1895-1899:  
General Aguinaldo
Revolutionist, President of the Republic, Freemason

The exhibit is presented in celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the lodge General Aguinaldo founded in 1914, in Kawit, Cavite, Logia Magdalo No 371, under the Gran Logia Regional de Filipinas of the Grande Oriente Español, (now President Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Lodge No 5, IGLPI)   It informs of the initiation of General Aguinaldo as a Mason in Logia Pilar No 203, Imus, Cavite  in 1895 at the height of Spanish colonial government’s persecution of Masons in the country.   

It presents a time capsule of Masonry in the colonial history of the Philippines; the roots of true Filipino Masonry from Barcelona to Manila and the advocacy of Filipino Mason-patriots who initiated a campaign for colonial reforms that eventually led to the formation of the Katipunan.  The exhibit also informs of the initiation of General Aguinaldo into the Katipunan.

The exhibit identifies the Masons in General Aguinaldo’s revolutionary government and the cabinet he formed under the 1899 republican government.  It features symbolisms he adopted for both governments that were also used by Masonic lodges.

The exhibit is produced by the Philippine Center for Masonic Studies,  Independent Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippine Islands.

 

 

Starting February, educational pamphlets will be available for use of lodges in their information and Masonic education programs.  Edited by the Philippine Center for Masonic Studies and published by Bagong Ilaw Lodge No 6, these pamphlets shall be distributed through the secretaries of the lodges. 

The 8th Annual Grand Assembly of IGLPI was held from November 28 to 30, 2013.  The opening ceremonies,  plenary sessions, election and installation of grand officers were held at Bagong Buhay Lodge No 4 Masonic Center while Cavite Lodge No 2 Masonic Center served as the venue of the conferral of the Past Master/Installed Master’s degree and Masonic education lectures.  Four legislative measures were approved: the creation the Legal Assistance Committee; Creation of the Committee on Youth Affairs; the Grand Lodge Special Fund Raising Project and the resolution allowing dual Installation of member Lodges. 

The grand officers elected for Masonic year 2014 were; MW Javier del Rosario, Grand Master; RW Ruben Romanes, Deputy Grand Master; RW Reynaldo Generillo, Senior Grand Warden; RW Bayani Leoncio, Junior Grand Warden; RW Abelardo Camahalan, Grand Treasurer; RW Armando Quion, Grand Secretary and RW Apolonio Toledo, Grand Auditor.  They were installed by MWB Nicolas G. Ricafrente, PGM and VW Petronilo Bulanhagui, Grand Marshal.  This year's grand assembly was hosted by Bagong Buhay Lodge No 4.

Grand Master Amorico Alvarez,  Grand Line Officers and President Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Lodge No 5 led the parade of IGLPI member lodges in the celebration of the 115th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence Day held at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite.

Grand officers led by Grand Master Amorico Alvarez; District One officers and members commemorated Philippine Republic Day at the Barasoain church plaza in Malolos City, Bulacan.  Guest of honor was city mayor Christian Natividad.  This year's program was coordinated by Bro Venancio Cuvin, District Grand Supervisor and hosted by Barasoain Lodge No 12.  The republic was inaugurated in Malolos, then the national capital, on January 23, 1899 two days after the promulgation of a republican constitution, the first in Asia. January 23 was officially designated Philippine Republic Day through a proclamation signed by President Aquino on January 9 this year.

The Independent Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippine Islands held its seventh Annual Grand Assembly from November 29 to December 01, 2012 at the Cavite Lodge No 2 Masonic Center in Cavite City and Victoriaville Clubhouse in Bacoor. 

The assembly tackled fifteen resolutions referred to the Legislative Council during the year;  three from member lodges, one from the Council of Elders and the rest from the legislative agenda of the Executive Council.  Of the fifteen, ten were approved. 

Among the resolutions approved was the granting of Centenary awards to member lodges that had reached  their centenary year, complemented by the giving of centennial jewels to all surviving members.  IGLPI’s century old lodges are Pilar Lodge, first chartered by the Grande Oriente Español in1894; Cavite Lodge, chartered by the Grand Lodge of California in 1903; and Bagong Buhay, chartered by the Grande Oriente Español in 1907.  President Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Lodge also chartered by the Grand Oriente Español will celebrate its centennial year in 2014. Also approved was the awarding of silver or gold service pins to Masons with 25, 50 and 60 years of service to the Craft.

The assembly also ratified the establishment of a Grand Temple Builders Council which shall replace the Temple Builders Association.  Another resolution approved was the ten percent donation to the temple trust fund from the net proceeds of all fund raising projects of member lodges, the districts and the Grand lodge.  Also approved was the granting of  the authority to newly chartered lodges to accept dual members from their roster of charter members and pre-determine their principal officers prior to their constitution and first election of officers.    

Grand election was held on December 01.  Elected were MW Amorico A. Alvarez, Grand Master, RW Javier del Rosario, Deputy Grand Master, RW Ruben Romanes, Senior Warden, RW Reynaldo Generillo, Junior Grand Warden, RW Abelardo Camahalan, Grand Treasurer, RW Armando Quion, Grand Secretary and RW Apolonio Toledo, Grand Auditor.  They were installed by MWB Roberto Landas, immediate Past Grand Master.  

Another highlight of the Annual Grand Assembly was the granting of a charter to Barasoain Lodge, U.D. of Malolos, Bulacan, thus officially naming it Barasoain Lodge No 12.  Constitution of the lodge shall be announced after the lodge has completed all requirements prescribed by the IGLPI Administrative Code. 

The host lodge of this year's grand assembly was Cavite Lodge No 2 of Cavite City.

Held on October 28, 2012 at Cavite Lodge No 2 Masonic Center in memory of all departed brethren.  WB Dwight Francis G. Jawid, Cavite Lodge No 2,  Presiding Master; WB Francis A. Gealogo, Bagong Buhay Lodge No 4, Senior Warden; WB Francis A. Dimaliwat, Freedom Lodge No 10, Junior Warden;  VWB Eduardo Victa, Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Lodge No 5, Chaplain

               In Memoriam
Bro. Edgardo P. Pangco, Pintong Bato Lodge No 9; Bro Dominador P. Abello, Bagong Buhay Lodge No 4; VWB Bernardo E. Marges, Mendez Nuñez Lodge No 8; Bro Virgilio C. Del Mundo, Pintong Bato Lodge No 9; Bro Fred C. Manela, Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Lodge No 5; Bro Glicerio E. Estrada, Cavite Lodge No 2

IGLPI Masons joined the nationwide celebration of the 114th anniversary of the proclamation of national independence on June 12, 2012.  A commemoration program was preceded by a parade which culminated at the Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite. 

Year 2012 also marks the 120th year of the establishment of a first truly Filipino  Masonic Lodge in the country.  The plan was conceived by Marcelo del Pilar, Father of Filipino Masonry during the pro-Filipino movement in Spain that preceded the 1896 revolution. The organization of the first lodge called Nilad, chartered in 1892 by the Grande Oriente Espanol, led to the founding of more Filipino lodges and the establishment of the first national organization of Filipino Masons; the Gran Consejo Regional de Filipinas in 1893.  

The significance of year 2012 is underscored by this year's IGLPI Masonic theme: "Pagpupugay sa Malayang Kaisipan ng Malayang Pilipino; "Pagpupugay sa ika-120 taon ng Malayang Masoneryang Pilipino, 1892-2012."  (Homage to freedom of thought; homage to the 120th year of Filipino Freemasonry).

The Sixth Annual Convention of Masonic District One opens on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at the Cavite Lodge Masonic Center, Cavite City.  Host Cavite Lodge No 2, shall be opened at six o’clock in the morning by ceremonial officers representing member lodges of the district.  Plenary session to be presided by VW Crisostomo Mira, District Grand Supervisor follows after the opening and preliminary proceedings. 

The district convention is one of the venues for the exercise of legislative powers of lodges.  The convention considers two types of legislative proposals, through resolutions:  proposals for the benefit of the district which may include supplementary provisions or amendments to the existing district by-laws; and proposals for consideration of the Grand Lodge during its annual grand assembly held in the last week of November.  District level resolutions consistent with the IGLPI constitution and its various codes, when approved become part of the District Council’s governing rules or policies.  Grand Lodge level proposals on the other hand are subject to the endorsement of the district before these are submitted to the Legislative Council for considertion during the annual grand assembly. 

Under the IGLPI Administrative Code Section 3, Article III - Legislative Powers, one of the means to enact new laws and amendments to the Constitution, enabling codes and all existing legislations is:

(3.1)  "By resolution of the member lodges through their District Council, passed and recommended by the Legislative Council, and adopted by the Grand Assembly."

The district convention  is also expected to formally announce the host lodge of the 2013 Annual District Convention and endorse three recommendees for District Grand Supervisor for appointment by the next by the Grand Master.