Kinadapawan Lodge No. 170
The Name
Named after the town of Kidapawan in North Cotabato.
The Lodge
It was in the early part of 1963 when Ruperto S. Demonteverde, Sr., then Manager of the Development Bank of the Philippines, Cotabato Branch, broached the idea of creating a Masonic lodge in Kidapawan to Bro. Buenaventura A. Sabulao, a retired Municipal Judge of Kidapawan. Taking it as a big challenge, Sabulao called on other brethren in the locality who fortunately were all receptive to the idea. On March 21, 1963 the first organizational meeting was held at the residence of Sabulao. Present Demonteverde, Sr., Sabulao, Ceferino Villanueva and Mariano V. Ramos, Sr. With the able assistance of brethren from Davao City, the Kidapawan Lodge was born with Demonteverde, Sr., as its first Master.
While the lodge was working under dispensation, the following filed petitions for the degrees of Freemasonry: Gaudencio B. Ortiz, Alfredo 0. Pagdilao, Cesar M. Sabulao, Armando Austria, Gabriel Manuel, Kuya Huelva, Benjamin Foronda, Augusto R. Gana, Alejandro Negrillo, Curran Spottswood, Artemio Tangonan, Bernardino Saplaco, Jr., Jaman Imlan, Sergio Alcubilla, William Louh, Sr., Arserio Henojales, Alfredo Lachica and Jose Zarza who were all subsequently initiated, passed and raised to the Sublime Degree of Masonry.
On July 11, 1964, Kidapawan Lodge No. 170 was duly constituted by Grand Master Charles Mosebrook at the Kidapawan Chinese School founded by Bro. William Louh, Sr. With him were DGM Serafin Teves, Grand Secretary Esteban Munarriz, Grand Lecturer Hermogenes P. Oliveros, and Grand Chaplain Jose Valencia. Brethren from Davao City led by WB Filomeno Adi also came to grace the eventful day. In the evening, Buenaventura A. Sabulao was installed as Master; and Ceferino Villanueva and Mariano V. Ramos, Sr., as Senior and Junior Warden, respectively.
Kidapawan Lodge started as a peripatetic lodge. Its first meetings were held at the Chinese School, then they were transferred to the residence of WB Ramos, Sr., then to the Central Mindanao Colleges, back to the Chinese School, then to the house of Bro. Sultan Omar Kiram, back to the Central Mindanao Colleges, until finally it moved to its own Temple. Truly Kidapawan Lodge was a "Traveler."
The Masonic Temple - now the Kidapawan Masonic Center, Inc. - stands on a piece of land graciously donated by Bro. Jose Serrano. The cornerstone was laid by Grand Master Damaso Tria on September 17, 1974 and construction started in the early part of 1975. It took years and untold sacrifices to finish, but today the Temple or Center, is an imposing edifice where all Masonic activities are held. The ground floor houses the officers of the Department of Agrarian Reforms and the (PHATI) Pioneer Hi-Bred Agricultural Technologies, Inc.
The saga of Kidapawan Lodge No. 170 does not end here. As Kidapawan Lodge was begotten so did it beget it's daughter, Rio Grande Lodge No. 192, in Kabacan, Cotabato which in turn begot Midsayap Masonic Lodge No. 267.
With the establishment of Kidapawan Lodge No. 170 other Masonic affiliated bodies followed suit, to wit:
1. Mt. Apo Chapter No. 17, Order of the Eastern Star was Instituted on October 14, 1978 and chartered on July 17, 1982.
2. International Order of Job's Daughters, Bethel No. 14 sponsored by the Mt. Apo Chapter No. 17, Order of the Eastern Star, was instituted on January 18, 1981 and chartered on December 28, 1981.
3. Order of DeMolay sponsored by Kidapawan Lodge No. 170 was instituted August 18, 1985 and chartered August 17, 1986.
Although Kidapawan Lodge is not a charitable institution it extends charity to the needy. Among the projects of the lodge are medical assistance to harelips, crippled children, and victims of third degree burns. It has also extended assistance to the victims of both natural and man-made calamities, and has established a Tree Planting program for Mt. Apo reservation.
Location: Kidapawan, North Cotabato