On this day, September 9,1884 MW Quintin Babila Paredes , Grand Master for Masonic Year 1922, was born in the town of Bangued, Abra. He was the Political Kingpin of the North… On two sides of the pedestal supporting the statue of Quintin Paredes erected in the open court of the Quintin Paredes Hall of Justice in Bangued, Abra is a brief summary of his achievements in life, to wit: Fisrt Filipino prosecuting attorney of the City of Manila (1908 – 1913) First Ilocano to become Speaker of the House of Representatives (1934) First Ilocano to become Senate President (1952) First Ilocano to become Secretary of Justice (1920) First and only Ilocano to become Attorney-General (1918) First man from Abra to be elected five times as member of the House of Representatives (1925-1935) and twice as assemblyman (1935-1936) First and only man from Abra to be elected Senator, first in 1941, then in 1949, and finally in 1955. More could have been added to the list for he was a member of the First Parliamentary Mission to the United States (1919) and was the first Resident Commissioner to the United States under the Tydings-McDuffie Law. Likewise, he was the first Ilocano to become the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines. He took his primary education at the school founded and directed by his father, Juan Paredes. For his high-school course he went to the minor seminary, Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia, at Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Leaving the seminary, he came to Manila to study at the San Juan de Letran. He made his way through college by working as a stenographer and court interpreter .He was appointed deputy provincial treasurer of Abra, but resigned his position to take up law in the Escuela de Leyes which was under the direction of his brother Judge Paredes. In 1907, Paredes was admitted to the Philippine Bar and one year later was appointed fourth prosecuting attorney.In 1917, Paredes joined the Philippine National Guard and was appointed Colonel. Eventually, he became the Judge Advocate General of the same body. Two years later he was a member of the First Parliamentary Mission to the USA. In the same year, he was admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court. In 1920, he was among the few lawyers who practiced in the US District for China. Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1941, Paredes was elected Senator. He was reelected after the war in 1949 and again in 1955. During his second term as Senator his peers elected him President of the Senate.Paredes was conferred numerous honors during his lifetime. In June 1963, the University of the Philippines conferred on him the Honorary Doctor of Laws degree and in September 1969, President Ferdinand E. Marcos awarded him the Order of Kalantiaw, the highest civil decoration given by the Philippine government at that time. Paredes was initiated in Sinukuan Lodge No.16 on February 12, 1913, and passed as well as raised in November of the same year. He became Worshipful Master of his Lodge in 1920-21. In January 1923, he demitted from Sinukuan to become one of the founders of Abra Lodge No.86, Bangued, Abra. Paredes was equally active in Scottish Rite Freemasonry. He was elected Venerable Master of the Lakandula Lodge of Perfection and Commander of the Council of Knights Kadosh. While he was serving as Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, he was created a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. Paredes believed that Masons could help much in making justice prevail if and when we practice Masonry in and outside the Lodge. Here is a portion of one of his writings: …An institution with the ideals, mission, and clear vision of justice, Masonry is bound to be a factor for perennial good, particularly when we always keep in mind the great objective of the Fraternity. We should therefore never lose sight of the fact that we are a Brotherhood of men under the Fatherhood of God. On January 30, 1973, Paredes laid down his working tools. He was accorded a state funeral in recognition of his services to his country and people. Source : The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 11:05:28 +0000
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