A respected practicing attorney. In Maragondon, Cavite was born on March 15, 1936, the third child of Gertudes Narvaez and Eleuterio A. Beltran, a member of Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 17 and a dual member of Nilad Lodge No. 12. Fifty-two years later – on April 30, 1988 - that child was officially installed at Cebu Plaza Hotel, Cebu City, as the 71st Grand Master of Free and Accepted Masons of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines. At his installation, Raymundo N. Beltran pronounced: “With all humility of heart and spirit I accept the opportunity to be of service to all of you, my brethren”. Aware of the Masonic charge “Duty and honor now alike bind you to be faithful in every trust.” Beltran wielded the gavel with authoritative firmness; his dedicated fidelity to the Fraternity at the same time spurred him to serve his brethren, “with equality and justice for all.” Beltran graduated from San Roque Elementary School, in Cavite City, in 1948; from Cavite High School, in 1952; and from the FEU Institute of Law, in 1958. He passed the Bar Examinations in 1959. Since then he has been enthusiastically engaged in lawyering. To date, he is legal counsel of various establishments, such as; Hijos de F. Escano, Inc.; Tropical Hut Foodmart, Inc.; Kalaw Farms Enterprises, Inc.; Magdiwang Finance and Investment, Inc.; Pier 8 Arrastre and Stevedoring Services, Inc.; Rural Banks of Maragondon, Sto Niño and Silang, Inc. Beltran evidently exemplifies the maxim the “busiest men find time,” as is shown in the following partial catalogue of his activities: Chairman, Committee on Human Rights of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Manila II Chapter, of which he is a former director; Past president of the UST Graduate School Students Council, of the Square and Compass Toastmasters Club, and of the Temple Builders Club; Member of the committee tasked with the construction of a Memorial Hall in honor of one of the pillars of Philippine Masonry and of the Philippine Independent Church: Calixto O. Zaldivar, PGM. The woman Beltran chose to help him in furthering his career as a lawyer is appropriately named Lualhati. She was born in Manila to Melencio Domingo of Quezon City and Catalina Lopez of La Union on February 12, 1941. Lualhati studied Commerce at the University of the East. Today she is the owner and proprietress of Moonlit Craft, which has ceramics products and decors for speciali­zation. But she has found time for the Order of the Armaranth of which she is an active member. She has also found time to be constantly “present” to her seven children. Beltran’s devoted loyalty to the Fraternity formally started at Mt. Mainam Lodge No. 49 in Naic, Cavite, where he was initiated, passed and raised on April 4, May 2, and May 30, 1964, respectively. Six years later (1970), he was elected Worshipful Master of his Lodge. His responsible performance in the Oriental Chair stimulated his brethren to re-elect him the following year. On May 7, 1974 he joined the then Manila Lodge No. 1, as a dual member. In 1976, the year the Lodge celebrated its 75th anniversary, he was elected Worshipful Master. In 1976, too, he had a brief stint as Grand Chaplain. In recognition of his leadership, he was appointed as District Deputy Grand Master (DDGM) of Masonic District No. 10 (the province of Cavite), acknowledged to be the biggest Masonic District in this jurisdiction, its members being more than 3,000. During his term as DDGM, he organized the General Emilio Aguinaldo Chapter, International Order of DeMolay. For this, he was awarded the Key of Zerubabel. He also started the organization of the Tierra Alta Chapter, IORG, as well as the formation of the Bukang Liwayway Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. From 1978 to 1981 he was Grand Orator. In 1984, he was chosen Most Outstanding Mason and Athlete of the Year of Masonic District 1-A, the Past Masters Guild of which he held the presidency from 1984 to 1987. Beltran has also been actively involved in the appendant organizations. In 1975, in acknowledgment of his accomplishments as a Scottish Rite Mason, he was decorated Knight Commander of the Court of Honor (KCCH). In 1977-78, he served as Venerable Master of the Lakandula Lodge of Perfection of the Philippine Bodies, A & ASR. Then in 1978 he was invested with the 33°, IGH. Later he was crowned active, SGIG, and elected Grand Treasurer of the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite Masonry in the Philippines. He has been furthermore, an active member of the fol­lowing: C.W. Rosenstock Chapter No. 6, Royal Arch Mason; the Manila Council No. 2 R. & S.M.; the Far East Commandery, K.T. of the York Rite; the Afifi Temple, A.A.O.N/M.S.; the Royal Order of Scotland; and the Manila Court No. 4, Order of the Amaranth. And he is Past Patron of the Sampaguita Chapter No. 3, Order of the Eastern Star. Not only has he served as installing officer and/or speaker in various Lodges throughout the jurisdiction, but he has been member, vice-chairman or chairman of various committees of the Grand Lodge, such as the Building Commis­sion and the Committees on Jurisprudence, Resolutions, Revision of the Constitution and By-Laws, Budget, Grievance, Awards, Administration of Lodges, etc. After he stepped down from the Grand Oriental Chair, he was elected Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge, serving in such position from 1994 to 1997. From the foregoing account, it is clear that Beltran is an achiever – intelligent, diligent, persistent in pursuing his Masonic programs.