Manuel L. Quezon Lodge No. 262
The Name
Named in memory of Manuel L. Quezon, Past Grand Master and President of the Philippine Commonwealth.
Quezon was the first Filipino Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines. This Lodge meets in Baler, the birthplace of Quezon.
The Lodge
The establishment of a Masonic lodge in Baler, Aurora was a long cherished dream of the Masons from Nueva Ecija who were assigned to Aurora. Their dream was realized when the members of Kapatiran Lodge No. 228 and Cabanatuan Lodge No. 53 agreed to help out. Sixty-two signed the petition for dispensation.
On March 14, 1983, Grand Master Rudyardo V. Bunda issued a dispensation authorizing the sixty-two Master Masons to organize a lodge in Baler, Quezon to be named Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Lodge. The lodge functioned immediately. Before the Grand Lodge held its annual communication in April
1984, it was able to hold eleven meetings and raise seventeen Masons to the Sublime Degree of Masonry. It also regularly submitted its reports and its paraphernalia was fairly complete. During the annual communication, the Committee on Charters recommended that the Grand Lodge grant a charter to the lodge and assign to it number 262.
On June 9, 1984, Grand Master Reynato S. Puno motored to Baler, Quezon and constituted Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Lodge at the Gabaldon Hall of the Baler Central School. On that day, too, the charter officers of the lodge were installed, led by Rodolfo C. Beltran, Worshipful Master; Diosdado Mudlong, Senior Warden; and Ildefonso Evangelista, Junior Warden.
In his report to the Grand Lodge, MW Puno was effusive about the proficiency and hospitality of the members. He said: "I am happy about the efforts of the brethren, especially WB Rodolfo Beltran, its first Worshipful Master. To reach Baler is a triumph of body and spirit together. You have to negotiate
treacherous mountain roads. Literally, rough and rugged roads. But all difficulties of visiting the brethren of Baler are bound to vanish the moment you reach them. They simply overwhelm you. With their warmth, their care, their concern. And the wonder of it all in this new lodge is that even newly raised members
deliver lectures. They perform flawlessly."
A few years after the lodge was constituted, Brothers Joselito Angara and Pedro Calixto each donated a 1,000 sq. m. lot to the lodge. Forthwith the members started construction of a Temple on their two lots. Work was completed in 1992, thanks to the dedication of the members and the assistance of brethren from other lodges and of the friends of the lodge. In February 1992, Grand Master Agustin V. Mateo officially dedicated the Temple.
Location: Baler, Aurora