COURTESY CALL TO GRAND MASTER GABIONZA BY THE BRETHREN OF MACARIO R. RAMOS MEMORIAL LODGE NO. 355

Centennial Masonic Memorial Clock

Many of the leaders of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 were members of one of the oldest fraternity in the world: Freemasonry. This Centennial Memorial Clock stands across the shrine of the most renowned Filipino mason and our National Hero, Jose Rizal was a project of various lodges and individual members of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines during the hundredth anniversary of the country's independence from Spain. Several plaques attached to the base recount various aspects of the history of the Masonic Order and its role in the history of the Philippines, including its fight for independence.  

The successful Revolution of 1896 was Masonically inspired, Masonically led, and Masonicallyexecuted, and I venture to say that the First Philippine republic of which I was its humble president, was and achievement we owe, largely, to Masonry and the Masons.

-Emilio Aguinaldo Y Famy

"Father of Philippine Masonry"

MARCELO H. DEL PILAR

 (August 30, 1850 – July 4, 1896)

Born on August 30, 1850 in Cupang, Bulacan. His parents were Don Julián H. del Pilar, an excellent Tagalog grammarian, speaker, and poet, and Doña Blasa Gatmaitán, familiarly known as Blasica. Don Julian was three times gobernadorcillo of the pueblo of Bulacan and afterwards oficial de mesa of the alcalde mayor of the province. The name of the family was Hilario; but pursuant to a decree of Claveria's, in 1849, the surname of the grandmother, Del Pilar, had to be added. His oldest brother, Toribio, was a priest. Del Pilar married his cousin Marciana (Tsanay). The couple had seven children (of which five died in infancy).