The Rotarian “If Freemasonry is to continue on its proper pedestal of dignity and command the respect of people,” said Mariano Q. Tinio, “we, the men of the Fraternity, must ourselves command respect and ourselves keep and maintain that level of dignity which becomes a worthy and exemplary Mason.” Through these words, he set the tone and put in proper perspective the structure of his leadership policies when he ascended the Grand Oriental Chair in 1967. A study conducted by Tinio before assuming the mantle of leadership hinted at the existence of undertones of petty jealousies and quite debased passions among the Brethren. Hence, at the inception of their terms of office Tinio and his appointees pledged and vowed to “transmit unimpaired through a succession of ages the excellent tenets of Freemasonry.” Them these tenets were both a gift and a trust. Thus Tinio made the timely reminder to the wavering Brethren in his inaugural address. The son of the late General Manuel Tinio, of Aliaga and Licab, Nueva Ecija, Commanding General of the Philippine Revolutionary forces in Northern Luzon, and Doña Laureana Quijano, of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, Mariano is one of the affluent men who have been elevated to the exalted position of Grand Master of Masons. His birth place is Sinait, his birth date, May 27, 1900, but he got his elementary-school education in his father’s hometown. In 1909, he enrolled at the Ateneo de Manila, from which he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1919, Tinio left for the United States and enrolled at the College of Agriculture, Cornell University. He graduated in 1923 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Later, he matriculated with the American University in Washington, D.C., for a post-graduate course in Business Administration. Returning to the Philippines in 1926, he enrolled at the Philippine Law School and then at the National University. In 1930, he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws; in the same year, after passing the bar examination, he was admitted to the Philippine Bar. In 1933, Tinio was elected Councilor of Licab, Nueva Ecija. After his stint as such, he was appointed Judge of the Circuit Justice of the Peace Court of the Municipalities of Santo Domingo and Quezon, Nueva Ecija. In 1945, he resigned from the judiciary to attend to his rice farms and other private interests, as well as to devote more time to law practice. Tinio was outstanding in civic leadership and active in community service. In 1948, for instance, he and several associates organized the Rotary Club of Cabanatuan, which he served as president in 1949-50 and in 1950-51. In 1956, he was elected Rotary International’s Governor for its lone district in the Philippines. In 1957-58, he served as the Rotary International President’s personal representative to the District Conference of Rotary International District 330 in Saigon, South Vietnam, which was then composed of Rotary Clubs in Cambodia, Thailand, South Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, British North Borneo, and Brunei. He was, for three years (1961-63), Chairman of the Provincial Agricultural Council for the Province of Nueva Ecija. He was also Vice-President of the National Federation of Pump Irrigation Association as well as of the Nueva Ecija Bar Association. Tinio was initiated at Cabanatuan Lodge No. 53 on September 19, 1925 and was passed and raised in the same Lodge on February 20,1926 and on October 23,1926, respectively. He later helped organize General Manuel Tinio Lodge No.167 , serving as its Master when it was organized as a Lodge, U.D. in 1962 as well as when it was made into a regular Lodge in 1963. He was re-elected Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1964. In 1952, Tinio joined the Scottish Rite. In 1958, he was invested with the rank and decoration of a 32° KCCH and in 1967, was coroneted an Inspector General Honorary, 33°. Tinio was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1964, Senior Grand Warden in 1965, Deputy Grand Master in 1966, and Grand Master of Masons in the Philippines in 1967. As Grand Master, he called upon his Brethren to strive for high levels of dignity, level which he personally maintained.