Talavera Lodge No. 273

The Name

            Named after the town of Talavera in Nueva Ecija. Talavera is a Spanish name, but the old residents prefer to trace its etymology to a love story involving a young damsel named Tala and a dashing swain called Vera. They say these two married and were the first settlers of the town. It is an improbable story, but one that will warm the cockles of the hearts of incurable romantics.

The Lodge      

            This lodge was the brainchild of 77 Master Masons who were members of a majority of the lodges of Nueva Ecija. On October 28, 1985, Grand Master Pedro W. Guerzon gave them a dispensation authorizing them to form a lodge in Talavera, Nueva Ecija that would carry the name of the town. During the first six months of the existence of the lodge under dispensation, the members held 15 meetings, initiated twelve applicants for degrees, passed all of them and raised seven of them to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. They also acquired by donation from Marcial Punzal, a native of Talavera, a
2021 sq. m. lot, located a few meters from the National Highway. Based on these, the Grand Lodge granted Talavera Lodge a charter during the annual communication held in April 1986.

            On June 21, 1986, the new Grand Master Reynold S. Fajardo motored to Talavera, Nueva Ecija and, with the assistance of several Masonic dignitaries, constituted Talavera Lodge No. 273

            The first batch of initiates of Talavera Lodge No. 273, under charter, were Danilo Uy Tak, Inocencio B. Sagun, JR., and Roberto L. Morales. They were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in June 1986.

            In 1992, Talavera Lodge No. 273, thru the efforts of the brethren and their friends under the leadership of the officers for Masonic Year 1992, erected a beautiful Temple on a big lot donated to it. Those principally responsible for the construction of the Temple were: Pablito S. Lacanilao, Master; Inocencio B. Sagun, Jr., Senior Warden; Leonardo T. Ting, Junior Warden; Florencio M. Gloria, Chairman of the Construction Committee; Franco S. Manahan, Member; Juan S. Nepomuceno, Member; and Daniel M. Ferrer, Member

            Today, Talavera Lodge No. 273 is growing and producing good Masons, future leaders of the fraternity. It has been the recipient of commendations within the District and also from the Grand Lodge. Its present Master is Emil Andrew del Rosario, II, a very knowledgeable and active Mason.

            Location: Talavera, Nueva Ecija