THE MABINI SOCIETY FOR NATIONHOOD

In the spirit of genuine fraternalism and patriotism, on the Feast of St John the Evangelist in the year 2020, several Master Masons belonging to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines (GLP) gathered and resolved to establish a merit-based learned society for the study of Freemasonry and fraternalism in Philippine Society and the contribution of Freemasonry to the Filipino Nation — the Mabini Society for Nationhood (MSN or the Society).

CONCEPT AND CORE PURPOSES

Named after national hero, brains of the Philippine Revolution, and fellow Freemason Apolinario Mabini, the Society aims to be Masonically-Grounded, Academically-Oriented, and Bayanihan-Driven as it places a premium on Integrity, Nationalism, and Inclusiveness. Emphasis is particularly given to authentic and credible dialogue and in creating value through nation-building.

Publicly launched through its first Virtual Fellowship on 27 March 2020, MSN is neither a Masonic club nor an appendant body attached to the GLP. The Society strives to be an independent association of academic researchers and students focused on Fraternalism and Philippine Freemasonry that is affiliated as a partner organization of the GLP in providing credible, engaging, and practical Masonic education and information. As a forum for scholarly research, the Society encourages and promotes Masonic research and studies consistent with international academic standards. The Society seeks to perpetuate and develop the ideals of Apolinario Mabini and our Founders that serve as the Foundation of national identity.

In his organizational orientation, VW Teodoro Y Kalaw IV SGL, MSN President & Chief Executive Officer, explained: “Why did we choose Apolinario Mabini to mark and highlight what this Society is about? Primarily because of three reasons. First, Mabini is in himself a true model Freemason — a well-known Masonic lecturer and orator who brought his ideals with him in performing his life outside the Fraternity. Second, we picked Mabini because he is an exemplar of integrity and by that we mean that he is always ready to speak truth to power. Finally, we picked Mabini because he is a practical writer with a strategic nation-building objective that fits with our purposes of nationhood and being an advocate of nationalism and the use of our discipline for practical purposes.”

MEMBERSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS

Under a merit-based system, membership in MSN is open to all who are interested in scholarly research, particularly Freemasons belonging to grand jurisdictions in amity with the GLP and operating outside the constraints of the traditional lodge setting in Regular Freemasonry. VW Joseph Harold W Santiago GSc, MSN Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer, emphasized that the Society “is not just exclusive to Masons in the Philippines and would extend to Masons outside this Jurisdiction and even to Non-Masons so that there would be interactions with the academe.” The Society shall actively recruit GLP Freemasons engaged in Masonic scholarship, families of Freemasons, local and international academics, media practitioners, and the general public.

Applicants who are accepted into the Society are initiated to the grade of Associate (AMSN). An Associate is thereafter passed to the grade of Member (MMSN) upon earning three academic credits, which covers any distinct body of work, such as a book, article, lecture, or oration personally created by the member and assessed to be academically credible and of publishable quality, as determined by the Society’s College of Fellows. Upon earning five academic credits, a Member is raised to the grade of Fellow (FMSN) with the Rank of Kapatid, provided he or she earns at least one academic credit each calendar year. A Fellow with the Rank of Kapatid is confirmed to the lifetime grade of Fellow with the Rank of Katabay — Mabini’s Masonic name, which means cautious, calculating, and with deliberation — upon earning 12 academic credits. A special class of honorary and full members, to be known as the Patrons of the Society, shall serve as ambassadors to promote its aims and objectives.

To propagate its mission and labors, MSN shall enter into strategic partnerships with the GLP, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and local and international research and historical societies, as well as reach out to all sectors of the academic community.

In addressing the gathering, MW Agapito S Suan Jr PGM, then Grand Master of Mason in the Philippines, extended his fraternal embrace to the Society, saying: “I, for one, support you in this great and worthy effort, and encourage not just all other Master Masons in this Jurisdiction, but also non-Masons interested in the area of studies of this society to do the same. Let us all provide the Mabini Society for Nationhood our full support that is necessary for it to succeed and endure. Let us give it the patronage and sponsorship it needs, and watch it grow to become a unique bridge between our Fraternity and external stakeholders, both in the national and international academic communities.” The Grand Master added: “One thing is for sure: the Mabini Society is exactly what we have been waiting for all these years — a place for the true students of Masonry to congregate and learn Masonry in the academic environment.… Allow me therefore, as the incumbent Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, to wholeheartedly express my support to the Mabini Society for Nationhood — its aims, its efforts, and its programs. We all look forward to seeing great new things from it. But it can only do so with all of our support. The Mabini Society needs all of you, my dear brethren. It needs all of us. Let us elevate it as our jurisdiction’s very own academic ambassadors to the public and to other academic institutions both here and abroad. It is about time for true Masonic scholarship to rise, to serve, and to make itself available to all of us.”

GOVERNANCE AND ORGANIZATION

Towards accomplishing its avowed purpose and objectives, MSN is organized into four communities: Development (to Create), Programs (to Dialogue), Engagement (to Disseminate), and Governance (to Facilitate)

MSN is composed of the following officers: MW Reynato S Puno PGM, Chair, Board of Trustees & Chief Governance Officer; MW Pacifico B Aniag PGM, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees & Board Committee Chair, Governance and Strategy; VW Teodoro Y Kalaw IV PSGL, President & Chief Executive Officer; VW Joseph Harold W Santiago PGSc, Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer; VW Anthony E Tan, Corporate Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer; VW Gerald Alan A Quebral PDDGM, Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer; VW Rudy L Ong, Director-General for Engagement; WB Rodolfo T Azanza Jr, Director-General for Programs; VW Ali C Espina, Director-General for Development;  VR Samuel P Fernandez PGC PGH, Dean of the College of Fellows; VW Marlon M Castor PGO PGSc, Board Committee Chair, Audit, Risk, & Compliance; VW Edison Abella, Board Committee Chair, Membership; Bro Giovanni A Villegas, Executive Editor, Verdadero Dialogo (Academic Journal); VW Jose Eugenio B. Illenberger, Webmaster; VW Kristoffer James E Purisima DDGM PDGL, Director for Public Engagement; Bro Patrick T Azanza, Program Director, Annual Conference; VW Michael S Benipayo PDGL, Program Director, Fellowships & Education; Bro Daniel S Hofileña, Program Director, Chapter Development; VW Jesus Lorenzo R Mateo PGH, Research Council Chair, Fraternalism & Masonic History; Bro Paul Bilaoen, Research Council Chair, Masonic Philosophy & Ritual; VW Percy Salazar, Research Council Chair, Masonic Governance; WB Albert C Dumlao, Senior Assistant Corporate Secretary & Board Committee Executive Officer, Governance & Strategy; VW Kenneth G Tieng, Assistant Corporate Secretary for Audit Services & Board Committee Executive Officer, Audit, Compliance, & Risk; and Bro Eric Atanacio, Assistant Corporate Secretary for Member Services & Board Committee Executive Officer, Membership.