Cupang Lodge No. 295
The Name
Cupang was adopted as the name of this lodge to honor Marcelo H. Del Pilar who chose Cupang as his symbolic name in Masonry and who was born in a "sitio" in Bulacan, Bulacan named Cupang. Cupang is also the name of an old lodge in Bulacan that was founded during the Spanish regime by Vicente Gatmaitan, the brother-in-law of del Pilar.
The Lodge
On August 7, 1991, Grand Master Jose Reyes Guerrero, upon the recommendation of Malolos Lodge No.46, issued a dispensation to sundry Master Masons authorizing them to form a lodge in Bulacan, Bulacan to be named Cupang Lodge. Among the petitioners were Rodolfo Aldaba, Francisco Aniag, Jr., Pacifico Aniag , Artemio Bautista Jr., Benildo Borja, Antonio Cryz, Andres del Rosario, Rogelio Fernando, Felix Flor Cruz, Marcelino Garcia, Bienvenida Garcia, Rudolf Littleton, Noli Madlangbayan, Abraham Manahan, Jose Monteio. Luis Pineda, Wilfredo Rendon, Epifanio Reyes, Ambrocio Rodrigo, Jr., Moises Roque and Renny Toledo. From among the petitioners, MW Guerrero designated the following as the Dispensation Officers of the lodge: Faustino C. Garcia, Worshipful Master; Nestor B. Calimon, Senior Warden and Reynaldo Dalusong, Junior Warden.
At the annual communication of the Grand Lodge held in April 1992, the Committee on Charters found that the lodge, while under dispensation, was able to initiate, pass and raise eight candidates. It, therefore, recommended that Cupang Lodge be granted a charter assigned number 295.
On July 25, 1992 Grand Master Agustin V. Mateo opened a Special Communication of the Grand Lodge and constituted Cupang Lodge No. 295. On the same day, the new officers of the lodge were installed into office, to wit: Nestor Calimon, Master; Reynaldo Dalusong, Senior Warden; Ernesto Mateo, Junior Warden; Faustino Garcia, Treasurer and Rolando Sarmiento, Secretary.
Like most young lodges, Cupang Lodge experienced having to meet in several places, including the ancestral houses of the Enriquezes and the Rodrigos in Bulacan, the Temple of Malolos Lodge No. 46, and a classroom in Tabang Elementary School. Through the dedication and efforts of its Masters and members, however, the lodge succeeded in erecting it own temple at Villa Sofia Subdivision in Matungao, Bulacan, Bulacan. On August 30, 1995, MW Danilo D. Angeles graced the laying of the foundation of the Temple of Cupang Lodge which also coincided with the birth anniversary Bro. Marcelo H. del Pilar. On July 25, 1998, VW Benjamin BJ Torres, acting as Grand Master, dedicated the Temple.
Location: Cupang, Bulacan, Bulacan