Freemasonry And The Filipino Way Of Life

It seems that no matter where you go in the world, you find the positive influence of Freemasonry has been there. A story about National Heroes' Day, how one family celebrates and why.

Paean to heroism
Where could we find men like these now? Men of character emerge to stand up and be counted when the times call for it. There was a time a hundred years ago when heroism was about fighting for a Filipino way of life. There was a time when heroism was about standing up for the dignity of the Filipino person...

...Freemasons, freethinkers and idealists who could not subscribe to the idea of Divine Authority being used for subjugation and oppression of the human spirit...

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[edit on 1-9-2004 by df1]

Just how good is it? The war with Spain may have been "splendid" for the United States, but its aftermath soon turned into a nightmare. The leaders of the Filipino nationalistic movement, who had been battling a long campaign for independence, where no more ready to accept American domination than they were that of the Spanish. Fighting broke out on February 4, 1899, when nationalist forces under the command of Emilio Aguinaldo fired on an American outpost near Manila. Over the next several days American troops forced the insurgents out of the city and into the countryside. Fighting continued for three years. The nationalists resorted to guerrilla tactics effectively using surprise attacks and their superior knowledge of the jungle. The Americans drew upon their long experience in fighting the western Indians for counter tactics. In many ways, the Insurrection was a harbinger of America's experience in Vietnam 65 years later.
In March 1901 Aguinaldo was captured through a ruse concocted by General Frederick Funston, commander of U.S. forces. Despite the capture of their leader, the insurgents continued to battle. It was not until July 4, 1902 that President Roosevelt was able to declare the conflict officially over.

U.S. was hated Aguinaldo, Emilio , 1869�1964, Philippine leader. (non mason) In the insurrection against Spain in 1896 he took command, and by terms of the peace that ended it he went into exile at Hong Kong (1897). After the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines and led a Philippine insurrection in concert with U.S. attacking forces. He established a republic with its capital at Malolos and himself as president.
Dissatisfied with the peace treaty that ended the Spanish-American War, he headed a rebellion against U.S. occupying forces from 1899 until he was captured by in 1901. Aguinaldo took an oath of allegiance to the United States, was briefly imprisoned, and retired to private life.

favorite Phillipine statements
Officially the colonization of the Phillipines was because the Filipinos were not ready to govern themselves. Benevolent assimilation was the answer.
In the 1898 "Benevolent Assimilation" Proclamation, President McKinley stated that the aim of the military was to "win the confidence, respect, and affection of the inhabitants of the Phillipines by assuring them in every possible way that full measure of individual rights and liberties which is the heritage of free people...." It is difficult to imagine Thomas Jefferson uttering these words. In fact, they are in direct opposition to America's Declaration of Independence, which Jefferson had intended as an expression of the American mind.

I just can't ever forget:
"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. "
Thomas Jefferson
The Declaration of Independence

Something about a Filipino praising one of the very institutions that enslaved her country then helped install a man so vile he attacked his own people. A dictator in every sense of the word- a real mason?


Where was masonry then?

Wasn't it still hiding in the haciendas of the oligarchy?

The people of the Philippines were saved not by man but by a miracle?


"Freemasonry embraces the highest moral laws and will bear the test of any system of ethics or philosophy ever promulgated for the uplift of man."
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army
Occupation army Military dictator that 'bailed out'

How another mason viewed the Filipino:
Governor of New York, Theodore Roosevelt, recommended a new poem to the American Senate Lodge by Rudyard Kipling. Although the governor felt the poetry was "mediocre," it exhibited "uncommonly good sense."

Take up the white man's burden
Send forth the best ye breed--
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captive's need;
To wait in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild--
Your new-caught sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.

Kind of touching isn't it?

Kipling also was a mason. He wrote magnificent tales about 'lesser' peoples. Anyone read Kim?

Was Gunga Din a mason?

You limpin' lump o' brick-dust, Gunga Din!
Hi! slippery hitherao!
Water, get it! Panee lao! [Bring water swiftly.]
You squidgy-nosed old idol, Gunga Din."

I don't think so, but I have been wrong many times.

Originally posted by PublicGadfly
...I have been wrong many times...

Is this a goal for you? If so, you are quite sucessful, however I would think that you would be embarassed rather than brag about it.
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