Forged in Fire

By VW Ali C. Espina, Grand Historian

To be forged is to go under a tremendous amount of heat, hammering, stress, and be shaped into something strong. This is how the lodges celebrating their centennials in 2021 can and should be described.

The lodges were borne at the end of the deadliest pandemic to hit mankind: the 1918-1919 Influenza Pandemic. Commonly known as the Spanish Flu, the disease infected more than half of the world’s population and claimed at least 50 million lives. In the Philippines, the pandemic registered around 80,000 deaths. And at the backdrop of this pandemic was the first world war. The early twenties were also the time when erstwhile popular Gran Oriente Espanol wanted to reclaim its foothold in the Philippines.

Regardless, these 14 lodges – Pangasinan Lodge No. 56, Isla de Luzon Lodge No. 57, Marble Lodge No. 58, Labong Lodge No. 59, Isabela Lodge No. 60, Mayon Lodge No. 61, Tupas Lodge No. 62, Angalo Lodge No. 63, Kanlaon Lodge No. 64, Tamaraw Lodge No. 65, Gonzaga Lodge No. 66, Baguio Lodge No. 67, Magat Lodge No. 68, and Primera Luz Filipina Lodge No. 69 – joined the newly formed grand lodge founded by 3 American Lodges: Manila Lodge No. 342 (GLPI No. 1), Cavite Lodge No. 350 (GLPI No. 2), and Corregidor Lodge No. 386 (GLPI No. 3); well establishing the young Grand Lodge of The Philippines Islands’ masonic influence in the country.

The 9th Annual Communications described the stellar performances of the lodges. It was mentioned that "Although some of the above Lodges were granted dispensation late in the year (1920), an astounding amount of work was done, and there appears to be, in each instance, full justification for a charter." One lodge was even "granted a charter without the formality of working under Dispensation." During the

same occasion, MW Rafael Palma granted these 14 lodges their respective numbers and allowed them to continue to work under dispensation until such time that they were constituted. Also recorded in the same AnCom were the first lodges to be constituted: Labong Lodge No. 59 on 26 Feb 1921 and Pangasinan Lodge No. 56 on 5 May 1921. This is the reason why there were different dates as to the respective anniversaries of the lodges. Some used the date when they were given their respective numbers, as was the practice before. While some used the dates when they were constituted, as what is a common practice nowadays.

This centennial batch of lodges also have produced brethren who sat the grand oriental chair: MW Antonio Gonzales, Sr. (1932, Luzon 57), MW Joseph Alley (1937, Tupas 62), MW Cenon S. Cervantes (1951, Pangasinan 56), MW Sydney M. Austin (1952, Tupas 62), MW Jolly R. Bugarin (1979, Tamaraw 65), MW Leon Angel P. Bañez, Jr. (1997, Gonzaga 66) MW Franklin J. Demonteverde (1999, Kanlaon 64), MW Eugenio S. Labitoria (2002, Magat 68) and MW Juanito G. Espino, Jr. (2013, Mayon 61).

Out of the 14 lodges, 12 remained to this day. Marble Lodge No. 58, founded in Romblon had its members later on scattered all over the country and could not hold a meeting for six months. Some members were also not able to pay their dues. As a result, in January 1934, it surrendered its charter. The other casualty was Tupas Lodge No. 62. She was founded by members from Maktan Lodge No. 30. With dwindling membership after the second world war, it found its way being merged and survived by its sponsoring lodge in 1948.

Fast forward to 2021. The world is still experiencing the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Philippines, just beginning to vaccinate a portion of the population, stands as the country with the longest community quarantine or lockdown period. With varying degrees of lockdown, the centennial celebration of the lodges also differs. Lodges in the provinces where restrictions are lenient were able to still celebrate with pomp and pageantry, albeit not what we all have been used to because of government safety protocols. Some lodges opted to celebrate in virtual form, considering the safety of their members. This is not without opposition and debate from members who have been accustomed to big and fancy celebrations as a centennial should be if there is no pandemic.

Bookended by seemingly the biggest challenges of the 20th and 21st centuries, the 12 lodges continue to labor. They continue to mold good men to be better. They continue to be models of the craft. They strive to be stronger; as steel that has gone through the hottest flames should. They are the ones forged in fire.