Philippine Masonic Philately
During the early stage of Masonic history, it was almost impossible for Filipinos to join any of the Spanish lodges in the Philippines. The lodges that worked in the Philippines were all foreign founded and established for social purposes.
Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Dr. Jose P. Rizal conceived the idea of organizing Freemasonry in the Philippines. As a result, Nilad Lodge No. 144 was established in 1891 with the consent of the Grand Oriente Espanol. Marcelo H. Del Pilar, also known in the Philippines revolutionary world as “Plaridel” earned the recognition as Father of Philippine Masonry.
Following the Spanish-American war of 1898, Manila Lodge No. 342 was established in 1901 constituted by the Grand Lodge of California. This was the first lodge in the Philippines with proper recognition by a regular Grand Lodge.
In a couple of years, two more lodges were formed, also under California, and these were Cavite Lodge No. 350 and Corregidor Lodge No. 386. In 1912, these three lodges formed the Grand Lodge of the Philippines as we now know it, with 150 lodges
1977, October 1. Manila Central Post Office, Philippines. First Day Cover, with Masonic cachet. 30s Fr. Gregorio Aglipay, 75th Anniversary of the Philippine Independent Church. Member 32ยบ Philippine Bodies, A. & A.S.R. Founder of Philippine Independent Church. Member of the Revolutionary Government of 1898.
1977, March 9, Manila, Philippines. Souvenir Cover with Masonic cachet. 86th Birth Anniversary of Jose P. Laurel, President of the Philippines during the Japanese Occupation (World War II). Cover No. 7 in the series of covers issued in celebration of 1977 Reunion For Peace Year. President Laurel was a member of the Masonic Body, having been initiated in Batangas Lodge No. 383, under the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, and served as a Junior Warden.
1977, May 20, Manila, Philippines. Souvenir Cover with Masonic cachet. 50th Anniversary First Solo Transatlantic Flight by Charles A. Lindbergh. Lindbergh spent the last 20 years of his life advocating protection of the air, land, and water of threatened animals and plants of primitive people. Through his efforts two of the rarest animal species that are found in the Philippines, have been included in the list of endangered species: the Monkey Eating Eagle, and, the Tamaraw. He also helped preserve the Tasadays, a tribe in Southern Philippines, perhaps the last of the aborigines.
Brains of the Revolution. Apolinario Mabini was a member of Lodge Balagtas; one of the organizers and Grand Orator of the Regional Grand Council (Grand Oriente Espanol), December 10, 1893. He is also known as the Sublime Paralytic, and, Brains of the Revolution. He was also private counselor to Emilio Aguinaldo, President of the Philippine Revolutionary Government. He also served as one of the cabinet members under Aguinaldo and as such, wrote the important decrees issued by Aguinaldo.
On January 17, 1936, Most Worshipful Brother Samuel R. Hawthorne, Grandmaster of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, made Douglas MacArthur "Mason at Sight". Affiliated with Manila Lodge No. 1, Free and Accepted Masons of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines. He received the 32nd degree, Manila Scottish Rite Bodies in same year. In 1937, he was elected Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. When the Supreme Council of the Philippines was formed, he became a member of the Council and its Grand Orator.
1945, January 26, Manila, P.I., “Post Your Mail Early”. Souvenir Cover with Masonic cachet, on 2c Japanese Occupation postal card. MacArthur’s 65th Birth Anniversary.
1977, January 26, Quezon City, Philippines. Souvenir Cover with Masonic cachet. MacArthur’s 97th Birth Anniversary. Cover No. 3 in a series of covers issued commemorating 1977 as Reunion For Peace Year.
1980, January 26, Manila Central Post Office, Philippines. First Day Cover with Masonic cachet. 30s, 75s, 2p30 stamps, and, 5p Souvenir Sheet. MacArthur’s Birth Centenary. Also issued in four other cities on its first day: Corregidor Islands; MacArthur, Leyte; Lingayen, Pangasinan; and, Mariveles, Bataan. On January 17, 1936, Most Worshipful Brother Samuel R. Hawthorne, Grandmaster of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, made Douglas MacArthur "Mason at Sight". Affiliated with Manila Lodge No. 1, Free and Accepted Masons of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines. He received the 32nd degree, Manila Scottish Rite Bodies in same year. In 1937, he was elected Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. When the Supreme Council of the Philippines was formed, he became a member of the Council and its Grand Orator.
1977, August 15, Manila Central Post Office. First Day Cover with Masonic cachet. 30s Rafael Palma, former President of the University of the Philippines. He was also Chairman of the National Council of Education, a Journalist, Educator, Senator, Historian, Orator, and Patriot. Grand Master of Grand Lodge of the Philippines, 1920-21. He was also a Member of the Sinukuan Lodge No. 16. He was an ardent and faithful worker in his Lodge since he became a member as well as in the Grand Lodge. He passed through the chairs of both and in 1920 was elected Grand Master. He also became 32 Degrees Knight Court Commander of Honor. A fluent speaker in supporting Masonic principles and precepts of righteous living. He founded the La Independencia, the official organ of the Philippine Revolution
Quezon was initiated at Sinukuan Lodge No. 16, Free & Accepted Mason, Manila. He was a Freemason most of his life. He was most instrumental, along with other Filipino and American Masons, in the unification of Filipino and American Lodges on February 13, 1917. He became the first Filipino Grandmaster of Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, succeeding MW William H. Taylor. Due to the influence of his wife, Quezon resigned from Masonry on September 17, 1930. After his death, the Catholic Church claimed he had renounced Masonry. However, seven years after his resignation, Quezon made this statement: "I didn't and never will renounce Masonry. There is a form which those returning to the Church are supposed to sign but I refused to sign it. Instead, I wrote the Archbishop a personal note saying that I understand that I could not be readmitted to the Roman Catholic Church so long as I remained a Mason, and, for that reason I was resigning from Masonry but I never renounced Masonry.".
MANUEL L. QUEZON. 1977, August 1, Quezon City, Philippines. Souvenir Cover with Masonic cachet. 33rd Death Anniversary, Manuel L. Quezon, Philippine President, Commonwealth period. Cover No. 12 in a series of covers issued commemorating 1977 as Reunion For Peace Year.
MANUEL L. QUEZON. 1978, August 19, Manila Central Post Office. First Day Cover with Masonic cachet. Birth Centenary, Manuel L. Quezon, President of the Philippines, Commonwealth period.
Rizal was initiated November 15, 1890, Lodge Solidaridad No. 53, Madrid, Spain. Affiliated on February 16, 1892, Grand Orient of France. Worshipful Master, 1892, Nilad Lodge No. 144, Philippines. Master, Lakandula Lodge of Perfection in Manila. Rizal Consistory was named after him. He was a devoted Mason, and, together with Marcelo H. del Pilar and other active Filipino Masons abroad, worked judiciously hard for the successful implantation of the seeds of Freemasonry in Philippine soil. For his two books, "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo", through which he denounced and exposed fearlessly the abuses and corruption of the friars and the Spanish officials in the Philippines.
DR. JOSE P. RIZAL. 1977, February 16, Manila Central Post Office, Philippines. First Day Cover with Masonic cachet. 30s Dr. Jose Rizal, National Hero. The date also coincides with the 32nd Anniversary of the Recapture of the island of Corregidor by the American Forces from the Japanese during World War II. On specially printed cacheted envelope depicting Rizal as a Mason and the Recapture of Corregidor. Cover No. 5 in a series of covers issued commemorating 1977 as Reunion For Peace Year.
DR. JOSE P. RIZAL. 1978, April 11, Manila Central Post Office, Philippines. First Day Cover with Masonic cachet. 30s Dr. Jose Rizal, National Hero. Greatest Filipino martyr, executed by the Spaniards on December 30, 1896. Noted scientist, philosopher, sculptor, painter, agriculturist, educator, reformer, historian, novelist, poet, journalist and polyglot.
1978, March 15, Manila, Philippines. Souvenir Cover with Masonic cachet. 30th death anniversary, Manuel A. Roxas, first President of the third Philippine Republic. Roxas was a Past Master of Acacia Lodge No. 13, Free and Accepted Masons. He was a Master of Makawiwild Lodge No. 55 of Capiz. And, he was a Member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Manila.
1977, April 28, Quezon City, Philippines. Souvenir Cover with Masonic cachet. 60th Anniversary of the Fusion. On February 14, 1917, due primarily to the efforts of Most Worshipful Manuel L. Quezon, 27 lodges under the Gran Oriente Espanol were fused with the Grand Lodge of the Philippines. This event is considered to be one of the most important events that has taken place since the Fusion of the two Grand Lodges of England in 1813.
1987, December 19. Stamps issued to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Grand Lodge of the Philippines F, & A. M. Design features Dr. Jose Rizal, Master Mason and National Hero.
1976, October 9, Manila, Philippines. Souvenir Cover with Masonic cachet. 75th Anniversary. Founded in 1901, Manila Lodge No. 1 played a huge part in erecting the first Masonic Temple to be used as a Grand Lodge.
1977, July 28, Manila, Philippines. Souvenir Cover with Masonic cachet. Commemorating the reactivation of the Royal Order of Scotland in the Philippines. Officiated by Sir Knight Marvin E. Fowler, Provincial Grandmaster. Most of the covers known to exist has red ink smears.
Special Thanks to: Erlinda C. Stanfield
http://www.philippinestamps.net/
Special Thanks to: Erlinda C. Stanfield
http://www.philippinestamps.net/
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