The last to be elected from the floor Lawyer, writer, orator, soldier, professor, statesman, transportation magnate – these were the credentials of Emilio P. Virata when he was elected from the floor as the 30th Grand Master of Masons in the Philippines. Virata first saw the light of Masonry in Magdalo Lodge No. 371 in 1916, when it was still under the Gran Oriente Español, during which time it was still meeting in the mansion of his idol, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Although he was only a fresh graduate from the U .P College of Law, he soon gained the respect of his elder Brethren and, in due time, became Master of his Lodge. His zeal and competence were, likewise, soon recognized outside his Lodge. He was conferred honorary membership both by Araw Lodge No. 18 and by Bagong-Ilaw Lodge No. 97. Then he was appointed Grand Lodge Inspector and later Senior Grand Lecturer, a position reserved only for those well versed in the mysteries of Masonry. He also became Grand Representative of the Gran Logia Nacional de Columbia and Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. Later, Virata joined the Philippine Bodies and was elected to preside over all its four Bodies. In 1941, he was conferred the rank and dignity of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. Virata, likewise, joined Bagong-Buhay Lodge No. 17. Furthermore, he became a member of the Manila Square and Compass Club, of the National Sojourners, and of the Heroes of ’76. Virata did not occupy any Grand Lodge position when the Thirty-first Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge was held in Manila in January 1947. When Deputy Grand Master Teodorico A. Jimenez, a member of his mother Lodge, begged off, however, the Brethren turned to Virata and elected him from the floor as Grand Master. Virata’s term was, indeed, a busy one. Grand Lodge membership increased by 885. One Lodge was reorganised, two were chartered and constituted, and dispensations were issued for the organisation of four new ones. He made official visitations to the various subordinate Lodges, including those in China and Guam; then he flew to the United States on a Masonic mission. He caused our Masonic Law Book, to be published and had a dormitory for our provincial Brethren, as well as bowling alleys, constructed. He also issued an edict on the conduct of Flag ceremonies. All these, he accomplished without going over the approved budget. Virata immediately engaged in the practice of law after his admission to the Bar in 1915. Four years later, at the age of 29, he entered politics and was elected Representative of the province of Cavite. Among the measures he authored in the Philippine Legislature were the law changing the name of his hometown from San Francisco de Malabon to Gen. Trias, in honor of General Mariano Trias, an outstanding Mason as well as Revolutionary hero and the law giving Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo a pension for life. Besides, he was sent’ to the United States as a member of the Philippine Parliamentary Mission with the work of securing legislation for further Philippine autonomy and eventual independence. Virata remained in politics for many years. He was the head of the majority party in his province and became Govenor-elect in 1939. Virata’s loves other than politics were teaching and business. As an educator, he became President and Director of the Instituto Burgos, a law professor at the Academia de Leyes, and a ranking member of the Committee on Public Instruction of the House of Representatives. As member of this Committee, he attended meetings of the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines. As a businessman, he was President of the General Trias Transportation Co., Inc. During the War, Virata joined the underground movement. He organised the Noli Club, which was later incorporated with the Cavite United Free Guerrilla Forces, Magirog Unit, where he was commissioned Colonel and made an adviser. After the War, Virata became closely associated in the Veterans Administration with Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, whose speeches he wrote, whose messages he prepared, and for whom he even received and entertained foreign dignitaries. He was, furthermore, the General’s personal consultant and confidential adviser. One of his advises that were followed was the donation to the Government of the General’s mansion in Kawit and of the historical relics in the General’s possession. The mansion, which used to be the meeting place of Magdalo Lodge, is now a shrine. The 30th Grand Master, was born in San Francisco de Malabon (now Gen. Trias), Cavite on May 17, 1890, and died a bachelor on March 11,1971.