Saranay Lodge No. 193
The Name
Saranay is the Ilocano word for "relief' and stands for one of the principal tenets of Masonry, which is to bring relief to those in distress.
The Lodge
At the onset of 1970, a group of sojourning Master Masons, mostly employees of the Quirino Engineering District, Bureau of Public Highways, felt the need to establish a Masonic lodge in the sub-province of Quirino. Led by WB Eulalio D. Perdido, they submitted to the Grand Lodge a request for dispensation to form a new lodge. On March 18, 1970 Grand Master Manuel Crudo issued a dispensation to the thirty-one organizers authorizing them to form Saranay Lodge. The founders immediately immersed themselves in Masonic activities. They accepted applications for membership, participated in district sports fests, attended district meetings and joined community and Masonic projects.
In the annual communication of April 1971, the Grand Lodge, on the recommendation of the Committee on Charters, granted a permanent charter to Saranay Lodge No. 193.
The constitution and first public installation of officers of Saranay Lodge took place on July 17, 1971. Grand Master Damaso C. Tria, assisted by Deputy Grand Master William C. Councell, Grand Secretary Esteban Munarriz, Senior Grand Lecturer Hermogenes P. Oliveros, Sr., DDGM Sotero A. Torralba, Sr., and DDGM Rufino S. Roque, Sr., constituted the lodge. In the installation of the officers, RW Councell, acted as the Installing Officer with VW Antonio P. Perez, as Master of Ceremonies. The first regular officers were, as follows: Eulalio D. Perdido, Worshipful Master; Jose B. Aquino, Senior Warden; and Ernesto D. Bulatao, Junior Warden .
The members of Saranay Lodge No. 193 held their initial meetings in the office of Bro. Jose B. Aquino, then Lt. Governor at the sub-province of Quirino at San Leonardo, Aglipay, Quirino. Later they moved to the Mangandinagay Elementary School, just adjacent of the compound of the Quirino Engineering District, DPWH at Cabarroguis, Quirino. Later Bro. Quirino Olonan donated to the lodge a one thousand square meter (1,000 sq. m.) lot along the national road of Gundaway. Cabarroguis, Quirino. Under the leadership of WB Jose B. Aquino, and with the assistance of sojourning brethren, the members were able to raise a two-storey building in 1982, and it is now the meeting place of the lodge.
The roster of Saranay Lodge No. 193, has mushroomed from the original thirty-one to almost one hundred fifty, seventy of whom are active members. It has produced twenty nine Past Masters, three of whom eventually become District Deputy Grand Masters.
Location: Cabarroguis, Quirino