Cabletow 4th issue - GM Ebdane - Grand Lodge of the Philippines

The Cabletow
Taking the cue that dialogue could be better achieved in fraternal fellowship, the
two Masonic brothers founded lodges in Cavite and Zamboanga composed of Spanish
navy, army, and government employees. The first Spanish lodge, La Primera Luz
Filipina (The First Philippine Light) was born at Cavite in 1856 under the auspices of
the Gran Oriente Lusitano.
First Filipino Mason
Following the establishment of Spanish lodges, a German Consul in Manila founded
La Perla del Oriente in 1868, composed mostly of Germans and a few Spaniards.
The secretary of this lodge was Don Jacobo Zobel y de Zangroniz, son of Don
Jacobo Zobel y Hinsch, a German, and Doña Ana Maria Zangroniz y Arrieta, a Filipina.
Zobel started his studies in Manila and continued his bachelor’s degree in
pharmaceutical science in Germany. He figured in the liberalization movement during
the time Gen. dela Torre was in command, and later governor. Zobel was later
branded a conspirator and revolutionary. An intellectual, he received a number of
awards which included the “Gran Cruz de Isabel la Catolica.” He was a Knight of the
Order of Carlos III, member of the Real Academia de la Historia and the Sociedad
de Amigos del Paris. He married Doña Trinidad de Ayala on June 10, 1875. Don
Jacobo is considered by some Masonic writers as the First Filipino Mason. Maybe it
is more accurate to say that he was the first Philippine-born to be initiated to the
Craft.
The British followed the example of the Germans by founding the lodge of
Nagtahan ostensibly to admit prominent Filipinos. Not to be outdone, the Spaniards
founded the lodge of Pandacan under the auspices of the Gran Oriente de España
and had as its initiate Señor Enrique Paraiso, a native of Tayabas (now Quezon)
and a temporary official of the customs house. Many republican Spaniards exiled
from Spain, hungry and sometimes penniless, were saved by Filipino members of
this Lodge.
After the founding of the lodge of Pandacan, there was a proliferation of Masonic
lodges in Manila and neighboring provinces. Teodoro M. Kalaw, Past Grand Master,
observed that “Grande Oriente de España had jurisdiction over Regularidad No.
179, Luz de Oriente No. 204, and España No. 208, all in Manila; Magallanes No.
218, Luz de Balabac No. 282, and Peninsular No. 311, all in Cavite; Minerva No. 309
with chapters Esperanza No. 64 in Manila; and Fe No. 50 in Cavite. Under the
jurisdiction of Grande Oriente Español were Integridad Nacional No. 25, Union No.
39. Patria No. 41, Camarra del XXX No. 7, Caballeros de Rosa Cruz No. 18, Real
Arco No. 20, and Elejido del Nueva No. 21, all in Manila.” T.M. Kalaw further noted
that there were two lodges of the Orient of Memphis and Mizrain and perhaps two
more of foreign orients.
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