Republic of the Philippines - Stamps & Postal History

 

RP Issues of 2012

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2012, January 19.  The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons

Litho Offset.  Amstar Company, Inc.  Perf 14

Se-tenant Pairs, Sheets of 40 (4 x 10)

          

 

Se-tenant Pairs    (50,100)

   7p  Grand Lodge of the Philippines Building / President Manuel L. Quezon

   7p  Plaridel Masonic Temple / Dr, Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Mariano Ponce

 

 

First Day Covers:  Manila

 

 

THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF THE PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINE MASONRY 

Marcelo H. del Pilar and Dr. Jose P. Rizal conceived the idea of organizing Freemasonry in the Philippines.  As a result, Nilad Lodge No.  144 was established in 1891 with the consent of the Grand Oriente Espanol.  M.H. del Pilar, also known in the Philippine Revolutionary world as “Plaridel” earned the recognition of Father of Philippine Masonry. 

The Filipino patriots like Rizal, del Pilar, Ponce, Lopez Jaena, the Lunas, Bonifacio, Aguinaldo  -  were all Free­masons, who in the last quarter of the 19th century fought against the tyranny of the colonial government of Spain, and in the 20th century a number of Freemasons - the late Quezon, Palma, Roxas, Kalaw, and others,  continued the struggle for national self-determination and independence of the Filipino people. Those Freema­sons of the 19th Century were the ones who laid the founda­tion of Freemasonry in the Philippines, while those of the early 20th century, continuing the fight for Freedom of the country, also strengthened the bond among Lodges and Freemasons and widened Masonic movements throughout the country.                 (http://www.grandlodgephils.org.ph/2011/)

FILIPINO MASONS FEATURED ON STAMPS:

PRESIDENT MANUEL L. QUEZON.  Was initiated at Sinukuan Lodge No. 16, Free & Accepted Mason, Manila; he was a Freemason most of his life.  He was most instrumental, along with other Filipino and American Masons, in the unification of Filipino and American Lodges on February 13, 1917.  He became the first Filipino Grandmaster of  Grand Lodge of  Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, succeeding  MW William H. Taylor.

DR. JOSE RIZAL. Was initiated on November 15, 1890 in Lodge Solidaridad No. 53, Madrid, Spain.  Affiliated on February 16, 1892, Grand Orient of France.   Worshipful Master, 1892, Nilad Lodge  No. 144, Philippines.  Master,  Lakandula Lodge of Perfection in Manila.  Rizal Consistory was named after him.  Rizal is the greatest Filipino martyr, executed by the Spaniards on December 30, 1896.  Noted scientist, philosopher, sculptor, painter, agriculturist, educator, reformer, historian, novelist, poet, journalist and polyglot.

MARCELO H. DEL PILAR.  Was made a Mason in Spain in 1888, and later attained the 33° and became Grand Orator of the Spanish Supreme Council. He organized the Solidaridad Lodge No. 53 in Barcelona, Spain, which in time included liberal Filipino students in Europe. De Pilar and Rizal of the day. He believed that oppression cannot suffer indefinitely.  As a Filipino and a Ma­son, he suffered indefinitely and indescribable hardships, but his passion for righteousness and justice encouraged his fellowmen to work unselfishly for home and country. He died away from his loved ones, but his faith was unshaken to the end, he left a legacy of determina­tion to our brethern when he said: "We must exert all efforts so that our Ven­erable Order may extend its influence to the remotest corners fostered the idea of organizing Philippine Freemasonry and the for­mer's effort resulted in authority from the Grand Oriente Espanol to do so. Nilad Lodge No. 144 was the first to be established, in January 1891, and others followed, earning for Del Pilar recognition as "The Father of Philippine Masonry.  Speaking at the 1950 Annual Com­munication of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands, Grand Orator R. W. Mauro Baradi, said in part, "a notable exponent of the Masonic faith was Mar­cello H. Del Pilar, likewise known as Plaridel.  He detested the tyrannical rule of the monastic orders of our beloved Philippines so that we may imbue the popular customs of our people with the love and liberty, equality and fra­ternity.

MARIANO PONCE.  Born on March 23, 1863 in Baliwag, Bulacan.  Made a Mason in Logia Iberia in Madrid.  A 33rd Degree Mason under the Gran Oriente  Espanol. Secretary of Logia Revolution and Logia Solidaridad No. 53.    Finished Bachelor of Arts, 1885, San Juan de Letran.  Finished Medicine, 1889, Central University, Madrid.  Formed with Rizal and del Pilar, the “Glorious Trinity of Propaganda Movement” in Spain.  A magnificent researcher and prolific writer, he authored the “Celebrated Filipinos” and other patriotic  writings and Philippine folklore.  A brilliant journalist, he assisted Lopez Jaena in founding the publication “La Solidaridad.”  Secretary General and Diplomatic agent of General Aguinaldo in Japan where he purchased arms for the  Philippine Revolution.  An intimate friend of Dr. Sun-Yat-Sen, also a 32nd Degree Mason, dedicated patriot and valiant fighter, he  ranks among the great heroes of the Philippines.   Died on May 23, 1918 in Hong Kong.

 

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