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HISTORY OF LA TRINIDAD LODGE NO. 344

Under the jurisdiction of the
Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons
of the Republic of the Philippines

By Bro. Fernando M. Lacsamana, PM

The idea of Baguio Lodge No. 67 espousing a new Lodge has been at her bosom for quite a long time and it was the brethren’s most preferred choice to organize one in the capital town of La Trinidad, Benguet. Many a brethren broached over the idea and tried to initially organize a Lodge but ended with more issues and obstacles that prevented the same to happen.

In 2000, under the leadership of the incumbent Master of Baguio Lodge No. 67, Bro. Cheston D. Valencerina, gave the Lodge’s consent to go ahead with organizing a Lodge. Bro. Rimas Calixto, the DDGM of Masonic District No. 41 at the time, likewise approved and endorsed the creation of a new Lodge. In early July 2000, an organizational meeting was held at the Baguio Masonic Center. In said meeting, the brethren were unanimous to name the Lodge as LA TRINIDAD LODGE. An interim set of officers was elected headed by Bro. Fernando A. Albino, PDDGM, as Master. Bro. Fernando M. Lacsamana was designated as Secretary and tasked to prepare the petition form, constitution and by-laws, collect from interested brethren the corresponding fees together with their respective certificates of good standing in their mother Lodges. After a series of meetings, the required number of twenty-five Master Masons in good standing was exceeded. 

Thus on February 13, 2001, the petition to form a Lodge duly signed by its initial members, the Constitution and By-laws, accompanying fees and certificates of good standing was submitted to the Grand Lodge of the Philippines. In no time MW Grand Master Oscar Bunyi granted a dispensation to form a new Lodge. He appointed Bro. Fernando A. Albino, PDDGM, as the Master of the Lodge, in turn; Bro. Albino appointed Bro. Lacsamana as Administrative Assistant to the Worshipful Master and tasked him to work closely with the brethren for the accomplishment of all requirements of the Grand Lodge so that La Trinidad UD can be instituted.

On August 11, 2001, MW Grand Master Napoleon A. Soriano instituted La Trinidad Lodge UD at the Baguio Masonic Center. After the institution, the Grand Master installed into office VW Fernando A. Albino as the First Master of the Lodge, Bro. Huoy P. Tabanda as the First Senior Warden and Bro. Charles D. Valencerina as the First Junior Warden. The other officers are Bro. Joseph Corsino, Treasurer; Bro. Lauro R. San Jose, Secretary; WB Florentino I. Paragas, Auditor; Bro. Robert M. Ganzon, Senior Deacon; Bro. Paul Dimas, Junior Deacon; Bro. Alexander A. Galpo, Chaplain; Bro. Rolando B. Matnog, Marshal; Bro. Arthur Bueno, Senior Steward; Bro. Rodrigo Z. Tada, Junior Steward and Bro. Noe E. Villanueva, Tyler. MW Soriano was assisted by VW Victor Tan Teksian as Master of Ceremonies and VW Hermeno Palamine as Chaplain. Thereafter, the Grand Master and party was treated to dinner at the Omai Khan Restaurant courtesy of Masonic District 41 headed by VW Francisco S. Manalo, Jr., DDGM and VW Antonio T. Tactay, DGL and the members of La Trinidad Lodge UD. On its institution day there were 41 members 27 of which are from Baguio Lodge No. 67. 

The first stated meeting of the Lodge was held on September 15, 2001 at the Baguio Masonic Center and every third Saturday of the month thereafter. Bro. Raul M. Cadiogan was the first to be initiated on 06 April 2002, passed on 20 April 2002 and raised on May 11, 2002. Having been able to do the works on the three degrees, the Lodge was now ripe for chartering.

The Charter of the Lodge was approved on April 25, 2003 at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge assigning 344 as the Lodge number. On August 2 of the same year, LA TRINIDAD LODGE NO. 344 were finally constituted as a regular Lodge by MW Grand Master Ricardo P. Galvez in a fitting ceremony at the Baguio Masonic Center. Thus was born the first Lodge from the womb of Baguio Lodge No. 67. Installed charter and first elected officers are Bro. Charles D. Valencerina as Master, Bro. Albert Paul B. Dimas as Senior Warden, Bro. Albert N. Gahid as Junior Warden, Bro. Agustin P. Okko as Treasurer, Bro. Arthur C. Bueno as Secretary and WB Abraham B. Akilit as Auditor. The other officers were WB Andres P. Morales Jr., Chaplain; Bro. Benito Espique Jr., Marshal; Bro. Raul M. Cadiogan, Senior Deacon; Bro. Paul Mariano, Junior Deacon; Bro. Jerry Lardizabal, Senior Steward; Bro. Bismarck Soliba, Junior Steward; Bro. Franklin B. Golocan, Bible Bearer; Bro. Dominador Paglinawan, Almoner; Bro. Neoman B. Dela Cruz, Orator; Bro. Romulo B. Montoya, Organist, WB Nicanor Julius A. Abad, Lecturer; and Bro. Matias Golocan, Tyler. The Installing Team was composed of VW Fernando A. Albino as Installing Officer, WB Rolando G. De Guzman as Master of Ceremonies and VW Ernesto Y. Toquero as Assistant Master of Ceremonies. Dr. Roberto Legaspi, Medical Director of the Saint Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart gave the Inspirational Talk while Grand Master Galvez was the Guest of Honor and Speaker.

Other Charter members are VW Fernando A. Albino, VW Ralph A. Asuncion, Bro. Kenneth C. Ateo-an, VW Rimas G. Calixto, Bro. Robert Capuyan, VW Edilberto P. Carabbacan, WB Manuel L. Carranza, WB Alexander C. Castañeda, WB Luke Warren A. Challongen, Bro. Joseph A. Corsino, Bro. Romeo D. Espiritu, WB Antonio C. Feraren Jr., Bro. Robert M. Ganzon, Bro. Charles Fidel C. Golocan, Bro. James N. Gonzalo,  WB Fernando M. Lacsamana, VW Van Cornelius D. Luspo, Bro. Rolando B. Matnog, WB Andres P. Morales Jr., Bro. Andres B. Morales III, Bro. Juan B. Ngalob, Bro. William A. Occidental, VW Federico I. Paragas, WB Florentino I. Paragas, Bro. Lauro R. San Jose, Bro. Felipe C. Tabanda, WB Huoy P. Tabanda, VW Antonio T. Tactay, VW Ernesto Y. Toquero, VW Constante P. Uy, and Bro. Noe E. Villanueva.

Sometime in 2005, VW Abraham B. Akilit, Regional Director of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), with office at Wangal, La Trinidad, offered a space for the Lodge office and also the use of their conference room for stated/special meetings. WB Albert Gahid readily accepted the offer and officially adopted the same as the Lodge’s official address. Stated meetings were also held at the conference room aside from those held at the Baguio Masonic Center.

On February 17, 2006, the first Masonic degree work was held at the NIA-CAR conference room. Bro. Arvin P. Dugay was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft. On the same month, through the intervention of WB Albert Paul R. Dimas, a 400 square meter lot in Lamtang, La Trinidad was purchased by the Lodge. This will be the site of the future La Trinidad Lodge Masonic Center. Providentially, voluntary contributions started to pour in for its construction. The biggest contribution was that of VW Arturo Lomibao, Philippine National Police Director General in the amount of P50,000.00 and committed during the installation of WB Raul M. Cadiogan on March 18, 2006. Other brethren donated cash and in kind, Lodge paraphernalia from the Masons of Virginia through WB Wilbert O. Austria a Masonic Bible and a complete set of collar Jewels, the altar was built through Bro. Joseph Humiding. 

La Trinidad Lodge No. 344 being the youngest Lodge and  through the dedication of its officers and members as well as the brethren from its mother Lodge and other Lodges practicing acts of brotherly love, relief and truth will surely dawn a better horizon.