The Priests in Balingasag
With few Notes
Introduction:
When Jasaan was installed as a
parish in 1830 with the titular name as the Parish of Immaculate Conception, it
was formally separated from the parish of San Agustin in Cagayan de Misamis;
and the Recollect Friars in that new parish took charge of the evangelization
of the visitas or rancherias of Sumilao, Linabo and Bugcaon (the latter two
places are in Malaybalay).__ Fr. F. Demetrio, SJ. Historical Glimpses of
Northern Mindanao, p. 432.
To the northeastern part of the
second district of Cagayan de Misamis – the areas of Balingasag (Sta. Rita de
Cascia); Lagonglong (San Juan de Bautista); Binuangan (San Jose de Binuangan,
which in 1844 was also the patron saint of nearby place Salay); Kinoguitan
(Sto. Niño de Bagacay); and the areas beyond were under the evangelization
endeavors of the Recollects.
From the available church archives
of the Immaculate Conception Parish of Jasaan, the following Recollect Friars
were assigned in Jasaan, namely: Fr. Jose de la Santisima Trinidad, OAR
1835-1836; Fr. Manuel de Santa Rita, OAR 1837-1843; Fr. Vicente Dolores
Dulcesimo Nombre de Maria, OAR 1844-47; and Fr. Miguel de San Crispin, OAR
October 1847 to September 1849. __ Fr. Roniedon P. Valmoria, SSJV Research
Paper, which has to be published or posted in a blog yet.
Certainly, those Recollect priests
mentioned earlier had evangelized the northeastern coastal parts of Jasaan
starting from Balingasag.]
The Recollects in Mindanao were
reassigned to Luzon in the dioceses or areas near Manila. The Jesuits took
charge of the evangelization of whole Mindanao. They returned to the
Philippines in 1859, actually their second coming, because they were here in
1581 yet, but were expelled in 1768 by the Bourbon Kings as well as in all
their kingdoms of the world.
In the present day Misamis Oriental,
the Jesuits took charge of the parishes or missionary areas of the Recollects
in 1877, excluding the Parish of San Agustin in Cagayan de Oro which they kept
until the later part of the nineteenth century.
The Revolution in 1896 shook the
missionary areas of the Spanish Jesuits in Mindanao. However, the tide of
revolution ceased as negotiations in the Pact of Biak-na-Bato amicably
concluded thereby granting some executive clemency to the leaders of revolution
and their acceptance of mandatory exiles (e.g. Aguinaldo in Hongkong, Mabini in
Guam, and so on.)
Nevertheless, the spirit of
nationalism and quest for independence again was ignited when American envoys
negotiated with Gen. Aguinaldo to go home from Hongkong and join them in their
war against Spain. Indeed the Spaniards surrendered to the Americans, the
Filipino soldiers in rayadillo
uniforms were just outside the fort city ready to deliver the final blow, but they
were restricted entrance by the Americans.
The so called partnership between
the Americans and Aquinaldo Government was just a ploy. The promise of
Independence after we won the war never came. Another battle had yet to be
fought, so by Febuary 1899, the Filipino-American War started. The
revolutionaries in Cagayan de Misamis put to jail all Spanish Jesuit
missionaries.
During their imprisonment, the
secular priests from Cebu attended the spiritual needs of the faithful.
After political stability was
regained, Spanish Jesuits continued their zealous works of evangelization in
the parishes, despite the era belonged now to the Americans. As a consequence,
in the 1920’s or in 1927 particularly In Balingasag, American Jesuits took
charge of the parish and this happening not only occurred in Balingasag, but in
all the parishes under the Spanish Jesuits in Mindanao.
In 1959 the American Jesuits of the
Province of Maryland and New York formally turned over their parishes to the
local clergy. The Most Reverend James Hayes, D.D. (a Jesuit) was the Archbishop
of Cagayan de Oro during this time.
So, beginning 1959 until today, the
diocesan clergies served the parishes.
SPANISH RECOLLECTS:
Order of the Augustinian Recollects –
OAR:
Fr. Estanislao Severo, OAR November 3, 1849 – May 1850
Fr. Angel Martinez del Carmen, OAR May 1850-1875
Fr. Francisco Arcaya, OAR 1875-1877
SPANISH JESUITS:
Society of Jesus Province of Aragon:
Fr. Gregorio Parache, SJ 1877-1888
October
[Fr. Parache was the first Spanish
Jesuit Local Superior of the Jesuit Balingasag Mission which covers the areas
from Tagoloan to Linugos or Magsaysay today, including the Bukidnon Area - Sumilao and as far as Bugcaon and Linabu in
Oroquieta or Malaybalay. Balingasag was the only Jesuit Residence in this
missionary area. It can be recalled that
the Jesuits arrived in the Philippines in 1581 together with the First Bishop
Domingo Salazar, OP. In Mindanao, their missionary work was on the western side
starting at an imaginary Point at Punta Sulawan in Misamis Oriental to Point
San Agustin in today’s town of Governor Generoso. The division of Mindanao for
proper missionary work was decreed by Governor Tello in 1624. However, in 1758
the Jesuits Order was suppressed and they were exiled or sent-off by the
Bourbon Kings in all their kingdoms in the world. Thus, they were out of
missionary work and in 1859 the Suppression Order was lifted and they returned
to the Philippines; and started again their zealous work of evangelization.]
[It was in Balingasag where
missionary trips to Bukidnon were planned, provisioned and staged. However, in
October 1888, there was a reshuffling of Local Superiors, Fr. Parache was
assigned to Cateel in Caraga while Fr. Juan Bautista Heras, SJ from Caraga took
his place and the new Local Superior Residence was transferred to Tagoloan
because of the proximity of the latter to the river valley Christian
communities’ enroute to Bukidnon through Sta. Ana, Malitbog, and Tankulan
areas. Together with Fr. Juan B. Heras from their overland journey across the
Bislig mountains and so on, was Fr. Eusebio Barrado, SJ.]__Fr.JS Arcilla, SJ,
Jesuit Missionary Letters from Mindanao, Vol. 1 The Dapitan-Balingasag Mission.
Fr. Salvador Ferrer, SJ 1888-1895
[Fr. Salvador Ferrer was born in Igualada,
Barcelona, Spain on 25 September 1847, entered the Society of Jesus on 14
September 1866. He arrived in the Philippines in 1876, and stayed for a year at
the Jesuit Normal School, and after that he was assigned to the northern and
northeastern Mindanao missions. In 1877, he was with Fr. Parache in assignment
at Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, the first Jesuit Residence in Eastern Misamis
Oriental, after their return in 1859 to the Philippines. On 9 April 1895, he
died in Manila, and was not able to witness the brick-church in Balingasag he
labored too being assigned thereat lengthily.__ Fr. JS Arcilla, SJ, Jesuit
Missionary Letters, The Dapitan-Balingasag Mission.]
Fr. Francisco Chorro, SJ 1895-1899
[Fr. Francisco
Chorro, S.J was born in Javea, Alicante, Spain on 30 September 1856, entered
the Society of Jesus on 2 November 1874, and came to the Philippines in 1888.
He spent his missionary career in northern and northeastern Mindanao. He was
assigned recalled by his Provincial Superior to Manila on January 26, 199, thus
when the Jesuits in Second District of Misamis in February 1899 were imprisoned
in Cagayan de Misamis, he was not included.
Recalled to Manila in 1899 because of the revolution, he returned to Spain in 1901; and died in Gandia, Spain on 1
September 1915.__ Fr. JS Arcilla, SJ Jesuit Missionary Letters, The
Dapitan-Balingasag Mission, p. 280.]
SECULAR OR DIOCESAN PRIESTS FROM THE
DIOCESE OF CEBU:
Fr. Severino Pecson 1900
[His younger brother who was also a priest died during the early days of American occupation in Samar. He was water cured.]
[His younger brother who was also a priest died during the early days of American occupation in Samar. He was water cured.]
Fr. Francisco Latorre 1900
Fr. Castro Borromeo 1900-1901
[These secular priests who were
assigned shortly in Balingasag, probably may have been in Balingasag a bit
earlier than what had been claimed because they took charge of the laity’s
spiritual needs inasmuch as there were no more Spanish Jesuits as they had been
thrown into prison, or were recalled to Manila by their Mission Superior due to
unstable political situation.]
[On January 13, 1899, Fr. Juan Heras
(Jasaan), Fr. Raimundo Peruga (Tagoloan) and Brother Angeles (Jasaan) were the
first Jesuits who were arrested and taken prisoners in Cagayan de Misamis.
Other priests and brothers from the parish of Balingasag, Talisayan, Gingoog,
Sumilao and Linabo followed. They were Fr.
Francisco Chorro and Fr. Santiago Puntas (Balingasag), Fr. Martin Guardiet,
Fr. Nicolas Falomir, Fr. Ramon Pamies, Fr. Ramon Vila, and Fr. Juan Martin; and
Brothers Clemente Beamonte, Pablo Guila, Joaquin Tricas, Juan Moll, Miguel
Lhull, Angeles Gavirondo, and Brother Vilanova.] __ Fr. JS Arcilla, SJ Jesuit Missionary
Letters from Mindanao, The Dapitan-Balingasag Mission.
[Fr. Pedro Torra, Rector of the
Normal School in Manila arrived in Cagayan on January 25, 1899 and negotiated
with the Revolutionary Council for the release of Fr. Francisco Chorro, Fr. Ramon Pamies, Fr. Santiago Puntas, and Brothers Moll and Angeles Gavirondo. They
were released and accompanied by Fr. Torra onboard a passenger boat bound for
Manila. The following day, all Jesuits meaning the Fathers and Brothers were
released; and Fr. Juan B. Heras, the new Local Superior of the Balingasag
Mission designated by Fr. Pedro Torra made the assignments for their deployment
to the parishes. These were their assignments: Fr. Juan B. Heras and Brother
Joaquin Tricas to Jasaan; Fr. Ramon Vila and Brother Pablo Guila, Balingasag;
Fr. Nicolas Falomir and Fr. Martin Guardiet, Talisayan; Fr. Raimudo Peruga and
Brother Clemente Beamonte to Tagoloan; and Fr. Juan Martin and Bro. Vilanova to
Sumilao and Linabo in Bukidnon. ]
[However, on February 14, 1899 the priest
of Tagoloan and Jasaan and a brother were again taken as prisoners by the
Revolutionary Government because war between the Filipino-American broke out on
4 February 1899 after the Philippine Revolution in 1896. Imprisoned were Fr.
Juan Heras, SJ and Bro. Tricas, (Jasaan); Fr. Raymundo Peruga, SJ and Bro.
Clemente (Tagoloan); Fr. Juan Martin, SJ ( Sumilao-Linabo in Bukidnon); Fr.
Ramon Vila, SJ and Bro. Pablo Guila (Balingasag); Fr. Nicolas Palomir, SJ, and Fr. Miguel Guardiet, SJ
(Talisayan); and Fr. Juan Galmes, SJ (Superior of Dipolog).
[It was only on March 1, 1900 when
they were released in prison through the order of Don Pio Roa, President of the
War Board. __ Fr. JS Arcilla, SJ Jesuit Missionary Letters. Obviously, the
Americans arrived and occupied Cagayan de Misamis on 7 April 1900 and it was
Palm Sunday. The occupation forces came a long way from Iligan. __ Fr. F.
Demetrio, SJ Glimpses of Northern Mindanao.]
[So, the secular priests came to say
masses and perform other priestly functions because there were no priests. It
might be logical that they were here even earlier than 1900 since all the
priests were imprisoned in February 1899. However, we could not trace it from
the church records because the same were turned into ashes due to the burning
of the brick-church on September 16, 1942 nor at the LCRO for their records for
these years are no longer available too.]
SPANISH JESUITS:
Province of Aragon:
Fr. Jose España, SJ March 1901-April 1901
[Fr. Jose España was born in
Salardu, Lerida, Spain on 24 (25?) March 1861, entered the Society of Jesus on
26 April 1879, and came to the Philippines in 1893. He spent his entire
missionary career in the north central and northwestern Mindanao missions, except
for one year in 1899, when he was recalled to Manila because of the uncertain
political conditions of the country. He died in Barcelona, Spain on 1 September
1926. __Fr. JS Arcilla, SJ. Jesuit Missionary Letters, The Dapitan-Balingasag
Mission, p. 574.]
Fr. Gregorio Parache, SJ. 1901-1910
[After Fr. Parache’s assignment in
Balingasag, he was transferred to Caraga; and he died in Cateel, Caraga now
Davao Oriental on 10 November 1911 at age 73. While Fr. Parache was in Balingasag
in his second assignment, his assistant or a member of the Jesuit Community in
Balingasag died. He was Fr. Santiago Puntas, SJ who died on March 8, 1908. ___ Fr.
JS Arcilla, SJ Jesuit Missionary Letters.]
Usually and at times practicable, a missionary
final resting place is the place of his assignment, so it is certain that Fr.
Puntas was buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery of Balingasag; nevertheless,
his grave now could no longer be located. (Annotation Mine).
Fr. Simeon Sambola, SJ 1910-1912
[Despite, I tried digging up the
records of LCRO, I do not have any information what transpired in 1910-1912
during the time of Fr. Sambola. However, in the works of a local scholar, he
mentioned of an incident which occurred that lead to the swapping of properties
of two parties between the church and the municipal government. The present
municipal park was formerly owned by the church and the school ground where St.
Rita College of Balingasag occupies now, allegedly was owned by the municipal
government. Nevertheless, I have a hard time reconciling these facts because
the old church, which the Recollects constructed during their time (1849 when
Balingasag was made into a parish or even earlier) was within the grounds of
Sta. Rita College now and the present school quadrangle – the one where the
first four-storey concrete building to the north, was the old parish convent.
The work of Fr. Pablo Pastel, SJ, Mission
de la Compania de Jesus had a good description of the old wooden church
which certainly not is the present brick-church.]
Fr. Juan Martin, SJ 1913-October 1916?
[Fr. Juan Martin, SJ was assigned in
the northern Mindanao Missions. He arrived in the missions in 1892 and was
assigned in Tagoloan, Sumilao, and Linabo. In 1896, he was in the mission of
Sumilao during the uprising of the Katipunan in Luzon, which in Mindanao was
highlighted by the mutiny of the disciplinarios in Fort Victoria in Iligan. __
Fr. JS Arcilla, SJ Jesuit Missionary Letters.]
[He was among the six Jesuit priests
with another three brother/coadjutors who were imprisoned in Cagayan de Misamis.
When the political situation came normal again, he returned to the northern
Mindanao missions and was assigned in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental in 1913. He might
have left Balingasag in October 1916 for other assignment since in the civil
register of marriage, he had officiated marriage in October 1916; and after
that there was nothing anymore.]
[While Fr. Martin was in Balingasag
in 1913, other missionary priests came in June 1913 there was Fr. Gabriel Font,
SJ; and Fr. Guillermo Llobera, SJ in 1915.]
[Fr. Gabriel Font, SJ was born in
Tossa, Gerona, Spain on 30 December 1866, entered the Society of Jesus on 4
September 1844, and came to the Philippines. After two years at the Ateneo and
the Colegio de San Javier in Manila, he worked in the present Cagayan de Oro
and Butuan, until 1918, when he was recalled to the Ateneo. He was back in
Mindanao and assigned in Iligan in 1922 and had worked ceaselessly, as one of
the last Spanish missionaries in central north Mindanao. He died on 24 October
1932 in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental.] __ Jesuit Missionary Letters.
Dapitan-Balingasag, Mission p. 652.
[Shortly thereafter, Fr. Jose Vall,
SJ took his place up to January 1917 to fill-in the vacuum due Fr. Martin’s
reassignment to other area.]
[The earliest civil registry record
on marriages started in June 1913. During this time, Jasaan (Claveria),
Balingasag, Lagonglong, and Salay (Binuangan) were merged by the American
Regime into one municipality. The set of government was in Balingasag, thus all
civil registry documents on those mentioned places were registered at
Balingasag. Since Jasaan was already a parish and much ahead than Balingasag,
regular Parish Priests were assigned thereat.]
[In the Parish of Jasaan, we have in
June 1913 Fr. Juan Bautista Heras, SJ, for as Parish Priest. His assignment in
Jasaan was until in August 1915 because he was recalled to Manila for poor health.
The couple whom he was able to wed before he left was Teofilo Cabeltes and
Simeona Pagaspas.]
[Fr. Jose Rius, SJ took charge of
the parish, however in December 1915 Fr. Jaime Valles, SJ had the position as
parish priest.]
Fr. Ramon Vila, SJ 1917-1927
[Fr. Ramon Vila, SJ together with
Bro. Pablo Guila were assigned to Balingasag by Fr. Juan Heras, SJ Jesuit Local
Superior right after their release from prison on January 26, 1899. However,
such assignment was not only short-lived because they were imprisoned again in
Februay 1899.]
[Fr. Ramon Vila, SJ replaced by Fr.
Juan Martin, SJ in February 1917. He was the last Spanish Jesuit (Province of
Aragon) to have been assigned in Balingasag. His last priestly function in
Balingasag was in September 22, 1927 when he solemnized spouses Jose Yamit
(Talisayan) and Rodriga Botardo (Lagonglong) at Sta. Rita Parish Church.]
[The assignment of Fr. Vila in
Balingasag was longer, and because missionary priests were or are always
mobile, from 1917 to 1927 one at a time missionaries assisted Fr. Vila, among
them were Fr. Jose Vall, SJ, Fr. Salvador Mico, SJ and Fr. Mariano Juan, SJ.
For the parish of Jasaan, Fr. Jaime Valles, SJ served as the parish priest from
1917 until February 1927.]
AMERICAN JESUITS
Province of Maryland and New York:
Fr. William V. Corliss, S.J. 1927-1930
[Fr. William V. Corliss, SJ
(American Jesuit) formally assumed as parish priest of Balingasag likely in
October 1927, despite he was already in the parish together with Fr. Vila since
June 1927. Fr. Vila had a wedding mass for spouses Jose Yamit and Rodrigo
Botardo on September 22, 1927. After that date there was no marriage ceremony
made by Fr. Vila, the assumption is that probably he was no longer in
Balingasag by the ensuing month.]
[Also it could be noted that Fr.
Corliss in February 1927 already had two (2) wedding masses in Lagonglong,
Misamis Oriental per the entry of the civil register LCR Office of Balingasag.]
[In the meanwhile, Fr. Jaime Valles,
SJ of the parish of Jasaan was replaced by American Jesuit priest Fr. Matias
Roune in March 1927; however Fr. Joseph Lucas became the parish priest of
Jasaan and he held it until October 1929. Fr. John A. Pollock arrived in
November 1929 and replaced Fr. Lucas.]
Fr. Martin O’Shaugnessy, SJ 1930-1937
[Fr. O’Shaugnessy was in Balingasag
in May 1929 and assisted Fr. Corliss. Probably, he became the parish priest
sometime in August 1930. Obviously, beginning August in 1930 the name of Fr.
Corliss did not appear anymore in the civil register of marriage. So, perhaps
in July 1930 yet, he (Fr. Corliss) must have been assigned to other parish. He
left Balingasag perhaps in May 1937 because Fr. Clement A. Risacher, SJ
replaced him and entry of the latter’s name as Solemnizing Officer started in
June 1937.]
[Among the visiting priests during
Fr. O’Shaugnessy time were Fr. Walter J. Hamilton in 1932 and Fr. Vincent de
Paul O’Briene in 1935.]
Fr. Clement A. Risacher, SJ 1937-1949
[Fr. Risacher’s term may cease on
June 12, 1949, he had a wedding mass at Napaliran solemnizing couple Jose
Abonitalla and Propeta Palakas, based on the Civil Register of Marriage of the
Office of the Local Civil Registrar Balingasag.]
[Fr. Calixto Yamba, SJ and Fr. E.J.
O’Byrne in 1939 visited Balingasag.]
[Priests assigned in Jasaan Parish:
Fr. Harold A. Murphy, SJ from 1946 to October 10, 1948. Fr. John A. Pollock, SJ
was assigned in Jasaan from October 9, 1947 to the second week of June 1949.]
Fr. John Pollock, SJ 1949-1954 October
[After the marriage which Fr.
Risacher solemnized in Napaliran on June 12, 1949, there was no more entry of
his name in the civil register marriage at the LCRO. So probably, Fr. Pollock
replaced on sometime on June 1949 because on the third week of June 1949 for he
had a wedding mass at Sta. Rita Church.]
Though the rehabilitation of the old
brick-church which was razed to the ground through fire during the war was
started by his predecessor, it was Fr. Pollock who concentrated much on its
repair or re-construction. Through the cooperation of the parishioners and prominent people to mention a few like
Pedong Hojas who lent their hauler truck for free, timber-hardwood from the
hinters of Balingasag were hauled to the worksite used as columns. __ From an
interview with Mr. Estercacio Domo, retired COMELC employee and in his time was
an acolyte or something like that.]
[There were Visiting Priests who
stayed briefly and officiated or solemnized marriages per Civil Register-LCRO
Balingasag: Fr. Jose Ma. Rosauro, SJ 1949-50 probably the Assistant of Fr.
Pollock; Fr. Camilo Balansag, SJ October to December 1950; Fr. Jaime Neri, SJ
in March 1951 to July; Fr. Clawrence A. Martin, SJ in August 1951; Fr. Cecero
Cebrero, SJ in December 1951 and part of February 1952.]
[In February 1952 Fr. Mark Falvey,
SJ was in Balingasag until July 1952. After him, Fr. Seregio Cerutti, SJ
arrived in September 1953 up to December 1953.]
[Fr. Ralph Lynch, SJ was just one of
the visiting priests in Balingasag. He was in Balingasag on April 13, 1950 for
a wedding mass; and again on March 1952 to June 1952. Fr. John Pollock’s name
appeared in the civil register on July 1952. Perhaps Fr. Lynch was Fr.
Pollock’s temporary replacement while he was out maybe for vacation or study
from March 1952 to June 1952 or for four months.]
[In January 1954 to July 1954 Fr.
Luiggi Mojji, SJ came next, after Fr. Sergio left. Fr. Estanislao Lagutin, SJ
arrived in August 1954 and was in Balingasag until 1957 during Fr. William
Joseph J. Ahern, SJ’s time.]
[Fr. John A. Pollock’s term may have
ended in October 1954. He had a wedding mass on October 5, 1954 and after that
day there was no mentioned of his name anymore in the civil register of
marriage LCRO.]
[But before his reassignment, he was
able to solicit a life-size sculpted beautiful 14 pieces at 2 x 5 in measurement,
a combination of wood and cement made station of the cross. Perhaps this might be
the result of his initiative and resourcefulness. Maybe he utilized his time
while he was on travel abroad either for vacation or studies to solicit the via cruces or Station of the Cross for his parish. These via cruces are of
superb workmanship; every frame of this sculpted figures are masterpieces. It
seems that such is even more beautiful than the one at Vigan Cathedral in Ilocos Sur and Paoay Church in the north.]
Fr. Arthur F.
Shea, SJ 1954-1955
[Fr. Shea may have replaced Fr.
Pollock on October 6, 1954. He had his wedding mass on that day. Fr. Estanislao
Lagutin, SJ was his Assistant.]
[From October 1954 up to December
1955, the tandem was Fr. Shea and Fr. Lagutin. Fr. Shea may have left
Balingasag late December or after Christmas, or perhaps on the first week of
January of the incoming year i.e. 1956.]
Fr. William
Joseph J. Ahern, SJ 1956-1958
[Fr. Ahern was assigned in
Balingasag beginning January 1956. He had a wedding mass on January 16, 1956.
Fr. Lagutin, SJ was likewise his assistant until maybe in May 1958. In January
1958 Fr. Cunninghan, SJ visited Balingasag and likely he replaced Fr. Lagutin.
Fr. Lagutin was in Balingasag until June 1958 when Fr. Daighler arrived to take
Fr. Shea’s place.]
Fr.
Theodore Daighler, SJ 1958-1959
[Fr. Daighler arrived in June 1958
since he had a wedding mass on June 5, 1958. Fr. Cunninghan, SJ was in
Balingasag when Fr. Daighler became the parish priest of Balingasag. Moreover,
Fr. Alfonso Flores, SJ came to assist Fr. Daighler and stayed with him until
January 1959.]
[In the meanwhile Fr. Ahern, SJ who
was assigned in Alanib, Bukidnon visited Balingasag in September 1958 for he
had a wedding mass.]
[During the time of Fr. Daighler,
the church altar was at the western part of the church. Mr. Raymundo Valmorida
and his wife; Ebyong Jo and his wife; and Mr. Roel Hebia’s parents were
solemnized en masse by Fr. Daighler in January 1959 with altar and retablo
still at the western part of the church. They told me this fact.]
SECULAR-DIOCESAN
PRIESTS:
Msgr. Teofilo Camomot, D.D.
1959-1961
[Msgr. Camomot, D.D. arrived
probably in January 1959 or early in February 1959. On February 26, 1959, he had
a wedding mass. Fr. Petronilo M. Urot was also assigned in Balingasag and so
with Fr. Pedro Cabucayan. Misamis Oriental. Msgr. Teofilo B. Camomot, D.D. left
Balingasag sometime in June 1959. But before he left, on June 28, 1959 he
solemnized Florencio B. Barangan of Carcar, Cebu (a parish worker) and Tomasa
Dollosa of Maribojoc, Bohol at Sta. Rita Parish Church.
Fr. Joaquin V. Resma 1959-1962
July
[Fr. Resma may have arrived in
Balingasag early in June 1959 because on June 23, 1959 there was a wedding mass
which he officiated. The other priests during the assignment of Fr. Resma in
Balingasag were Fr. Pedro Cabucayan in 1959-1960 until maybe in October 1960
since Fr. Emiliano Sabandal arrived in October 1960 also. Fr. Pedro Pacuribot arrived
sometime in April 1961 and replaced Fr. Sabandal. Late in 1961 Fr. Vicente
Magto was assigned in Balingasag.]
[Msgr. Camomot returned to
Balingaasag in April 1961 until September 6, 1962. Today Vatican has accepted
documents for the canonization of the late Msgr. Teofilo D. Camomot, D.D. The
process is arduous, yet the faithful would always await and welcome the
declaration.]
[It was likely during the term of
Fr. Resma when the altar was transferred from the west side of the church to
the east. Ireneo Macabale, a master carpenter and mason headed the work. In
1962 I have a picture of first communion at the side altar-Our Lady of the
Immaculate is enthroned in the east side of the church.]
Fr. Vicente Andres 1962-1965
[Fr. Andres was assigned in
Balingasag in September 1962. On 8 September 1962 he had a wedding mass. His
assistants were Fr. Oscar Camomot, who stayed there shortly; and Fr. Vicente
Magto. Fr. Andres’ assignment was until July 1965.
It was in his time when I first saw
the game of lawn tennis, the basketball court fronting the statue of Sta. Rita
served also as a tennis court.]
Fr. Leo Cervantes 1965-1968
[Fr. Cervantes was assigned in
August 1965 up to 1967. In August 1965 Fr. Rodulfo C. Roa was also assigned in
Balingasag. His assignment was up to July 1967. By September 1967, Fr.
Bartolome LLenas arrived in Balingasag.]
[It was in January 1967 when the
first notation of SSJV became noticeable in the marriage register of LCRO
Balingasag.]
[It is likewise reckoned that Fr.
Leo Cervantes was the last priest in town who sported an ecclesiastical
tonsure, a circular shaved part on the head about bigger than the size of a
P1.00 coin, which symbolized during that time that one was a priest indeed.]
[He had his golden anniversary mass
at Sta. Rita Parish in 2012 together with Fr. Gonzalo Pimentel, who is from
Balingasag.]
Fr. Bartolome LLenas 1968-1972
[Fr. LLenas became parish priest in
1968 when his predecessor left Balingasag. In August 1968 until March 31, 1970,
Fr. Jose Manguiran served as the Assistant Parish Priest of Balingasag. He
became Bishop in the Diocese of Dipolog, however today he is already retired,
thus he is a “Bishop Emeritus”. A new bishop now sets the cathedral.]
[Sometime in 1971, Fr. Rey Manuel
Monsanto now Mons. Rey Monsanto (Vicar General) was assigned in Balingasag
because in May 1971 he had a wedding mass per the civil register of marriage of
LCRO-Balingasag. Insofar as I can recall during those times, Fr. Monsanto
offered a late evening holy mass at the church exclusively for our organization
– a fraternity on its final initiation and acceptance ceremony of new members
in 1971. We received Holy Communion in two species – bread and wine.]
[After Fr. Monsanto, a new assistant
arrived he was Fr. Polycarpo Gumapo.]
[Fr. LLenas left Balingasag in May
1972 for Fr. Hallazgo assumed his post in June 1972.
Fr. Angelisio Hallazgo 1972-1978
June
[Fr. Hallazgo, parish priest in Lagonglong
was transferred to Balingasag as parish priest also in June 1972. His assistant
was Fr. Gumapo until April or May 1974. At Mambayaan, he had a wedding mass –
en masse four couples were solemnized on April 6, 1974; and after that there
was no mentioned of his name again in the civil register LCRO. (Later In 1982
during the time of thwarted peace and order situation, Fr. Gumapo was the
Parish Priest of Gingoog. With him was the newly ordained priest in June 1982,
Fr. Medz R. Valmores.]
[Fr. Felipe Paraguya became Fr.
Hallazgo’s assistant when Fr. Gumapo was reassigned to other parish. He arrived
in Balingasag probably earlier than June 1, 1974 on that day he had a wedding
mass; and on the next day, was at Baliwagan Chapel for another wedding mass
again. So we have reasons to believe that he might had been in mid or late in
May 1974.]
[In June 1975, Fr. Paraguya left
Balingasag, Fr. Ceferino Galope took his place and his early recorded wedding
mass was on June 10, 1975 at Sta. Rita Church.]
[A year later or in June 1976, Fr. Pepe
Galope left Sta. Rita Parish, so Fr. Vicente Abrogueña assumed his position. He
had a wedding mass on June 6, 1976.]
[In November 1977 Fr. M. Belarmino
took Fr. Abrogueña’s place and was the assistant priest when Fr. Pedro Sombilon
became the Parish Priest of Balingasag.]
Fr. Pedro Sombilon 1978-1983 May
[Fr. Sombilon served as the parish priest
of Balingasag from July 1978 to May 1983. He assumed as parish priest in July 1978 because Fr. Hallazgo still had a
wedding mass on June 29, 1978.]
[Fr. Belarmino served as Fr.
Sombilon’s assistant the day the new parish priest came to Balingasag; nevertheless,
Fr. Berlarmino’s assignment in Balingasag ended in May 1980 since Fr. Manolito
Antiporta arrived in the parish. In fact, on May 24, 1980 Fr. Antiporta had a
wedding mass. His assignment was up until June 1981 maybe because his last
recorded wedding mass was on June 27, 1981.]
[During the time of Fr. Sombilon,
two presbyteral ordinations (secular) happened in Balingasag that of Fr. Medz
R. Valmores on June 2, 1982 and that of Fr. Mario Arazo followed some months
later. The two are residents of Balingasag.]
[When insurgency erupted and gained
momentum in Misamis Oriental particularly in Front IV, the war between the
Military and NPA guerillas in these areas began at Lantad in Balingasag. Lantad
had declared belligerence and that maybe why antiquated yet deadly “Tora-tora”,
helicopter gunships and 105 howitzers powdered or pulverized the place most
often than any place in Balingasag or in Misamis Oriental in general. So, wave
by wave evacuees from those areas reached the lowlands for safety, the church
tried to accommodate them at the vacant space, which today is the sacristy. Not
only in Balingasag where these evacuees sought asylum, greater part of them had
their temporary shelters at the Cronin Areas near San Jose Seminary in
Camaman-an. Church’s support to the evacuees was always there, no matter what
names the priests had been accusingly called.]
[Fr. Sombilon served Balingasag
until May 14, 1983. Fr. Alfredo Tamayo succeeded him.]
[Today, Fr. Sombilon is retired and
stays at St. Patrick House near the seminary in Camaman-an; nevertheless, he
used to officiate masses and other priestly functions because God has given him
good health.]
[If my memory serves me right, I
would like to believe that it was him during his priestly ordination in 1967 or
1966 that my late father Briccio and I had been able to witness at San Agustin
Cathedral. For me, it was my first time to see an ordination.]
Fr. Alfredo Tamayo May 1983-1989
[Fr. Tamayo arrived in Balingasag
sometime in May 1983 since he had a wedding mass on May 14, 1983. Fr. Alfredo
Heyrosa arrived at Sta. Rita Parish in June 1983 and seemingly was until June
1984 because Fr. Alexander Borres arrived in July 1984.]
[While Fr. Heyrosa was the Asst.
Parish Priest of Balingasag, he used to stay and oftentimes celebrate masses at
the Chapel of Baliwagan. It was not a parish yet nor a chaplaincy yet.]
[Meanwhile, the succeeding Asst.
Parish Priest used to celebrate masses and stay there sometimes in Baliwagan in
continuity of what Fr. Heyrosa did earlier. Fr. Borres continued to serve
Balingasag Parish until May 1986, Fr. Raul Sesante succeeded him in June 1986.
Fr. Sesante served with Fr. Tamayo until June 1987.]
[In July 1987 Fr. Benedicto Banto-ao
succeeded Fr. Sesante. However his stay was not too lengthy in Balingasag, Fr.
Alexander Borres was back and succeeded him in December 1987.]
[By April 1988, the chapel of
Baliwagan – Our Mother of the Perpetual Help had his permanent priest; Fr. Pete
Ubalde was assigned thereat. It was on the making as a chaplaincy or perhaps enthroned;
and after so many years in 2000’s it was made as a parish.]
[When Fr. Tamayo was assigned in Balingasag
it was the prime years when most lives especially those directly affected by
the low intensity conflict between the military and guerillas were in disarray.
Although the arm conflict was fought between the guerillas and military, it is
always the civilians that suffer most of the damage, or should we say the
collateral damage. However, the church did not cease of his evangelical and pastoral
works. At times when situation or conditions seemed permissible, the Holy Mass
would be always said in hinterland chapels, despite the risk it had. Not only
this, the Church continuously moved on to safeguard the rights, health and
subsistence of the evacuees.]
[Fr. Tamayo’s service as parish
priest ended in April 1989 and Fr. Columbus C. Villamil him. Fr. Tamayo’s last
wedding mass ever recorded at LCRO was on April 6, while Fr. Villamil had his
first wedding ceremony during his term on April 8, 1989.]
[With the permission of the Bishop,
Fr. Tamayo, a priest who is fun of motorcycle, in fact he had a 100XL, went to
the US for mission appeal. Presently, he is a Chaplain of one of the major
branch of military service in the United States.]
Fr. Columbus
Villamil [Vicar
General] 1989-1995
[Before Fr. Villamil was assigned to
Balingasag, he was the parish priest of Lagonglong. It was during his term and
so with his predecessor’s time – Fr. Gil Escalante when vocation in Lagonglong
surged. Among the parishes of the diocese Lagonglong tops first insofar as
number of priest is concerned.]
[From April 1989 except for the
assistance of Fr. Borres who had been in Balingasag earlier than him, but left
on May 1989; he had no assistant priest until July 1993. This time Fr. Ronaldo
G. Gadrinab became his assistant in August 1993.]
[In July 1991 yet, Fr. Nilo Aguiman
succeeded Fr. Pete Ubalde as Chaplain of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel in
Baliwagan. He held it until December 1994, Fr. Elcon Matrayo succeeded him in
January 1995.]
[From then on Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel and later on as Parish, has a regular assigned Priest, Fr. Basarte, Fr. Sacris, Fr. Cabactulan (two priestly ordination Fr. Lara [OSA] and Fr. Montemayor), and Fr. Remargin Ubalde, the current parish priest.]
[From then on Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel and later on as Parish, has a regular assigned Priest, Fr. Basarte, Fr. Sacris, Fr. Cabactulan (two priestly ordination Fr. Lara [OSA] and Fr. Montemayor), and Fr. Remargin Ubalde, the current parish priest.]
[At the height of the AFP-NPA
guerilla war, Fr. Villamil never stop in officiating the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass in the war zone in Lantad until such time that the place was considered
impregnable and too dangerous by civilians and priests to access. During the
return of the evacuees in 1993 to Lantad, the church spearheaded the placement
and return of the evacuees to their war ravaged home in Lantad. There was a
solemn procession of desperate and destitute parishioners from the town proper
to sitio Lantad in the Balatukan Mountain Range with an approximate distance of
20 kilometers and in those times accessible only by hiking. The priest headed
the group on foot march with some lay leaders, religious sisters, and some
parishioners – residents of Poblacion, Balingasag, who maybe out of curiosity
or because of piety joined the caravan. The chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual
Help in Lantad proper was reconstructed as it was ravaged by war.]
[It was in 1991 or 1992 during Fr.
Villamil’s time when Fr. Stephen Olario was ordained priest at Sta. Rita Parish
Church. It took more or less another ten years to have a priest since Fr. Medz
ordination in 1982. Indeed how grueling the study and formation to become one.]
[Fr. Columbus Villamil was
reassigned to another parish in January 1995 and Fr. Perseus J. Cabunoc
succeeded him.]
[At present Mons. Columbus or Nene
as his parishioners call him; is the parish priest of San Antonio de Padua
Parish in Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro. His former post at the Metropolitan
Cathedral has been assumed by Fr. Perseus Cabunoc.]
Fr. Perseus
J. Cabunoc [Vicar
General] 1995-2001
[Fr. Cabunoc succeeded Fr. Villamil
in February 1995. His first recorded wedding mass as a parish priest was on February
11, 1995.
[During the ordination of Fr. Medz,
Fr. Perseus served as an acolyte carrying the heavy standard – the Cross of
Salvation during the processional march from St. Rita’s College ground to the
church. He was still a Theologian yet. Today, he is the Rector of the Parish of
San Agustin of Hippo in Cagayan de Oro City.]
[Although evidently every priest has some
worthy contributions to the parish where they served, I just would like to
mention that it was in Fr. Perseus’ time when the roof structure and inner
columns of the church was renovated or reconstructed. Every churchgoer in
Balingasag, including those who are not, undeniably knew the fact that it was
him who did it. This was of course done with the total support of the
parishioners.]
[I would not miss to tell you that
his father was a good friend of mine, indeed we were officemates at the
LGU-Lagonglong while his son, Fr. Perseus was at the seminary yet.]
Fr. Ricardo Dancela 2001-2005
[Calmness and docility may sometimes
be considered by others as signs of weakness. Fr. Dancela or fondly known as
Fr. Ricketts has those traits – calm and docile; nevertheless, his parishioners
knew that by nature he is gentle and possesses a big heart. For many a times he
had shown it timidly and only those whom he had helped knew his goodness. I
wish not to elaborate as it may only turn into kidding him, but the truth is
even the fools – morons and beggars frequented the premises of the church and
convent. They knew that there would be always even a little for them from him. It
is one charisma where others could not understand. The youth had understood him
well, as he was and still is too engrossed to music. In the World Youth Day in
the US, Fr. Ricketts was one of the archdiocese’ delegate to that forum, of
course, he acted as the good father for those youth leaders who went there.]
[Fr. Ruth Develos came as assistant priest, then Fr. Diosdado Ladera though not too lengthily. We have Fr. Jun Balsamo who stayed and served as
assistant parish priest, too.]
[Fr. Ricketts was transferred to
Binuangan as Parish Priest after his term in Balingasag. Today, he is in
Catarman, Camiguin, silently bringing his calmness and docility; indeed,
certainly are good traits to reckon with.]
Fr. Nilo Aguiman 2005-January 2010
[Fr. Nilo was not a stranger to
Balingasag though he hailed from Medina. He was assigned as Chaplain of the
Perpetual Help Chapel in Baliwagan after Fr. Pete Ubalde. It was during his
time when Joseph Montemayor now Fr. Montemayor worked as sacristan in order to gauge himself of the flicker of vocation he
had and to finish his high school studies at Baliwagan National High School.]
[Fr. Elmer Empinado was assigned shortly, then Fr. Joevel Gulisao likewise served as Fr.
Aguiman’s assistant before his transfer to Camiguin and later on became the
Chaplain of Taguanao in Cagayan de Oro in 2013.]
[Fr. Amie Balacuit was the assistant
of Fr. Nilo at the time of the latter’s death.]
[In 2005 Fr. Celso Bagabaldo, Jr.
was ordained at the parish church of Balingasag during Fr. Nilo Aguiman’s
time.]
[In the life-time of Fr. Aguiman, he
did something good for the people of Barangay 3 – Nabalian Area would never
forget, he coordinated with Bishop Antonio Ledesma, Archbishop of Cagayan de
Oro in the distribution and granting of awards of rights of Parish Lands in
Barangay 3 to their actual occupants. The transfer would undergo a process for
its titling later. There was an evening mass during the ceremonial distribution
of award, which the organization President received from the Parish Priest and
the Municipal Mayor – Atty. Alexis S. Quina.]
[Fr. Nilo Aguiman faded away in
January 2010. There was a vigil at Sta. Rita Parish Church-Balingasag and San
Isidro Parish-Medina before his interment at the Divine Shepherd Gardens in
Cagayan de Oro.]
Fr. Allan Pulgo January 2010-April 2010
[He
was temporarily assigned in Balingasag because of Fr. Nilo’s death.]
[Fr.
Balacuit was still the assistant priest.]
Fr. Joel Oga May 2010 to June 2013
[Fr. Dondon Olango was Fr. Oga’s
assistant. Thereafter, Fr. Eleuterio Datoy took his place. Recently Fr. Oga is
in the Parish of Balulang in Cagayan while Fr. Datoy is the Chaplain of the Chaplaincy
of Tuod, a remote barangay in Manticao.]
Fr. Nestor Caduyag June
2013 todate
[Fr. Sammy Ricarde is the present
Assistant Parish Priest taking the place of Fr. Bebot Pacaña, who now is in the
Parish Priest of Immaculate Conception Parish in Jasaan.]
Sources:
LCRO archives Civil Register of Marriages - LGU Balingasag;
On Jasaan Parish Creation, Fr. Francisco Demetrio, SJ, Glimpses of
Northern Mindanao;
On Recollect Priests of Jasaan from 1835 to September 1849 from the
Research Paper
of Fr. Roniedon P. Valmoria, SSJV;
On the Annotation of Spanish Jesuits, Fr. Jose S. Arcilla, SJ., Jesuit
Missionary Letters of Mindanao,
Vol. IV The Dapitan-Balingasag Mission.
On the Annotation of Fr. Pecson from the works of Fr. Schumacher, SJ,
Readings from Philippine Church
History;
On the Story of the Arrest and Imprisonment of Spanish Jesuits in
Cagayan de Misamis – From Fr. JS
Arcilla, Jesuit Missionary Letters & Cartas Edificantes;
On the Division of Mindanao in 1624 by two Missionary Orders from the
works of Fr. Miguel A. Bernad,
SJ, The Great Island: Studies in the Exploration and Evangelization of Mindanao;
On the Battle of Manila with Aguinaldo and Filipino soldiers along with
the side of the Americans
from the works or speech of Prof. Rosario Mendoza Cortes, Ph.D. University of the Philippines, “The
American Occupation of Manila” published
in Historic Manila Commemorative Lectures 1993-1996, pp.67-78; and
On other information, they were taken from
interviews with credible resource persons.
PRIESTS OF
BALINGASAG
In no particular order
Fr. Gonzalo V. Pimentel at St.
Patrick Retirement House in Cagayan de Oro City
Fr. Auxentius V. Pañares in Bukidnon
Fr. Nicolas Echeveria, OSA-Order of
St. Augustine in Manila
Fr. Rodulfo C. Roa, St. Patrick,
Cagayan de Oro City
Fr. Ceferino Galope+
Fr. Iluminado Gamalo, Bukidnon
Fr. Medallo R. Valmores, Gingoog
City
Fr. Mario Arazo+
Fr. Florentino Galdo, Scalabrini,
Australia
Fr. Roniedon P. Valmoria, Manticao
Fr. Stephen Olario, Seminary,
Cagayan de Oro City
Fr. Lucio Bola, Scalabrini,
Taiwan
Fr. Emmanuel S. Regalado, San
Lorenzo Ruiz Order, Manila
Fr. Simplecio Lumacad, SJP [St. John
the Precursor], SJP Seminary,
Virac, Catanduanes
Fr. Joseph Tabigue, CRSP [Clerics
Regular of St. Paul], San Diego, California
Fr. Verano Ladra, CRSP, Seminary
Marikina City
Fr. Rudison Nulo, CRSP, St. Paul
Scholasticate (Major Seminary), Tagaytay City
Fr. Ferdinand Dagcuta, CRSP, St.
Joseph Chaplaincy, Calaanan, Cag. De Oro City
Fr. Celso Bagabaldo, SJP, Morong,
Rizal
Fr. Glenn Mercado-Religious, Marikina City
Fr. Glenn Mercado-Religious, Marikina City
Fr. Demly C. Valmores, Cugman, Cag.
De Oro City
Fr. Lino A. Macatol, Jr., Kauswagan,
Cag. De Oro City
Fr. Ariel C. Lara, OSA, Manila
Fr. Joseph Montemayor, Camiguin
Fr. Rosauro A. Valmores, CRSP, St.
Joseph Chaplaincy, Cag. De Oro City
Profile of Priests (Estimates Only)
Over 65 years old – 4
55 to 64 years old – 3
45 to 54 years old – 5
35 to 44 years old –7
Below 34 years old –4
Faded away _2_
Total 25
Secular 12 (SSJV or otherwise)
Religious 13 (OSA, Scalabrini, SJP, San
Lorenzo & CRSP)
When shall be the next priest from
now?
God Willing! Perhaps two would be
ordained in 2016 or 2017 from CRSP & San Lorenzo Ruiz Order, respectively.
After that How Many would be in the
Making? The question is left for the young men of Balingasag to ponder on.
It is through prayers and
reflections that one may find the answer.
Come and think of this young man!
ooo
Rex R. Valmores
Balingasag, Mis. Or.
August 2014
