“Never shall I fail my Brethren”

 

Cavite Province is rich in culture and history. Imus, Cavite is the site where the first successful Philippine revolution was waged. It is in Alapan, Imus where the flag of the Philippine Republic was first hoisted to proclaim the country’s independence. The site of this historical marker is highlighted by a 90-foot tall flagpole atop three large rocks and on the center rock is a statue of a woman boldly holding the Philippine Flag.

Pilar Lodge No. 3, previously known as Logia Pilar No. 203 under the Jurisdiction of Gran Oriente Espanol and Pilar Lodge No. 15, under the Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, has a very rich heritage. Its history can be closely linked with the history of the Philippine Revolution, as its founding fathers played a very important role in the birth of the Philippine Republic.

It started as an organization of Masons called the “Triangulo” (UD) perhaps the equilateral symbol of Masonry or by the three founding pillars of the organization. They were Rev. Fr. Severo Buenaventura, a Filipino Catholic priest, whose symbolic name in masonry is “Kwitib” then a member of Bathala Lodge No. 157 in Ermita, Manila. Cayetano Topacio, a member of Parwaw Lodge No. 224 in Concepcion, Tarlac and Juan Castaneda, symbolic name “Langam”, a member of Nilad Lodge No. 144 in Manila. The Gran Oriente Espanol chartered it as a lodge on June 5, 1894 as Logia Pilar No. 203, after the patron saint of the town, Nuestra Senora del Pilar. The solemn ceremonies of the lodge constitution was attended by no less than the first Grand Master of the Gran Consejo Regional Ambrosio Flores.

On the night of January 1, 1895, Emilio Aguinaldo was secretly initiated at Logia Pilar No. 203 at the residence of Cayetano Topacio by Juan Castaneda as Master of the lodge. Initiated as charter members together with Emilio Aguinaldo were Baldomero Aguinaldo, Pantaleon Garcia, Jose Elises, Mariano Tagle, Luis Virata, Estanislao Villanueva, Doroteo Paredes, Sixto Sapinoso, Ignacio Bella, Benedicto Ilano, and other members of the lodge. Due to the persecutions of the civil guards and friars, meetings at those times were held secretly in different places until June 1895 when it was temporarily held at the residence of Ignacio Bella.

The active involvement of Rev. Fr. Severo Buenaventura in Freemasonry did not escape the eyes of the Archbishop of Manila, Bishop Nozaleda. He ordered the Spanish priest in Imus, Fr. Jose Maria Learte to discipline Fr. Buenaventura. This moved prompted him to escape. His escape was orchestrated by his nephew, Javier Agromente with the helped of Faustino Villareal and Grand Master Ambrosio Flores who secured his passport. Fr. Buenaventura arrived in Hong Kong on August 2, 1895, where he met by Juan Castaneda and they both stayed at the residence of Ildefonso Laurel. Brother Jose Maria Basa advised them to proceed to Japan together with brother masons, Jose A. Ramos, symbolic name “Socorro”, Isabelo Artacho and Bonifacio Arevalo, Grand Treasurer of Gran Consejo Regional. Bro. Socorro was initiated at Corinthian in London and called the grandfather of the revolution. He was the leader of the Anti-Friar Manifesto of 1888. Bro. Faustino Villareal was later executed in January 11, 1897 for revolutionary activities. Fr. Buenaventura returned to Hong Kong and continued his Masonic activities under the name of Macario Alcantara. He held the position of junior warden in Vanguardia Lodge when Mariano Marti Burgos was the Master of the Lodge. He also became a member of “Comite Central Filipino” in Hong Kong. Bro. Castaneda was arrested immediately upon his return in Manila. After a mock trial by the Spanish authorities, he was imprisoned, tortured, and sent to exile in 1896 as reported by “Commission de Informes Historicos” of Logia Modestia No. 199.

The arrests of some members led the group of Emilio Aguinaldo, his cousin Baldomero, Canuto Encarnacion, Benedicto Ilano and Silvestre Legaspi to joen the Katipunan. On August 31, 1896, the revolution in Cavite ignited with Aguinaldo’s successfully-led uprising in Kawit. By dawn of September 1, 1896, the first real offensive of revolution took place in Imus. Led by Emilio Aguinaldo together with members of Logia Pilar No. 203 and some Kawit volunteers spearheaded the attack on the Recollect Hacienda house in Imus. After the capture of Imus from the Spaniards, Emilio Aguinaldo appointed Jose Tagle as the Municipal President of Imus. The Magdalo Revolutionary Government was organized with its headquarters in Imus. Members of Logia Pilar No. 203 took active part in the newly organized government with Baldomero Aguinaldo as President, Cayetano Topacio as Secretary of Finance, Sixto Topacio as Secretary of Justice, and Emilio Aguinaldo as Flag-Lieutenant General.

After several successful battles against the Spaniards, the revolutionary government was formed on March 22, 1897 after the Tejeros Convention in San Francisco de Malabon in Cavite which lead to the election of Bro. General Emilio Aguinaldo as President. He was elected in absentia taking his oath of office on the night of March 23, 1897. The revolutionary government lasted to October 1897 and replaced by the Biak-na-Bato Republic on November 1, 1897. After several successful sorties with the enemy, independence was declared on June 12, 1898. During these revolutionary activities, the lodge was in the dark, no meetings were held until December 1898 as most of its members were busy in setting up the new Republic. The members of the Lodge were just starting the restoration activities when the Philippine-American war broke out on February 1899. Again members of the lodge donned their uniform to arms against the Americans. Bro. General Baldomero Aguinaldo was appointed Secretary of War and Gen. Pantaleon Garcia was to lead a brigade stationed in forth zone of North Manila against the invading Americans. Several sorties ensued and finally peace prevails. Bro. Gen. Pantaleon Garcia reorganized the lodge in 1907 at his residence in “Daang Haligue (now Gen. G. Bautista Street), Imus. Unfortunately, his residence was struck by fire destroying everything including important document of the lodge. The present site of Pilar Lodge No. 3, measuring about 1,170 square meters was donated by the family of Bro. Federico Alcantara.

After the Philippine-American war, some members of the lodge involved themselves in government and other activities. Several members were appointed municipal presidents, now known as municipal mayors. Their activity in governance made Imus what it is today. Not only did Masons take active part in governance but likewise in education. Several members of the lodge established the Imus Central Academy, now known as Imus Institute, where their classes were held in the lodge temple, until their transfer to their own premises at Nuevo Avenue.

World War II broke out on December 6, 1941 and the lodge was again in the dark. The elected officers were not installed. Several members again took arms against the invaders. The occupying Japanese forces used the lodge as their local outpost and headquarters, where several citizens, later known as the Thirteen Martyrs of Imus were tortured and executed. On May 1945, three months after liberation, the lodge was again organized in the house of Candido Sayoc, the treasurer of the lodge. The first post liberation stated meeting was held on June 1945.

On December 19, 1912, the Grand Lodge of the Philippines was established by the Americans, but it was not until February 12, 1917 that the lodge affiliated and was granted a charter under the name of Pilar Lodge No. 15. Several members of the lodge served in various positions in the district and grand lodge levels not only from the present jurisdiction but also from other Masonic Grand Jurisdictions worldwide. The lodge took active parts not only in Masonic affairs but was also involved in civic and community activities such as scholarship for deserving youth of Imus, legal assistance, health and medical missions in cooperation with the government of Imus. A traditional gift giving to indigent families of some barangays in Imus. The Lodge was also instrumental in organizing two appendant bodies, both domiciled at Pilar Masonic Temple, the Imus Assembly No. 10 of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls chartered in November 1983 and the Imus Bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Philippines chartered in March 17, 1987. Some distinguished members of the lodge held various positions in the Grand Lodge as well as in the district level and other grand jurisdictions. MW Rosendo C. Herrera, 66th Grand Master of GLP, Brothers Romeo Argota, Olimpio Castaneda, Regalado Manimtim, Manuel L. Carranza, Jr. and Cesar De Leon Go as District Deputy Grand Masters, Brothers Albert C. Poblete and Renato Guerra as Junior Grand Lecturers, Brother Cesar De Leon Go as Grand Orator and Grand Marshal, Brother Telesforo Sapinoso as Grand Bible Bearer, Brothers Eduardo Espejo, Abelardo Camahalan, Camilo Tabulinar, Abelardo Camahalan as Regional Grand Lecturer, Fernando Hernandez and Leonardo Mendoza as District Grand Lecturers, and several brethren served as Grand Lodge Inspectors. Brother Rolando Castaneda, a member and past master of Pilar Lodge No. 15 served as District Deputy Grand Master in Toronto District No. 4, Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario. 

During the stated meeting of the lodge on September 2, 2006, under the stewardship of Worshipful Master Zafiro V. Benedicto, the lodge made a very important decision after holding marathon meetings, dialogues and discussions among the members. A lodge resolution was unanimously approved declaring its independence from the Grand Lodge of the Philippines and join or form a new Grand Lodge. However, on that faithful day of September 7, 2006, GLP GM Yu issued Edict No. 232 declaring selected (29) members of Pilar Lodge No. 15 as “Clandestine Masons”. Those braved members of the lodge who stood for truth and justice were: Zafiro V. Benedicto, Cesar De Leon Go, Manuel L. Carranza, Jr., Renato Camarse, Albert C. Poblete, Mario Ramirez, Antonio Castaneda, Camilo Tabulinar, Venancio I. Cuvin, Mario Leopoldo, Domingo De Leon, Fernando Hernandez, Augusto Fernandez, Abelardo Camahalan, Bernando Bondoc, Philbert Laplap, Gorgonio Torres, Felimon Hernandez, Manolo Contreras, Joselito Quintana, Jaime Bartolome, Abraham Escandor, Reynaldo Abad, Dexter Magno, Loreto Roa, Angelito Lam, Ponciano Mabaga, Esheraldo Cantada, George Lopez. Other members of the lodge who did not pledge their allegiance with the Grand Lodge of the Philippines were also declared “Clandestine Masons” by GM Yu. On September 10, 2006, Pilar Lodge No. 15 surrendered its old charter and joined in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the newly constituted Grand Lodge “The Most Worshipful Independent Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippine Islands” at Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite.

Under this new Grand Lodge, some members of the lodge are serving under interim capacities. They are Manuel L. Carranza, Jr. as Senior Grand Warden, Cesar De Leon Go as Regional Grand Inspector, Albert C. Poblete as Grand Lecturer, Renato Camarse as Junior Grand Standard Bearer, Venancio I. Cuvin as District Grand Lecturer, Mario Ramirez and Mario Leopoldo as District Grand Inspectors.

Again never shall I fail my Brethren . . . .

Roll of Past Masters

(Logia Pilar No. 203 under the Jurisdiction of the Gran Oriente Espanol)

Chartered June 5, 1894

Rev. Fr. Severo Buenaventura+ 1895 Manuel Paredes+  1912

Juan Castaneda+   1895 Epifanio Paredes+  1913

Pantaleon Garcia+    1907-1911 Manuel Paredes+  1914-1917

(Pilar Lodge No. 15 under the Jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand

Lodge of the Philippines)

Chartered February 12, 1917

Candido Sayoc+   1918-1919 Donato Virata+  1920

Zosimo Topacio+ 1921 & 1927 Manuel Paredes+  1922

Faustino Maniago+   1924 – 1926 Lorenzo Paredes+  1928

Meliton Darvin+   1929-1930 Marciano Sayoc+  1931-1932

Manuel De Leon+   1933  Tiburcio Gayot+  1934

Pastor Sapinoso+  1935  Alfredo Saqui+  1936

Hipolito Garma+  1937  Mariano Remulla+  1939

Mauro Mendez+  1940  Fortunato Ejercito+  1941-1945

Pablo Tungol+  1946-1947 Teofilo Ragondong+ 1948

Julian Medina, Sr.+  1949  Pedro Macabagdal+  1950-1951

Andres Garcia+  1952  Dominador Levardo+ 1953-1954

Candido Monzon+   1955-1956 Jose Topacio, Sr.+  1957

Anastacio Ladao+  1958  Miguel Del Rosario+ 1959

Honorio Malonzo  1960  Eugenio Villanueva, Sr.+ 1961-1962

Mamerto Nave  1963  Romeo Argota  1964-1967

Luis Campana  1968  Eduardo Espejo  1969

Regalado Camarse+ 1970  Telesforo Sapinoso+ 1971

Antonio Vernitz+  1972  Manuel Medina  1973

Angel De Leon+  1974  Aquilino Cabayan+  1975

Eriberto Fernandez+ 1976  Roman Castaneda  1977

Rolando Castaneda  1978  Olimpio Castaneda+ 1979

Felix Ladores+  1980  Renato Sayoc  1981

Leonardo Mendoza  1981  Manuel Villanueva+  1982

Regalado Manimtim  1983  Felipe Manongdo+  1984

Antonio Castaneda  1985  Teodoro Espiritu+  1986

Abelardo Camahalan 1987  German Castaneda+ 1988

Augusto Fernandez  1989  Ignacio Zaragosa  1990

Renato G. Camarse  1991  Cesar De Leon Go  1992

Alberto C. Poblete  1993  Carlito Sauler  1994

Alexander Floro  1995  Mario M. Ramirez  1996

Camilo T. Tabulinar  1997  Donald Macomb  1998

Fernando Hernandez 1999  Alfredo Obrero, Jr.  2000

Venancio I. Cuvin  2001  Allan Chambers  2002

Niel A. Uy   2003  Mario C. Leopoldo  2004

Domingo De Leon  2005  Zafiro V. Benedicto  2006

(Pilar Lodge No. 3 under the Jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of free and Accepted Masons of the Philippine Islands)

Chartered September 10, 2006

Zafiro V. Benedicto  2006 

Philbert R. Laplap  2007

Angelito Lam          2008

Contributed by:

Bro. Venancio I. Cuvin, PM

Posted By:
Bro. Angie Sevilla