Gonzaga Masonic Lodge No.66

Compiled by VW Edilberto Fragrante, PDDGM & Bro. Mario P. Narag, Jr.

Our lodge celebrates this masonic year its centenary, having been chartered on January 25, 1921. It was named after Bro. Atty. Gracio P. Gonzaga, one of the organizers of Masonry in Northern Luzon, who served as Secretary of Finance in President Emilio Aguinaldo's cabinet, and later as Provincial Governor of Cagayan. Brother Gonzaga was actually the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, having been appointed by Aguinaldo, a brother Mason, during the revolutionary period.

In January 1920, twelve Master Masons, all residents of Tuguegarao, Cagayan, led by Governor Fermin Macanaya, Provincial Treasurer Ceferino R. Dino, and Dr. Jose F. Quinto, Sr. requested the Grand Lodge of Philippine Islands for a dispensation to open a lodge in Cagayan to be named Gonzaga Lodge. The petition was hand-delivered by Bro. Francisco Gumila Carag to Manila and on November 26, Grand Master Rafael Palma issued the dispensation. At the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge on January 25, 1921, it was granted a charter as the 66th Lodge under the jurisdiction. Incidentally, Bro. Carag was then the designated Master of the Luzon lodge UD which also got its charter on the same day.

During the lodge’s Constitution, the following Officers were Installed: Gov. Macanaya ,Charter Master; Dr. Jose F. Quinto, Sr. ,Senior Warden; Ceferino R. Dino, Junior Warden; and Jose Liquigan, Secretary.

From the time of its constitution up to the outbreak of the Second World War, Gonzaga Lodge registered a steady growth. Wellknown personalities in the community, such as Representatives Marcelo Adduru and Sabas Casibang swelled its ranks. It also spread the teachings and tenets of the Craft to other towns of Cagayan.

During World War II, the Lodge was inactive for four years. Among the casualties of that war was WB Victoriano Luna, the first Medical Chief of the Army who died in Mariveles, Bataan. V. Luna Memorial Hospital was named in his honor.

After the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese occupation forces, seventeen surviving members reconstituted the lodge on October 26, 1946, namely: Juan B. Pagulayan, Lorenzo de Leon, Roque Taguba, Juan N. Diego, Hilario de Yro, Estanislao B. Pagulayan, Guadalupe Bayuga, Marcelo Paguyu, Agustin Balisi, Simeon Sorita, Pedro M. Gammad, Perfecto P. Lingan, Sr., David Romero, Pedro Turingan, Bernardino Pagalilauan, Bonifacio Mequi and Buenaventura Marcelo.

Beginning with practically nothing, the lodge held its meetings in a rented house with no equipment and paraphernalia. Within six years membership increased to 43 active members. As the lodge was gradually rehabilitated, the brethren turned their attention to the construction of a Temple on their more than 1,000 sq. m. property, acquired before the war. Proceeds from the war damage claims and contributions from well-to-do members, the plan for the building was laid out. Construction started during the term of WB Perfecto B. Lingan under the supervision of Bro. Engineer Jose M. Torres. The Temple was completed on December 31, 1951.

Due for renovation thirty years later, the late VW Gualberto C. Agatep loaned the lodge his retirement benefits, interest free to finance the project which included the construction of commercial stalls at the ground floor. Grand Master Pedro W. Guerzon rededicated the Temple on September 22, 1985. From the rentals generated by the commercial stalls, the Lodge gradually repaid VW Agatep. In 2002, Gonzaga 66 sponsored the creation of Gualberto C. Agatep Masonic Lodge No. 341 (Gattaran, Cagayan) in his honor. ML66 also takes pride in its first daughter lodge Itawes No. 215 (Solana, Cagayan) chartered in 1977.

Between 2004 and 2005 during the terms of Worshipful Masters Ildefonso R Quilang III and Rustico Turingan, respectively, the wooden Lodge Temple was demolished to make way for the concrete structure that is the current home of Gonzaga 66. In 2006, VW Benjamin M. Lasam was the first WM installed in the new temple.

Today, the Gonzaga Lodge 66 continues its labors, as well as its socio-civic projects for the benefit of the community, taking every opportunity to propagate the precepts of Masonry. The lodge has been continuously producing respected leaders and members within Masonry, in the government, in business and in the community. In 1997, one of its members, a past master and an Illustrious being a past Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33rd degree, was elevated to the Grand Oriental Chair in the person of MW Dr. Leon Angel P. Bañez, Jr. Other lodge members served as Grand Lodge officers in various capacities, here and overseas. Such leadership has even been extended to appendant bodies. VW Renato S. Gongora, a past master, and sister Perlita Gongora, were elevated as Grand Royal Patron and Grand Royal Matron, respectively, of the Grand Court of the Philippines, Order of the Amaranth. VW Edilberto R. Fragante and VW Fortunato B. Tumaliuan, Jr. became Sovereign Grand Inspector Generals, 33rd degree the highest Degree of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite. The lodge also prides itself of an exemplar in the person of VW Renato B. Aquino, PDDGM, the “walking monitor” and Hiram Awardee in 2009.

S. Guimmayen, the lodge approved a tenyear development plan for the construction of a new temple. Bro Architect Bienvenido T. Canlas was commissioned to prepare and present a building plan. A bank account was opened as a Temple Builders Fund. A year later WB Mariano P. Pagaddu acquired a lot in Capatan, Tuguegarao City through bank assisted funding. Succeeding Worshipful Masters initiated various ways in raising funds for the project. WB Reynorio M. Jumauan after securing approval of the reclassification of the lot from the city council initiated the ground-breaking on December 5, 2017. WB Efipanio Pagalilauan led the brethren in the cornerstone laying on May 12, 2018 officiated by MW Romeo S Momo. Construction of the temple has officially started. WB Ricardo Quilang (MY 2019) continue the quest. Depleting resources and even the COVID-19 Pandemic did not stop WB Renato M. Taborada with the temple’s construction, believing that the GAOTU led the lodge to a generous benefactor in the person of RW Don Teng Ramas Uypitching. The lodge likewise owe much from WB Jaime Crisostomo of San Miguel De Mayumo Masonic Lodge No.412 and Mr. Ricardo Alba, President of UNAHCO to name a few, for their valuable assistance.

The pandemic did not deter the scheduled centennial celebration of the lodge last January 25, 2021. As Tuguegarao City then was on lockdown, Grand Master Agapito S. Suan, Jr. still send his message via a video recording, the gist of which being:

“One hundred years is indeed a long time that few lodges in the country have ever reached such a prestigious stage. Your lodge and your members truly deserve the highest commendation for your enduring commitment to making good men better in the province of Cagayan. Now that your Centennial Masonic Temple is nearing its completion, I am confident that the next 100 years will become more fruitful than ever before.”

Should God will it Gonzaga Masonic Lodge No.66 shall be able to recognize those who have brought prestige and honor to the lodge during the upcoming dedication of the new temple this year.