Isarog Lodge #33

The name Isarog is derived from "Isa sa irog",
which means
"One with the Beloved"

It is the name of an inactive volcano which rises
in the center of the Bicol peninsula
in the province of Camarines Sur, island of Luzon.
It is a protected natural park, rich in its diversity of flora and fauna.
It is home to the Agta-Tabangnon and Agta-Cimarron indigenous tribes.
It provides potable spring water to six municipalities and the city
surrounding it.
It is a major tourist destination, with scenic waterfalls
and a challenging hike trail to the summit.

It is also the name of the oldest Masonic Lodge in Bicol.

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History of Isarog Lodge No. 33, F&AM

 

FREEMASONRY was introduced in the Philippines from Europe and America through Spain and California, U.S.A., respectively.

 

             In 1890, Filipino Masons returning to the Philippine Islands from Spain and other countries in Europe organized the first Filipino Lodge -  Logia Nilad No. 144 (constituted on January 6, 1891) in Manila - under the jurisdiction of the Gran Oriente Español. Lodge Nilad was called the Logia Madre (Mother Lodge), i.e., “the lodge from which all others came into being,” and by special authority of the Gran Oriente Español became the Logia Central y Delegada exercising supervisory powers over all other Lodges then organized under the jurisdiction of said Grand Orient. Membership in the Mother Lodge grew as many prominent Filipinos joined Masonry. From Manila, Masonry spread out to the different regions and provinces in the Philippine Islands as members formed themselves into “triangulos” (Masonic Clubs) which eventually became regular lodges.

 

             One of those Masonic clubs was Triangulo BICOL No. 64 organized in Libmanan, Ambos Camarines (now Camarines Sur) by Juan Miguel. No exact date of its organization is available, although it is approximated to have occurred in 1893.

 

             In 1893, following the formation of the Regional Grand Council as the highest governing body of all existing Masonic lodges under the jurisdiction of the Gran Oriente Español in the Philippines, Triangulo Bicol No. 64 became Logia BICOL, with Juan Miguel and Vicente Lukban as its co-founders. Juan Miguel became its first Worshipful Master. Among the then prominent Bicolanos in Ambos Camarines who became Masons in BICOL Lodge were: Vicente Ursua, Pablo del Villar, Pablo Perpetua, Esteban Villareal, Florentino Peñalosa, Adriano Pajarillo, Leon Hernandez, Ramon Cabezudo, Jose de Asis, Jose Sabater, Gregorio Luyong and Diego Liñan, etc. However, due to the reign of terror following the Cavite Revolt (1895-1897), all Filipino Lodges practically stopped operating and many Masons were persecuted by the Spanish government.

 

             Vicente Lukban was among those arrested as a suspected Katipunero. He was tortured, but survived and with exemplary firmness and courage made a frank defense of Masonry at his trial, and later became General of the Army under the General Aguinaldo government.

 

             In 1903, during the period of general restoration, Juan Utor y Fernandez, a 33rd degree Mason and a peninsular Spaniard, made a vain attempt to obtain authority from the Gran Oriente Español to reorganize and establish Lodges in the Philippines. Failing in his attempt, he organized, as it was his desire to organize, in Manila the Gran Oriente Filipino, by founding a Logia Madre called PRIMERA LUZ OCEANICA with the following officers: Juan Utor y Fernandez, Worshipful Master; Vicente Lukban, (co-founder of Lodge BICOL), Senior Warden; Jose de Asis, Junior Warden; Estanislao Legaspi, Orator; Santiago Lindaya, Secretary; Alvaro Nepomuceno, Senior Deacon; Alberto Campos, Master of Ceremonies; and Jose Maganti, Almoner.

 

             On January 6, 1904, Bro. Andres Garchitorena, under the authority of Juan Utor y Fernandez, founded in Nueva Caceres, Ambos Camarines (now Naga City) Logia LUZ MALAYA under the jurisdiction of the Gran Oriente Filipino. The officers of the Lodge were: Nemesio Reyes, Worshipful Master; Gregorio de Jesus, Senior Warden; Francisco Arandas, Junior Warden; and Juan San Buenaventura, Secretary. The founding of Luz Malaya Lodge in Nueva Caceres had an appealing effect  upon the Bicol “intelligentsia” in Ambos Camarines that on January 30th of the same year (1904), the following prominent Bicolanos became members of the Lodge; Esteban Villareal, Vicente Garchitorena, Frank Silva-Nitto, Ramon Enrile, Octavio Barreto and Pablo Perpetua. However, the Gran Oriente Filipino was never recognized by other Grand Lodges. Lodge Primera Luz Ocianica was dissolved in 1905 due to financial difficulties. Logia Luz Malaya became inoperative shortly after the dissolution of the Mother Lodge.

 

             Knowing of the dissolution of the Gran Oriente Filipino and Lodge in Bicol, Trinidad Pardo de Tavera (the organizer of Logia RIZAL under the jurisdiction of the Gran Oriente de Francia) and WB Andres Garchitorena reorganized Logia Luz Malaya in Nueva Caceres and changed its name to Logia ISAROG No. 378 under the Gran Oriente de Francia. With the reorganization of Logia Isarog No. 378 on September 17, 1906, the following were installed as its officers: Andres Garchitorena, Worshipful Master; Ramon Enrile, Senior Warden; Frank Silva-Nitto, Junior Warden; Nemesio Reyes, Orator; Emerito Abella, Treasurer, and Julian San Buenaventura, Secretary.

 

             Logia Isarog No. 378 in Nueva Caceres remained under the jurisdiction of the Gran Oriente de Francia until the early part of 1915. The following served as its officers from 1907-1915:

• 1907 - Nemesio Reyes, Worshipful Master; Juan San Buenaventura, Secretary.
• 1908 - Julian Ocampo, Worshipful Master; Frank Silva-Nitto, Senior Warden; Emerito Abella, Junior Warden; Nemesio Reyes, Orator; Jose Ocampo, Treasurer; Juan San Buenaventura, Secretary; Vicente Garchitorena, Senior Deacon; Ramon Enrile, Almoner; and Juan Pimentel, Tyler.
• 1910 - WB Julian Ocampo, PM was re-elected Master of the Lodge for the third year, but declined for the position. Instead, Emerito Abella was unanimously acclaimed as Master, with Bro. Juan San Buenaventura as re-elected Secretary.
• 1911 - WB Julian Ocampo was re-elected Master of the Lodge, Bro. Juan San Buenaventura, re-elected Secretary. Raised to the 3rd Degree of Master Mason on November 11, 1911 were: Mariano dela Rosa, Mariano Dy-Liacco, Fernandez Alvarez, Ramon Pimentel, Benito Razon, Joaquin de San Agustin, Florencio Avis, Vicente Delgado and two days later, Bros. Manuel Crisini and Eugenio Ocampo became Master Masons.
• 1912 - Bro. Mariano dela Rosa became the Worshipful Master. Bro. San Buenaventura was re-elected Secretary.

 

             On March 17, 1915, Isarog Lodge No. 378 applied for admission as regular Lodge of the Grand Regional Council (organized September 9, 1906) under the Gran Oriente Español.

 

            On September 16, 1915, Logia Isarog No. 378 was constituted as Logia ISAROG No. 376 under the Gran Logia Regional de Filipinas (Grand Regional Council) under the Gran Oriente Español. The Chairman of the Special Committee to constitute the Lodge was Bro. Joaquin de San Agustin (who was raised as a Master Mason in Isarog Lodge No. 378 on November 16, 1911 but later affiliated with Nilad Lodge No. 144). Bro. San Agustin came to Naga on board the SS “Albay”. The members of the Committee who joined Bro. Joaquin de San Agustin in Naga were: Sabino Limkako (Lodge Solidaridad No. 323), Senior Warden; Esteban Buenviaje (Dalisay Lodge No. 177), Junior Warden; Andres Garcia (Lodge not mentioned), Junior Deacon; F.A. Melgar (Lodge Solidaridad No. 323), Master of Ceremonies.

 

             After the constitution of the Lodge, the Special Committee also installed the following Lodge officers: Fernando Alvarez, Worshipful Master; Mariano L. dela Rosa, Senior Warden; Vicente Delgado, Junior Warden; Mariano Dy-Liacco, Treasurer; Juan San Buenaventura, Secretary; Nemesio Reyes, Senior Deacon; and Julian Ocampo, Orator.

 

             On December 19, 1912, the first three American Lodges under the Grand Lodge of California (USA) in the Philippines formally organized the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands, and at the time when our territory was “masonically free” thwarted the plans of the Regional Grand Lodge under the Gran Oriente Español to form its own Grand Lodge. In spite of the protest made by the Regional Grand Lodge, the Mother Lodge of England and the Grand Lodges in the world maintained the legitimacy of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands. In order to prevent disharmony and discord between the Spanish speaking and English speaking Lodges, the lodges then existing under the Regional Grand Council were fused or unified with Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands. As a result of the fusion, Logia Isarog No. 376 under the Gran Oriente Español became ISAROG LODGE No. 33 under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands. A new Charter was issued by the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands signed by M.W. William H Taylor, Grand Master and MW Newton C. Comfort, Grand Secretary, authorizing and appointing: Fernandez Alvarez, Master; Mariano L. dela Rosa, Senior Warden; and Vicente Delgado, Junior Warden, together with other true and lawful brethren of ISAROG LODGE No. 33, F. & A. M., in Naga Camarines Sur (now Naga City). The Charter was dated February 13, 1917.

 

             ISAROG LODGE No. 33 is unique in Philippine Masonic history as a Lodge which has been under a succession of several Grand Jurisdictions, thus:

•              A) As Triangulo Bicol No. 64 and then as Logia BICOL (in Ambos Camarines) under the Gran Oriente Español 1891-1896;
•              B) As Logia LUZ MALAYA under the Gran Oriente Filipino, 1904-1906;
•              C) As Logia ISAROG No. 378 in Nueva Caceres, Ambos Camarines under the Gran Oriente de Francia in 1906-1915;
•              D) As Logia ISAROG No. 378 under the Gran Regional de Filipinas of the Gran Oriente Español, 1915-17;
•              E) As ISAROG LODGE No.33 under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, February 13, 1917 - present.

 

           Masonry as an organization has thrived in this province for almost one hundred years now. But as a chartered Lodge under the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, ISAROG LODGE No. 33 celebrated its 87th anniversary on February 13, 2004.

 

             Before World War II the Masonic Temple of Isarog Lodge No. 33 was situated on a leased government lot at corners E. Angeles and P. Prieto Sts., in the capital town of Naga, Camarines Sur. The Temple however, was burned when, on May 1, 1942, the Filipino guerilla forces engaged Japanese forces. All of its furniture, library, jewels, paraphernalia and historical records were destroyed by the fire, for all of which the Lodge received as indemnity the sum of Php. 2,935.10 under its War Damage Claim No. 1165375 from the U.S. Government after liberation.

 

             All Lodge labors were suspended from December, 1941, when the Japanese Imperial forces arrived in Naga, Camarines Sur until about the middle of June, 1946 when the Philippines was liberated by the U.S. Armed Forces under Bro. (Gen.) Douglas McArthur.

 

             On June 15, 1946, the brethren filed a petition for special emergency dispensation to re-organize Isarog Lodge No. 33 in Naga. On October 8, 1946, MW Michael Goldenberg, the then incumbent Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines, which was organized earlier, designated WB Ramon L. Santos of Bataan Lodge No. 104 as Special Representative of the Grand Master to assist and expedite matter pertaining to the re-organization and re-establishment of the Lodge at a most convenient place in the province of Camarines Sur. During the first post-war on 18 Master Masons were present and voting for lodge officers. Elected officers of the lodge for 1947: Ramon L. Santos, Worshipful Master; Doroteo Federis, Senior Warden; Jesus F. Alvarez, Junior Warden; Felicisimo Capucao, Treasurer; and Pedro Dy-Liacco, Secretary.

 

             In 1947, the Lodge had no permanent place or Masonic Temple to meet. The Lodge held its stated meeting at the old Anglo-Chinese School in Tabuco, Naga City. In 1959, Lodge meetings were held at the attic of the Naga Evangelical Church along Peñafrancia St. In 1962, the Lodge again transferred to a small building offered by WB Pedro Dy-Liacco, then Lodge Secretary, at the back of the family residence at Biak-na-bato St., Tabuco, Naga City. In 1964, during the term of WB Naraindas T. Lalwani, the brethren formed the Mount Isarog Temple Building Association, Inc. and contributed funds for the building of a temple. The association bought a residential house and lot at No. 205 Liboton St. The house was repaired, fortified, enlarged and painted under the immediate supervision of WB Felicisimo Capucao Sr. and in December, 1964, the building was dedicated as the Masonic Temple of Isarog Lodge No. 33. In 1979, during the incumbency of WB Jesus S. Raquitico, a new Masonic Temple was constructed on the lot comprising of 2,092 sq.m, which was donated by WB Mariano Dy-Liacco to Logia Isarog No. 33, M.L.Y.A. as a cemetery lot in Brgy. Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City.

 

             Isarog Lodge No. 33, F. & A.M. is the oldest Masonic Lodge in the Bicol Region. Hand in hand with its sister Lodge, Bulusan Lodge No. 38, F. & A.M., in Sorsogon, Isarog Lodge No. 33 was instrumental in the organization of other Masonic Lodges in Bicol, thus: Mayon Lodge No. 61 in Legazpi City (Albay), constituted on June 2, 1921; Camarines Norte Lodge No. 107 in Daet, Camarines Norte, constituted May 25, 1932; Julian Ocampo Memorial Lodge No. 146 in Iriga City, constituted February 22, 1958; and Naga City Lodge No. 257, constituted on July 24, 1982. It can also be called the “grand mother” of Daet Lodge No. 247, the mother of which is Camarines Norte Lodge No. 107, and Catanduanes Island Lodge No. 291, mothered by Naga City Lodge No. 257.

 

             All through the years, Isarog Lodge No. 33, by its members has had its share and contributions in the glorious history of the Philippines and the founding of the Independent Republic. Like our brethren before us, we are called upon to remain active and vigilant in maintaining the democratic principles of justice, liberty and equality among our people and with nations everywhere. Together now, brethren!

 

(Courtesy of VW Bro Nicasio F. Villareal, PM, PDGL, PDDGM)

 

Be proud of your Fraternity. . your roots are great!
- M.W. Bro. Rosendo C. Herrera, PGM