UPWARDS of 7,000 people from all over the Philippines and elsewhere in the world gathered at the Davao Convention and Trade Center in Davao City, April 27-30, for the 95th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.
According to Lauro Tito C. Ilagan, head of the AnCom secretariat, the just concluded gathering was the third to be hosted by Davao. The first was in 1987, which was also the first ever outside outside Metro Manila when the district was headed by then Regional Trial Court judge Paul Arcangel, and the second was when Davao’s renowned surgeon, Dr. Rizal Aportadera, was elected grand master.
Freemasonry is a fraternal society based on moral and religious doctrines like belief in a Supreme Being and the immortality of the soul. The eminent fraternity counts among its members Filipino heroes Dr. Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Marcelo H. del Pilar and Emilio Aguinaldo, among others.
One of the highlights of the four-day national gathering was the installation on April 30 of a Dabawenyo –former Department of Public Works and Highways Region 11 director and assistant secretary Juanito P. Abergas — as Grand Master and other officers of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippines. Most Worshipful Nitoy Abergas takes over the mantle of authority from MW Avelino “Sonny” Razon Jr., former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
Abergas is the sixth Grand Master who hail from Davao. The first was Ruperto Demonteverde in 1973, then Desiderio Dalisay Sr. in 1978, Dr. Rizal Aportadera in 1993, Pedro W. Guerzon in 1985, and RomeoYu in 2006.
Other prominent freemasons in Davao were the late city mayor, assemblyman and Court of First Instance (CFI) judge Juan Sarenas, human rights lawyer and former city legal officer Laurente “Larry” Ilagan, Feliciano Inigo, Bruno Gempesaw, Teodoro Palma Gil, Celestino Chaves and Jose Madrazo, after whom city streets are named.
Former vice mayor Luis Bonguyan, city administrator and councilor Wendel Avisado and city planning officer Roberto Alabado III are likewise freemasons.
