Julian Ocampo Masonic Lodge No. 146, Iriga City

15/04/2026

The Julian Ocampo Masonic Lodge No. 146, is officially eligible to participate in the 109th Annual Communication at Tagaytay City on April 23-25, 2026.

05/04/2026

On this auspicious Easter Sunday, we gather not only to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ but to reflect on the deep symbolic parallels found within our Masonic teachings.

As we commemorate the legend in the raising of our beloved GMHA in the Third Degree, we are reminded of the profound themes of death and rebirth, of loss and ultimate triumph. Just as GMHA was raised from the grave, a potent symbol of the victory of life over death, so too do we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, a testament to renewal and eternal life.

Both narratives speak to us of hope and the enduring spirit that transcends earthly confines. They teach us the invaluable lessons of perseverance, faith, and the profound belief in the light that awaits us beyond darkness.

Today, let us renew our commitment to embody these principles in our own lives, as craftsmen of our own destinies, shaping and refining ourselves in the image of truth and virtue.

May this sacred day bring you peace, joy, and a deeper understanding of the eternal cycle of life.

29/03/2026

WB Benjamin S. Ngo, Past Master of this Lodge was awarded with the Grand Lodge’s Golden Apron for his 50 years in the Craft with MW Santiago Gabionza, presenting the apron during the 36th Public Installation of Officers of Catanduanes Island Masonic Lodge No. 291 last March 28, 2026.

Congratulations, WB Ben, the brethren is proud of you.

17/03/2026

Happy 107th Anniversary to the Order of DeMolay and to our sponsored DeMolay Chapter, The Mt. Asog Chapter No. 58, Order of DeMolay. May the teachings of the Order continue to guide and mold the Active and Senior DeMolays in becoming a leader in their own fields, a citizen of our beloved country and as a Man.

As we mark this 107th years, the Order of DeMolay has stood as a pillar of moral uprightness and fraternal unity. May its sacred teachings continue to inspire generations of young men to walk in the path of honor, truth, and fidelity.

Happy Founding Anniversary! 🎉🤝

For GOD, For COUNTRY, For DEMOLAY!

14/03/2026

First stated meeting under dispensation led by the newly installed 3 lights and EAM Proficiency exam of Bro Louie Angelo Ungria.

03/03/2026

The Masonic Year 6025-6026 A. L. under the tutelage of WB Miggs Bearis was fruitful and meaningful term.



AVP created by Think Kawaii

27/02/2026

Tomorrow’s the day! Save the date brethren and friends of Masons! See you at Macagang Hotel and Resort, Nabua, Camarines Sur at 2:00PM.

For location, click on the google map link:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/SVrfQXgbmbDGpbwV8?g_st=ic

Video Graphics: Think Kawaii

22/02/2026

On this day, the Julian Ocampo Masonic Lodge No. 146, was constituted in the year 1958.

Happy Constitution Day brethren!

JULIAN OCAMPO MEMORIAL LODGE: THE HISTORY

THE NAME

Julian Ocampo Masonic Lodge No. 146 was named after and in honor of the dear Bro. Julian Ocampo, who was then a very active Masonic leader in the Bicol region during his time and was a former Governor of Camarines Sur.

THE LODGE

On March 20, 1956 Grand Master Camilo Osias issued a dispensation to the brethren residing near and within Iriga, Camarines Sur, authorizing them to organize a lodge in the said city that will be named Julian S. Ocampo Memorial Lodge. And because the dispensation was only given a month before the Annual Communication (AnCom) on April 24, 1956, the brethren were not able to comply with the needed requirements due to the limited period of time. Hence, no charter was given during the AnCom.

But in the succeeding year, during the Annual Communication in April 1957, the Grand Lodge approved the recommendation given by the Committee on Charters, after executing an in-depth examination on the records, minutes, returns, financial statements and reports that were submitted by the lodge’s officers. Therefore, on the said AnCom, a charter was granted for the creation of Julian Ocampo Memorial Lodge No. 146.

At the dawn of February 22, 1958, Grand Master Vicente Y. Orosa together with the Grand Lodge officers left Manila and arrived at Iriga, Camarines Sur just in time for the Special Communication that had opened at 7:00 in the evening of the same day and proceeded to constitute Julian Ocampo Memorial Lodge No. 146 and install its officers.

Julian Ocampo Memorial Lodge No. 146 thrived on its maiden year through the leadership of the very steadfast Worshipful Master Leon B. Tiansay. But these glory days have ended too soon after the unexpected demise of WM Tiansay, leaving the lodge on the edge. With an unclear detail in history, the brethren decided for the time being to transfer the lodge in Goa, Camarines Sur, since most of the members reside in the said nearby town. But this decision did not help the lodge in sustaining its purpose.

During the Annual Communication in April 1961, Grand Master Juan S. Alano advised the brethren of Julian Ocampo Memorial Lodge No. 146, that if no improvement were seen on the standing of the lodge, he would be forced to recommend the arrest of its charter, but even though there was already a demand from the Grand Master, the brethren still failed to conform.

In April 1962, Grand Master William H. Quasha, finally decided the arrest of the charter of Julian Ocampo Memorial Lodge No. 146 for being inactive, “I personally verified the situation before taking drastic action. I could not see the point of allowing a lodge to exist in the name only.”

After being dormant for nearly 27 years, some concerned brethren of Isarog Lodge No. 33 in Naga City namely Josefin G. Catangui, Sr., Benito S. Ngo, Benjamin S. Ngo, Santiago D. Ortega, Jr., Eduardo A. Taduran and Santiago M. Villanueva, who are all residents of Iriga City, along with some other brethren of the said Lodge, pooled their efforts and resources together and decided to reconstitute Julian Ocampo Memorial Lodge No. 146. One of the conditions set forth by the Constitution of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines as stated in Article IX, Section 2a, Reactivation of Lodges, is that a petition for reactivation signed by at least twenty-five (25) Master Masons in good standing one of whom was a member of that lodge at the time of its dissolution. The concerned brethren of Isarog Lodge No. 33 exerted efforts to search for surviving members and were fortunate enough to find Bro. Tomas “Tom” Badilla of Baao, Camarines Sur as the lone surviving member.

From 1990, the reconstituted Lodge conducts meetings and fellowships at Isarog Lodge No. 33 in Naga City. But this has concluded in 1998 during the leadership of Worshipful Brother Felipe Gerardo S.D. Ortega, when his father, Brother Santiago D. Ortega, Jr., offered one of his facilities inside the University of Saint Anthony in Iriga City to be used as a temporary Lodge of Julian Ocampo Memorial Lodge No. 146.

In 2011, Worshipful Brother Francisco B. Peñaflor was elected as the Worshipful Master. He led the Lodge for three consecutive years and during his second term in 2012; he organized a fund-raising activity intended for the construction of the Lodge’s own temple that is set to be built in a lot donated by VW Benito S. Ngo in Barangay San Nicolas, Iriga City. With fervent prayers and determinations, after half-a-century, the Lodge’s temple was finally realized in 2013. Grand Master Juan F. Espino, Jr., led the dedication of the edifice as the official home of the Julian Ocampo Masonic Lodge No. 146 under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.

JOML No.146 is now thriving in the Rinconada District, aiming to reach out beyond the district, practicing the principal masonic tenets of brotherly love, relief, and truth.

22/02/2026

Is it true… “Once a Mason, always a Mason?”

No.

In Regular Freemasonry, membership is conditional, not permanent.

A man is a Freemason ONLY while he

• Remains in good standing
• Honors his obligations
• Supports his Lodge
• Lives the moral standards he promised to uphold
• And remains under a Regular, Recognized Grand Lodge

If he demits, is suspended, expelled, or joins an unrecognized body…
he is not a Mason in good standing.

Freemasonry is not a tattoo.
It is not a brand.
It is not a lifelong title that cannot be lost.

Regular Freemasonry in the United States exists under

• Prince Hall Affiliated Grand Lodges
• State Grand Lodges recognized through the Conference of Grand Masters of North America

Organizations outside those standards are not recognized as Regular Freemasonry.

This is why the distinction matters

Regular Freemasons are judged by actions done in the name of Masonry, even when those actions come from unrecognized groups.

Accountability requires recognition.
Recognition requires standards.
Standards require enforcement.

Freemasonry is not claimed.
It is conferred, maintained, and governed.

Not everyone who says “I’m a Mason” is recognized as one.

And that line exists for a reason.

01/02/2026

Our Lodge’s namesake.

𝗝𝗨𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗢'𝗦 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗨𝗥
Mark Robert Argarin Castillo

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Since the Spanish colonial times, places have been renamed to honor the life and legacies of personalities. Such acts have two effects. On the one hand, it commemorates a particular individual. However, in the process, the renaming also sets aside the indigenous toponym of a place. We can see this in the case of Mabatobato, which was renamed in honor of Julian Oleta Ocampo.

Ocampo was a distinguished Filipino lawyer, legislator, and politician whose life and public service left a lasting imprint on the history of Camarines Sur. Remembered for his intellect, integrity, and firm commitment to good governance, Ocampo belonged to a generation of Filipino leaders who helped shape both local and national institutions during the American colonial period.

Born on 1 February 1880 in Nabua, Camarines Sur, Julian Oleta Ocampo was the son of Eugenio Ocampo, a former Capitán del Pueblo of Nabua, and Juliana Dominga Oleta. Growing up in a household deeply rooted in civic responsibility and local leadership, Ocampo developed an early sense of public duty and a belief in law, order, and institutional stability as foundations of social progress. He pursued higher education in Manila, studying at the Liceo de Manila, where he earned the degree of Bachelor of Laws. His legal training equipped him with analytical discipline and a deep respect for constitutional processes which were qualities that later defined both his legal practice and his political career.

Ocampo’s political career began at the national level when he was elected Representative of the 2nd District of Ambos Camarines to the Philippine Assembly, serving from 16 October 1912 to 16 October 1916. His tenure coincided with a formative period in Philippine legislative history, when Filipinos were gradually assuming greater responsibility in governance under American rule. As an assemblyman, Ocampo represented the interests of his constituents with moderation and an emphasis on institutional continuity.

He later served as Governor of Camarines Sur on two occasions. His first term lasted from 1919 to 1922, during which he emphasized administrative efficiency, provincial stability, and cooperation between local officials and national authorities. Ocampo returned to the governorship in 1934, but due to serious illness, he took his oath of office while confined at San Juan de Dios Hospital. His condition prevented him from fully assuming his duties in the province, and he ultimately resigned from office in 1935.

Beyond elective office, Ocampo played a significant role in the political realignment of the early 1930s, particularly within the Democrata Party in the Bicol region. In March 1933, he emerged as a central figure in the formation of the Liga Colectivista–Democrata Bicolana, a coalition designed to unite the Bicol Democratas with Senate President Manuel L. Quezon. Elected president of the Liga, Ocampo publicly articulated the political rift between Quezon and Sergio Osmeña and advocated a strategic alliance that he believed would restore the Democratas’ influence. Under his leadership, the coalition explicitly barred former Democrata officials who had defected to the Nacionalista Party, reinforcing party discipline and ideological coherence. At the time of his death, Ocampo was serving as President of the Provincial Committee of the Democrata “Anti” Party, underscoring his continued engagement in political life despite declining health.

One of the most significant developments associated with Ocampo’s era was the gradual transformation of Mabatobato, a settlement annexed to the municipality of Pili in 1917 to aid postwar recovery following the Spanish–American War. Over time, Mabatobato regained vitality, marked by population growth and the establishment of a parish in 1922. Although Ocampo had already passed away by the time the town achieved municipal independence, his leadership and personal legacy were deeply respected by its inhabitants.

In recognition of his service and influence, Mabatobato was renamed Ocampo in his honor. Through Executive Order No. 243, signed by President Elpidio Quirino on 15 July 1949, the barrios of Pili were organized into an independent municipality known as Ocampo, Camarines Sur, which officially became a municipality on 10 August 1949. This act permanently inscribed Julián Oleta Ocampo’s name into the political and geographic landscape of the province.

Outside politics, Ocampo was a prominent Freemason, committed to the principles of brotherhood, service, and moral leadership. In recognition of his contributions, the Masonic fraternity in Iriga City established the Julian Ocampo Memorial Lodge No. 146, F. & A.M., on 22 February 1958, a testament to the enduring respect he commanded decades after his death.

In his personal life, Julian Oleta Ocampo was first married to Amparo Enrile. After being widowed, he later remarried Esperanza Valenciano Villanueva of Milaor, Camarines Sur. He had a total of eleven children. Ocampo died on 24 June 1936 in Milaor, Camarines Sur, at the age of 56, due to nephritis. He was laid to rest in his hometown of Nabua.

Today, Julian Oleta Ocampo is remembered not merely as a former governor and legislator, but as a symbol of principled leadership in Camarines Sur. His legacy endures in the municipality that bears his name and in the historical memory of the Bicol region, where his contributions remain an integral part of its shared political and civic heritage. At the same time, Camarinenses and other Bikolnons alike can also look back at the indigenous origins of the town that had its name changed to honor Don Julian.

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REFERENCES

Camarines Sur Provincial Government. (n.d.). Past governors. https://www.camarinessur.gov.ph/about/past-governors #:~:text=He%20later%20rose%20to%20national,Liberal%20Party%20Chairman%20in%20Bicol

Executive Order No. 243. (1949, July 15). Organizing certain barrios of the Municipality of Pili, Camarines Sur, into an independent municipality under the name of Ocampo. https://lawphil.net/executive/execord/eo1949/eo_243_1949.html

Grand Lodge of the Philippines. (n.d.). Julian Ocampo Memorial Lodge No. 146. https://www.grandlodge.ph/lodges/julian-s-ocampo-memorial

The Tribune. (1933, March 17). Democratas of Camarines Sur backing Quezon. The Tribune (Philippines), p. 9. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/249583662

The Tribune. (1936, February 26). Governor Julian Ocampo. The Tribune (Philippines), p. 4. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/249873639

The Tribune. (1936, June 25). Julian Ocampo dies, aged 56. The Tribune (Philippines), p. 2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/250101126

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31/01/2026

Save the date! 28th of February, 6026 A. L. at Macagang Hotel and Resort, Nabua, Camarines Sur.