that he had no choice but to affiliate with them. He did so in November 1997 and was asked to serve as Junior Deacon for 1998. He accepted and made the progression to the East. In 2002, while he was Worshipful Master, Capitol Lodge No. 136 hosted the first ever Official Visit to Manitoba by a Philippine Grand Master, M. W. Bro. Eugenio Labitoria.

From 2007 to 2010, Chibu was Secretary of Capitol Lodge No. 136. He is Charter Secretary/Treasurer and current Secretary of Fil-Can Cabletow Lodge No. 189. In 2009, he joined Castle Island Lodge U.D. as Charter Senior Warden. He remains a Regular Member of Capitol City Lodge No. 174, M. W. Grand Lodge of the Philippines, F&A.M. In 2007, he was made an Honorary Member of Morton Lodge No 352, Grand Lodge of Illinois, A.F&A.M. and early this year, he became a Charter Member of Maynilad Lodge No. 1521, Grand Lodge of F.A.A.M. of the District of Columbia.

Shortly after arriving in Winnipeg, Chibu affiliated with Khartum Shriners. In 1998, he joined the Komedians, the clown unit of Khartum and was Unit President in 2006. In 2004, he affiliated with Winnipeg Valley, Scottish Rite, and was Thrice Puissant Grand Master of Winnipeg Lodge of Perfection, A.A.S.R. in 2010. In 2005, Chibu was initiated into Queen Winnipeg Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star, and was Worthy Patron in 2009. He is an Advisor of Winnipeg Chapter, Order of DeMolay, and serves as DeMolay Executive Officer of Manitoba. He relishes his involvement in DeMolay as this gives him a lot of opportunities to help make a positive difference in the lives of the young men of DeMolay. Recently, he became a member of Winnipeg Conclave No 4, Order of the Secret Monitor.

Chibu set up and managed the websites for Capitol Lodge No. 136, Khartum Komedians and Winnipeg Valley, Scottish Rite. In 2005, he accepted the position of Khartum Webmaster. Due to his increasing commitments in the Craft, he has stepped down from managing these websites.

Chibu was appointed Grand Organist for 2005/2006 and in 2006 was elected to the Board of General Purposes. In 2008, he was elected and installed Junior Grand Warden, thus starting his journey to the Grand East. He is humbled to be the first from the Philippines to serve as Grand Master of a Canadian Jurisdiction.

Chibu is 1^st Vice President of the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education and will be President of the 2013 Conference to be held in Winnipeg. He is also Vice President of the All-Canada Conference of Grand Lodges.

From 2005 to 2007, Chibu served as President of the Fil-Can Cabletow Association of Manitoba, Inc., an association he helped organized. He is Charter President of the Filipino-Canadian Business Council (Manitoba), Inc. formed in 2005. He assisted at St. Peter’s Parish as an Area Leader of the Basic Christian Community Program.

Chibu’s family is very supportive of his commitment to Freemasonry. They are all involved in the Appendant Bodies of Freemasonry. Mae is a member of Queen Winnipeg Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star and of Sphinx Temple No. 116, Daughters of the Nile. Anna is also a Member of Queen Winnipeg Chapter No. 1 and Mikey is Immediate Past Master Councilor and currently Scribe of Winnipeg Chapter, Order of DeMolay.

Chibu looks forward to serve as Grand Master of Manitoba and to meet Freemasons from this and other Jurisdictions. He knows that from these meetings he will keep on learning more about our beloved Fraternity to help him serve it better and to continue promoting Freemasonry as a Way of Life.