Filipinos and Freemasonry WB Norberto C Bautista Peninsular

Filipinos and Freemasonry WB Norberto C. Bautista Peninsular Lodge No. 95 March 16, 2005 Updated March 16, 2005

The Philippines Named after King Phillip II of Spain. A Republic and its form of government is patterned after that of the US. June 12, 1898 - Declaration of Independence from Imperial Spain. 7 major languages and 84 ethnolinguistic groupings, each with their own dialects 92% of the Filipinos are Christians and 8% practice a faith representing eastern philosophies Updated March 16, 2005

Historical Eras or Periods The four distinct eras or periods of time are: • Pre-Spanish (pre-colonization era); • Spanish Colonization (1521 -1898); • American Colonization (1898 -1946). Includes the Japanese Occupation from 1942 -1945; and • the post-Colonization Era (1946 -present). Updated March 16, 2005

Masonry in the Philippines and the Birth of the Craft Updated March 16, 2005

first known Masonic labor • The British occupied the nation from 1762 to 1764 (after a struggle with Spain) • Sept. 22, 1762 – an English fleet anchored in Manila Bay carrying on board the English Masons who did the first Masonic work on Philippine soil, labor was conducted inside the Manila Cathedral (a Catholic Church). Thereafter. . . Updated March 16, 2005

the green Light from Spain • 1855* - the PM of Spain, Ill. Bro. Sagasta, sent three 33 rd degree Masons to the Philippines. He was at that time the Sovereign Grand Commander (Scottish Rite) and the GM of the Gran Oriente de Espana. • GM Sagasta appointed three 33 rd degree Illustrious Brothers into positions of responsibility in the colonial government: § the Governor General of the Philippine Islands (Perinatt), § the Civil Governor of Manila (Centeno), and § the Director General for Civil Affairs (Ballesteros) *Nine years before the 1861 US Civil War. Updated March 16, 2005

first Blue Lodge in the Islands • 1856 Lodge Primera Luz Filipino was the first Masonic lodges established in the Philippines. A young Spanish Navy ensign, Bro. Jose Malcampo, is credited for this. No pure blooded Filipino was accepted for membership. • Masonic researchers have found evidences that when Bro. Malcampo came back to the Philippines in 1874 (after 18 years), unfortunately he was behind the persecution of the Filipino members of Masonry. • Subsequently, three other lodges were established, but limited their membership to the Europeans: § first by the Germans, § second by the British Consul and § third by the Spaniards. Updated March 16, 2005

first Filipino Masons were in Europe • 1880’s - the improved economic conditions in the Philippines enabled Filipinos to sail for Europe • they belonged to the illustrado (wealthy) class; A mestizo who can speak Spanish. • Lodges in Spain were open to all nationalities regardless of race or color, the Filipinos soon as possible became initiates of the Masonic lodges. Updated March 16, 2005

first all-Filipino lodge was also in Europe • 1886 - Some of these Filipinos participated in the organization of Lodge Solidaridad No. 53 in Barcelona, Spain. A few years later, they established Lodge Revolucion also in Barcelona; • In 1890, they started another Lodge in Madrid also named Solidaridad which composed exclusively of Filipinos. • Accepted into the Spanish society because these brothers peacefully advocated for the nation to be a province of Spain, not independence from it. Updated March 16, 2005

Welcome Home, Brothers! • 1887 - Bro. Dr. Jose Rizal (Acacia Lodge No. 9 of the Grand Oriente de Espana) came back to Manila from his self-exile. • 1890 - Bro. Rizal and Bro. Marcelo Del Pilar initiated a project to organize Filipino Lodges in Manila and provinces exclusively for Filipinos. A Seattle Bridge is named after him Bro. Rizal. Updated March 16, 2005

Finally, the first Filipino lodge in the Philippines • 1891 - Bro. Serrano Laktaw was commissioned to establish Filipino Lodges assisted by Bros. Anacleto Ramos (initiated in England), Timoteo Paez and Moises Salvador. • 1892 January 6. Nilad Lodge No. 144 was the first all. Filipino lodge chartered and constituted by the Gran Oriente de Espana (Grand Orient of Spain). Updated March 16, 2005

Spanish Connection • 1892 to 1906 – All Filipino lodges established between these dates were under the administration of the Grand Council of the Order (of Scottish Rite) and • Passed the hands of the Regional Grand Lodge No. 2 of the jurisdiction of the Gran Oriente de Espana. Updated March 16, 2005

Changing of the Guards • 1886 – Philippine Revolution against Spain started. • 1896 - Spaniards publicly executed Bro. Jose Rizal for writing two novels exposing the atrocities of the Spanish colonizers. • short Spanish-American War (April 25, 1898 to Dec. 10, 1898), extended to the Asian Pacific shores Updated March 16, 2005

• mid 1898 – The victory of the Filipinos against Spain was eminent. A mock naval battle between the United States and Imperial Spain was staged. • Goal was for the Spaniards to surrender to US (an emerging super power) rather than to the Filipinos whom the Spaniards treated for three centuries as an inferior people. • 1898 (June) Admiral Dewey’s naval fleet “defeats” the Commodore Montoya’s Spanish Armada off Manila Bay. § 1898 (June 12) Bro. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo declares Philippine Independence from Imperial Spain. Updated March 16, 2005

Masonry during the American Occupation Updated March 16, 2005

Masonic mix and confusion Spaniards out. . . Americans in. . • GM Ambrosio Flores attempted to establish the Filipino Grand Orient (Gran Consejo Regional) • This was followed by the Gran Oriente Espanol through the reactivation of Modestia Lodge 199. • the Grand Orient of France was introduced by the prominent Dr. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera Updated March 16, 2005

piece of the pie • the Grand Lodge of Scotland established Lodge Perla del Oriente No. 1034 in Manila and Cebu Lodge No. 1106* (the only two lodges under a foreign jurisdiction recognized by the current Grand Lodge of the Philippines). • FLASH UPDATE (see 2003 Roster of Lodges) MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of F & AM Washington and Jurisdiction has a blue lodge in the Philippines: Mabuhay Military No. 59. Updated March 16, 2005

. . . and more confusion • Gran Oriente de Espana also came into existence. This is NOT the same as the Gran Oriente Espanol. • Gran Oriente Luisitiano Unido was also organized • The Chinese Masons also came into the picture • The Americans brought forth the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, the Mystic Shrine and the order of the Eastern Star. Updated March 16, 2005

to recap 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Grand Consejo Regional Gran Oriente Espana Grand Orient of France Grand Lodge of Scotland Gran Oriente de Espana Gran Oriente Lusitano Grand Lodge of Masons (Chinese) Updated March 16, 2005

American Masonry in the islands • 1900 - Early to make known its Masonic presence were: § the American Military Lodge led by the volunteers from North Dakota, § the Knights Templar, and § the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Missouri. Updated March 16, 2005

birth of American Masonry in the Philippines • 1912 - The Sojourners Club helped the Americans established three lodges (Manila 342, Cavite 350 and Corregidor 386). These three lodges formed the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands* chartered by the Grand Lodge of California. *now renamed and currently the MW Grand Lodge of F & AM of the Philippines. Updated March 16, 2005

. . . polarization of craftsmen • 1917 - On about this year, several lodges of the Regional Grand Lodge No. 2 (Gran Oriente de Espana), transferred allegiance to the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands (American Masonry) • 1918 - started the practice that the station of Grand Master alternated between American and Filipino brothers every year until 1974; by this year 38 blue lodges were established Updated March 16, 2005

. . . claimant to the Ancient Craft • 1918 On or about this year, all lodges that remained loyal to the Regional Grand Lodge No. 2 (Spanish) reorganized under the name: Gran Oriente de Archipelago Filipino (Grand Lodge of the Philippine Archipelago) (Spanish Masonry) • 1923 (June 14) This Grand Lodge presented a petition for its charter from the Gran Oriente de Espana (Spain). Updated March 16, 2005

the renamed Spanish Masonry • 1925 December 31 the Gran Oriente de Espana granted this petition with the title: “Gran Soberana del Archipelago Filipino” (Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Philippine Archipelago) Recognized by the International Masonic Asso. of Lucerne, Switzerland the Universal League of Freemason Updated March 16, 2005

Filipino Masonry in the US West Coast • 1951 August 20 - The Gran Soberana del Archipelago Filipino (Manila) granted a charter to: • “The Regional Grand Lodge in America No. 1” (renamed “Deputy Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Philippine Archipelago in California”). • 1973 August 24 - The Gran Soberana del Archipelago Filipino (Manila) granted a charter to: “The Regional Grand Lodge in America No. 2” (renamed “Deputy Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Philippine Archipelago in America, Seattle, WA”). Updated March 16, 2005

a sad note on the local front • Both Deputy Sovereign Grand Lodges in California and Seattle are not recognized by any US grand lodge. • There exists another group of Filipino Masons in Seattle whose lineage are claimed to be from the Grand Lodge of Spain. Their members make themselves known as belonging to the Gran Oriente Filipino. • A few of their members of both have signified their intention to join our jurisdiction. A number of them have received the degrees in our jurisdiction. Updated March 16, 2005

a happy note in Washington • 1995 - FILMAGS or the Filipino Masonic Asso. of Greater Seattle. A square and compasses club. Permission was granted by then GM, the MWB Bill Wood in 1996, for the use of S & C in its logo. • Has facilitated the petitioning of unrecognized Filipino-American Masons into our jurisdiction. • Has acted as the “clearing house” and have hosted Filipino brothers visiting or who have newly relocated to our State. Updated March 16, 2005

Similar association exists in the Pacific NW and Canada: • The Travelers of Washington - in Bremerton • Dimasalang Brotherhood (2003) - in BC, Canada • Brotherhood of Filipino Masons of BC - also in BC, Canada: • Filipino Cabletow Society of Calgary (2003) • Filipino Cabletow Society in Manitoba Updated March 16, 2005

Why are Filipinos, Filipino-Americans, Filipino-Canadians attracted to Masonry? Updated March 16, 2005

the start of the journey • Mysticism: What is in it? everyone started in the dark • Curiosity: What can Masonry do for me? • Maturity: What can I do for Masonry? Updated March 16, 2005

exclusivity is an attraction • Historically, early Masonry in the nation did not accept Filipinos, now open to any person, but. . . • Historically and currently, the society is very stratified – members are those in the middle to upper end of the social and economic ladder of Philippine society • The cost of petition and membership dues are not affordable to the average wage earner • Labors are in English (old English), only the schooled can understand the philosophy of Masonry Updated March 16, 2005

sociological reasons • Archipelagic geography forces one to be in harmony with others for survival and development • Extension of the “Filipino hospitality” – a brother will not go hungry if stranded in the Philippines • The Craft is an extension of the family; a usual social custom to refer to a brother’s wife as “Sister” as an extension of the fraternal bond/love. Our kids call us “Tito” or “Tita” (uncle/aunt even if there is no blood relations). The 3 rd degree obligation are taken very seriously. Updated March 16, 2005

psychosocial reasons • Self-esteem: feeling of accomplishment and recognition (e. g. assuming stations until one reaches the east). This is an opportunity afforded to the Filipino-American in the US. • Sense of attachment to history and famous historical figures (locally in the Philippines or US and worldwide) • The ethnic experience: Sense of belongingness and acceptance. Freemasonry is only social organization in the US where a brother is on the level with another regardless of ethnicity, financial or social status. Updated March 16, 2005

. . . few cents worh ► It is difficult to discuss the History of Filipino Freemasonry without discussing a portion of Philippine History. As was the experience in the United States, the ideals of liberty and democracy were the driving factors behind the Filipino Freemasons’ involvement in the building of this nation. ► More than this, the opposition to political and religious tyranny has guided the Filipino brothers of the Spanish tradition, through their Scottish Rite affiliation. ► A number of Filipino Masons two or three generations ago, were introduced to Masonic Craft in the Spanish tradition. A number of us, Filipino-Americans and Filipinos present today are of the American school of thought. ► Unfortunately, with the colonization of the Philippines by the United States, the harmony of the Masonic Order was disrupted. Updated March 16, 2005

► As a result, this created a dichotomy between adherents to either Spanish and American Masonic schools of thought, and thereby dividing the Filipino brothers. ► There has been constant communications between the two Grand Lodges hoping Philippine Masons will once again labor together in harmony for the good of humanity. ► The dichotomy, however, has extended beyond the Philippines shores. There exist in our State and in California, a number of Filipino-American Masons whose Grand Lodges were chartered by the Spanish-influenced Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Philippine Archipelago. ► They claim to have the rightful ownership of Philippine Freemasonry as they existed even before the US colonization. Updated March 16, 2005

► Based on our WMC, they remain unrecognized and irregular. Needless to say, it is not within the purview of Filipino-American Masons in the United States to address the issue. It may not be in my lifetime that I will seat in lodge with the other Filipino-American Masons in the State. ► We, Filipino-American Masons, who belong to the Washington Jurisdiction have the luxury of experiencing the universality of the craft because our Grand Lodge is in amity with most Grand Lodges in the world. This is a privilege, not existing with the other Filipino. American Masons of the European tradition. Updated March 16, 2005

► It is sad to note that most Filipino and Filipino-American Masons identify ourselves with famous Masons in Philippine history. However, if the latter were alive today, we cannot Masonically communicate with them. ► Ironically, quite a number of publications have printed articles about famous Filipino Masons in history, notably, Bro. Gen Emilio Aguinlado and Bro. Jose Rizal. ► Ironically, the Philippine Grand Lodge Building is named “ Plaridel Masonic Temple” (the nom-de-guerre) in honor of Bro. Marcelo Del Pilar. However, if these Masons were alive today, he cannot even sit in lodge with us or the brothers who use the lodge room therein. Updated March 16, 2005

Thank you for listening and we greet one all MABUHAY! (mah boo high) Updated March 16, 2005