Union Espiritista Cristiana de Filipinas Bylaws

**CHAPTER 1\ NAME, DOMICILE, LEMMA AND DOCTRINE**\ \ **Article 1** The Association shall be known as UNION ESPIRITISTA CRISTIANA DE FILIPINAS, INC.\ \ **Article 2** The Domicile of the Association shall be in the New General Center at Sitio San Jose, Barangay Cut-cut I, Capas, Tarlac, Republic of th...

**CHAPTER 1\ NAME, DOMICILE, LEMMA AND DOCTRINE**\ \ **Article 1** The Association shall be known as UNION ESPIRITISTA CRISTIANA DE FILIPINAS, INC.\ \ **Article 2** The Domicile of the Association shall be in the New General Center at Sitio San Jose, Barangay Cut-cut I, Capas, Tarlac, Republic of the Philippines, or in any other place, which the majority of the members convened in a General Assembly, may deem proper and convenient.\ ​\ **Article 3** The Association shall have for its Lemma: "Hacia Dios Por La Ciencia Y El Amor" (Towards God through Science and Love) and for its Doctrine: "Sin Caridad No Hay Salvacion Posible" (Without Charity there is no Salvation), for its Motto: "Uno Para Todos, Todos Para Uno" (One for All, All for One).\ \ **CHAPTER II\ AIMS**\ \ **Article 4** The aims of the Association are as follows:\ \ a. To propagate the evangelical morality and faith in God within the confines of Spiritual Science;\ \ b. To inculcate in the minds of the human society the knowledge and belief that all men are spiritually brothers under the Fatherhood of only one Spiritual Father, the only God, and that they should treat each other lovingly as brothers;\ \ c. To help the destitute who may be found on the mundane and passional path, so that they may see the light which will lead them towards moral and spiritual progress;\ \ d. To apply the remedy, "A drop of affection is better than a glass of coercion";\ \ e. To work for the upliftment of the ailing humanity;\ \ f. To promote social and spiritual progress for the triumph of peace, brotherhood and justice among all men;\ \ g. To foster the moral and spiritual culture of mankind; thus promoting the knowledge of oneself and the sentiment of love and kindness towards one's neighbors;\ \ h. To disseminate the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity among mankind without distinction as to race, sex, social standing, religious beliefs, or political affiliation and to accept all as brothers;\ \ i. To inculcate in the minds of men that this is a non-stock, non-sectarian and non-political, but Spiritual (Religious) Association;\ \ j. To establish centers, schools, healing centers, asylums, libraries and cooperatives;\ \ k. To own and acquire real or personal properties by purchase, donations, lease, usufruct or in any manner authorized by law for the establishment of its centers and other facilities that shall be for the betterment of the Union. \ \ **CHAPTER III\ MEMBERS AND DUES**\ \ **Article 5** All persons interested in knowing and studying the science of Christian Spiritism and who accept and believe in direct teaching, enlightenment and guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Ministering Spirits are admissible as members.\ \ **Article 6** Before admission to the Association, all interested to join must comply with the following requirements:\ \ a. To sign an application form for the purpose in quadruplicate copies;\ b. To pay a membership fee to be determined by the Board of Directors General of the Association;\ c. Read by or had been read for him the By-Laws, policies, doctrines, circulars, rules and regulations and binds himself/herself subscribing to the teachings and principles of Spiritism;\ d. And such other requirements as the Board may deem proper.\ \ **Article 7** The following rules and conditions shall govern the affiliation of any new center, Local and Foreign-based, into the Association:\ \ a. Any new center, Local and Foreign-based Chapter/group to be affiliated into the Union shall have the following requirements: 1. It must have twenty (20) or more new member- applicants to be recommended by the Area/City/District, National Executive Committees to the Board of Directors General; 2. It has its own site and building duly acquired either by purchase, donation, usufruct with no limitation in favor of the Union Espiritista Cristiana de Filipinas, Inc. and duly recommended by the Area/City/District, Executive Committee concerned for the approval by the Board of Directors General. If by lease, it must be for the duration of not less than twenty- five (25) years; For Foreign-based Chapter/group, it must have a permit or certificate of registration or its equivalent from the Philippine Embassy or from the government of the respective Country. 3. An affiliation fee, annual dues and other fees to be determined by the Board of Directors General shall be paid to the Treasurer General through the Area/District/Chapter Treasurer; 4. The new center in the plain areas to be affiliated must be located beyond five (5) kilometers from an already affiliated center; provided however, that in cities, the distance may be less than one-half (1/2) kilometer. For Mountainous Districts, Areas traversed by body of water or coastal/riverside locations, the distance shall be determined by the Board of Directors General; 5. Before any new Local Center, Foreign-based group/center is established, it shall be endorsed by the Area/City/District Committee concerned for the approval by the Board of Directors General; 6. A Foreign-based Chapter must have seven (7) member-center/groups or more to be recognized as a Foreign Chapter; 7. The Foreign-based Center/group and Chapter shall be under the direct supervision of the National Executive Committee. **CHAPTER IV\ DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS\ \ Article 8** The Officers and members of the Association shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\ \ a. To accept the position or office to which they may be elected or appointed, to vote and be voted for, without compensation, refusal of such shall be subject to corresponding sanction to be determined by the Board of Directors General;\ \ b. To cooperate in the extra ordinary exigencies of service and in rendering charity to others;\ \ c. To be careful, serious , honest, sincere, decisive, kind and law-abiding citizen;\ \ d. To pay membership fee, annual dues and membership renewal fee and other monetary obligations to be determined by the Board of Directors General; \ \ e. To be prompt in rendering good to others;\ \ f. To impose upon themselves the obligation of complying with their duties and to respect By-Laws and the internal rules and regulations, as well as any orders or directives of the duly constituted authorities of the Association and such other rules the Board of Directors General may provide; \ \ g. To treat each other mutually as brothers and sisters  calling each other \"Hermano and Hermana\" within and outside the Association; \ \ h. To diligently disseminate to others the principles of Christian Spiritism under the Union Espiritista Cristiana de Filipinas, Inc. \ \ **CHAPTER V\ VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND DONATIONS \ \ Article 9** Contributions or donations in favor of the Local, Area/City or District, Foreign Chapter and General Centers concerning real and personal properties and other rights thereon shall be accepted by their respective officers subject to the written authority to accept issued by the Board of Directors General and confirmation of the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center.\ \ **CHAPTER VI\ OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION**\ \ **Article 10** The Executive Officers of the Association shall be six (6); composed of the President General, Vice-President General, Secretary General, Treasurer General, Auditor General, and Press Relations Officer General, who are all elected by the Directors General. These twenty-nine (29) officers shall also compose of the Board of Directors General of the Association without material remunerations. The Board of Directors General shall appoint a Director General for Mediums, two (2) Legal Officers/Advisers and other officers, as it may deem proper and necessary. That the members of the Board of Directors General shall elect from among themselves who shall be the Executive Officers of the Union.\ \ **Article 11** The Executive Officers of the Association, whether elective or appointive, shall hold their office immediately after the election or appointment and their term of office shall be one year or until their successor shall have been elected or appointed and qualified. In case of vacancy for any cause, the office shall be filled up by "Ad Interim Appointment" by the Board of Directors General and the appointee shall assume office immediately and discharge the duties of such office during the remaining term or until the successor shall have been elected and qualified.\ \ **CHAPTER VII\ PRESIDENT GENERAL\ \ Article 12** The President General shall have one of the following duties and responsibilities:\ \ a. To represent the Association in all its undertakings;\ \ b. To undertake general supervision and control of all the activities and to take charger of all negotiations of the Association;\ \ c. To preside over anniversaries and/ or meetings, centralizations and assemblies of the Association and to execute all resolutions, orders and directives of the Board of Directors General and those of the Holy Spirit Protector. When he is present in any local, Area/City or District and Foreign-based Chapter meetings, activities or séances/spiritual sessions, the chairmanship of the same shall be offered to him;\ \ d. To sign Titles, Appointments, Identification Cards and Certificates of Affiliation(COA) of affiliated centers, and to execute contracts or deeds in the name of the Association shall be by authority of the Board of Directors General and confirmed by the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center;\ \ e. To sign or countersign in the name of the Association with the Treasurer General, checks issued in favor of or withdrawals from an identified depository bank of the Association and such other officers authorized by the Board;\ \ f. To execute and implement the provisions of this By-Laws, internal rules and regulations, orders and resolutions, or directives including circulars, those issued and adopted by the Board of Directors General and confirmed by the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center.\ \ **CHAPTER VIII\ VICE- PRESIDENT GENERAL\ \ Article 13** The Vice-President General shall be the Chairman of the Board who shall preside over the Meetings of the Board of Directors General and shall assume duties of the President General in his absence, sickness or incapacity. In case of resignation or death of the President General, the Vice-President General shall automatically become the President General until a new President General shall have been elected and duly qualified.\ \ a. To see to it that the provisions of this By-Laws, internal rules and regulations, orders and resolutions, or directives including circulars, those issued and adopted by the Board of Directors General and confirmed by the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center are efficiently executed by the President General;\ \ b. In case the Vice-President General assumed the position of the President General, the most senior Director General shall assumed the Chairmanship of the Board during the Board Meeting.\ \ **CHAPTER IX\ SECRETARY GENERAL\ \ Article 14** The Secretary General shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\ \ a. To prepare and sign with the Chairman of the Board, the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors General, as well as other papers of the General Center and to compile and keep them under his custody and responsibility;\ \ b. To send notice of meetings to all members of the Board of Directors General of the Association in accordance with the instructions of the President General;\ \ c. To take charge of all correspondence, to take care of the Library and of the Archives of the Association, as well as the general census of all members and affiliated center of the Association.\ \ d. To sign with the President General all Certificate of Affiliation (COA) of affiliated centers with the Association and to communicate with the Local Presidents concerning the approval or disapproval of application for membership of new members and affiliation of new centers;\ \ e. To have voice and vote in all meetings or deliberations of the Board of Directors General and to call the attention of the President General or Vice President General in cases where the subject matter under consideration is a deviation from its normal course or contrary to the existing rules and powers of the Association;\ \ f. To furnish each Director General with copies of the minutes of all meetings;\ \ g. To make and keep the records and list of Marriage Counselors, Officials and Marriage Certificates, Baptismal and Death Certificates submitted by the Local Presidents and approved by the Area/City and District Committees and the Board of Directors General, and confirmed by the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center,\ \ h. To keep the records of all the registered names of all Official and Sitting Mediums, Medium Healers  of the Union Espiritista Cristiana de Filipinas, Inc., submitted by the Local Presidents endorsed by the Area/City and District Committees, Foreign-based Chapters and approved by the Board of Directors General and confirmed by the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center. \ \ **CHAPTER X**\ **TREASURER GENERAL**\ \ **Article 15** The Treasurer General shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\ \ a. To safeguard the funds of the Association by keeping the same in a depository bank in the name of the Association maintaining a petty cash fund, approved by the Board of Directors General;\ \ b. To answer for any loss or properties of the Association; movables or immovables under his/ her custody, keeping an inventory of such properties of the Union Espiritista Cristiana de Filipinas, Inc;\ \ c. To sign with the President General or the Vice President General who are jointly authorized to withdraw a specific amount from the depository bank through a resolution of the Board of Directors General of the Association;\ \ d. To keep books of accounts, which shall be available and are open for inspection by any member of the association upon request in writing of no less than seven (7) members duly affiliated Centers(s) in good standing therewith at any reasonable time;\ \ e. To issue receipts in the name of the Association for funds received by him/ her;\ \ f. To make payments of all expenses and obligations authorized by the Board of Directors General by means of vouchers verified by the Auditor General and approved by the President General, keeping such vouchers under his/her custody. In extraordinary cases, without the same having passed audit by the Auditor General, but in such case, it has to be reported to the Board of Directors General;\ \ g. To take charge of the Certificates, Identification Cards, Pin and Certificates of Affiliation (COA) to be issued to members and affiliated centers, keeping records of the same and furnishing copies thereof to the Archives;\ \ h. To render duly audited monthly reports on the financial status of the association during meetings of the Board of Directors General.\ \ **CHAPTER XI**\ **AUDITOR GENERAL\ \ Article 16** The Auditor General shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\ \ a. To install or adopt an accounting system for the books of accounts of the Association which the Treasurer General will follow. Review the reports of the Treasurer General and certify to the correctness of the same;\ \ b. To inspect and examine the books of accounts of the Association held by the Treasurer General every month and to inform the Board of Directors General of such inspection;\ \ c. To report to the Board of Directors General of any anomaly, negligence, fault or omission in connection with the administration of funds and properties; movables and immovables of the Association.\ \ **CHAPTER XII**\ **PRESS RELATIONS OFFICER GENERAL\ \ Article 17** The Press Relations Officer General shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\ \ a. To receive and consolidate news reports for publication from the Area/City and District Officers and Foreign-based Chapters of the Association;\ \ b. To publish and act as Editor-in- Chief of the UECFI organ;\ \ c. To take charge of the printing of reading materials on Christian Spiritism, which have been duly approved by the Board of Directors General for distribution to the public free of charge;\ \ d. To establish libraries in each Area, District and at the General Center;\ \ e. To print instruction materials for Sunday Schools;\ \ f. To maintain correspondence course in Christian Spiritism;\ \ g. To make press releases on the progress of Christian Spiritism;\ \ h. To counteract black propaganda against Christian Spiritism;\ \ i. To prepare reading materials/articles for the official social media and conduct programs for radio and TV broadcast approved by the Board of Directors General;\ \ j. To screen and select books, articles and magazines for the libraries of the Association;\ \ k. To submit to the Board of Directors General for approval, news reports before publishing, including reading materials on Christian Spiritism for printing, distribution and for radio broadcast, etc.;\ \ l. To assist the Secretary General in the care and maintenance of the Archive of the Association.\ \ **CHAPTER XIII**\ **DIRECTOR GENERAL\ \ Article 18** Each Director General shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\ \ a. To represent the District in all undertakings of the Union Espiritista Cristiana de Filipinas, Inc;\ \ b. To direct, control, supervise and administer his/her District and as such, he/she must maintain his District office in order to foster effectively the cooperation and unity of all Local, Area/City, and District Committees under his/her jurisdiction;\ \ c. To represent the District in the Board of Directors General and as such, must attend all the meetings and deliberations of the Board of Directors General. The term of office of the Director General shall be three (3) years reckoned from the year of his/ her election;\ \ d. To call and preside over District Meetings and/or any of the Area/City/District Committees except when the President General is present, the Chairmanship shall be offered to him;\ \ e. To cooperate with the General Center and supervise Area/City and the District Committees to strengthen propagation of Christian Spiritism;\ \ f. To take the place of the Vice President General of the Union in case of the physical inability, resignation or death. The order of seniority is on the basis of services as Director General;\ \ g. To relinquish the position of District President or any other lower positions(s) in case he/she is holding office(s) upon his/her election as Director General;\ \ h. May appoint Deputy Director(s) General in his/her District who is/are co-terminus to his/her term of office to be confirmed by the Board of Directors General without the right to vote.\ \ **CHAPTER XIV\ LEGAL ADVISERS GENERAL\ \ Article 19** The Legal Advisers General of the Association shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\ \ a. To provide legal advices to the Association relative to administrative matters in accordance with law, free of charge;\ \ b. To defend and appear as counsels of the Association in relation to the membership with the Union, with traveling expenses chargeable to the funds of the Association;\ \ c. To have voice but no power to vote during meetings and deliberations of the Board of Directors General;\ \ d. To represent the Union including its officers and members in all matters or cases pertaining to the Association, operation and properties before all judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative bodies;\ \ e. To prepare and/or examine all deeds, contracts and other legal documents and provide legal advice with respect to utilization and disposal of the Association\'s properties;\ \ f. Only bonafide members of affiliated Centers in good standing and members of the Philippine BAR shall be appointed as Legal Advisers General of the Association;\ \ g. They shall be appointed by the President General with the concurrence of the Board of Directors General;\ \ h. To perform other legal functions as maybe needed by the Board of Directors General.\ \ **CHAPTER XV\ DIRECTOR GENERAL OF MEDIUMS**\ \ **Article 20** The Director General of Mediums shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\ \ a. Must have experience and knowledge on Mediumship;\ \ b. To make diligent studies and careful observations on Mediums and Mediumship, and to recommend measures for enhancement on moral, social values, discipline and development of mediums for the approval of the Board of Directors General and confirmation of the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center;\ \ c. To see to it that all rules and regulations, policies, circulars, directives adopted by the Board of Directors General are properly observed and implemented;\ \ b. To supervise the school of Mediums.\  \ **CHAPTER XVI\ THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS GENERAL** \ \ **Article 21** Organization -- The Board of Directors General shall have the supervision and administration of the Association and shall be organized as follows:\ \ a. That the Board of Directors General shall be composed of twenty nine (29) members who shall be elected by the members of the Union Espiritista Cristiana de Filipinas, Inc. present in a general assembly duly convened for the purpose;\ \ b. That the Philippines shall be grouped into twenty eight (28) Districts;\ \ c. That each District shall be represented by one (1) Director General, except District 18 composed of all cities and towns in Metro Manila including the province of Rizal, except the city of Manila which shall be represented by two (2) Directors General;\ \ d. That the geographical limitations and jurisdiction of each of the twenty eight (28) Districts are as follows: - District I - Ilocos Norte, Laoag City, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Abra - District II - Kalinga and Apayao - District III - Cagayan and Rizal, Kalinga - District IV - Isabela - District  V - Quirino Province - District VI - Aurora Province and Dinapigue, Isabela - District VII - Nueva Vizcaya and Southern Ifugao - District VIII - Baguio City, Benguet and Mountain Province - District IX - Northern Ifugao - District X - Western Pangasinan - District XI - Eastern Pangasinan - District XII - Nueva Ecija and Dingalan, Aurora - District XIII - Northern Tarlac - District XIV - Central Tarlac - District XV - Southern Tarlac - District XVI - Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales - District XVII - Bulacan, Gapan (Nueva Ecija), Salapungan (Candaba, Pampanga) - District XVIII - All cities and towns in Metro Manila including Rizal Province except the City of Manila - District  XIX - City of Manila - District XX - Laguna, Quezon and Bicol - District XXI - Cavite and Batangas - District XXII - Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, Bicol Provinces and Sub Province of Catanduanes - District XXIII - Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte,Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao City, Parts of Visayan Provinces and their cities. - District XXIV - Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City, Malaybalay City, Oroquieta City and Iligan City, including Banisilan (Cotabato) and Lanao Provinces - District XXV - North Cotabato,  Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga, Zamboanga City, Basilan, Jolo, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Bohol and Leyte - District XXVI - South Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Lebak, Sultan Kudarat - District XXVII -  - District XXVIII -   \ e. That in the election of the Directors General, due for election, every District shall put up not more than five candidates who shall be elected at large during the General Assembly, and who shall file personally to the Secretary General the individual certificate of candidacy by first paying a filing fee of five hundred (P500.00) pesos with the Treasurer General on or before every second Sunday of November in which among other things, he or she shall submit a personal profile and a pledge that, if elected, he/she shall: (1) perform their duties and functions faithfully;(2) attend regularly the meetings of the board of Directions General; (3) be present personally during elections; and (4) not be less than thirty five (35) years of age on election day;\ \ f. That candidate(s) for Director General for each District shall be nominated and/or endorsed by the District Committees based from the result of the selection process conducted by the qualified members of the District. The endorsement shall be filed to the COMELEC on or before the second Sunday of December;\ \ g. That the candidate must be a member of a center of the District he/she represent and that, the General Assembly shall not be authorized to nominate a candidate from other Districts;\ \ h. That no candidate shall be a member of the Committee on Elections;\ \ i. That no incumbent President General shall be appointed as chairman of the Committee on Elections;\ \ j. That immediately after their election, the twenty --one (29) Directors General must hold an election in order to elect from among themselves the Officers of the Board of Directors General and who shall also ultimately be the Executive Officers of the Association as follows: One President General, one Vice President General, one Secretary General, one Treasure General, one Auditor General and one Press Relations Officer General. After the said election, The Board of Directors shall appoint two (2) Legal Advisers General, one (1) Director General of Mediums and such other officers as it may deem proper to appoint.\ \ **Article 22** The Board of Directors Generals shall have the following powers and duties, to wit:\ \ a. Have under it the administration, management, direction and control of all activities of the Association in the Local, Area/City and District and the General Center as well as the general supervision and administration of all properties, assets, funds of the Association, and all members and center affiliated with the Association, including youth organization of all Districts;\ \ b. See to it that the By-Laws, internal rules and regulations of the Association, as well as all resolutions, orders and directives of the Board of Directors General are duly complied with by all officers and members of all affiliated centers;\ \ c. To process and approve the applications for membership and affiliation of Centers, submit the same afterwards to the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center for confirmation;\ \ d. To exhort the negligent officers of affiliated centers to the proper performance of their respective duties and responsibilities. To exercise administrative remedies and to impose appropriate disciplinary measures/penalties as it may deem proper under the circumstances;\ \ e. To dispel or solve problems among affiliated centers and settle differences or misunderstandings among them;\ \ f. To propagate Spiritual Science through effective ways and means;\ \ g. To create permanent or special committees and/or sub committees, as well as appoint officials as provided for in Article 24 Sec. (e);\ \ h. To call for general election of the members of the Board of Directors General, District, Area/City Committees and Local Board of Directors of affiliated Centers, as well as, ordinary or special general assemblies of all affiliates of the Association, in order to take up matters of general interest to the Association;\ \ i. To hold regular meetings every second Sunday of each month and as many extraordinary meetings as maybe necessary. The concurrence and presence of the majority of the members of the Board of Directors General to this meeting of whatever nature and kind shall constitute a "quorum";\ \ j. To prepare and issue rules for the efficacious dispatch of cases and matters of the Association and for the prompt execution of orders, resolutions and directives of the Board of Directors General and those of the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center;\ \ k. To adopt measures necessary and as circumstances may warrant for the upliftment and improvement of the Association or of the affiliates in general;\ \ l. To provide incentives to the Youth for them to have keen interest in studying the principles of Christian Spiritism.\ \ m. To allow the Youth Chapters in the different Local Centers to jointly organize into Area/City and District Chapters, then into a federation with powers to adopt internal rules and regulations, subject to the prior approval by the Board of Directors General and confirmed by the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center.\ \ n. To promote activities that will give the Youth practical training in the proper administration of the affairs of the Association and not only limited to the formation of Youth Chapters of the different Local Centers.\ \ o. To appoint highly trained and qualified local officers to solemnize marriages in accordance with the Family Code of the Philippines and other related laws and rules of the Association.\ \ p. The Board of Directors General of the Association is authorized to centralize the works of all affiliated Centers, if such is demanded by such considerations, strengthens the administration, the centralization and the uniformity of works, the solidification of ties of brotherhood among the affiliates and others provided, that once this is realized, the works of the Centers affected shall automatically cease and the members are obliged to attend said centralization. The progress of said centralization shall be prepared by the Board of Directors General.\ \ q. To pass and approve the curriculum for the Sunday school and the School of Mediums.\ \ r. To adopt such measures as maybe necessary for the prompt collection of contributions, fees or obligations of members or centers of the Association.\ \ s. When any member of the Board of Directors General is personally present during the meetings, séances or conferences in any local, Area/City or District Center and Foreign-based Chapter/Center, the chairmanship shall be offered to him/her in the absence of the President General or the Vice President General.\ \ t. To allow the President of the Federation of the Youth Spiritists to sit as ex-officio Director General with voice but no vote.\  \ **CHAPTER XVII\ DISTRICT COMMITTEE\  \ Article 23** The District Committee shall be organized in every District consisting of two or more Area/City Committees:\ \ a. Within the last two weeks of the month of December of the designated election year, the newly elected incoming officers of a would-be Area Committee in a District shall hold an election to elect from among themselves (1) one District President, (2) One District Vice-President, (3) One District Secretary, (4) One District Treasurer, (5) One District Press Relations Officer, (6) One District Auditor, (7) One District Inspector Officer, (8) One District Guardian. All Area/City Presidents shall automatically become members of the District Committee. The District Committee shall be under the supervision and control of the Board of Directors General.\ \ b. Prohibition - In case an Area President is elected as the District President, he or she shall automatically relinquish the former position to the Area Vice-President.\ \ c. The District Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities: 1. To establish, supervise and administer the District, Area/City Committees. 2. To hold regular/ special sessions wherein the Filipino/Tagalog language shall be preferably used. 3. To help and coordinate the activities of the Area/ City Committees within its District. 4. To assist the Director General of the District. 5. To promote and foster cooperation and unity among the Area/City Committees for the strengthening and propagation of the Faith  of  Christian Spiritism. 6. And to perform such other duties and functions as directed by the Board of Directors General.  \ d. The duties and responsibilities of the Officers of the District Committees are as follows: 1. The Director General of the District shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the District and the District President shall be the Deputy Executive Officer. The District President may call a District Committee meeting with the conformity of the Director General concerned who shall be the Chairman thereof and in his absence the Deputy shall act as the chairman. 2. The Vice- President shall take the place of the District President in case of absence, illness, resignation or death. 3. The District Secretary shall keep the minutes and records of the Regional Committee and shall furnish the Director General concerned with copies thereof. 4. The Treasurer of the District shall safeguard, keep and administer the funds and properties of the District Committee and copies thereof shall be furnished the Director General concerned and the Board of Directors General. 5. The District Press Relations Officer shall gather news items for submission to the Press Relations Officer General. 6. The District Auditor shall audit and check up Books of Accounts quarterly and keep a copy of record in his possession the District Treasurer's reports and shall furnish copies thereof to the Board of Directors General. 7. The Members of the District Committee shall attend the meetings and deliberations of the District Committee. 8. The District Inspector shall make regular visits to the Area Centers of the District and shall make monthly progress reports to the District Committee about his visits. 9. The District Guardian shall be the caretaker of the Regional Center and shall act as Peace and Liaison Officer of the District Committee. 10. In the absence, death or incapacity of the Director General of the District, the District President shall succeed and serve the unexpired term thereof. 11. To make Ad-interim appointment in case of vacancy of any position in the Area Committee which shall be endorsed to the District Committee and for its approval by the Board of Directors General.  **CHAPTER XVIII\ THE AREA COMMITTEE\ \ Article 24** The Area or City Committee - the organization, duties and responsibilities of the Area/City Committee shall be as follows:\ \ a. ORGANIZATION -- Each Area shall be under the supervision of at least one Area/City Committee; provided however, that new Area Committees may be created within the Area upon the approval of the Board of Directors General whenever it is necessary and convenient.\ \ b. OFFICERS -- The Officers of the Area/City Committee shall be the following: One President, One Vice-President, One Secretary, One Treasurer, One Press Relations Officer, One Auditor, Two Legal Advisers, One Area Inspector, One Assistant Area Inspector. All elected Presidents of the Area/City Committees shall automatically become members of the District Committee.\ \ c. ELECTION -- Within the first two weeks of November of an election year for Area Committee, the incumbent and newly elected officers of every Local Center under the jurisdiction of each Area Committee shall hold an election in order to elect from among themselves, the Officers of the Area Committee. All newly elected Local Presidents shall automatically become members of the Area Committee. \ \ d. COMMITTEE - The Area/City Committee shall be organized whenever it is necessary and convenient. Each Committee shall be under one Area Inspector and one or more Assistant Area Inspectors to be elected by the Area Committee.\ \ e. PERMANENT STANDING COMMITTEES -- For greater efficiency, the Area Committee shall also create the following permanent standing committees: 1. COMMITTEE ON REGISTRATION OF MEMBER CENTERS CHARITY AND RELIEF 2. COMMITTEE ON YOUTH ORGANIZATION, SUNDAY SCHOOLS, BROTHERHOOD AND SPIRITUAL SCIENCE 3. COMMITTEE ON SPIRITUAL SERVICE, BIBLE STUDY AND INDOCTRINATION 4. COMMITTEE ON SPIRITUAL HEALING, MEDIUMS, MEDIUMSHIP AND REVELATIONS  5. COMMITTEE ON PROPAGATION OF FAITH DOCTRINES, FORMS AND PUBLICATIONS 6. COMMITTEE ON PRAYERS, SPIRITUAL SONGS AND HYMNS 7. OTHER COMMITTEES MAY BE ORGANIZED WHENEVER IT IS NECESSARY AND CONVENIENT  \ f. POWERS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES -- The powers, duties and responsibilities of Area Committee shall be as follows: 1. To organize, register, administer and supervise Local Centers, Youth Organization, Sunday Schools, Bible Study, Seminars, Religious Instructions and the development and control of Mediums. 2. To act as bond of harmony, understanding unity and cooperation among the Local Centers, the Area Committee and the General Center. 3. To coordinate, synchronize and implement the activities of the Union in the Area. 4. To assist and solve problems of Local Centers and initiate improvements thereon. 5. To enlighten, encourage, indoctrinate and teach brethren in true faith, doctrines, beliefs and worship of God in Spirit and in Truth. 6. To work with the Local Centers, other Area Committees and the General Center for the strengthening of the Union and facilitate the propagation of the Holy Faith. 7. To hold regular and special meetings and adopt rules and regulations for the welfare and progress of the Association. 8. To establish and maintain Area/City Committee office, libraries, schools, healing centers, and cooperatives. 9. To call and supervise the election of the new officers of the Area Committee during the designated election years. 10. To select and recommend one or more Area Mediums and Spiritual Healers of the Area Committee for approval by the Board of Directors General and confirmation of the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center. 11. To make Ad-interim appointment in case of vacancy of any position in the Area Committee to be endorsed to the District Committee for the approval by the Board of Directors General. 12. The Area Committee shall be under the control and supervision of the District Committee. 13. The Officers of the Area Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities:      a. Area President -- The Area President shall call and preside over all meetings, execute resolutions and orders and directs all activities of the Area Committee.\      b. Area Vice-President -- He/She shall take place of the President in case of absence, illness, resignation, and death. And perform other tasks as assigned to him by the Area President.\      c. Area Secretary- He/She shall keep the minutes of all meetings and other records of the Area Committee.\      d. Area Treasurer -- He/She shall take custody and safeguard all funds, properties and Books of Accounts of the Area/City Committee. He/She shall furnish copies thereof to the District Committee, the Director General concerned, the Secretary General as well as the Treasurer General.\      e. Area Treasurer - He/She shall collect and /or accept remittances, collections and other corresponding contributions from the Local Treasurers and remit the same to the District Treasurer.\      f. The Area Press Relations Officer- He shall collect news report pertinent to the Union regarding Christian Spiritism and submit them to the Press Relations Officer General furnishing thereof the District Press Relations Officer.\      g. Area Auditor -- He shall examine and conduct audit of Books of Accounts of the Area Treasurer. He shall furnish copies of the results thereof to the Area Committee, District Committee, the Director General concerned and the Treasurer General.\      h. Legal Advisers- They shall act as the Legal Counsels of the Area Committee and shall represent it in any court of justice in cases affecting the Union and its members thereof. They shall be entitled to the actual traveling expenses.\      i. The Area Inspectors -- They shall make regular visits to all Local Centers within the jurisdiction of the Area Committee and submit a report every three (3) months to the said Committee.\      j. Assistant Area Inspector -- He must assist the Area Inspector by making regular visits to all Local Centers and make his reports to the Area Inspector.\  \ **CHAPTER XIX\ MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF AREA AND DISTRICT OFFICERS**\  \ **Article 25** The following are the minimum qualifications of the Area and District Officers:\  \ a. Must be Filipino Citizen and/or whose parents are both Filipinos and resident of the Republic of the Philippines;\ \ b. Must be able to read and write and could speak any dialect in the Philippines;\ \ c. Not less than 30 years of age and if married, his/her spouse must be a member of an affiliated center;\ \ d. Must be physically, mentally and morally fit to hold office;\ \ e. Must posses good moral character and has never been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude and/or any criminal offense;\ \ f. Must be a registered and a regular resident member of at least five (5) consecutive years in the Local Center where he/she comes from; and have been a local officer for three (3) years.\ \ **CHAPTER XX\ LOCAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS**\ \ **Article 26** Every affiliated Local Center shall be under the control and supervision of the Local Board of Directors, composed of one Local President, One Vice-President, One Secretary, One Treasurer, One Auditor, Three Board Members, One Local Director of Mediums and Two Local Guardian who shall all be elected by the members of the Local Centers. They shall hold office for three (3) years without material compensation.\  \ a. The Local Board of Directors shall have the following powers and duties: 1. To administer and direct all activities of the Center and exercise general supervision and control of all properties, funds and other assets of the Center. 2. To implement the By-Laws , Interior Regulations of the Association, as well as its resolutions and orders and those of the Area Committee, to furnish copies of its resolutions to the Area Committee , the District Committee and the Board of Directors General. 3. To process the application for membership of applicants to the center and endorsing them to the Area Committee and the Director General concerned who shall submit them to the Board of Director General for final approval. 4. To exhort negligent members of the Center for proper performance of their respective duties and obligations. 5. To resolve disputes among members and to settle differences or misunderstandings among themselves. 6. To propagate the Spiritual Science through effective ways and means as circumstances may warrant. 7. To create committees and sub-committees in order to help realize the activities of the Center. All reports of said committee or sub-committee shall be submitted for evaluation of the Local Board. 8. To make Ad-Interim appointments for all vacancies that may exist in the Local Board of Directors. 9. To conduct meetings by all members in the Center in order to take up matters of general interest affecting the Center. 10. To hold ordinary meetings once a month and such special meetings as the Local President may deem convenient, or upon petition of at least twenty (20) members of the Local Board of Directors. Six (6) member of the Local Board present shall constitute a quorum in any meeting. 11. To organize and supervise a Sunday school for children and youth chapter for its young members who are unmarried. 12. To supervise, manage and administer healing activities of mediums. 13. The term of office of Local Board of Directors shall be three (3) years.  \ **CHAPTER XXI\ MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF LOCAL OFFICERS\ \ Article 27** The following are the minimum qualifications for local officers:\  \ a. Must be Filipino Citizen and/or whose parents are both Filipinos and resident of the Republic of the Philippines;\ \ b. Must be able to read and write and could speak any dialect in the Philippines;\ \ c. Not less than 30 years of age;\ \ d. Must be physically, mentally and morally fit to hold office;\ \ e. Must posses good moral character and has never been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude and/or any criminal offense;\ \ f. Must be a registered and a regular resident member of at least three (3) consecutive years in the Local Center where he/she intends to run for office.\  \ **CHAPTER XXII\ DUTIES OF LOCAL OFFICERS\ \ Article 28** The Local President shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\  \ a. To represent the center in its public acts.\ \ b. To supervise and administer the activities of the Local Center and in charge of protecting its interest.\ \ c. To sign all contracts and communications in the name of the Center which involve minor matters and ordinary communications which will not in any way create any obligation, material or otherwise in the part of the Board of Directors General.\ \ d. To sign all vouchers and receipts regarding expenses, withdrawals and other instruments together with the Local Treasurer with the approval of the Local Board of any transaction with the individuals or its depository. \ \ e. To inform the Local Board of Directors and the members of the Center about the provisions of the By-Laws, Interior Rules and Regulations, orders, directives and communications received by him from the Board of Director General or other higher authorities.\ \ f. To answer letters he may have received affecting the general interests of the Center.\ \ g. To preside over the meetings, séances, seminars, sessions, studies and conferences which the Center shall undertake.\ \ h. To adopt measures with the Local Board of Directors of the Center for the improvement of the functions of the Center as well as for the greater progress and accomplishments of the goals and objectives of the Association.\ \ i. To submit the list of all members, officers, official Mediums and Spiritual Healers of the center in a prescribed form approved by the Board of Directors General to the Secretary General of the Union through the Area Committee and the Director General concerned.\ \ j. To keep a record of baptismal certificate, marriage contract, the healing service, waiver signed by the person or immediate member of the family that seeks spiritual healing stating the names, date served and the outcome thereof.\ \ k. To keep records of mission orders to missioneros of the Center.\  \ **CHAPTER XXIII\ LOCAL VICE- PRESIDENT\ \ Article 29** The Local Vice President shall serve the unexpired term of the Local President in case of the latter's incapacity, or absence and in the event of resignation or death of the President. He automatically assumes the Presidency until his successor shall have been elected and qualified.\  \ **CHAPTER XXIV\ LOCAL SECRETARY\ \ Article 30** The Local Secretary shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\  \ a. To prepare and sign with the Local President the minutes of the meetings of the Local Board of Directors and to keep them under his custody and responsibility. He must furnish copies thereof to the Area Committee, District Committee, the Director General concerned and the Secretary General of the Union. \ \ b. To serve notice of meetings to the members of the Local Board of Directors.\ \ c. To take charge of all the communications and the library of the center as well as the Registry book wherein the dates of approval of the applications for membership and that of the affiliation of the Center in December of every year and to send to the Secretary General a list of active, suspended and inactive members of the Center. He shall furnish copies thereof to the Area Committee, District Committee and the Director General concerned.\ \ d. To give the applicant the required application forms for membership; and once they are filled up to forward them to the Director General concerned through the Area Committee for submission to the Board of Directors General for final approval and to inform the parties concerned of the approval or disapproval of such application.\ \ e. To certify with the Local President the results of any conference, programs and studies held in the Center and to send copies thereof to the Area Committee, District Committee, Foreign-based Chapter Director General concerned and the Board of Directors General.\ \ f. To prepare the annual report on the works performed in the Center, as well as the progress made, copies thereof be furnished to the Area Committee, the District Committee and the Board of Directors General at least fifteen (15) days prior to the holding of the Union's anniversary for study and consideration of the said officials.\ \ g. To have voice and vote in all meetings or deliberations in the Local Board of Directors.\  \ **CHAPTER XXV\ LOCAL TREASURER\ \ Article 31** The Local Treasurer shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\  \ a. To have in his custody and responsibility the funds of the Center and to deposit them in the name of the Center with the identified depository bank except a petty cash fund to be approved by the Local Board.\ \ b. To be responsible for all the properties; movables and immovable of the Center and prepare a complete list of said properties. He must furnish copies thereof to the Area Committee, District Committee, Director General concerned and the Secretary General. \ \ c. To sign with the Local President, checks to be issued against it or any withdrawals from the depository bank.\ \ d. To keep necessary Books of Accounts wherein the receipts and disbursements shall appear in detail. Maintain a book of inventory of the properties and assets of the Center. All Books of Accounts shall always be available and open for inspection by any member of the Local Board of Directors or any member of the Center upon a written request of no less than seven (7) members.\ \ e. To issue receipts in the name of the Center, for any amount collected or received by him in favor of the Center.\ \ f. To make payments of all expenses authorized by the Local Board of Directors by means of resolution duly approved and signed by the Local President. No Payment of whatever nature or kind shall be affected without the same having been passed an audit by the Local Auditor of the Center. However, expenses for transportation, stationeries, pen, ink, tape, and other office needs need not have Local Board approval but a corresponding voucher thereof should be kept.\ \ g. To render quarterly report of the financial status of the Center at the meeting of the Local Board of Directors verified true and correct by the Local Auditor of the Center.\  \ **CHAPTER XXVI\ LOCAL AUDITOR\ \ Article 32** The Local Auditor shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\ \ a. To inspect and examine Books of Accounts of the Center in the custody of the Local Treasurer every three months and to submit his report to the President of the Local Center, and to furnish a copy thereof to the President of the Local Center, and to furnish a copy thereof to the Area/City Committee, District Committee and the Director General concerned and the Board of Directors General.\ \ b. To review and verify the report of the Local Treasurer of the Center and to certify to its correctness.\ \ c. To report to the Local Board of Directors of any anomaly, negligence, mistake or omission in the custody and administration of the funds by the Local Treasurer and other officers or members of the Center.\ \ d. To have voice and vote in the meetings or deliberations of the Local Board of Directors. \ \ **CHAPTER XXVII\ LOCAL GUARDIAN\ \ Article 33** The Local Guardian shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\ \ a. To maintain peace and order in the Center, the upkeep and security of the Center and to be present in all services and activities to be held at the Center.\ \ b. To act as liaison officer of the Local Board of Directors.\ \ c. To take care, set and handle the flag or banner of the Center.\ \ **CHAPTER XXVIII\ LOCAL DIRECTOR OF MEDIUMS\ \ Article 34** The Local Director of Mediums shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\ \ a. He shall act as a chairman of the Spiritual Healers of the Center and as such, he must lead healing services within his Center.\ \ b. He shall take charge of the schedule and preparation of Spiritual Healers that shall visit patients requiring healing services.\ \ c. He shall see that the Cantoras are proficient and are ready to render their services.\ \ d. He shall train and develop new Mediums and provide program for continuing development of Mediums of the Center.\  \ **CHAPTER XXIX\ LOCAL BOARD MEMBERS\ \ Article 35** The Local Board Members consisting of 3 members shall have the following duties and responsibilities:\ \ a. They shall act as Group Leaders each respectively of the men, women and youth members.\ \ b. They shall attend all meetings and other deliberations of the Local Board of Directors.\ \ c. They shall perform other duties assigned to them by the Local President.\  \ **CHAPTER XXX\ SPIRITUAL DIRECTION OF THE ASSOCIATION**\ \ **Article 36** The Spiritual Direction shall be the Supreme Authority of the Association. This shall integrate a Court of Spirits of Light officially known as the Holy Spirit Protectors who are under Superior Direction of the Lord Jesus Christ. These Holy Spirit Protectors are the Ones who shall direct the works in general of the Association principally those concerning the scientific, philosophical, moral and spiritual through Medianimical communications. \ \ **Article 37** The organization of the Spiritual Directors of the Union shall be headed by the President General and the Secretary General in the General Center and the respective officers of the District, Area, Local Centers and Foreign-based Chapters/Groups/Centers respectively to wit:\ \ a. In the General Center, the organization shall have three or more Official Mediums General to be selected from all regions by the Board of Directors General. This Official Mediums General shall act alternately in the Spiritual meetings of the Board of Directors General.\ \ b. In every District or Area/City Center two or more Official Mediums to be selected by the District, Area Committee respectively shall act alternately in the Spiritual Services during Sunday and in all other meetings.\ \ c. In every Local Center, one or more Official Mediums shall act alternately in the Spiritual Services during Sunday and in all other meetings in the Center.\ \ d. The alternation among Official Mediums to act in their own Centers is based on their respective officers in accordance with procedures formulated and approved by the Board of Directors General and confirmed by the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center.\  \ **CHAPTER XXXI\ PROHIBITIONS ON MEDIUMS\ \ Article 38** An Official Medium shall not be eligible to hold office, post or position either elective or appointive. They shall be allowed to act as mediums only, including the registered Official Spiritual Healers.\  \ **CHAPTER XXXII\ PERSONS ALLOWED IN THE MEETING OF THE BOARD\ \ Article 39** Any bona fide member of duly affiliated Center of the Association, Local and Foregin-based Chapter/Center, shall be allowed to be present in the meetings or deliberations of the Board of Directors General, of the Local Board, Area Committee and District Committee, but they shall have only voice and no votes therein. However, in all other functions, such as studies, séances, spiritual services, conferences, moral consultations, Spiritual or material operations, members and non members are allowed.\  \ **CHAPTER XXXIII\ GENERAL ASSEMBLIES\ \ Article 40** The annual meetings in the General Center of all members of the Association shall be called Ordinary General Assembly and other meetings to be held during the year shall be called Extraordinary General Assembly which may be held as many times as occasion demands pursuant to Article 42. The Ordinary General Assembly shall take place annually on the third Saturday of February. The members of good standing shall have voice and right to vote individually in all proceedings.\  \ **Article 41** In all general assemblies, ordinary or extraordinary, the attendance of the members present representing majority of the number of the Local Center affiliated with the Association shall constitute a "quorum". Provided that these members have been registered with the Committee on Credentials duly created by the Board of Directors General for the purpose.\  \ **Article 42** Upon written petition of fifty (50) members of Centers in good standing affiliated with the Association, the Board of Directors General may call an extraordinary general assembly for the purpose of considering matters of general interest.; or for amending or repealing resolutions adopted by the said Board of Directors General. It is understood that said extraordinary general assembly upon previous notice shall be held on Sunday within sixty (60) days from the date of the approval of the said petition, but if in the judgment of the Board of Directors General such petition does not require immediate action, the points specified and urgency therein shall be included in the "AGENDA" to receive priority of consideration in the next ordinary general assembly. In this case, to approve any measure, the affirmative votes of two-thirds (2/3) of the duly registered members present in the assembly shall be required.\  \ **Article 43** Assembly of any nature upon previous notice and proof of "quorum" required in Article 41 of this shall be considered legally constituted and its deliberations shall be valid and will have effect of law, requiring all members of the association to abide by and respect them; Provided that, if in the first call no sufficient members of attendance to constitute a quorum has been registered, then the assembly shall be deferred for ten (10) days from the designated date of the first call, and if after such deferment, still no sufficient number of members appear to form a quorum, the assembly shall nevertheless be held and the same shall have the effect of the law requiring all members of the association to abide by and respect the same.\  \ **CHAPTER XXXIV\ FILING OF CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY FOR DIRECTORS GENERAL\  \ Article 44** The Board of Directors General, one week before the third Sunday of October, of every year, shall appoint a Committee on Elections to take charge of the elections for the new Board of Directors General of the Association. After the creation of the Committee on Elections, the President General shall instruct the Secretary General to immediately send circular to all Local Center affiliated with the Union, as well as Area/City Committee and District Committee to select their candidates for their District for the Board of Directors General as provided in the By-Laws Article 21 (letter f and g) and to instruct their candidates to file their individual certificates of candidacy not later than Second Sunday of December of the year thereafter.\  \ **CHAPTER XXXV\ MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF DIRECTOR GENERAL\  \ Article 45** The following are the minimum qualifications of the Director General:\ \ a. Must be a Filipino Citizen and resident of the Republic of the Philippines;\ \ b. Must be able to read and write and could speak any dialect in the Philippines.\ \ c. At least 35 years old, and if married, his/her spouse must be a member if an affiliated Center.\ \ d. Must be regular member of an affiliated Center in good standing  for ten (10) years and had been officer for six (6) years in the Association.\ \ e. Must be physically, mentally and morally fit to hold office.\ \ f. Must possess good moral character and has never been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude and/or any other criminal offense.\  \ **CHAPTER XXXVI\ ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS GENERAL\ \ Article 46** The election for new Board of Directors General shall take place during the holding of General Assembly on the third Saturday of the month of February each year. The ten (10) winning candidates, proclaimed by the Committee on Elections and the incumbent reckoned from nineteen (19) previously elected Directors General, shall in turn hold an election by secret ballot in order to elect from among themselves the President General, Vice-President General, Secretary General, Treasurer General, One Auditor General, Press Relations Officer General, and One Director General of Mediums and Two Legal Advisers General shall be appointed by the Board of Directors General. The remaining elected Directors General shall automatically be considered the members of the Board.\  \ **CHAPTER XXXVII\ ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF LOCAL CENTERS, AREA AND DISTRICT COMMITTEE\  \ Article 47** The election of Local Board of Directors, Area Committees and District Committee shall be as follows:\ \ a. The election of officers Local Board of Directors of each Local Center affiliated with the Union shall take place on the Second Sunday of the month of October every three (3) years. Their elections shall be made known to the members of the Local Center and the result thereof shall be sent to the following: 1. One copy to the Area Committee  2. One copy to the District Committee 3. One copy to the Committee on Official Directory 4. One copy to the Director General concerned. 5. One copy to the Secretary General b\. The election of officers of the Area Committee shall take place within the first two weeks of the month of November every three (3) years and their elections shall be made known to all Local Centers within the jurisdiction, together with all the members of the Area. The result thereof shall be sent to the same officials or offices as noted in section (a) of this article.\ \ c. The election of Officers of the District Committee shall take place within the first two weeks of the month of December every three (3) years and their election shall be made known to all Area Committees under the District Committee. The results shall be sent to the same officials or offices noted above under Section (a) of this article.\ \ d. The Committee of the Official Directory shall compile the results of all the above-mentioned elections and shall print the Directory within a specified month of every year to be determined and with the approval of the Board of the Directors General.\ \ e. The Official Directory shall: 1. Contain the corresponding Code Number of each Local Center together with registered name of the Local Center and its elected and appointed officers. 2. Be arranged from District One to District Twenty Eight (28).  \ **Article 48** In the general elections, whether for the officers of the Local Center, Area Committee, the District Committee or the Board of Directors General, the plurality of votes shall constitute an election. The bona fide members of duly affiliated Centers are eligible to hold office without distinction as to sex, granting to women the chance to take active part in the administration of the Association and recognizing them as men's co-equal by right or by ability. All members of good standing of duly affiliated centers are allowed to vote or be voted upon with the exceptions of Official Mediums, who can only vote as provided in Article 38. All outgoing officers of the Union shall turnover to their successors all documents, records, books, money and properties of the Union, which they have in their possession.\  \ **CHAPTER XXXVIII\ FUNDS OF THE ASSOCIATION\ \ Article 49** The funds of the Association shall constitute the various collections from membership fees, annual renewal of membership, annual contributions, gifts, donation and other sources of income in which the Board of Directors General may create. From these funds the following expenses shall be taken.\ \ a. Enough amounts for the Offices of the Secretary General, the Treasurer General, the Press Relations Officers General to be spent for stationeries, stamps, printing materials, receipts, diplomas, identification cards, pins, book to be printed, miscellaneous and incidental expenses thereof to be incurred by the Secretary General particularly in the performance of his duties and functions shall be reimbursable.\ \ b. Additional expenses for the yearly general assembly and anniversary of the Association.\ \ c. For urgent repairs of the General Center including its amenities thereof.\ \ d. For gifts to sufferers from all sorts of calamities within and outside of the Philippines, and for allocation of financial assistance from Handog Sa Bahay Dalanginan Fund for repairs or refurbishing poorest affiliated Centers in good standing as determined by the Board of Directors General.\ \ e. The collections from the annual renewal of membership fees shall be allotted and distributed as follows:\      1. share for Local Centers -- 20%\      2. share for Provincial Committees- 10%\      3. share for Regional Center -- 10%\      4. share for the General Center -- 60%\  \ **CHAPTER XXXIX\ SEPARATION AND READMISSION OF MEMBERS AND CENTERS\ \ Article 50** The following rules shall govern the separation of centers and members, to wit:\ \ a. Local Centers as entities cannot in any manner whatsoever separate or solicit separation from the Association as they are the properties of the Association.\ \ ​b. The building of any Center, together with its properties and assets cannot be removed or transferred to another location or conveyed and disposed in any manner whatsoever without the approval of the Board of Directors General of the Association.\ \ c. Any member of the Association may solicit his temporary or permanent separation there-from by filing a written petition to that effect with the Local Board of Directors of his Center, and after receipts thereof, the Local Board of Directors will endorse it to the Area/City Committee and the District Committee concerned. Finally, the Board of Directors General shall submit it form final determination to the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center.\ \ d. Any member may solicit his transfer from his Center to another Center by securing the proper endorsement from the Local Board of Directors to be confirmed by Area Committee President concerned.\ \ **Article 51** An ex-member of the Association may re-affiliate if approved by the Holy Spirit Protector of the Local Center of which he will be a member through the action of the Area Committee, District Committee, the Director General concerned and the Board of Directors General. Upon re-filing, of application, he shall pay the annual renewal of his membership.\ \ **CHAPTER XL\ HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION\ \ Article 52** The Association, at the discretion of the Board of Directors General and upon approval of the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center, grants honorary membership to any person within and outside of the Association by reason of his meritorious services rendered for the common good for the Association.\  \ **CHAPTER XLI\ DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION\ \ Article 53** The Association shall continue to exist as long as there is one Local Center still organized. It can only be dissolved upon resolution of the Board of Directors General and affirmed by two-thirds (2/3) votes of those in good standing members present in the General Assembly and duly confirmed by the Holy Spirit Protector and as prescribed by existing laws of the Republic of the Philippines. If it will be dissolved as such, its properties and assets shall be transferred to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and shall be used for charitable purposes.\  \ **CHAPTER XLII\ AMENDMENT OF THE BY-LAWS\ \ Article 54** This By-Laws may be amended in accordance with the Corporation Code of the Philippines, Batas Pambansa 68, Section 48, which provides that two-thirds (2/3) of the members in a non-stock corporation may delegate to the Board of Directors or Trustees the power to amend or repeal any by-laws or adopt new by-laws. Provided, that the amended or adopted new by-laws had been ratified by the affirmative votes of two-thirds (2/3) of all registered delegate members of Local Centers in good standing present in general assembly convened for the purpose and confirmed by the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center.\  \ **CHAPTER XLIII\ EFFECTIVITY OF THE NEW BY-LAWS\ \ Article 55** This new By-Laws , shall have the character of an Organic Law and shall take effect immediately upon approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission, by the Holy Spirit Protector of the General Center as ratified in a plebiscite during the General Assembly.\  \ **CHAPTER XLIV\ TRANSITORY PROVISIONS\ \ Article 56** The Board of Director General is authorized to merge, adopt and create additional Districts upon submission of the result of referendum conducted for the purpose.\ \ \ Signed:\ \ **THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS GENERAL**\ \ **HMNO. KENNEDY L. AQUINO                   **\ Director General, District 1\  \ **HMNA. JEANETTE C. COLLADO         **\ Director General, District 2\  \ **HMNO. DANIEL O. GALACYAN**\ Director General, District 3\  \ **HMNO. BENJAMIN Y. GOMEZ **\ Director General, District 4\  \ **HMNO. CECILIO P. CONCEPCION                       **\ Director General, District 5\ \ **HMNA. TERESITA M. DELOS TRINOS                   **\ Director General, District 6\ \ **HMNA. MINERVA ST. DE GUZMAN             **\ Director General, District 7\  \ **HMNO. CORNELIO F. LAMPESA**\ Director General, District 8\  \ **HMNO. PETER C. TANGGAN                        **\ Director General, District 9\  \ **HMNO. GERRY B. ALEJO                               **\ Director General, District 10\  \ **HMNO. MAXIMINO S. JOSE                            **\ Director General, District 11\  \ **HMNO. GILBERT A. DOMINGO                      **\ Director General, District 12\  \ **HMNO. RUDY P. OCAMPO                          **\ Director General, District 13\  \ **HMNO. FERDINAND Y. MICLAT**\ Director General, District 14\  \ **HMNO. APOLOS S. ANGELES                         **\ Director General, District 15\  \ **HMNO. FERNANDO A. UMALI**\ Director General, District 16\  \ **HMNO. MANOLO C. ROMULO, SR.**\ Director General, District 17\  \ **HMNA. EMMA C. PATUNGAN                            **\ Director General, District 18\  \ **HMNO. JONATHAN T. PARROCHA**\ Director General, District 18\  \ **HMNO. HILARIO C. CORPUZ, JR.**\ Director General, District 19\  \ **HMNO. WENCESLAO P. GARCIA                   **\ Director General, District 20\  \ **HMNO. BENJAMIN Y. SAN JUAN         **\ Director General, District 21\  \ **HMNA. AURORA C. REALON**\ Director General, District 22\                          \ **HMNA. ROSALINDA M. ONG                        **\ Director General, District 23\  \ **HMNO. JOEL N. AREOLA           **\ Director General, District 24\  \ **HMNO. OSCAR L. PRESTO                     **\ Director General, District 25\  \ **HMNO. DIOSDADO A. ORDANZA**\ Director General, District 26