RW LEONARDO TOLENTINO PAÑARES                 (October 30, 1921 – June 11, 1985)

         The illustrious person in whose honor the Leonardo T. Pañares Lodge No. 220 was named was born in Pikit Cotabato. He was a protestant by faith.  He was the fifth of the seven children of Agustin Pañares and Adriana Tolentino of Barili and Naga, Cebu. 

         His early childhood was spent with the clan among the mineral deposits of Naga, Cebu and later in the spicy town of Batac, Ilocos Norte where he was nurtured by his loving stepmother Maria Crisostomo after his mother died.  His adolescent life was spent among the timberjacks of Agusan where his father, an educator helped established Christian schools when he retired as superintendent.

         He finished high school at the Agusan National High School. After finishing college at the Philippine Normal College in Manila, he attended regular training in military until he was commissioned as a regular officer of the Philippine Constabulary. 

         His early life in military was spent fighting in the Muslim territories of Jolo, Basilan, Tawi – tawi and Lanao.  In Lanao, he kept close watch over the military governor’s family (Marcelo Paiso – a MM of Maranao Lodge) that included the governor’s wife, Macaria Curso (an OES herself), two sons and Aurora Paiso the only daughter who also happens to be a dentist. After the hard labor, perpetual defense, intensive interrogation, cross examination and meticulous scrutiny, Aurora ended up to be his prized-catch bride.

         This union gave birth to six children: Marcel Agustin (Past Master of Sinukuan Lodge), Leonard Joseph (King), Adrienne Macrina (Queenie), Marian Ruth Carol (Bebel), Aurora Dawn (all sisters of the OES) and Ben Thomas Alexander otherwise known as Toby (also a MM of Sinukuan Lodge).

         While in service, he had an opportunity to get further schooling in criminology, investigation and intelligence training in Korea, and at the Australian Police College in Sydney, as well as further studies in Washington, D.C. 

         In 1972 at the height of martial law, he retired as a full pledged colonel.  Immediately after, he extended his service as the deputy director of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, a position he held until he dropped his working tools.
        
         Raised by the humble inspiration of his father Agustin, a mason and his stepmother, a member of the Order of Eastern Star and with the support of his father-in-law Marcelo also a mason of Maranaw Lodge, he himself became a mason.  He eventually became a dual member of Maguindanao Lodge and later on became its Worshipful Master.

         As an active mason, he co-organized the Cadena de Amor Chapter of the OES, the Order of Amaranth and became the charter sentinel of both organizations.  He has helped in the growth and development of the Order of Demolay Wadih C. Saab Chapter and as a consequence became its first Dad Advisor – a position he held for so many years.

         He supported, mentored and enriched the dynamic minds of the young masons who later on organized the Bugo de Oro Lodge among those included Very Worshipful Tom Garcia.  He was also a member of the higher bodies and its affiliated sub-organizations. A past president of the Aloha Shriners Club. He was likewise endorsed for a higher position in the grand lodge but unfortunately fate cut short his desire to further serve the fraternity.  The Grand Lodge of the Philippines through a posthumous award bestowed upon him the title of Right Worshipful for his exemplary service to Masonry.

         Thus ended the illustrious Masonic career of so great a man as Right Worshipful Leonardo T. Pañares, a legacy of selfless service and outstanding leadership to the craft.