Philippine Freemasonry flourished  from the early 1800s, producing the noblest heroes and personalities of Philippine history. Eventually the moltitude of Philippine Masonic Lodges formally united in the year 1912, under the MW Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippines, which turned 100 years old in 2012.  Many of the prominent Filipinos who dedicated their entire lives to the cause of freedom, and many of those who died  for the freedom of the Fatherland, during the colonial era and during Japanese occupation, were Freemasons. such as the Brains of the Revolution Dr. Jose Rizal,  Marcelo H. del Pilar, Apolinario Mabini - ; The Leader of the KKK or Katipunan  Andres Bonifacio - ;  The First President of the (first) Philippine Republic Emilio Aguinaldo ;  The writer, journalist, and famous orator, founder of “La Solidaridad”  Graciano Lopez Jaena; Generals of Philippine Revolution : Artemio Ricarte, Mariano Alvarez, Santiago Alvarez, Antonio Luna, Pio Del Pilar, Gregorio Del Pilar, Miguel Malvar, Mariano Trias, Vicente Lucban, Martin Delgado, Licerio Geronimo, and patriots  Jose Alejandrino, Juan Luna; Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos (killed by the Japanese army in WWII);  Presidents Manuel L. Quezon, Manuel Roxas, and Jose P. Laurel; to name a few names of the long name list of Philippine Masons who dedicated their entire lives to Philippine independence, freedom, and progress. A historical reality (conveniently ?) ignored by school History textbooks written by presumably improvised and ignorant textbook writers or anti-mason bigots, is that the almost totality of the Filipino who fought for the freedom and independence of the Philippines either with guns in the battlefields,  or spreading the powerful IDEALS of freedom, equality and independence for the Filipino Nation, were Masons (or Freemasons). Also Masons were the  Great Presidents of the Philippines.  

Gen. Douglas McArthur, hero of World War II, was made a Mason in the Philippines.

National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, a dedicated Mason, is  an example of all moral and social Virtues, a multifaceted genius, great writer, Godfearing, a true Philippine Patriot, a  man gifted with  love for knowledge, love for freedom and equality for all: the perfect example of Philippine Freemason for all People and all times.