Masonic Landmark at UP Diliman

By Bro. Rusnnel Dela Cruz, (147)

“Tough Rizalist” – Past Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines – Masonic Year 1920. A famous Filipino educator, philosopher, politician and Rizalian, he became the Fourth President and Second Filipino President of the University of the Philippines.

Most Worshipful Rafael Palma wrote several articles that delighted and inspired Masons. On January 30, 1931, as a Grand Orator, he said, in part the following: “The philosophy of Masonry has not lost faith in the goodness of human nature and considers liberty as an inestimable boon and every man’s birthright. It consequently endeavors to inculcate the doctrine that man must be educated to be free and to seek to know himself and develop his innate faculties and inclinations. This education involves the free exercise of reason, not only to think and reason for himself, untrammeled by readymade dogma or opinions consecrated by tradition or usage; but to follow a rule of conduct which he considers the most in accordance with prudence and wisdom, through it be in conflict with that which is generally accepted and approved. Reason is the noblest gift to man. It is the right nay, the duty of each and every one of us to make our contri-

bution be it ever so small, to the progress of the world, and it is not by waiving the free use of reason that we can add our grain of sand to that building, but by contributing a new thought, a new idea, a new mode of procedure or new rule of conduct. He who contents himself with taking all he needs from the accumulated wisdom of the ages without giving anything in return is a spendthrift, not a collaborator.”

About 2 years ago - on February 21, 2019, MW Rafael Palma’s bust sculpture donated thru the Grand Lodge of the Philippines was unveiled at the Palma Hall of the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City as part of the university-wide celebration of the anniversary of the transfer of the Oblation from its Manila campus to Diliman. In attendance at the simple ceremony are members of the UP Diliman academe represented by no less than the UP President, Atty. Danilo Concepcion, PhD, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan, PhD, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Dean Ma. Bernadette Abrera, PhD; and brethren from the GLP led by MW Reynato S. Puno PGM. Also present was MW Palma’s grandchildren Bros. Jayson Legaspi of Macario Ramos Lodge 355, Jonathan, and Janice Salazar, as well as some brothers from Rafael Palma Lodge 147 led by WB Jonathan Montanez and WB Abelardo Mendoza, IPM and a group of masons led by VW Augusto Alvarez, PDGL, interim president of Iskong Mason – an organization of Freemasons with affiliation with the University of the Philippines. Unfortunately, MW Romeo S. Momo, then Grandmaster of Masons was out of the country and the event having been scheduled at 10:00 am on a workday, most officers of the Grand Lodge asked to be excused and sent their regrets. The bust sculpture of the Past Grand Master was sculpted by Professors Emmanuel Sicat and Paul Quiano of the UP College of Fine Arts. It is situated at the newly restored Palma Hill – where students can study, congregate, and appreciate nature. The pedestal and overall construction of the concrete landmark was made by Iskoyang WB Bagz delos Santos of Capitol Masonic Lodge 174 while the commemorative marker plates were donated by Iskoyang VW Harold Santiago of Pampanga Masonic Lodge 48.

Recalling his keynote speech during the event, MW Reynato S. Puno mentioned a masonic trivia, that there are four (4) other major buildings in UP Diliman situated around the academic oval which are named after notable Masons, namely: 1) College of Law Building (Malcolm Hall); named after Bro Justice George Arthur Malcolm. 2) College of Business Administration Building (Virata Hall); named after Bro Cesar A. Virata. 3) College of Music Building (Abelardo Hall); named after Bro. Nicanor Abelardo; and 4) The UP Administration Building (Quezon Hall); named after MW Manuel L. Quezon, PGM

The Palma Bust Project was made possible through the benevolent hearts of the brethren of Rafael Palma Lodge 147 and the Iskong Mason. The Rafael Palma sculpture becomes a historic landmark for Masons - it being the first and (so far) only masonically-inspired contribution of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippines to the country’s premiere educational institution – the University of the Philippines.

In April 2020 due to the Corona Virus pandemic, Palma Hall served as a quarantine area with classrooms and lobbies converted into isolation rooms for suspected and probable COVID-19 cases. We visited UP last February 2021 in an attempt to take pictures of the Palma Bust 2 years since its unveiling, but the UP Administration, being cautious of the present situation, forbid activities around the academic oval, more so allow entry inside the Hall. The challenge now is for the brethren to visit this landmark and discover the subtle masonic signs and symbols incorporated with the marker.