T R Yangco Chapter History: 45 Years of Brotherhood

Photo shows Nov 14, 1964 T R Yangco Installation of Officers (Photo courtesy of Bro Daniel Macaraeg)

The Teodoro R Yangco Chapter was formally instituted in April 25, 1962 at the Lincoln Lodge Masonic Temple, City of Olongapo under the auspices of the International Supreme Council Order of DeMolay at Kansas City, Missouri.

It is one of the longest continous DeMolay Chapters in the history of Philippine DeMolay, save from Jose Abad Santos and Loyalty Chapters in Manila and the Emmanuel Baja Chapter in Cavite City; all of which are now under the Philippine Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay.

Today the chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at the Lincoln Lodge Masonic Temple, Rizal Avenue (near the City Hall), Olongapo City.

Sponsoring bodies are the fine men of Lincoln Lodge #34 and the Western Luzon Bodies, Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite; whose members also serve as members of the Adviosry Council. The members of the Rebecca Parrish Chapter No 5 of the Order of the Eastern Star also supports the Chapter, as well as supporting Bethel No 1, International Order of Job's Daughters.

The first recorded Master Councilor is Bro Conrad Tiu, now a successful businessman in Olongapo City.

US Asiatic Fleet Chapter: First Known Philippine DeMolay Chapter

The U.S. Asiatic Fleet Chapter, sponsored by Service Lodge No. 95 F. & A. M. and meets at the Plaridel Masonic Temple in the early 1930's; is the first known "Philippine" DeMolay Chapter. But unfortunately its composition would have been exclusively Americans most likely initiated in the US mainland.

During that period, it was not unusual for U.S. servicemen to be detailed locally to serve for a specified time in any U.S. installations (i.e., Sangley Point in Cavite City and Subic Bay US Naval Shipyard in Olongapo City, and recently at the Clark Air Force Base in Angeles City) in the country. These servicemen may have come via cruisers and battleships, hence the chapter name "US Asiatic Fleet". The U.S. Asiatic Fleet Chapter may have been one of those roving chapters.

In witnessing the exemplification of the Degrees by the U.S. Asiatic Fleet Chapter, the Masons in attendance were impressed by the potential and the tenets of this new youth movement. Many expressed hope establishing a local chapter.

In 1946 MW Michael Goldenberg developed an abiding interest in DeMolay and it was under his leadership that the Order began to flourish. On March 23, 1946, the first local chapter was instituted in Manila. This Chapter was named after Jose Abad Santos, a Past Grand Master of Mason and Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court. Sponsoring the chapter was the Philippine Bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites of Freemasonry.

MW Goldenberg reports on the 31st Annual Communication of Mason in the Philippines that following this institution was the establishment of the following chapters: M.H. del Pilar Chapter of Malolos (reactivated 1984); Emmanuel Baja Chapter of Cavite (1948, active); Batangas Chapter, also instituted were the Loyalty Chapter of Manila (1949, active); Far East Chapter of Clark Air Base of Pampanga (reactivated, 1983).

Also in the islands of Luzon, the Teodoro R. Yangco Chapter in Olongapo City was officially instituted in April 25, 1962 (still active), sponsored by Lincoln Lodge No 34 and the Western luzon Bodies, A & ASR.

In the Visayas, the first Chapter to be instituted was Catalino G. Aurelio Chapter of Bacolod City, Lapu-Lapu Chapter of Cebu City (1957), formerly Leon Kilat [now Dumaguete City (Rajah Dulamat)] Chapter of Dumaguete City (1963, active) and Graciano Lopez Jaena Chapter of Iloilo City (1965, active).

For a somewhat complete list (not updated) of DeMolay Chapters under the Philippine Supreme Council Order of DeMolay, click here. A more updated version can be found here, under the DeMolay Philippines website.

Chapter History: Have you got a copy?

Dear Brethren and Friends,

I am still looking for a copy of our Chapter's history and have emailed all my T. R. Yangco contemporaries to no avail.

If you happen to have a copy, even an old version, please email me at this site. I would appreciate it very much.

Also a list of our Past Master Councillors, which I know we have in the Lincoln Lodge Masonic Temple. Next time I come home I will take a copy.

At the moment, I don't have any news from our active brethren in Olongapo so I will be publishing some Senior DeMolays and Sister Job's Daughters from Bethel No 1 news.

We have several JoDem and Kapatiran websites and Yahoo Groups. Please feel free to join us and we would love to meet and know you!

Fraternally,

Bro Mario Baylon Jr, PMC 1975, Chev
Past Jurisdictional Master Councillor, Jurisdiction of Luzon
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