THE RECHARTERING AND RENUMBERING OF BAGONG BUHAY LODGE NO. 17

From 1868 until 1917, there existed Spanish, English, German, Scottish, French, Americans and Filipino Lodges, and that the Philippines was administered by more than one Masonic jurisdiction.

In 1912, Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 291 was recharted and renumbered to Lodge No. 17 under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands. It was only on February 13, 1917 when Bagong Buhay Lodge was formally constituted and started to be referred as Lodge No. 17 under the unified Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands (fusion of the Filipino-dominated Grand Regional Lodge of the Philippines, and the American-dominated Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands, and other small jurisdictions) and became under the direct jurisdiction of American Masons with Bro. Emilio Basa as the Worshipful Master, Bro. Emilio Espinosa, and Bro. Ceferino Lorenzana as the Senior and Junior Warden, respectively.

When the 29 Lodges under the Gran Oriente Espanol, two under the Grand Lodge of Scotland, two under the Grande Oriente de Espana, one under the Grande Oriente Lusitano de Unido, and 11 under the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands were finally united, Bagong Buhay Lodge listed 115 Master Masons as members and after the union, it was originally agreed that a Filipino Grand Master alternates with an American Grand Master in heading the unified Grand Lodge.

In 1918, Manuel L. Quezon became the first Filipino Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands, but only next to William H. Taylor, the American Grand Master who became the first Grand Master of the unified Grand Lodge in 1917.

The union of the two Grand Lodges to form the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands came at a price for the Filipino Masons. All the Grand Officers of the Grand Regional Lodge of the Philippines lost their positions; the rituals and ceremonies were abandoned and supplanted by American oriented rituals; the laws and statutes governing members and the Lodges were replaced by the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands; and the Lodges of Filipinos were physically redecorated.

On August 7, 1932, Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 17 successfully hosted the first Masonic District Convention in Cavite Province. Forty two (42) cars and two (2) trucks filled to capacity traveled in procession from Zapote Bridge to Cavite City and disembarked at Padre Pio corner P. Burgos Avenue to march on foot for two (2) kilometers to the Masonic Temple. The parade was led and personally directed the traffic by then City Mayor Ramon Samonte who also became a Governor of Cavite province, a member of Lodge No. 17. The first Chairman of the convention was WB Julian Balmaceda PM Lodge No. 51 and served as the Ceremonial Chaplain was WB Francisco Llamado PM Lodge No.17.

Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 17 has withstood the ravages of two World Wars. Some of its members were hunted and executed by the Japanese Imperial Army. It has savored hours of glory and the agony of misfortune, but always, the Lodge was able to thrive.

The Lodge evolved into a big and dynamic Lodge when in 1989 it had 620 members in good standing. Its membership grew as more petitioners entered its fold in the mid 1980’s. In the 50’s, it attracted members from the medical profession with WB Dr. Jesus Tranquilino as WM in 1956 and Bro. Dr. Cresencio Bellaflor. From the 1960’s it attracted the Chinese community with WB Chin Yin Boo as WM in 1963, WB Wee Dee Chan as WM in 1975, WB Blas Lo Reyes, 1980, and brothers Jimmy, Albert and Danny Chua. It has also attracted members from the government sector with WB Judge Angel Rica. Alvarez WM in 1968 and WB Mayor Julian C. Medina, Jr. WM in 1969. Later on, it attracted members from the Philippine Navy and Philippine National Police with WB Gen. Artemio A. Tadiar, Jr. WM in 1991-1992, WB Rejienaldo B. dela Cruz, PNP WM in 1996, WB Amorico M. Alvarez, PNP WM in 1997, WB Commodore Jaime V. Bantolo WM in 1999, WB Commander Edilberto D. Esperat WM in 2000, WB Joel B. Navera PN in 2002, WB Gorgonio V. Necessario, Jr. PN in 2005, WB Rogel C. Syfu PN in 2006, and WB Antonio C. Paulite II PNP in 2007.

The period 1989-1991 was a cloudy period for the Lodge when typhoon Saling in 1989 caused heavy damaged to the Lodge Temple. Almost all its roofs were blown away and its sides were damaged by water. In mid-1990, the Lodge suffered a financial debacle resulting to bankruptcy but the able, patient, resourcefulness and tested leadership of WBs Jaime Ramos, Artemio A. Tadiar, Jr. and Armando L. Quion and wholehearted supports of the brethren bore the brunt of rehabilitating the Lodge. The succeeding administrations of WB Jorge de Guzman, Vergel Domingo, Redentor Aranas, Rejienaldo B. dela Cruz and Amorico M. Alvarez progressively brought and restored financial stability to the Lodge.

The 90’s was a glorious grand slam decade for the Lodge. For several years, the Lodge emerged as champion in different sports category and captured the over-all championship in Masonic District No. 10 Sportsfest. Another finest year of sports was in 1999, when the Lodge was the over-all champion in the Masonic District No. 2 Sportsfest. The lodge was the champion in table tennis, bowling, swimming, shootfest, volleyball and basketball. It was 1st runner-up in badminton and softball as well as 2nd runner-up in chess and lawn tennis. At the same time, the Lodge was awarded the” Best in Attendance Award”.

The brethren who brought glory to the Lodge were the following:

· Swimming: the late Bros. Pol Bustillo and Charlie Bautista
· Shooting: Bro. Pol Bustillo, Bro. Gervie Alcid, Bro. Albert Chua, WB Ed Esperat, WB Bec- Bec dela Cruz and Bro. Lyndon Torres
· Basketball and Volleyball: Bro. Rey Juban, Bro. Joselito Briones, Bro. Maylo Hinojales, Bro. Stephen Tuballa, Bro. Ed Hernandez, Bro. Dario Tan, WB Necessario, and WB Esperat
· Softball: same players that comprised the basketball and volleyball team with the addition of Bro. Boy Vanta, Bro. Mike Herradura, WB Bek-Bek dela Cruz, WB Ric Alvarez, the late WB Ric Alfaro, Bro. Sese Montejo, and WB Joel Navera
· Bowling: VWB Paking Expectation, VWB Arman Quion, VWB Vergel Domingo, Bro. Sese Montejo, Bro. Mike Herradura, Bro. Feling Barro, and Bro. Alvin Samonte
· Table Tennis: Bro. Francisco, Bro. Juban, Bro. Briones and Bro. Alcid
· Chess: the late Bro. Charlie Bautista, Bro. Roque Cabalhin, WB Ric Alvarez, WB Joel Navera and Bro. Rafael Mariano
· Badminton: Bro. Juban, Bro. Maylo Hinojales, Bro. Hermie Sorreda and Bro. Bong Briones

Except for 2001, the Lodge held on to the crown at the sportsfest, and with the addition of Bro. Mike Ponsones and Bro. Romel Enriquez, they were champions again in volleyball. Bro. Enriquez also bested the other players in table tennis, emerging as the champion, as also expected, the Lodge softball team win again in the 2005-2006 softball tournament.
The Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 4 extended their love of sports by participating in Softball Tournaments sponsored by the City Government. Once, again the expertise of the softball team of the Lodge emerged as 3rd runner up in 2002 and 2003, 1st runner in 2004 and the Champion in 2005. Likewise, the master bowler Bro. Mike Herradura also showed his exceptional skills in the field of ten pin bowling emerging several times as the champion when he bested other known players from other subordinate Lodges under Masonic District No. 2.

In 2004, the Lodge eventually had to part with its adopted school – the Bagumbuhay Elementary School which for decades held their classes in the ground floor of the Lodge and had graduated thousands of school children. The ravages of time and termites had deemed it dangerous for the school to continue. Bro. Mayor Bernardo S. Paredes generously put them up in a better, newly constructed school building. Nevertheless, the Lodge maintained its umbilical cord to them when WM Gorgonio V. Necessario, Jr., incumbent Master of the Lodge signed a Memorandum of Agreement in 2005 to make the BAGUMBUHAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL its beneficiary of the ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PROJECT of the Local Government Unit and the Department of Education. The Lodge humble contribution to EDUCATION – THE WAR AGAINST ILLITERACY.

The other exemplary and outstanding contributions of the Lodge in partnership with the City Government of Cavite and its inhabitants are also worthy of telling:

FEEDINGS AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS to the indigent family in the community and poor but deserving students of Bagumbuhay, Lorenzo Ruiz, Porta Vaga, Dalahican, Ovidio dela Rosa Elementary Schools and Cavite National High School. These were initiated by WM Jun Necessario, WB Ric Alvarez, WB Bert Esperat, Bro. Bay Aquino, and Bro. Mike Ponsones who also personally helped other students on their own. The Lodge very important contribution to society – that of EDUCATION, and the WAR AGAINST HUNGER and MALNUTRITION

PARTICIPATION IN ALL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, such as: Alay-Lakad program, Independence Day, Ladislao Diwa Day, Jose Rizal Day, Julian Felipe Day, the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite, and Cavite Mutiny of 1872 celebrations. The Lodge nationalistic contribution to society – that of NATIONALISM and PATRIOTISM

GIFT-GIVING to the indigent family in the community. The Lodge humble contribution to society – that of CHARITY

SEVERAL TRAINING PROGRAMS to out-of-school youth and inmates in the City Jail to uplift the masses in skills training. The Lodge modest contribution to the society – the WAR AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT

SEVERAL MEDICAL-DENTAL OUTREACHED PROGRAMS to indigent community in the city, The Lodge privilege contribution to society– the WAR AGAINST SICKNESS

PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND MORAL SUPPORT to persons with disabilities in the city. The Lodge essential contribution to society – that of BROTHERLY LOVE and RELIEF and the WAR AGAINST PHYSICAL and MENTAL DISABLITIES

INSTITUTED SEVERAL DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAMS through the conduct of symposiums and seminars. The Lodge imperative contribution to society – the WAR AGAINST THE MENACE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS, A SCOURGE OF SOCIETY

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT in the renovation of San Rafael Chapel at Barangay 42C (Pinagbuklod). The Lodge religious contribution to Christianity – that of LOVE AND RESPECT TO THE GREAT ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE

Some of the members of Bagong Buhay Lodge No.17 that are dual members who served as Master of other Lodges and successfully led their dual temple, were: WB Frisco L. Fong, Jr. 1997; WB Sotero M. Gan 1998; WB Joseph D. Khongun 2000; WB Dominador M. Lorenzo 2003; WB Ernesto P. Sia 2004 all of Pinatubo Lodge No. 52 and WB Ricardo F. Otero, Jr. at Unity Lodge No. 285 all in Olongapo City. VWB Raulito S. Galgana of Rising Sun Lodge in Japan and WB Johnny Asuncion of Guam. Likewise, the late WB Ricardo “Ding” Alfaro of St. Augustine Lodge No. 300 in Tanza, Cavite and WB Marciano Aquino at Cavite Lodge No. 2.


Bro. Ric Alvarez
Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 4