He re-established the Grand Lodge after the War… Michael Goldenberg was born of French parents in Singapore on November 8, 1889. When he was only five years old, he came to the Philippines. His father, Dr. Leon Goldenberg, was a Captain in the medical corps of the French Army and later Chemist in the Botica-Inglesa on the Escolta. But his love of freedom threw him into the company of the Luna brothers and other Filipino patriots and led him to seek membership in a Masonic Lodge. Dr. Leon Goldenberg was not, at first, suspected of being a sympathizer of the Filipino people on account of his French nationality; hence, through him, Marcelo H. del Pilar was able to send his letters to the Filipino patriots. In time, however, the Spaniards became suspicious. To escape persecution, Leon and the two sons he had brought with him from Singapore had to change residence constantly. When, finally, his enemies succeeded in poisoning him, Michael and his brother had to stay in the Hospicio de San Jose as wards of the French consulate. Later, the two boys returned to their mother in Singapore. When the Port of Manila was re-opened after the Spanish-American War, the two Goldenberg boys and their mother came back to the City and took up residence at Tondo. One of Michael’s boyhood friends was Juan Nolasco who, in later years, would become a Mason, a Senator and Mayor of Manila. Their friendship grew with the years. Thus, when Michael finally thought of joining a Masonic Lodge in 1914, he sought membership in his friend’s Lodge, Sinukuan Lodge No. 272, under the Gran Oriente Espanol. Steady was Goldenberg’s advance in Masonry. In 1917, he had the 14° degree in Sinukuan Lodge No. 272 and, in the same year, he was re-obligated in the Philippine Bodies. In 1922, he founded Mount Lebanon Lodge No. 80, which he served as its first Master in the same year as well as in the following year. He was Chairman not only of the Joint Scottish Rite weekly luncheons, but also of the Scottish Rite Commission that travelled to Iloilo and Cebu in 1922 and 1923, when, for the first time in those places, the Degrees of the Rite were conferred. He presided over all the four Bodies of the Scottish Rite, Philippine Bodies. In 1923, he was elected KCCH; in 1940, IGH. During this period, too, he was the Ceremonial Director of the Philippine Bodies, the first Worthy Patron of Rosario Villaruel Chapter No.2, OES, and an active member of the Order of Amaranth. Goldenberg was Senior Grand Warden when the Japanese entered Manila. Placing a total ban on Masonry, the invaders persecuted the Brethren. Goldenberg was, as he put it, one of their victims: I was one of the victims of the invaders. I was taken to the dreaded Fort Santiago by the Japanese Military Police and have suffered all privations and beatings during October and November, 1942, and was persecuted and watched during the rest of the invasion. As a leader of Masons, I was considered an archenemy and was also accused of aiding America. I was extremely lucky to come out alive. When the enemy was retreating from the Northern part of Manila, they completely destroyed all my properties and the building in which I was living with my family at Dasmariñas Street by setting it afire with high explosives. As soon as they saw my wife and me running away from the fire to save our lives, they pursued us with rifle and machine gun fire. Thanks to the Almighty, we were able to extricate ourselves from such debauchery with life, but I was wounded. We ran into the U.S. Infantry who were advancing towards us. Protected by the American Liberation Forces, we were able to take shelter at Saint Luke’s Hospital where we were given first aid and later cured with tender care and diligence. After a few days of our stay in said hospital, Most. Wor. Bro. Antonio Gonzalez visited me and informed me that we lost everything, including our Most Wor. Grand Master, Bro. John R. McFie, Jr., and our Right Wor. Deputy Grand Master, Bro. Jose P. Guido. He advised me that in accordance with the provisions of our Constitution, I should immediately assume the office of Acting Grand Master to re-establish our Grand Lodge. Still wounded and hardly able to walk, Goldenberg immediately plunged into his new duties. He created a Relief Committee to solicit assistance from Brethren across the seas, found temporary quarters for the Grand Lodge, and got in touch with the members and urged them to re-establish the Lodges that were closed during the war.. He also sought the succor of the Brethren in the United States Armed Forces, several of whom he delegated to re-open the Lodges. By 1946, he had successfully re-organized 81 Lodges. That number was enough to assure the presence of a quorum in the Annual Communications scheduled to be held that year. In 1946, Goldenberg was regularly elected Grand Master and, as such, he continued to rehabilitate Philippine Masonry. Ten (10) more Lodges were re-organized, and dispensations were granted for the organization of three (3) new Lodges, one of which was in Okinawa. Incidentally, this marked the first time a Lodge in Japan was established under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Grand Lodge. When Goldenberg finally stepped down from the Grand Oriental Chair in 1947, he was able to say truthfully that the Fraternity had “…gone far on the road to solidity and firmness.” Thirty years before that, i.e., in 1917, Goldenberg married Irene Herman. His import-export firm specialized in textiles. In 1920, he opened the Goldenberg Department Store, a landmark on Dasmariñas. In 1934, he became the exclusive distributor of Helene Curtis beauty products. Ready to help civic and patriotic causes, Goldenberg always was. He wrote articles and brochures for such purposes. Yes, he even financed the publication of controversial books, which more timid financiers dared not venture into. As President of the Philippine Booklovers Society, he often donated books for sale, so that with the proceeds, the Society would get a new lease on life. After the Liberation, Goldenberg took out citizenship papers. Hence, the post-mortem description of him as “a Filipino extraordinary” fits him to a T.