As a sequel to an article “Mt. Kaladias?”(MetroPost People’s Corner, Jan. 1, 2006), this piece is now written 18 years later as we mark the centennial of the establishment of Mt. Kaladias Lodge as a Masonic entity in Dumaguete City. And also, to disseminate correct information regarding Freemasonry, especially here in our honorable City by the sea.
Mt. Kaladias Lodge, 91 was organized in the municipality of Dumaguete on Jan. 4, 1924.
This fraternal organization is not only ancient but it is also international, i.e. spread all over the globe.
Kaladias Lodge is within and under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, the office of which is in Manila.
Other subordinate lodges are located in various places in the Pacific region of the world. Needless to say, Masonic Lodges exist in almost all cities, and considerably large towns in the country.
The Charter members of Kaladias Lodge are the following: Gregorio Almazan (master), Clyde V. Powers (senior warden), Esperidion Villegas (junior warden), Vicente Q. Molina (secretary-treasurer), Eugenio Severo Lo, Ramon Catayla, Marcos M. Morelos, Ricardo Luna, Pedro Malajacan, Daniel Sindiong, and Mariano Racasa. They were the pioneers, so to speak, of the Freemasons in Dumaguete.
The Charter was duly signed by Grand Lodge officers, namely, Frederic H. Steven (grand master), and Newton C. Comfort (grand secretary).
After many years of growth in membership, infrastructure, camaraderie, etc. through 100 years, Mt. Kaladias, 91 has produced three Grand Masters: Serafin L. Teves in 1965, an ex-governor and sugar planter; Joseph E. Schon in 1968, a U.S. Navy commander and pilot during World War II; and Don Terng Ramas Uypitching in 2023-24, a commercial business entrepreneur.
Let us all be grateful under the sovereignty of God for the existence of this peace-loving, charitable, and noble organization in our community.
Salvador B. Vista
Past Master
Mt. Kaladias Lodge, Dumaguete
