Dr. Filemon C. Aguilar (Las Pinas) Masonic Lodge No. 332
History

Las Pinas Lodge had its inception way back 1991. The Brethren, which was spearheaded by VW Raul A. Laman, made several deliberations whether to pursue the formation of a second Lodge within Las Pinas City and after thorough evaluation, the formation of the Lodge was temporarily called off until such time that the need to pursue such plan was appropriate.

                In November 4, 1999, the members of Lodges located in the vicinity of the Grand Lodge, Makati, Paranaque, Laguna and Cavite area which were residing in the City of Las Pinas, gathered and had a fellowship in one of its Subdivision (DBP Village). It was through that gathering that the idea of finally forming another Lodge in Las Pinas City was again discussed. That said gathering was attended by:

The Brethren felt that the time was appropriate considering that Las Pinas, like its nearby cities as Paranaque and Muntinlupa was fast becoming a highly urbanized area. They felt that having a Lodge near their respective residences, they could more conveniently attend Lodge meetings and better serve the Craft. They desired more opportunities for more frequent communion with Brethren residing in the area. These Brethren decided they were sufficient in numbers to request a Dispensation to form a new Lodge and during this initial meeting, the Brethren unanimously agreed to name the Lodge as Las Pinas Lodge proceeded to elect the following as their interim Officers:

               After that first meeting, the Brethren held successive meetings for the whole month of November to discuss further the requirements needed to form this new Lodge. It was agreed upon that the submission of the petition to form Las Pinas Lodge to be before the end of November 1999. The interim WM prepared a letter addressed to Palanyag Lodge No. 323 and Kagitingan Lodge No. 286, requesting sponsorship to form a new Lodge in Las Pin as City.
 

              On November 27, 1999, the petition for dispensation to form Las Pinas Lodge was submitted to the Grand Lodge. There were a total 41 signatories to the petition consisting of 22 Past Masters and 8 current Grand Line Officers. On the same date, the Grand Master, MW Franklin J. Demonteverde approved and granted the dispensation to form the LAS PINAS LODGE U.D.

The Institution

                On December 7, 1999, LAS PINAS LODGE U.D., held its Rite of Institution at the Jacobo Zobel Y. Zangroniz Masonic Temple at Dao Street, Makati City which was presided by Grand Master Franklin J. Demonteverde, and assisted by the MD NCR Junior Grand Lecturer, VW John B. Llamas as Master of Ceremonies, VW Melvyn S. Jurisprudencia, Asst. Grand Treasurer as the Chaplain and VW Enrique L. Flores, Jr. DDGM of MD 13 as the Dispensation Reader.

                The Interim Officers elected during the General Assembly were duly and officially appointed by the Grand Master as the first Officers of Las Pinas Lodge U.D. During the period December 1999 to March 2000, members of the newly Instituted Las Pinas Lodge U.D. continuously conducted regular meetings and labored to Initiate, Pass and Raise its first Petitioner/Candidate, Bro. Reynold Y. Gerongay. After fulfilling all the needed requirements, Las Pinas Lodge U.D. through its appointed Charter Master, returned its Dispensation on the last week of March 2000 to the Grand Lodge, for its review, approval and for the granting of a Charter during the ANCOM on April of 2000. At the Grand Lodge Annual Communication held in lloilo City, Las Pinas Lodge was finally and formally granted its Charter and was given the number 332.

The Rite of Constitution and Installation of Officers

On June 17, 2000, Las Pinas Lodge No. 332 had its Rite of Constitution and Installation of Officers held at the Vizcaya Ball Room Pavilion, RFC Building, Las Pinas City. The Rite of Constitution was presided by MW Oscar V. Bunyi, Grand Master of Masons, and participated by the Officers of the Grand Lodge. MW Franklin J. Demonteverde, PGM was invited to be the Installing Officer with VW Fernando Mariano as the Master of Ceremonies and MW Rosendo Herrera, PGM, as the Inspirational Speaker.

The 1st Officers of 332

The following were installed as Officers of Las Pinas Lodge No. 332:

                During its first meeting after the Installation of Officers, thirty (30) charter members applied for dual membership with the Lodge. Las Pinas Lodge No. 332 held its regular meeting every 4th Thursday of the month, 7:00 p.m. at Pilar Village Clubhouse, Pilar Village Subdivision, Las Pinas City.

                The notable events, changes and accomplishments of the Lodge through the years that the Lodge has evolved were:

                2002-WB Emel Caampued initiated the Adopt a School program of the Lodge. The recipient School was the Sabutan Elementary School located in Silang Cavite.

Also, during the December 2002 stated meeting, a resolution was passed and approved by the Lodge changing the date of the stated meeting from 4th Thursday to Friday of every Month and was submitted to the Grand Lodge and subsequently approved by Grand Master Eugenio Labitoria. The change of date the stated meeting took effect in 2003 during incumbency of WB Claude Ambion.

In an effort of the members to have a land to construct a proper venue for meetings of Las Pinas Lodge No. 332, Bro. Sim Canonero, a regular member and who was then the incumbent President of BF Resort Village Homeowners Association, entered into a negotiation with Mr. Don Javier, Vice President of BF Homes Inc., through the BFRV Square and Compass Club, assign a parcel of land from its open spaces within the BF Resort Village property. On November 10, 2003, BFRV Homeowners Association Inc. approved a Resolution together with a Memorandum of Agreement and subsequently approved on February 4, 2004 by the Developer, BF Homes Inc., granted BFRV Square and Compass Club the authority to use, develop, improve and maintain an illegally-settled wasteyard along Da Vinci St., BFRV, later named "King Solomon's Garden" and transform it into a tree park.

                It was during 2004, under WB Lawrence Sylianco as Master, that the Lodge transferred its meeting venue from Pilar Village Clubhouse to Italia 500 Country Club located inside BF Resort Village, while waiting for the completion of the construction of King Solomon's Garden".

                Las Pinas Lodge No.332 held its first meeting at the newly inaugurated Middle Chamber of King Solomon's Garden in year 2005 under the leadership of WB Bernardo F. Bondoc as Worshipful Master. Bro. Edgardo C. Espiritu, also a Director of BFRVHAI, became the first member of the Lodge to be raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason at the Middle Chamber Hall. It is noteworthy that WB Bondoc was recognized as the Most Outstanding Worshipful Master of Masonic District NCR-G and Las Pinas Lodge No. 332 as the Most Outstanding Lodge.

                Another notable accomplishment of the Lodge was in 2006 during the term of WB Juanita La Rosa as Master of the Lodge, WB La Rosa was the first regular member to be elected WM of Las Pinas Lodge 332. One of the highlights of his term was the Health Awareness Program. He conducted the first medical and laboratory examination for members and their immediate family members.

In 2008, WB Augusto Aguilar took the helm of leadership. It was during his term as Master that the "Bike for Excellence Project" was initiated, replacing the Adopt a School project in Sabutan Elementary School. The recipients for the Bike for excellence were the students from TS Cruz Elementary School and Moonwalk Elementary Schools.

In 2009 with WB Virgilio Cruz as Worshipful Master, the Lodge was again awarded as the Most Outstanding Lodge and WB Cruz was co-recipient of Most Outstanding Worshipful Master of MD NCR-G.

During The Lodge's stated meeting on October 07, 2016, with WB Kristoffer Don Cruz as Worshipful Master, a resolution was passed and unanimously approved the changing of the name of the Lodge to Dr. FILEMON C. AGUILAR (Las Pinas) Masonic Lodge No. 332, and which was favorably endorsed on February 02, 2017 to the Grand Lodge by WB Joseph lmportante (2017 Worshipful Master). The resolution was then duly approved by the Grand Master, Voltaire T. Gazmin on March 6, 2017. Hence, our Lodge is now known as Dr. Filemon C. Aguilar (Las Pinas) Masonic Lodge No. 332.