The Cebu Lodge No. 128, F. & A. M. is an offspring of the Maktan Lodge No. 30, F. & A. M. During the first few years reconstruction of Cebu City after the Pacific War, in spite of the handicap of permanent building, however, the growth of Maktan Lodge No. 30, F. & A. M. was quite phenomenally fast to such an extent that it was felt that it would be more advantageous and beneficial to organize another lodge in the same valley.
So on June 1, 1950 some of the matured members of Maktan Lodge No. 30, F. & A. M., namely; Worshipful Brothers, William C. Ogan, Isabelo V. Binamira, John G. Schaberg, Gervasio Y. Ornopia, Sr., Guillermo C. Aballe, Felix M. Sun, Sr., Honorio Nunez, and Brothers John Martin and John F. Harstine who where considered as the founders together with the following barrowed members of Maktan Lodge No. 30, F. & A. M., namely; Worshipful Brothers Nicanor E. Santos, Lim Yuk Su, Remegio Murillo, Jose D.A. Diao, Vicente Empleo, Vicente Racaza, Go Siong Mit, and Sofronio Savellon, signed and filed a petition with the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines for the organization of a second lodge in Cebu City under the Name Cebu Lodge with office and place of meetings in the same building as that of Maktan Lodge No. 30, F. & A. M. at present, at the Masonic Temple, F. Borromeo Street, Cebu City.
The name “Cebu” was chosen not for any particular significance but it was just to distinguish it from Maktan Lodge No. 30, F. & A. M. The petition was given due consideration and on June 1, 1950 the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines granted us temporary permission to operate under the name of Cebu Lodge (U.D.), F. & A. M. with Worshipful Brother Gervasio Y. Ornopia, Sr. as acting Worshipful Master. After a successful operation under dispensation for about six months, the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines finally gave us our Charter on January 24, 1951 and on April 6, 1951 our Cebu Lodge No. 128, F. & A. M. was duly constituted by the Grand Master, Cenon Cervantes in a very impressive ceremony held in the premises of the Cebu Chinese Chamber of Commerce, at present, the Fil-American Building on Jones Avenue, Cebu City and at the same time installed its first officers, namely; W.B. John G. Schaberg as Worshipful Master, Bro. Felix M. Sun as Senior Warden, Bro. Guillermo C. Aballe as the Junior Warden, and W.B. Isabelo V. Binamira as the Secretary – Treasurer.
Freemasonry is the oldest and largest world wide fraternity dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. Although of a religious nature, Freemasonry is not a religion. It urges its members, however, to be faithful and devoted to their own religious beliefs.
The organization of Freemasonry is based on a system of Grand Lodges, each sovereign within its own territory. There is no central authority governing all Grand Lodges. However, to be acknowledged by others, acceptable traditions, standards and practices must be maintained.
In the history of Freemasonry around the world, Filipino Masonry may have one of the most unique, interesting, colorful and dramatic stories as it played a vital and aggressive role in our search for independence from foreign invaders.
Many of the prominent Filipinos who sacrificed their lives for the motherland during the Spanish, American and Japanese occupations were Freemasons. They are Dr. Jose Rizal - our National Hero, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Apolinario Mabini - the Brains of the Revolution, Andres Bonifacio - The Leader of the KKK, Emilio Aguinaldo - the First President of the Philippine Republic, Justice Jose Abad Santos, Presidents Manuel L. Quezon, Manuel Roxas, and Jose P. Laurel, to name a few. Gen. Douglas McArthur, hero of World War II, was made a Mason in the Philippines.
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