Tamaraw Masonic Lodge No.65

Compiled by Bro. Billy Joseph M. Masangkay (Lodge Secretary)

Tamaraw Masonic Lodge No. 65 F. & A. M. is located at the City of Calapan in the province of Oriental Mindoro. Its members meet every 2nd Saturday of the month at 2:30 pm in Tamaraw Masonic Temple at Roxas Drive, Calero, Calapan City.

The Lodge is named after the Tamaraw or Timarua (Bubalus Mindorensis) - a small, very wild buffalo found exclusively in the jungles of Mindoro Island.

The Lodge was founded by thirteen prominent residents of Mindoro namely:

• WB Juan Morente, Jr., PM - the first Filipino Civil Governor of Mindoro) • Bro. Juan L. Luna - a Representative to the

Philippine Assembly • Bro. Lucas Babiera - the 2nd Filipino Provincial Commander • WB Justo Ramos, PM - the 3rd Filipino

Superintendent of Schools

Other members were:

• WB Vicente Adeva, PM • WB Leoncio Casañas, PM • WB Luciano Gansico, PM

• WB Antonio L. Luna, PM • WB Felix Martinez, PM • Bro. Agustin Garong • Bro. Gabriel Ladra • Bro. Valerio Leynes • Bro. Teofilo Mendoza

Bound by a common dream, thirteen members of the Craft – emanating from various lodges in Batangas and Manila, endeavored to spread the light of Freemasonry in the island of Mindoro. With sheer guts and unwavering Masonic spirit, the Brethren laboured together and made that dream a reality. Grand Master Rafael Palma issued the dispensation on October 28, 1920 and by January 25, 1921 Tamaraw Lodge, UD was granted its charter after complying with requirements.

The Charter Officers were publicly installed during its Constitution . It was attended by 400 people which was far in excess of the capacity of the building.

Within a year after it was constituted, Tamaraw Lodge No. 65 conferred the degrees of Masonry on 22 new adepts which included Cipriano Liboro, the 2nd Civil Governor of Mindoro.

GLP’s 65th lodge is the proud mother of two daughter lodges, Mindoro No. 157 located at San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; and Halcon No.249 located at Roxas, Oriental Mindoro.

It is also proud to have produced a Grand Master in the person of MW Jolly R. Bugarin, former Director of the National Bureau of Investigation, who sat in the Grand Oriental Chair in 1979.

https://grandlodge.ph/lodges/tamaraw