Alano Masonic Lodge No. 137, under the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, upholds brotherhood and service in Isabela City and meets every 2nd Saturday of the month. Igot, PDGL
The Basilan Lodge No. 137 F. & A.M. was established after the liberation of the Philippines and soon after the inauguration of Basilan as a city on July 1, 1948. The idea of establishing a lodge was undertaken by Most Wo
rshipful Bro. Emilio Sanson and Worshipful Bro. Nicasio Valderrosa and with the cooperation of the members of Mt. Apo Lodge No. 45 of Zamboanga City and one brother from Kutang Bato Lodge No. 110, Bro. Bernardo Bagamaspad, who later occupied the oriental chair in 1957. Basilan Lodge U.D. was instituted on December 11, 1952 with the following officers and members:
1. Alano Worshipful Master
2. Emilio Sanson Senior Warden
3. Nicasio Valderrosa Junior Warden
4. Arsenio Sebastian Treasurer
5. Barinaga Secretary
6. Bernardo Bagamaspad Senior Deacon
7. Julio T. Alano Junior Deacon
8. Tabujur Taupan Chaplain
9. Juan Q. Estrada Senior Steward
10. Doroteo de Guzman Junior Steward
11. Rodrigo Silva Tyler
12. Jose L. Araneta Member
13. David Gonzaga Member
14. Eriberto Gonzales Member
15. Felisberto Gonzales Member
16. Albert Shebby Johnston Member
17. Francis Logan Johnston Member
18. Assary V. Kosloff Member
19. Fernando Luistro Member
20. James P. Mankin Member
21. Marcelo Mendoza Sr. Member
22. Esteban Quidilla Member
23. Pablo Sebastian Member
24. Jose O. Silva Member
25. Narciso Tan Pua Member
Basilan Lodge No. 137 was issued its charter by The Most Worshipful Grand
Lodge of Free & Accepted Mason of the Philippines on May 1, 1953, bearing the signatures of Most Worshipful Bro. Mauro Baradi, Grand Master and Most Worshipful Bro. Antonio Gonzales, Grand Secretary. It was consecrated with Most Worshipful Bro. Howard R. Hicks in attendance. In the beginning, the brethren from Mt. Apo Lodge No. 45 of Zamboanga City, had to come to Basilan to attend its stated meetings and participate in the degree works and other Masonic functions. When its membership had increased, the chartered members from Zamboanga City began to demit leaving the work to the resident members from 1953 to 1962, it gained forty (40) members. On May 14, 1955, the Lodge passed a resolution requesting President Ramon Magsaysay to send a Philippine Constabulary company in to check lawlessness and protect the resident of Basilan. Most Worshipful Bro. Alano was tasked to personally hand the resolution to the President. Immediately thereafter, a force of thirty (30) PC Soldiers was stationed in Basilan. The History of Basilan Lodge could not be complete without mentioning of Most Worshipful Bro. Alano (Grand Master – 1961), its first Worshipful Master, who caused the building of the lodge hall from his own personal fund and made the building available free from rent. The establishment of Basilan Hospital (now Juan S. Alano Hospital) was masonically inspired. A ward was reserved for the treatment of crippled children, all expenses charged against his personal account. An act of charity which gained friends for Masonry even among its traditional adversaries. In 1962, Most Worshipful Bro. Alano was conferred with the award
“Father Mason of the Year” by the Grand Lodge of the Philippines. Alano died on July 23, 1966 and immediately after, Basilan Lodge No. 137, in a resolution of August 13, 1966 was renamed Juan S. Alano Lodge No. 137, F. & A.M. and was approved on September 10, 1966. Presently, the Lodge has Forty-Seven (47) regular members and Ten (10) Lifetime members in good standing including One (1) Fellowcraft and Two (2) Entered Apprentice Mason. celebrated its 50 years from date it was instituted last December 11, 2002 and will continue to exist until time shall be no more.
