MW Ruperto S. Demonteverde Sr. Memorial Lodge No. 320

The Name
            This lodge is named in honor of the 56th Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines, a noted banker and a worthy son of Negros province, whose unselfish contributions to Masonry, the brethren felt should be recognized.

The Lodge      

            The formation of this lodge was started by a group of brethren led by VW Leo G. Cuachon and VW Jesus D. Angodung. With the support of DDGM Miller V. Serondo, they decided to set up the lodge at Kabankalan City, and chose "MW Ruperto S. Demonteverde Memorial" as its name. After securing
the permission of RW Franklin J, Demonteverde, Junior Grand Warden, to name the new lodge after his father, and after obtaining the favorable endorsement of Ernesto Salas Memorial Lodge, they prepared all the papers needed to get a dispensation.

            On March 31, 1997, a formal petition signed by thirty-one Master Masons of good standing, all members of lodges in Negros and Iloilo, was sent to the Grand Lodge praying for a dispensation to form a new lodge at Kabankalan, Negros Occidental to be named MW Ruperto S. Demonteverde Memorial Lodge.

            On September 4, 1996, Grand Master Jose Percival L. Adiong issued the requested dispensation and named VW Leo G. Cuachon. Vw Tesus D. Angodung and Bro. Arturo C. Villaroman, Jr., to be the first Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden, respectively, of the new lodge.

            The lodge was instituted in appropriate ceremonies on October 12, 1996 at the Farmers Training Center in Kabangkalan, Negros Occidental with the honoree's son, RW Franklin J, Dentonteverde, presiding. The affair was made more significant by the presence of Msgr. Rogelio "Boy" Cruz, Vicar General of the Diocese of Kabankalan, who graciously accepted the lodge's invitation to be its guest of honor and speaker. In attendance also was the Mayor of Kabankalan, Hon. Isidro Zayco, who gave an inspirational message and welcomed the Masons' desire to join hands with the City government in pursuing the latter's economic and humanitarian projects.

            Soon after it was instituted, the lodge raised four Masons: Bros. Isagani G. Ayala, Romeo L. Justiniani, George M. Ortaliz and Joseph Dale P. Demonteverde, one of the grandsons of the late MW Rupersto S. Demonteverde and the eldest son of Junior Grand Warden Franklin J. Demonteverde.

            Because of the exemplary performance displayed by the lodge while under dispensation, the delegates to the annual communication of the Grand Lodge held in April 1997 at Tacloban City, unanimously approved the recommendation of the Committee on Charters that MW Ruperto S. Demonteverde Memorial Lodge be granted a charter and assigned number 320.

            On July 19, 1997, Masons led by the Grand Lodge Officers, notably Grand Master Leon Angel P. Bañez, Jr., Deputy Grand Master Enrique L. Locsin, Senior Grand Warden Franklin J. Demonteverde, Junior Grand Warden Oscar V. Bunyi, Grand Treasurer John L. Choa, and Grand Secretary Raymundo N. Beltran, converged in Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental to constitute MW Ruperto S. Demonteverde Memorial Lodge No. 320 and install its charter officers.

            Location: Kabankalan, Negros Occidental