BRIEF HISTORY OF MALINAW LODGE NO. 25

The first glimmer of light of Masonry in the City of San Pablo was sparked by its prominent residents who were members of Manila Lodges , namely, LOGIA NILAD, WALANA, DALISAY and SINUKUAN. The historic date was the first half of the year 1912. Fourteen masons met in the house of Feliciano F. Exconde and first formed a “triangulo”, then LOGIA MALINAW NO. 340. It was granted “Gran Consejo de la Ordern” on October 23, 1912 by the “Gran Logia Regional de Filipinas” under the jurisdiction of “Grande Oriente Español”, which was then headed by Dr. Miguel Morayta. The fourteen fourteen (14) founders were: FELICIANO F. EXCONDE, MELECIO FULE, ZACARIAS B. SAHAGUN, DALMACIO AQUINO, MARCIAL ALIMARIO, MARTIN ALVERO, MIGUEL LEONOR, EUSEBIO DIAWATAN, SANTIAGO GUTIERREZ, ANTONIO AGUIRRE, DAVID AGUIRRE, ROSENDO REYES, MARIANO SAYO AND CATALINO VILLAS.

The first principal officers were: Worshipful Master Feliciano F. Exconde, Senior Warden Mariano Sayo, Junior Warden Antonio Aguirre, Treasurer Miguel Leonor and Secretary David Aguirre.

Malinaw Lodge No., 340 of San Pablo City was granted its Charter on February 14, 1917 by the “Gran Logia de Masones Libres y aceptados de las Islas Filipinas” (Grand Lodge of F.& A.M. of the Philippines) and became MALINAW LODGE NO. 25.

The word MALINAW was culled from Brgy MALINAW (San Lucas 1 & 2) of San Pablo City where most of the founders originated.

The first meetings of the lodge were held in the residence of Feliciano F. Exconde. The following year, meetings were convened in the house of Dalmacio Celino as the membership grew in number. Further increase, forced the “brotherhood” to transfer to the second floor of the building owned by Mr. Pablo Tan.

The Masons, desirous to build a permanent meeting place, organized MALINAW TEMPLE ASSOCIATION, INC. for that purpose. Their fervent desire was realized when a two-storey building was erected in 1919 in Gen. Luna St., in 1925, the local government expropriated the site to build a hospital (now the Panlalawigan Pagamutan ng Laguna or the District Hospital). After two years, the government also bought the adjacent lot where the “temple” was relocated to construct a nurses’ dormitory. A lot was bought in the corner of T. Azucena and J. Zulueta Sts.

Without a temple to hold their meetings, the “brotherhood” rented a space in the Escudero building in Bonifacio St. This was so until the outbreak of World War II. The labors of the lodge was suspended from 1942-1945 when the Japanese occupied the building. Records and paraphernalia were either lost or destroyed. The Lodge meetings were resumed in 1946. They convened in the office (at old City Hall Building of San Pablo) of Meliton Cruz, a member of Malolos Lodge No. 46, who was then the City Treasurer of San Pablo. After a time, the venue was transferred to the house of Werner P. Schetelig in Barangay Concepcion.

Spearheaded by Werner P. Schetelig, Howard R. Hick, Cirilo O. Constantino, Eduardo L. Constantino, Celso P. Borja, Rouben C. Belulia and many more dedicated masons, a new temple was completed in 1948 at its present site. A portion of the lot bought before the war was sold to finance the building of the temple.

Hence the Malinaw Temple was erected three (3) times, firstly in the spot which is now the Panlalawigan Pagamutan ng Laguna (PPL), secondly, on the lot adjacent to the hospital, and thirdly, on its present site at the corner of Azucena and Zulueta sts..

To date, the Lodge has ninety-four (94) active members, almost half of this are “life members by longevity.”

The Malinaw Lodge is proud to have two (2) of its members occupied the “Grand Oriental Chair”- Mr. WERNER P. SCHETELIG and Mr. HOWARD R. HICK. Two others, Mr. CIRILO O. CONSTANTINO and RUBIN A. ALCANTARA served as “District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District No. 11.”

Today, Malinaw Lodge No. 25 is very much visible in the community through its charitable institution-the Malinaw Foundation, Inc. (Sandy Belarmino/DBB)