13/06/2026
WB JOSE ADRIOSOLA MARIANO REYES PM
The First Master of Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 291
(1906 – 1910, 1915 and 1916)
- Masonic Name “Cromwell” -
JOSE ADRIOSOLA REYES y MARIANO, a prominent propagandist and revolutionary leader was born on April 24, 1864 at San Rafael, San Roque, Cavite (Cavite City). His parents were Maximo Adriosola Reyes, gobernadorcillo in 1863 and Valeriana Mariano. He has only one brother, named Bernardino. He was married to the former Socorro Kaingal of Bulacan, a teacher in a public school, and the first president of the Cavite Women’s Club. They were blessed with four (4) children, Salvador, Augusto, Arturo and Minerva.
On September 6, 1896, he was among the 27 prominent Mason leaders or organizers who were arrested and detained in Fort San Felipe. Of the 27, there were 20 Masons who died in the firing squad; while the 7 others were released from prison. Bro. Jose Reyes outlived the revolution and witnessed the rebirth of Masonry.
After the overthrow of the Spanish government and the Americans occupied the Philippines in 1898, there were attempts by members of Espana En Filipinas Lodge to organize a Lodge in Cavite. Their efforts materialized in 1906 when they held their first meeting in the house of Bro. Jose Salamanca and the second meeting in the house of Bro. Hugo Adorable, a member of Vanguardia Lodge in the Valley of Hongkong.
On September 4, 1906, Masons in Cavite City, passed a Resolution to constitute a Lodge in the Valley of Cavite to be named Bagong Buhay Lodge to be under the jurisdiction of the Gran Oriente Espanol. Bro. Hugo Adorable 7 (Telemaco) and Bro. Jose Reyes 4 (Cromwell) were the bearers of the Resolutions to Sinukuan Lodge No. 272 in the Valley of Manila for their affiliation.
On September 16, 1906, upon the invitation of the brethren from Cavite, a Commission composed of members from Nilad Lodge No. 144, Sinukuan Lodge No. 272, and Lusong Lodge No. 185 headed by Worshipful Bros. Ramon Diokno, Timoteo Paez and Inocencio Concepcion, held an assembly of Masons and proceed with the election of officers for the purpose BAGONG BUHAY LODGE, under dispensation and elected Jose Adriosola M. Reyes as Worshipful Master, Ladislao N. Diwa as Senior Warden and Juan N. Santos as Junior Warden, all were originally members of Sinukuan Lodge of Tondo. The other officers were: Bro. Basilio San Jose, Treasurer; Bro. Hugo Adorable, Secretary; Bro. Catalino Nicolas, Orator; Bro. Eulogio Santiago, Marshal; Bro. Herminigildo Maldonado, Senior Deacon; Bro. Gregorio Medina, Junior Deacon; and Bro. Andres Perez, Almoner.
On September 21, 1906, the officers were installed with WB Timoteo Paez as Installing Officer at a house located at Calle No. 8, Cavite District proper.
On August 11, 1907, the Charter of the Lodge was approved by the Gran Oriente Espanol in Madrid, Spain and delivered to WB Jose Reyes. The Lodge was formally constituted and the officers officially installed with Illustrious Worshipful Master Abelardo Cuesta, a 33rd degree Mason as Installing Officer.
In 1907, he took part in the organization of the Grand Regional Lodge of the Philippines (Gran Logia Regional De Filipinas) and elected Grand 4th Vice President during the assembly in 1906. He joined the Noli Me Tangere Chapter of the Rose Croix No. 53 and Hermanos del 96 Council of Kadosh under the Grand Oriente Espanol where he held a 30th Degree Scottish Rite Freemasonry.
On November 15, 1908, WB Jose Reyes took part in the first installation of officers of Silanganan Lodge No. 305 (now Lodge No. 19), presided by RW Valentin Polintan and accompanied by Bros. Pantaleon Garcia, Francisco Licuanan, Felipe Buencamino, Elias Asuncion, E. Vergara and Pascual Casimiro.
In 1917, he transferred to the Philippine Bodies of the American Branch of the Scottish Rite Freemasonry.
He served as Worshipful Master of Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 291 from 1906 to 1910, and in 1915, and 1916.
WB Jose Adriosola Mariano Reyes died on May 17, 1922 at the age of 58 years, a Mason to the very end.
-MW. Amorico Alvarez
Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 4 F & A M
