Soft spoken and gentle, but with deep and firm conviction on his belief, such is the trait of our Grand Master. A non-believer of belligerence and abuse of one’s power, an advocate of concord and of “win-win solutions”, MW Romeo Salazar Momo would have been a successful Mediator, had he not been gifted with skills and ability to be an extraordinary civil engineer and a leader – the combination of both resulted in his being appointed as an Undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways. Dependable and always a go-to guy, MW Momo was known to be the trouble shooter in the Department he served for forty three years with utmost passion and dedication.

In the Craft, our Grand Master has been known as a kind brother who, at once, will go the extra steps to help another. Approachable and always sincere in addressing a brother “Kuya”, MW Romy, as he is fondly called, epitomizes a gentle and humble yet confident Mason that he is. A Surigaonon and Mindanaoan.

Born on August 06, 1952 in Tandag City in the Province of Surigao del Sur, our Grand Master is the youngest child of Magdaleno and Eustaquia. He started his elementary education and secondary education at Tandag, Surigao Del Sur. Excelling in his studies early, he was the salutatorian in his high school class. From 1969 to 1974, he took his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Mindanao as an academic scholar. He had his post graduate course, Master in Public Administration, at the Bukidnon State College.  It was in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur where our Grand Master started his career in the government service at the then Bureau of PublicWorks. It was in this City where he first saw Masonic light at Red Mountain Lodge No.241 in 1981. A Loving Husband and a Dedicated Father. It has been said, “behind every great man is a woman”, and MW Romy owes his success both in the professional and Masonic life to his loving and understanding better half, Sister Eleanor Darvin. Sis. Neneng to her family and friends, our Ateng is a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Surigao del Sur. Prior to her position now, Sis. Neneng served as the City Councilor of Tandag for three terms, serving the people of the City with utmost dedication and concern. MW Romy and Sis. Neneng are blessed with four children. Due to the Momo family’s long tradition of helping the people in need to the best of their ability, their third born, Engineer Ruel was elected and now serves as Tandag City’s Vice Mayor. On the other hand, following his father’s footsteps, Romeo, Jr. a police officer, is now the Worshipful Master of Red Mountain Lodge No.241 where in a rare occasion, the father installed his son to the oriental chair. Rommel and Melanie are the ones in charge of managing the family’s business matters.

Guided and inspired by their parents, Ruel, Romeo, Jr., Rommel, and Melanie are all now successful in their respective fields of endeavor. A Sports Enthusiast. Believing that “health is wealth”, MW Romy is fond of playing golf and lawn tennis. Hence in his leisure time, you can find our Grand Master in one of the golf courses near his residence or anywhere in the country. Moreover, he sees to it that at least twice a week, he visits the gym for a more rigid physical exercise. An Accomplished Civil Engineer and Public Servant. Our Grand Master devoted the past 43 long years of his life in the service of our country and its people. Starting in 1974 as a lowly Civil Engineering Aide at the then Bureau of Public Highways, he rose from the ranks thru dedication, passion and hard work. At the DPWH, he held various positions such as Assistant District Engineer from 1997 to 1998, District Engineer from 1998 to 2002, Assistant Regional Director of Region XIII (CARAGA) from 2002 to 2004, and Regional Director of the same region from 2004 to 2008. And in the year 2008, having shown exemplary performance and commitment to his work, he was appointed Undersecretary of the DPWH by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a position he held until he reached retirement age in 2017.

His vast experience and exemplary accomplishments in the field of engineering construction and supervision was recognized by being one of the recipients of the Most Outstanding Field Executive Award for CY 2003 and CY 2004. The University of Mindanao also awarded him as the Most Outstanding Alumni award in the field of Public Service. He was also awarded by ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organization as Honorary Fellow. In June 2013, he was awarded with a Certificate of Completion for Leaders in Development Program from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government & Executive Education. Few months before his retirement or last June 2017, he was awarded as the Most Outstanding Civil Engineer and among the TOP 5 outstanding professionals by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). He also had numerous foreign seminars and studies. In mostinstances, he serves as head of the delegation in these activities. He served two terms as the National President of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), Past First National Vice President, League of Infrastructure Directors of the Philippines, Past Member of the National Board, National Union of Career Service Officer (NUCESO), Past President of the Association of CARAGA Executives, and Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. As to other affiliations, MW Romy served as President of the Rotary Club of Butuan and Assistant Governor of District 3860 Rotary International.  While already a private citizen, our Grand Master still is very much
active in the field of engineering. He is at present the Co-Chairman of Technical Committee 21 (TC 21) of the Asean Civil Engineering Coordinating Council (ACECC). He is also the President of Road Engineering Association in Asia and Australasia. An Accomplished Mason.

Growing up having high regard to our national heroes because of their contribution to our freedom and in nation building – whom he later on learned to be mostly Freemasons, our Grand Master had keen interest on becoming a Mason himself. Thus at the first opportunity given, he knocked at the doors of Red Mountain Lodge No.241 in the year 1981. He was Initiated on May 30, 1981, Passed on June 20, 1981, and Raised to the sublime degree on July 18, 1981. After eight years of serving the Lodge, he was elected Worshipful Master in 1989 and then in 1992. He held several positions such as Lodge Secretary and Auditor. Recognizing his love forthe Craft, he was appointed as District Grand Lecturer (DGL) for three (3) terms and District Deputy Grand Master (DDGM) for two (2) terms, both in Masonic District R-XIII-A.

With the aim in view of serving not only the brethren in his District but all the brethren in this Grand jurisdiction, our Grand Master submitted himself for their consideration as Junior Grand Warden. As fate would have it, after several ventures, it was during the Annual Communication in Legazpi City in 2015 when, by an overwhelming mandate, the brethren catapulted him to the fourth highest position in the Grand Lodge as their Junior Grand Warden. Since then, MW Momo kept himself busy together with Team RSM 2018, preparing for his term as our Grand Master.  He is a Charter Member of Intramuros Lodge No. 363, an Honorary Member of Cosmos Lodge No.8, Trece Martires City Lodge No.350, Gen. Miguel Malvar Lodge No. 427, and St. John the Baptist Lodge No. 362. He is a Member of Scottish Rite Quezon City Bodies, Member of Bamboo Shrine Club and Aguila Shrine Temple, and the Past President of Plumb and Level Club, Inc. Further, he held various GLP Committee memberships, and he is the immediate Past President of Magiting Shrine Club. On January 13, 2018, he was, by an overwhelming vote, elected by the Nobles of Mabuhay Shrine Temple as their Oriental Guide. Vision for the Craft.

Last August 2017 our Grand Master officially retired from making bridges, avenues, highways, roads and public buildings. These are structures and constructions works designed to alleviate the plight of ourcountrymen especially in far-flung areas; aimed to develop and pave the way for progress; and connect the people. This time as our Grand Master, MW Momo will lead us Masons in the Philippine jurisdiction to be the bridges and avenues toward a more harmonious brotherhood of men, a peaceful and progressive Grand Lodge, and to be a Fraternity that cares for our fellowmen, especially the less fortunate members of our society. In essence, MW Romeo Salazar Momo, with and under the guidance of the Great Architect of the Universe, intends to have a Relevant andStreamlined Masonry for all.