THE 22nd CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE PHILIPPINES
by Samuel P. Fernandez, PGH Director,
Dept. of History, IMES
Introduction
We Masons in the Jurisdiction of the Philippines welcomed with high spirit, with great happiness, and with justifiable pride the good news of the elevation of our Past Grand Master, MW Reynato S. Puno, Sr., to the honored Chair of Chief Justice of the Philippines.
One of us, Justice Abraham F. Sarmiento, a member of Hiram Lodge No. 88 like MW Puno, in his speech before members of the Quezon City Chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on January 19,2007, pointed out that in 2005, had the long-standing "tradition" been followed, Senior Justice Reynato S. Puno, Sr. would have succeeded Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., but that, instead, he succeeded Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban.
As the Spaniards put it, “Mas vale tarde que nunca.”
MASONS IN THE SUPREME COURT
The delay of MW Puno's elevation to the Chief Justice's honored Chair notwithstanding, we rejoiced over his appointment by Malacanang in preference to any other candidate for the position; for we firmly believed that he was deserving of the honor conferred upon him, and worthy of the confidence reposed in him by Her President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
MW Puno is, indeed, an apt and able addition to the lustrous list of Brethren of the Mystic Tie who have occupied that eminent and esteemed position of responsibility. We have no doubt whatsoever that he will continue the high-level performance of Brethren of the Mystic Tie who have occupied the Chief Justice's honored Chair, such as the following:
· Gracio Gonzaga, founder of Lodge No. 217 in Cagayan, who served under the Revolutionary Government;
· Jose Abad Santos, Past Grand Master, of Bagumbayan Lodge No. 4, who served in 1932-1938 and 1941-1942;
· Jose P. Laurel, of Batangas Lodge No. 35, who served in 1936-1942;and
· Manuel V. Moran of Pangasinan Lodge No, 56, who served in 1938-1951
Other Brethren of the Mystic Tie who creditably served as Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines include the following:
· George C. Butt, University Lodge No. 1192;
· Jose G. David, Pampanga Lodge No. 42;
· Ramon W. Diokno, Nilad Lodge No. 12 and Sinukuan Lodge No. 16;
· Jose A. Espiritu, Bagumbayan Lodge No. 4;
· Jose Generoso, Solidaridad Lodge No. 61;
· Antonio Horrillano, Iloilo Lodge No. 11;
· John Hull, Corregidor Lodge No. 3;
· Delfin Jaranilla, Sinukuan Lodge No. 16;
· E. Finley Johnson, Southern Cross Lodge No. 6;
· Alejo Labrador, Pinatubo Lodge No. 52;
· George Malcolm, Concord Lodge No. 3;
· James A. Ostrand, Manila Lodge No. 1;
· Guillermo Pablo, Pinatubo Lodge No. 52;
· Calixto Zaldivar, Iloilo-Acacia Lodge No. 11and Bagumbayan Lodge No. 4; and
· Abraham Sarmiento, Hiram Lodge No. 88.
FAMILY OF MASONS
The Punos belong to Hiram Lodge 88. WB Isaac I. Puno, Sr.,a dedicated and devoted leader of the Craft, was looked up to by old and young Masons alike not only for his single-minded commitment to Masonic tenets, ideals, and principles, but also for his enlightening lectures on the same.
The three sons of WB Isaac I.Puno, Sr. of Guagua, Pampanga and Sister Narcisa Serrano of Penafrancia -Isaac Jr., Loven, and Reynato -became Worshipful Masters of Hiram Lodge No. 88.
VW Isaac S. Puno, Jr. could have become a Grand Master, but he died prematurely. His Masonic knowledge had depth and dimension that inspired us, his brethren in Masonry.
MW Reynato S. Puno, Sr. became Grand Master in 1984. He is married to the late Sister Luzviminda T. Delgado, former Clerk of Court, Supreme Court, with whom he has three children -Reynato Jr., Emmanuel, and Ruth. Reynato Jr., who obtained his BSBA Management Degree at De La Salle University, and Emmanuel, who obtained his Human Resource Management Degree at the same university, are now independent businessmen. Ruth, on the other hand, graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with the Degree of Management Economics, and from the Graduate School of Business, University of Technology In Sydney,' Australia with a Master's Degree in Business Administration.
Deeply Involved in Church Activities \
Chief Justice Puno has been deeply involved in church work despite his tremendous responsibilities in the judiciary and his many engagements as a much-sought-after leader of the Craft. He is a lay preacher, United Methodist Church; present Chairman of the Administrative Council, Puno Memorial United Methodist Church; past Chairman of the Administrative Board of the Knox United Methodist Church, the biggest and eldest Methodist Church in the Philippines. A Sunday School teacher, he plans to devote more time to church work when he retires from public service.
He Scored a Grandslam
Chief Justice and Past Grand Master Puno, who served as the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of the SGIGs of the 33rd and Last Degree, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Philippines in 1991-1994, was conferred the Gold Medal of Honor, the highest award within the gift of the MW Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, in April 1998.
The week before, he was also conferred the Knight Grand Cross of Rizal Award, the highest award of the Order of the Knights of Rizal.
Before that, he was likewise bestowed the Grand Cross, again the highest award that could be given by the Supreme Council of the 33rd and Last Degree, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.
On June 22,1998, he received the Most Outstanding UP Law Alumnus Award.
Commented our multi-awarded Brother: "If this were tennis, I can say I have scored a rare grandslam."
He dedicated all these awards to his loved ones in the family, particularly to his wife, Sister Luz, and to his mother, Sister Narcisa.
Addressing us, his brethren in Masonry, he revealed that he had always searched for the secret of success, and he shared with us the secret as formulated by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, who said, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, and as long as you can,"
A Living Legend in the Craft
Chief Justice and Past Grand Master Puno is a living legend in our grand jurisdiction. Not only was he one of the Ten Outstanding Masons of the Philippines in 1990, but he has so deeply involved himself in the various affairs of the Fraternity that he may be said to have reached the pinnacle of dedicated Masonic leadership. The awards, citations, and accolades accorded him by the Craft, the Appendant Bodies, and the Allied Orders are prima-facie evidence of our appreciation of, as well as our gratitude for, his fraternal vision, beneficent influence and inspiring devotion to duty. All this has made Philippine Masonry richer in its civic and fraternal involvements.
He has contributed a lot to the Craft. His Edict No. 84, for example, gave birth to the Grand Guild of Past Masters of the Philippines, which is primarily dedicated to promoting the welfare and interest of Past Masters, their widows and orphans.
His inspiring and inspired have touched many members of the Masonic Family in the jurisdiction of the Philippines. The most sought after speaker, he always has something significant to say and knows how to say it effectively.
I want to quote a portion of his motivating and provocative message during the 48th Annual-Session of the Supreme Council of the 33rd and Last Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, as follows:
"The message is clear, and the message is that Masonry can withstand the strictest of scrutiny, including the scrutiny of unbelievers All that Masonry needs to fight falsehoods is a fair hearing for truth is on our side. Given a fair hearing, Filipino Freemasonry will acquit itself from every false charge in any forum. The CBCP cleared Masonry from those calumnies after two years of microscopic examination of our landmarks, laws, rules and rituals, There is no reason to change that well-considered judgment. Filipino Freemasonry cannot be good in 1896 and bad in 1998 when nothing has changed in Masonry.
“I like to think that Masonry is like tea -its best comes out in hot water: Harassments and persecutions will not toll the bell for Masonry. They will only weed out our ranks the unworthy Masons -those who do not comprehend Masonry; those who understand Masonry but will compromise its teachings due to social, political, or religious convenience; and those who are in Masonry for what they can get and not for what they can give for the good of their fellowmen.
"Like our senior brethren in the Craft, I like to resound the clarion call for a more honest-to-goodness Masonic education. I have always believed that unless we immerse ourselves in our landmarks, laws, ancient rules, rituals, traditions and practices, we will never be able to defend the Craft. Our best shield against libel and calumny is knowledge of Masonry; our best defense against falsehood is the .offense provided by unarmed truth, but let us remember that truth will hold only he who actively seeks for the truth. Truth does not show itself to the slothful. Truth comes to the seeker. It is discovered. Seek and ye shall find. More than anytime, we should seek more light in Masonry.
"Let me end with the fearless statement that Freemasonry in the Philippines is here to stay. The foundation of this country was built by Masons and the mightiest of men cannot obliterate the goodness of Masonry. Masonry has survived and will continue to succeed, for no institution that rests on the pillars of brotherly love, relief and truth will ever fall. There is only one thing that Masonry will not survive and that is the lack of Masonry among Masons. The future of Masonry lies in our own hands and not in the hands of others.''
Taken in by Ill. Puno's eloquent wisdom, we gave him a standing ovation. We did not only get a fresh insight into, as well as a deep discernment on, a much-debated topic, but we also appreciated his choice of words and sentence structure. His speaking style is, indeed, inimitable. He is an effective and persuasive as well in speech as in writing.
