A Brief History of Union Lodge No. 70

It was the 10^th November 1920, when � Bro Basilio S Santiago of Cabanatuan Lodge No 53 arrived in San Fernando to assume his duties as Provincial Treasurer. He knew through his travels in La Union that there were brother masons. But they were sojourners from Lodges elsewhere in the Philippines and there was no indication that they knew each other.

As soon as he had settled in his office, he sought out the masons and found four. Together, they formed the La Union Square and Compass Club, then being insufficient in number to form a Lodge. In no time at all, word about the craft began to spread.

On March 12^th 1921 their numbers increased to 12 and the brethren decided to form "Union Lodge" taking the name from that Province and from the fact that the founding members were from different lodges all over Luzon. They elected the following officers:

Bro. Basilio S. Santiago Cabanatuan No 53 (N.E.) WM

Bro. Tomas Lasmarias Bagumbayan No 4 (Mla) SW

Bro. Casiano Aquino Angalo No 63 (I. Sur) JW

Bro. Miguel Rilloraza Nilad No 12 (Mla) Treas

Bro. Rufino Ancheta Walana No 13 (Mla) Sec

They were joined by the following brothers in a petition to the Grand Lodge of the Philippines for a dispensation to constitute a Lodge:

Bro. Ramon Ruffy Magdalo No 31 (Cavite)

Bro. Enrique Lacsamana Walana No 14 (Mla)

Bro. Esteban David Rizal No 20 (Tayabas)

Bro. Bonifacio Tadiar Pintong Bato No 51 (Cavite)

Bro. Teodoro Aruejo Angalo No 63 (I. Sur)

Bro. Francisco Nisce Bagumbayan No 4 (Mla)

Bro. Pancrasio Pinpin Angalo No 63 (Mla)

Their petition was recommended by Pangasinan Lodge No 56 to the Most Worshipful Edwin W Elser who was the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines. It was approved on March 31^st 1921, which has been considered as the founding date of the Lodge. The new Lodge was formally opened under dispensation on May 7^th 1921 with WB Basilio S Santiago as its first Master in the court room of the Provincial Capitol. On April 1^st 1921, the Lodge was duly constituted by the Most Worshipful Quintin Paredes, Grand Master, assisted by the brethren from sister lodges of Pangasinan, Angalo, Sinukan. Bagumbayan, Pintong Bato, Rizal, Walana, Magdalo and others.

For many years the Lodge had no Temple of its own. It used the Constabulary Headquaters, which was soon outgrown. It then moved to the house of Mr. Lorenzo Galvez, then to the house of Mr. Saturnino Malare. It moved on to a number of brethren, finally resting at the house of Mr. Juan Valdez.

Under WB Bonifacio Tadiar, a lot was acquired and titled in 1923 and in 1932 under WB Leon C Flor the "La Union Masonic Corporation" was formed with the immediate aim of raising funds for the construction of a Temple. This objective was pursued with renewed effort under WB Leonico R Salanga resulting in the laying of a cornerstone for the Temple on December 30^th 1939. Completed under the administration of WB Federico Concepcion the Temple was used for the first time on May 16^th 1940, for a joint meeting of the brethren from Laoag Lodge No 71, Angalo Lodge No 63 and the Abra Lodge No 86. The occasion marked the official visitation of Right Worshipful Jose P Guido, in representation of the Grand Master. The Temple however did not survive the ravages of the last world war burnt down.

Following the liberation of the Province, the surviving officers from 1941 assumed their duties and the lodge was reopened on August 25^th 1945 at the Bacnotan Town Hall. The month following the lodge met at the Balaoan Town Hall and in the next month at the San Juan Town Hall. In the fourth month it moved to the San Fernando Elementary School where it met until it moved to the house of Bro Pablo R. Valdez for the month of June to August 1948.

In the meantime a group composed of "The Three Lights" WB Doroteo A Parong, Bro Andres B Rivera and Bro Juan S. Liclican, Treasurer and WB Rilloraza had solicited loans from the brethren and their families for building a new temple. Their efforts enabled the lodge to move into the rebuilt temple on September 14^th 1948 where the lodge continued to meet. During 1971 the dilapidated building was pulled down. Construction began by was plagued by problems, stopping the work. Temporarily, Lodge meeting were held at the basement of Union Christian College while the construction of the new temple continued until its funding ran out. At that time the Chairman of UCC informed the brethren that their required the return of the room, so the brethren restored the room and moved to a small room that they constructed on the corner of Ancheta and Ortega Street. Later further improvement were made to the premises.

With the increase in Lodge membership the brethren recognized that there was a need to expand and improve the premises, an illusive dream that was never realized. But, in 1999 with a new set of officers led by WB Ralph A Asuncion with new determined resolve, they started to initiate the work on the modification and refurbishment of the Temple. Thus, on April 10^th 1999 following the RW Oscar Bunyi, ground breaking ceremony the program was truly underway. Finally, on November 19^th MW Franklin Demonteverde, Grand Master, officiated at the ribbon cutting and inauguration ceremony.

Through the dedication, commitment and untiring determination of the Master, WB Ralph A Asuncion and the brethren, the New Temple of Union Lodge is an edifice that truly reflects the great art of Masonry.

Narrative reprinted and reconstructed by: RGM.  

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