HERITAGE
On 19 November 2007, some members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Square and Compass Club discussed the possibility of forming a new Masonic Lodge out of the Club. Among those present were PCG Commandant ADMIRAL DANILO A. ABINO JAPCG of La Naval Lodge No. 269 at SANGLEY Point, Cavite; COMMANDER RODEL A. ABURQUEZ PCG of Manuel ROXAS Lodge No. 152 at the Grand Lodge of the Philippines (GLP), and Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO) PERLITO S. DELA Cruz PCG of BAGONG ILAW Lodge No. 97 at NOVALETA, Cavite. The above idea quickly spread like a wildfire and gladly welcomed by other brethren stationed at Headquarters Philippine Coast Guard (HPCG) Manila who saw the necessity of forming their second mother lodge near HPCG to cater their need of attending Masonic meeting in lieu of their respective mother lodges in the province. Nine days later, on 28 November 2007, ADM ABINOJA PCG formally hosted a dinner caucus-meeting among the members of the PCG Square and Compass Club at WAH Yuen Chinese Restaurant along ADRIATICO Street, ERMITA MANILA. INATTENDANCE, aside from ADM ABINOJA PCG, CDR ABURQUEZ PCG, and MCPO DELA Cruz were COMMODORE ISIDRO P. BANARIA PCG (RET) of Bud DAHO Lodge No. 102 in JOLO, Sulu; BRIGADIER GENERAL IGNACIO V ILLENBERGER PHILIPPINE MARINES (RET) of LABONG Lodge No. 59 in GLP, COMMODORE DANILO M VILDA PCG of BAGONG ILAW Lodge No. 97; CAPTAIN ERNESTO S CABALLERO PCG (RET) of La Naval Lodge No. 269; CAPTAIN BON DAN D CHAN PCG, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER ROGELIO E VILLANUEVA, JR PCG, SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER GRACIANO C. CONSORIO PCG and SENIOR PETTY OFFICER SOFIO C. LANTO PCG, all brethren from BAGONG ILAW Lodge No. 97; WB Paul H. OCAMPO PM of Keystone Lodge No. 100 in GLP, WB Ernesto C. Torres OM and WB Enrique Y. Co WM of Manuel ROXAS Lodge No. 152. Invited to grace the meeting was Commodore 2007-08 Grand Master MW Jaime Y. Gonzales PCGA, who was gladly accompanied by Captain James A. OLAYVAR PCGA of KAGITINGAN Lodge No. 286 Makati City. On 08 January 2008, MW Jaime Y. Gonzales, Grand Master of Masons in the Jurisdiction of the Philippines, officially granted the dispensation to form La Guardia Lodge U.D. and he instituted it on the same day at the Jose Abad Santos hall of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines Manila. Fellowship with lived band music followed at the Social Hall of HPG Gin Port Area, Manila during the 92nd Annual Communication of the GLP at Bacolod City on April 24-26, 2008. La Guardia Lodge U.D. was recommended to be granted a permanent charter and was assigned the new lodge number 378. At 4:00 PM, on 28 May 2008, the Rite of Constitution of La Guardia Lodge No. 378 was performed by the Grand Line Officers of the Grand lodge of the Philippines at the Jose Abad Santos Hall with newly assumed Grand Master MW PACIFICO B. ANIAG presiding.
HERALDRY
During the caucus-meeting, the name La Guardia was suggested by ADM ABINOJA PCG to give tribute to all Coast Guard brethren who “bravely go to sea in ship so that other may live”. Those present agreed to transform the Club into a MASONIC lodge and adopted “La Guardia” as the name of the incoming lodge.