The first Grand Master from a provincial lodge … Lying just south of Cavite, with the China Sea washing its western and southern shore, is Batangas, the birthplace of many contributors to the cause of freedom and justice. This province gave birth, in 1878, to another illustrious son who would, later, catch the attention of the business world and of the Masonic Fraternity. That Batangueno was appointed municipal treasurer in Tanauan, Batangas in 1904 and promoted to Traveling Deputy provincial Treasurer the year after. In 1907, he became Chief Clerk to the Provincial Treasurer. In 1909, he was appointed Provincial Treasurer covering the provinces of Antique, Isabela, Cagayan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Laguna. He was made Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue on December 16,1917. After barely three months, he became a Collector. He was Assistant General Manager of the Philippine National Bank at the time of his election as Grand Master. But, of course, he rose from the ranks, that is, from Director to Vice-President to President of the Board of Directors. When he became General Manager of the Bank, this was in a shaky financial situation; after six years, however, he was able to make the Bank financially sound once again. But Trinidad decided to leave PNB in 1930 and to assume PASUDECO’s administration (in Pampanga). Mainly through his efforts, the Company was able to pay substantial dividends to its stockholders. Very energetic, he was. This excessive vim led him to establish other corporations: National Life Insurance Co., Luzon Surety Co., Provident Insurance Co., and the Luzon Investment Co. He knocked at the door of our Fraternity, particularly in Batangas Lodge, in 1916. At that time the Lodge was still under the Gran Oriente Español. In 1920, he was his Lodge’s Master. The Grand Lodge recognized his experience. Thus, in 1920-21, he was elected Grand Treasurer. Thereafter, he rose gradually until, in 1924, he was chosen Grand Master. Very active in Scottish Rite Masonry, he was, too. He became Venerable Master of Lakandula Lodge of Perfection in 1922-23, and Wise Master of Burgos Chapter of Rose Croix in 1925. He was honored with the rank and dignity of KCCH on February 22, 1930. Five years later, he was coroneted IGH, thus joining three other Filipino holders of the 33°. For his dedication to the Craft, Trinidad is fondly remembered. Stevens would, in fact, say the following in 1936 about him: He always had time for a friend. Wenceslao Trinidad was a religious man, though not a member of a religious order. He was vitally interested in life here and hereafter. That is the reason he gave so much of his time to it. That is the reason he had “reached the highest rank in Freemasonry, a Past Master of his Blue Lodge and a thirty-third degree Mason. I don’t remember Wenceslao Trinidad as a great economist. Though we all know he was a leader. I remember him because of that day in the Masonic Hospital for Crippled Children when he picked up a forlorn, homeless, little lad who could not walk and he turned to the doctor and said: ‘Doctor, there must be something you can do for him! ‘ And that teardrop that formed in the corner of his eye was a badge of greater value than the insights and decorations of any European power. The scholarly PGM Rafael Palma would recall that, when his car was involved in an accident in Pampanga on his way down from Baguio to Manila, he had to knock at Trinidad ‘s house in San Fernando, Pampanga at one o’clock in the morning and that Trinidad immediately rose from his bed and extended to the group his hospitality, enjoyed their fellowship, and then gave them the use of his own car. There are other glowing reports of how Trinidad translated Masonic tenets into action. Suffice it to say, at this point, that he believed in discipline. Here is what he said in this regard: It has been often said by certain members of the Craft that while Masonry in the Philippines is gaining followers and Lodges are being founded in every province, the unity and harmony that should exist among the Brethren are giving way to factional struggles, discords, intrigues and racial antagonism – the very evils which Masonry aims to uproot so that brotherly love, tolerance, charity and equality may prevail. Whether such charges are founded on actual facts, you, Brethren, are in a better position to judge than I am. There is one thing, however, on which we all agree – that undesirable and unworthy persons have been allowed to join our Fraternity. The mistake has been made and much to our regret its consequences are now a thorn in our flesh. It is our duty to prevent the recurrence of such a serious mistake, so that only carefully selected men are admitted hereafter to our Fraternity. Trinidad advocated quality, not quantity. That is, he wanted that the men who would knock at the door of the Fraternity should be chosen well, so that only real and true Masons would meet in the Lodges to further the Fraternity’s principles. Trinidad did things by example and motivated his Brethren to do the same: …Our spirit of service should be accentuated more in deeds and less in words. The activities of our Lodges should be closely coordinated for more effective work, and all members should be taught to make charity, brotherly love, tolerance and equality their guiding principles both inside and outside their Lodges. This quotation is worth remembering, for therein lies the greatness of the 11th Grand Master – his advocacy both in word and in deed of the trinity of virtues that a real and true Mason must use as guiding principles: love (charity), tolerance, and equality.