Molave Lodge No. 261

The Name

            Named after the Molave (Vitex parviflora), a tree with a very hard wood, reaching a height of from 8 to 15 meters. It has blue flowers, 6 to 8 mm long, and its fruits are round or spherical in shape, 5 to 6 mm in diameter. The Molave tree is widely distributed throughout the Philippines.

The Lodge
 

            The origin of this lodge is traceable to the vision of the brethren of Memorial Lodge No. 90 and Narra Lodge No. 171 who saw the need for a new lodge in the northwestern part of Nueva Ecija. The name Molave was inspired by the name of the sponsoring lodge that was taken from the Philippine national tree, symbol of its sturdiness, molave being a similar tree.
 

            The founders of Molave Lodge were given a dispensation to congregate as a lodge on January 10, 1983 by MW Rudyardo V. Bunda. In the dispensation, MW Bunda appointed the following as the first officers of the lodge: Bro. Perfecto Gallardo, Sr. Worshipful Master; Bro. Isagani Velarde, Senior Warden; and

            Bro. Virgilio de Guzman, Junior Warden, respectively. On April 29. 1983 Grand Lodge, upon the recommendation of the Committee on Charters, granted a charter to the lodge and assigned to it number 261. On July 4, 1983. Grand Master Rosendo C. Herrera convened a Special Communication of the Grand  Lodge in Lupao, Nueva Ecija and proceeded to constitute the Molave Lodge No. 261. Thereafter he also installed the charter officers of the lodge.
 

            For the first three (3) years of the existence (1983-1985) of Molave Lodge,it conducted its meetings and its labors at the Lupao Central School. In the early part of 1986 the lodge moved to the Doña Juana Chioco National High School. On May 19, 1990, during the incumbency of MW John L. Choa as Grand Master and WB Rolando B. Uy as Master of the lodge, the cornerstone for the proposed Temple of the lodge was laid.The site was donated by a member of Molave Lodge No. 261 and contains an area of 2,550 square meters. It may be worth mentioning that a greater part of the filling materials used on the site was graciously donated by Gov. Tomas Joson, who also donated a good half of
the GI sheets used for the roof of the Temple. Moreover, as if these were not enough, he most willingly shouldered the cost of the steel windows in the North side of the Temple.

            Some time in 1995, Molave Lodge No. 261 moved to stay permanently at its new home in Sitio Tuboy, Brgy. Parista, Lupao, Nueva Ecija.
 

            Slowly but steadily, Molave Lodge No. 261 continues to grow and develop to achieve its goal of becoming a worthy member in the family of Masonic lodges, not only in Nueva Ecija but in the entire jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge.
 

            Location: Lupao, Nueva Ecija