On 28 September 2024 inside the iconic Sydney Town Hall, a historic event was witnessed by more than a thousand participants on the installation of the 41st Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons. Sir Khris Albano, KCR, who is also a member of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, is the first Grand Master in Australia of Filipino background.
Grand Masters from other states in Australia and other countries such as Russia and Japan attended this event. A large number of delegations from the Philippines led by the Grand Master of Grand Lodge of the Philippines Most Worshipful Ariel T. Cayanan joined this historic event in full support of our fellow Filipino Khris Albano.
Freemasonry is the oldest fraternity in the world and among the oldest continued organisations in history known for its objective of making good men better.
Khris Albano was initiated into Freemasonry at Dalisay Lodge No 14 (Grand Lodge of the Philippines) in August 2002, completing his journey to Worshipful Master in 2007. He was appointed as District Grand Lecturer in 2010. After relocating to Australia, he affiliated with Lodge Jose Rizal No 1045 in 2011, serving as Preceptor for exemplification teams demonstrating the three degrees in various international jurisdictions. He later became the Foundation Worshipful Master of Elysian Lodge No 418 for the 2018–19 term. Before he was elected as the Grand Master, he was the Deputy Grand Master of UGL NSW-ACT.
There has been a growing interest among Filipinos in NSW and across Australia in Freemasonry. This should not be a surprise as Masonry played major roles in the history of the Philippines. The first Philippine President Emilio Aguinaldo, the Father of the Philippine Revolution Andres Bonifacio, the national hero of the Philippines Dr. Jose P. Rizal, and the Sublime Paralytic Apolinario Mabini were among the many key figures who belonged to Freemasonry that shaped the Philippine history. Thus, masonry is a “big thing” in Philippine society as it continues to follow that historic legacy of patriotism, liberty, excellence, charity, leadership, and integrity.
Wherever Filipino goes he brings with him this historic masonic bond and pride.
The election of Khris Albano to this highest role in Freemasonry echoes the sentiment of Dr. Jose P. Rizal when he exclaimed on 25 June 1884 at the banquet in Madrid, to honour our Filipino painters the following words:
“Luna and Hidalgo are Spanish as well as Philippine glories. They were born in the Philippines, but they could have been born in Spain, because genius knows no country, genius sprouts everywhere, genius is like light, air, the patrimony of everybody, cosmopolitan like space, like life, like God.”
Khris Albano has proven that Jose Rizal is right. Although Filipinos live in foreign lands, this is not a hindrance to excelling and being equal to people of other nationalities, to everyone. Masonry promotes equality among the brothers so that they can be on the same level as their Brethren.
Indeed, genius knows no boundary.
Congratulations to Most Worshipful Grand Master Khris Albano for this remarkable achievement!
