Lecture no. 4 this Masonic Year discusses the crucial role of Language in Communicating the teachings of Masonry. It is a continuing thrust in the Strategic Phase of EDUCATION.

The Philippine jurisdiction, being the daughter of the Grand Lodge of California practices the Anglo-American type of Masonry and is based on the English Language. On the other hand, the brand of Continental Freemasonry that grew roots in the Philippines used a Hispanized medium. After more than 300 years of Iberian Influence, Spanish has continued to become the language of the learned Filipinos decades after Spain ceased its rule in our country in 1898. 

Spanish Rituals may have been developed by the Grand Lodge in 1917 with the creation of Biak-Na-Bato Lodge No. 7 which was established for Filipino Masons who spoke in Spanish (vs Bagumbayan Lodge No. 4 w/c was founded in 1914 for English-speaking Filipinos). With the reconstitution of 39 continental lodges - from Nilad No. 12 to Minerva No. 41 under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands, the more that a Spanish Ritual was needed for Philippine Masonry to thrive well into the first half of the 20th Century.

Glimpses of the Spanish Language can be seen in some of our Grand Orations like in 1922 & 1947. Until the 1950s, the Cable Tow – was a bilingual publication having a “Seccion Castellana” which contains the Spanish version of its contents.

During the American colonial period, the country had no National Language yet. Fortunately, Article XIII, Section 3 of the 1935 Constitution provided that 

The National Assembly shall take steps toward the development and adoption of a common national language based on one of the existing native languages. Until otherwise provided by law, English and Spanish shall continue as official languages. 

In 1936, the first National Assembly approved Commonwealth Act No. 184 - creating the Institute of National Language (later the Surian ng Wikang Pambansa). Its task was to make a study and survey of each existing native language which shall be chosen as the basis for a standardized national language. A year later, the Institute recommended Tagalog to be the basis of the national language which Pres. Quezon approved in 1937.

Quezon’s proclamation on Tagalog as the basis of the Wikang Pambansa is founded on the following:

1.          Tagalog is widely spoken and is the most understood language in all the Philippine Regions.

2.          It is not divided into smaller daughter languages, as Visayan or Bikol are.

3.          Its literary tradition is the richest of all Philippine languages, the most developed and extensive (mirroring that of the Tuscan language vis-à-vis Italian). From at least before 1935, more books were written in Tagalog than in any other Philippine language.

4.          Tagalog has always been the language of Manila, the political center of the Philippines in much of its history as a multiethnic country and a considerable economic center of the Philippine islands since time immemorial.

5.          The Katipunan generally used the Tagalog language for its operations, and the Philippine Revolution and the First Philippine Republic operationally used Spanish afterward, but many of the leaders of the revolution spoke Tagalog, more so among ethnic groups from central to southern Luzon including some adjacent islands. Tagalog also became a choice for some non-Tagalog Filipino revolutionary leaders and nationalists in some of their publications, especially if they were to publish in Manila. The Katipunan extended the meaning of the term Tagalog to all people native to the Philippine islands, including Cebuanos, Ilocanos, Kapampangans, etc, and extended the term Katagalugan to the whole Philippine islands not just native Tagalog-speaking areas, building a Tagalog Republic, the reason being a unified opposition against Spanish hegemony.

Part IV of our Masonic Law Book – is the compilation of different regulations appertaining to the Work and Life in the Craft. Section G (Other Regulations) is still stated that the proceedings and ceremonies in all Lodges in this jurisdiction

shall be conducted either in English, Spanish, or in Filipino. Although the pronouncement found on page 393 of the 2019 MLB is clearly stated, certain resources are either in short supply or are no longer available to accommodate Ceremonies in Spanish.

To appraise the brethren on the state of our Ceremonies in Filipino, here are several facts that we have gathered with the cooperation of the Corps of Grand Lecturers, the IMES Director for Research, and the Cable Tow Editorial Team:

1. The following are some of the Masons who played critical roles both in the establishment of Filipino as a National Language and the development of Filipino Masonic Ceremonies:

Pres. Manuel L. Quezon (1878 – 1944)
GLP’s first Filipino Grand Master is considered the Father of the National Language (Ama ng Wikang Pambansa).

Senator Lope K. Santos (1879 – 1963)
Charter Master of Magat No. 68 is the Father of Philippine Grammar (Ama ng Balarila ng Pilipinas).

Julian Cruz Balmaceda (1885 – 1946)
Charter Master of Pintong Bato Lodge No. 51 is one of the pillars of Filipino Literature. was instrumental in introducing the use of Tagalog in the rituals of the Grand Lodge. He translated the following rituals: Installation of Officers, Funeral Services, and Memorial Services. He also authored, in Tagalog, the ritual for the Dedication of Masonic Cemetery Plots. 

MW William H. Quasha (1912 – 1996)
The Golden Jubilee Grand Master spear-headed the translation of the Conferral Ceremonies into the National Language (aka Filipino or Tagalog). Legislated the rituals as part of Edict No. 46 – Quasha to improve communication with candidates who are fluent in the National Language.

VW Mateo D. Cipriano, PGBB
Appointed as Custodian of the Work in Pilipino and tasked by MW Quasha to produce the ritual in the National Language. A mission that he accomplished during the 50th Founding Anniversary of the Grand Lodge.

MW Danilo D. Angeles, PGM
Grand Master (1995) and incumbent Grand Secretary who in 1987 translated the Masonic Tribute to the Philippine Flag when he was Junior Grand Lecturer for Central Luzon. He is also credited for developing the Filipino Version of the Opening and Closing of Lodges (Pagbubukas at Pagpipinid ng Lohiya) which is the approved ritual in our jurisdiction. 

Justice Magdangal De Leon
Past Master from Araw 18, was the composer of the Grand Centennial Hymn entitled – Gran Lohia, Mabuhay Ka. With lyrics in Filipino, the song was adopted during the GLP Centennial in 2012 and can still be played. 

MW Abraham Tolentino, PGM
Issued Edict No.297 – Tolentino which mandated the use of Filipino during the Opening and Closing of the Lodge in the Stated Meetings in celebration of “Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa” (2017).

2. The following work translations when compiled together and officially endorsed by the GLP can offer a complete Masonic Ritual in the National Language (Filipino) that the brethren in the Philippine
jurisdiction can practice:

Pagbukas at Pagpipinid ng Lohiya

Pag-gawad ng mga Antas ng Masoneriya

Mga Galian na pang-Mason

In the 1987 Constitution, the working definition of the Philippine National Language is found in the following:

Section 6: “The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched based on existing Philippine and other languages.”

Section 7: “For purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.”

Section 9: orders the establishment of a national language commission, which will enhance the language-formation role of regional languages through the representation of various regions and disciplines in the body. The task of this commission is to undertake, promote, and coordinate research for the development, propagation, and preservation of Filipino and other languages. The commission (established on August 14, 1991) came to be known as the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino.

Based on the 2020 survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority the Top 10 languages spoken in Philippine Homes are as follows: Tagalog (39.9 %), Bisaya (16 %), Hiligaynon/Ilongo (7.3 %), Ilocano (7.1 %), Cebuano (6.59 %), Bikol (3.9 %), Waray (2.6 %), Kapampangan (2.4 %), Maguindanao (1.4 %), and Pangasinan (1.3 %).

More than 80 years since our Brother Pres. Manuel L. Quezon approved the recommendation of the Surian ng Wikang Pambansa on the use of Tagalog as the basis of our national language, it has remained to be the most spoken language in Filipino Homes.

CONCLUSION
More than compliance with Edict No. 297 of MW Tolentino and the observance of the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa. The Practice of Opening and Closing the Lodge in the National Language should be treated by every Filipino Mason (be he a Tagalog or not) as an opportunity to perform the Craft not just as Free and Accepted Masons but as free Filipinos who have accepted their freedom – an invaluable commodity that masons themselves have paid for in the not-so-distant past.

Our National Language when adopted as the medium for our Masonic Rituals will help Filipino Masons in understanding its essence amidst the passage of time. Should the Grand Lodge adopt the various existing Filipino Translations made by our esteemed Brethren through the years, it will be a positive leap for Freemasonry in general and our jurisdiction in particular. Practicing our Masonic rituals in Filipino will help preserve our National Language with the passing of years and the changing of seasons.

GUIDE QUESTIONS FOR LECTURERS
Note: DGL’s answers to these questions shall be among their contributions to the Lecture:

1. Have you listened to any of the Masonic Rituals delivered in Filipino?
Share with the Brethren your impressions and experiences.
2. Which part of any Masonic Ritual in Filipino made a considerable impact on your journey or understanding of Freemasonry?
3. Tip: Delivering this Lecture in Filipino is an effective technique that will complement the topic.