Rite of Adoption: "Women's Lodge" in the Philippines

Above is one of the downloadable Square & Compasses designs courtesy of Nilad Lodge.

Reading the Nilad Lodge No 12 History, it is interesting to find the following:

"... Walana Lodge (It) founded the Triangle Vanguardia in Hongkong, and a little over a year after its constitution, it introduced the Rite of Adoption or women’s lodge.

The first Filipina who took the degrees of adoption was the famous Rosario Villaruel, daughter of Faustino Villaruel. She was only eighteen (18) years old at the time of her initiation, on July 18, 1893. Rosario was famous because of her beauty and her civic courage. She sponsored Masonic festivities and banquets. She was arrested and even humiliated and tortured on the charge of professing seditious ideas.

The Lodge of Adoption was composed, as follows, with two (2) of Rizal’s sisters forming part of it:
Purificacion Leyva (Ley) - Venerable Grand Mistress

Rosario Villaruel (Minerva) - Mistress Inspectress

Valeriana Legaspi (Diana) - Sister Eloquence

Trinidad Rizal (Sumibul) - Sister Secretary

Romualda Lanuza (Aurora) - Sister Conductress

Sixta Fajardo (Ester) - Sister Depository

Josefa Rizal (Sumikat) - Member"

In an article titled: "Freedom Fighter Eves: Women Behind Philippine Independence", published in The Kalayaan 2004 on the occasion of the 106th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence; the following information (pages 22-23, PDF pages 25-26) are of interest:

"Josefa Rizal... participated in masonry that espoused liberalism, like the Logia de Adopcion where she used the name "Sumikat." She joined the KKK's Women Chapter, and was elected President.

Trinidad Rizal... the sister of Jose Rizal to whom he handed his poem Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell). After the death of her brother, she became an activist and joined the Logia de Adapcion where she became the secretary.

Angelica Lopez Rizal... one of the first members of the Logia de Adapcion, and was tasked to be the courier of the revolutionary movement. Later, she was elected fiscal and served as sub-treasurer under General Aguinaldo.

Trinidad Tecson... was called "Mother of Biyak-na-Bato" and "Mother of the Philippine Red Cross" in Bulacan. A member of the Logia de Adopcion and at the same time of the Katipunan's Women Chapter. With three assistants, she ransacked a courthouse in Caloocan and carried away all the guns; she also raided the jail of San Isidro in Nueva Ecija, where she got seven firearms, this time five men went with her. She participated in different encounters like in San Miguel, Biyak-na-Bato, Galugod Baboy, San Jose, Zaragoza, etc., about 12 battles in all.

Rosario Villaruel... also known as the "Pallid Virgin" and "Pale Madonna" of the Philippine Revolution, was initiated as the first Filipino woman mason on 18 July 1893 and was given the name "Miverva."

Filipinas in native dresses at the turn of the century. (Photo courtesy of NYPLDigital Library).

Before the colonizers came, Filipino women were enjoying a position equal to men or in some point even more so. They were looked up to and given the highest respect in the community; the women priests called Babaylan is an example of this.

The situation reversed when the Spaniards came. They inculcated in the minds of the people that women did not have significant roles in society, that they were mere followers of men and born to take care of their husbands, children and family. The early Filipina easily accepted the role of "Maria Clara." They became submissive to men and good followers to the teaching of the Spaniards.

But they could not stand seeing their countrymen being maltreated by the Spaniards, and hearing them crying and shouting for freedom. These women and the unrecognized others, who put their lives at risk and some even gave their lives for the freedom of our country earned what they were fighting for on June 12, 1898... "

It is interesting to note of the existence of a Women's Lodge in the Philippines. Today there a number of Jurisdictions worldwide with Lodges just for women as well as Co-Masons, which are composed of both male and female Masons.

It would be doubly interesting to read the ritual of this Women's Lodge or further history of their rite of adoption.

Also, it is interesting to read the history of Nilad Lodge vis-a-vis history of Freemasonry in the Philippines. Click here to read full history of Nilad Lodge.