by Lope Coles Robredillo , SThD
A. Parish Formation and Development
Lalawigan as a village was already in existence in the 18th century. In ancient Samarenyo language, the term “lalawigan” means port or “duruongan”. It is interchangeable with the term “lawigan”. According to Antonio Sanchez de la Rosa’s Diccionario Bisaya-Español para las Provincias de Samar y Leyte (2nd edition, 1895), both “lalauigan” and “lauigan” mean puerto, fondeadero in Spanish. In Felipe Redondo’s book, Breve Reseña (published 1886), Lalawigan appears as a regular barrio of Borongan, along with Maydolong and Bugas.
The creation of Lalawigan parish owes to the efforts of Msgr Jose Ma.
Ricalde who, while serving as Chancellor of the Diocese, used to say
Sunday Mass in the barrio chapel. As early as 1962, he broached to the
people the idea of converting the barrio of Lalawigan and the
neighboring ones into a new parish. On June 29, 1964, the Most
Rev Vicente P. Reyes, DD, first Bishop of Borongan, having considered
the opinion of Msgr Simeon Desoloc, Msgr Jose Ma Ricalde, Msgr
Bernardino Baxal and Msgr Prudencio Figueroa who composed the board of
consultors. separated from the jurisdiction of Borongan twelve (12)
barrios of Lalawigan, Divinubo, Locsoon, Nabiyawan, and those north of
Suribao river, namely, Camada Norte, Suribao, San Gregorio, Banuyo,
Hebacong, Benowangan, Baras, and Pinanag-an, together with their sitios, and constituted them into one parish with Lalawigan as the parish seat. Of these sitios, two are now barrios: Canyupay and Cabalagnan.
The church of Lalawigan is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, whose feast
day falls on August 15.
The barrio was accustomed to celebrate the parish fiesta on the third
Saturday of August, until Fr Joberto Picardal, its pastor, decided in
1980 to hold it permanently every August 15.
When Fr Nilo Apura administered the parish in 1992, Cabong and
Can-abong were ceded by the Bishop to Lalawigan, the former himself
being from Bgy. Cabong. But in 1998, Can-abong and Cabong, with the
permission of the pastor, were temporarily entrusted to Fr Roger Calim.
He took charge of these two barangays, while residing at the
Bishop’s residence, even though a small rectory was provided for him by
the people of Cabong. But all his records of baptism, marriage and
death were kept at the Borongan parish. In 2005, Fr Lito Amande,
Diocesan Economus, began taking charge of both barrios, and, at the
request of Fr Anacleto Asebias, parish priest of Borongan, baptismal and
other records were submitted to the Lalawigan parish. In 2006, Cabong
and Can-abong came under the care of Fr Inocentes Abuda, Jr, who
replaced Fr Amande as Economus. At present (2008), the parish of
Lalawigan covers 12 barrios, together with their sitios.
B. Parish Priests and Administrators
The succession of pastors and parish administrators since its founding is as follows:
1964-1967
|
Msgr Jose Ma Ricalde Ong
|
1981-1982
|
Fr Eustaquio Rosaldo
|
1967-1971
|
Fr Conrado Balagapo
|
1982-1982
|
Fr Nilo Apura (adm)
|
1971-1972
|
Fr Victorio Balagapo
|
1982-1988
|
Msgr Conrado Balagapo
|
1972-1972
|
Fr Mario Operario (adm)
|
1988-1989
|
Msgr Crescente Japzon
|
1972-1974
|
Fr Emilio Bernardo
|
1989-1990
|
Fr Nilo Apura
|
1974-1974
|
Fr Montecarlo Viloria (adm)
|
1990-1996
|
Fr Fitzgerald Azul
|
1974-1975
|
Fr Exequiel Singzon (adm)
|
1996-1998
|
Fr Erich Brandes
|
1975-1978
|
Fr Lesme Afable
|
1998-2001
|
Fr Roderick Rodeles
|
1978-1981
|
Fr Joberto Picardal
|
2001-date
|
Msgr Lope C Robredillo
|
C. Parish Lot in the Parish Seat
Through
the efforts of the Rev Msgr Francisco Palomeras, parish priest of
Borongan, the parish church now stands in a lot donated to the Diocese
largely by the family of Paulino and Cirila Obina. The lot where the
sanctuary and the rectory are located was, on the other hand, donated by
Fernanda Jamer Catudio and Paulina Jamer Ronda who swapped their lot in
Canbanjao, along the highway, just across where Sea Breeze Garden now
stands, with this portion of land. According to current records, the
church lot is located along San Roque St., bounded on the east by the
property of Ruperto Obina, on the south by that of Tomas Dala, and on
the west by those of Romulo Sabate and Gregorio Catudio.
In 1982, a lot east of the church was sold to the parish through Msgr
Conrado Balagapo by the family of Ruperto Obina for P500. As of 1983,
the total church lot was 1,324.10 sq. meters, with an assessed value of
P5,250. With the help of the CWL, Fr Nilo Apura raised the eastern
concrete wall, that Msgr Crescente Japzon continued. In 1984, the
parish acquired another lot because Andrea Catudio, wife of Gregorio,
and children, sold to the parish through Msgr Conrado Balagapo the lot
across the street (in Hollywood ) and in front of the residence of
Romulo Sabate. Under Msgr Lope Robredillo, the front concrete fence
with iron grills on the upper level was finished in 2004.
In 2004, with the help of Magdalena Esperancilla, Msgr Lope Robredillo
and Romulo Sabate exchanged the portion of land fronting the latter’s
residence with the lot adjoining the rectory, which belonged to Mr
Sabate. The new boundaries having been established, the construction of
a concrete wall was shortly embarked on under Msgr Robredillo on the
western side of the church lot. At present, the whole church lot, where
the rectory and church stand, is defined by concrete and
concrete-cum-grilled fences. On the western half of this lot is the
parish park planted to bermuda, four Indian trees standing parallel to the western fence, with three lamp posts in between, accented by grottoes (see below)
at the corner of the front and western concrete fences. The concrete
walls enclosing the church lot, together with the balustrade, were
repainted before Msgr Robredillo left for his next assignment in May,
2009.
D. Parish Church and Grottoes
The Parish Church . The original barrio chapel of Lalawigan stood on Asuncion
St. , corner National Road , on a lot where the new elementary school
building is currently located. But through the efforts of Msgr
Francisco Palomeras, parish priest of Borongan, a new lot on what is now
San Roque Street was acquired, and the barrio folks built a wooden
chapel where first Pontifical Mass in Lalawigan, presided over by the
Rt. Rev. Simeon Desoloc, Vicar General of the Diocese of Borongan, was
celebrated on August 15, 1964. Having been through with the two-storey
rectory through pintakasi, Msgr Jose Ma Ricalde gave priority to
construction of a concrete, big church to replace this chapel. Under
his leadership, the people of Lalawigan were able to raise the present
concrete church, which is 28 m. long, 10 m. wide, and 8.5 high.
The beginnings of its construction may be traced back as early as 1962,
when Msgr Ricalde began the fund drive for the church building. Money
sprang from various sources. Much came from the weekly contributions of
each family in the amount of P20.00 and from proceeds from the sale of
copra, to produce which each house threw in coconuts. Others came from
rice campaign in Dolores, from beauty contests and other fund raising
activities, like testimonial banquet, let alone donations, while labor
was at the start offered free by the residents through pintakasi.
When Msgr Ricalde left the parish in 1967 to assume the office of
pastor of Borongan, the general structure of the church was already
done: the roof, the walls, floor and the sanctuary were well in place.
On top of the tabernacle on the altar that was attached to the rear wall
was mounted the image of the patroness, the Lady of the Assumption,
which was acquired in 1915 from Leo Cardona in exchange of first class
hardwood. The altar was flanked by two doors, the left leading to what
eventually would become the sacristy after Fr Conrado Balagapo was
designated parish priest.
It was left to the incumbency of Fr C. Balagapo to put up the ceiling, the
sliding door in front and the eight side wooden doors, the glass
windows and the floor tiles (locally made), and to paint the interior
and the façade. Further, he enshrined the patroness in a round niche at
the center of the wall behind the altar. Since in 1964 the priest
began to celebrate Mass facing the people, a wooden free-standing altar
was assembled in 1969, courtesy of Jose Dala. Two ambos, made of narra,
also donated by Jose Dala in 1969, stood at the gospel side and epistle
side. In 1970, the church acquired 32 pews, made of banuyo,
worth P4,500, and the confessional. Two more pews were added by Purok
6. In 1989, it was estimated that the cost of the church construction
ran to about P1,700,000. Through the initiative of Fr C. Balagapo,
added was the belfry in 1969, which valued at P150,000, and which has
two bells: the first one, smaller, was acquired by the barrio people in
1930, and the bigger one was donated in 1970 by Juana A. Vda de Poggi.
During the tenure of Fr Joberto Picardal, the wooden tabernacle that
was made in 1965 was replaced with a silver-plated one that was donated
by Pablo & Nellie Añosa in 1979. Through the generosity of Purok 2,
Fr Picardal blessed a new concrete altar in the same year. With the
help of the Lalawigan Circle , 6 chandeliers were hung in 1983. By
1984, Lalawigan was probably the only parish in the Diocese at that time
that had a modern Yamaha electone organ (model A-505), worth P20,000,
courtesy of the Lalawignons in the U.S. In 2005, through the donation
of Canuto Bacal, Msgr Robredillo mounted a new tabernacle made of brass
worth P90.000, and had it flanked by two more than life-size wooden
images of the Resurrected Lord and the Dolorosa that were donated by
Maria Tabo.
Msgr. Crescente Japzon set a P4,500 grating steel door at the main
entrance, courtesy of Gil and Adela Sucayan, which replaced the sliding
door
that made of hardwood. He also started replacing the wooden stairs
leading to the belfry with concrete ones, and a number of GI sheets
blown off by typhoon Yoning in 1989. Fr Fitzgerald Azul completed the
concreting of the staircase of the belfry, and with the help of the CWL,
installed rectangular windows at the choir loft and the ceiling, and
painted the loft, so it could also serve as a meeting hall. In 2000
when Fr Roderick Rodeles was parish priest, with the assistance and
supervision of Lalawignons in the U.S., concrete grey columns were
erected, the walls of the sanctuary were covered with marbles, the image
of the patroness was transferred to the western portion from the middle
part, and the altar was likewise covered with marble. A 6-foot
crucifix worth P4,000, donated by Maria Tabo in 1984, was placed at the
center just above the tabernacle. In 2001, Msgr Lope Robredillo
requested the Bacal family to donate 7 long candleholders made of narra
to flank the altar on both sides.
In June thru Sept 2002, under Msgr Robredillo the old tiles of the sanctuary
were removed and new glazed 16x16 tiles were installed for 52T+. In
the same year, from Sept to Oct, the electrical wires were inlaid in the
church, 14 florescent lamps were affixed to the side walls, and 4
electric fans were hung. Six new chandeliers that he solicited from the
Lalawigan Circle were suspended. In 2003, a new sound system operated,
and was improved with the donation of 2 more large sound boxes from the
Lalawigan Circle , in addition to the first 2 ones that were given in
2001. From Nov 2004 to Nov 2005, almost half of the roofing was
replaced with new GI sheets, because the roof was leaking when it
rained, the fascia board was attached, and the entire roof, the interior
and exterior of the entire church were painted. Major donors (P10T)
were Rafael Devora, Nicolas Loste, Dalmacio Altar and the Lalawigan
Circle . From April to June 2005, the parish priest converted the room
on the right side of the main door into a room for images of saints,
providing wooden pedestals to the images and had the floor tiled. From
April 9 to 25, the concrete and steel fence on the left side of the
church façade was raised, funded from the more than P20T donation of
Canuto Bacal.
From June 28 to Aug 25, 2004, 8 side steel-grilled doors replaced the
time-beaten wooden ones. Donations (at P6.5T per donor) for these came
from Nicolas Loste, Valentin Bacal, Lamb of God Community, Percival
Jamer, Estela Tan, Holy Shroud Confraternity, Rustom Aspacio, Cosme
Tiusonco, Pablo Anosa and Karen Ang. The front steel door was repaired,
and the grilled door to the room for holy images was fitted. The
traditional stations of the cross, which were hung in 1979, gave way to a
new set that was given by Remegia Sabate in March 2004. Also done in
the same year were the repair and painting of the sacristy, the making
of a cabinet for vestments, and the construction of 3 concrete panels on
the northern side of the church lot. From July 15 to Nov 19, the
center aisle was given a new look with the installation of 16x16 glazed
tiles courtesy of Obdulia Tabo-Luke. These projects, initiated on Nov
2003 and finished on Nov 2004, cost P249,518.
On July 13, 2006 through Jan 20, 2007, the following were accomplished
to the tune
of P212,524.10—installation of (16x16) glazed tiles on the
entire church main floor, ceiling of the overhang on both sides of the church,
concreting of the walkway to the raised structure for offering lighted
candles east of the church, construction of the raised structure itself,
finishing touches to the eastern and western concrete fences, repair of
the concrete side doorsteps and flowerpots, washing out of the pavement
to the church main door, placing of the balustrade fence of church
park, installation of the grated steel door to the bell tower and the
round concrete bases for trees on the park. Many parishioners gave from
P300 to 500, but the major donors were Percival Jamer (31T+), Lina
Voces Chan (20T), Purok 3 (15T+), Dalmacio Altar (10T), Beverly Abrao
(10T), and Teodoro Palisoc (10T).
From Jan to April 2007, more improvements were made, largely thanks to
the generosity of donors like Nila Hourton of New York (27T+), Ruperto
and Milagros Dala (14T+), and to the solicitations by Grace
Campomanes-Baquilod (20T+), and by Sr. Angeles Anacio, SSV, in Italy
(35T+). Accomplished were the putting of the ceiling of the overhang on
both sides of the church, repair of the roof of the choir loft, general
repair of church walls, ceiling and other parts, painting of the
concrete fences, the parish church (the first time in history that this
church was entirely painted) and the façade of the rectory, and
improvement and completion of the concrete fence of the south-eastern
and southern portion of the church lot.
From Nov to Dec 2007, the belfry was given a facelift, what with the
replacement of the decorative blocks with glass blocks, and other
repairs including its concrete roofing, through the generosity of the
2007 hermano mayor, Pablo and Nellie Añosa and Cosme-Brenda
Tiusonco at the cost of P120,000. Financed by the donation of Purok 4
(P13T), the proceeds of the caroling by the CWL, and from other donors,
the pathway from the gate to the rectory was concreted, the lamp cases
on the northern fence were replaced, a sound system for the daily
(except Sunday) recitation of the rosary was purchased, and four new
windows on the façade of the church were redesigned, installed with
glasses from Dec 2007 to Feb 2008.
The last major endeavor of Msgr Robredillo was the renovation of the
sanctuary of the parish church that began on July 2008 to the tune of
almost half a million pesos. In this project which Msgr Lope himself
designed, he closed the door on the left side of the wall behind the
altar, and opened two new doors on the southern and northern walls,
where formerly closed windows could be found. In order to match the
existing niche of the patroness on the right side of the western wall,
he created a niche for Our Lady of Guadalupe on the left side. But the
major alteration done on the sanctuary was the construction of a
recessed arch at the middle, which entailed removal of the central
section of the western wall, and the setting up of a concrete wall.
This latter stands about two feet from the western wall, the space in
between being spanned by iron grills. This wall, to which is affixed the
big wooden crucifix that was donated by Maria Tabo, also serves as
background to the new free-standing concrete cum-granite pedestal on
which the new tabernacle, courtesy of Canuto Bacal, was mounted. These
alterations were first seen by the people on December 16, 2008. The
arches of the two niches, as well as the recessed arch at the center,
are gold finished.
In January 2009, Msgr Robredillo continued the renovation with the
replacement of
the 5-year old tiles with 24x24 granite tiles to cover
the entire sanctuary. Except for the central part, which is salt and
pepper grey, the granite floor is white. By the end of January, the new
ambo, which is permanent, concrete and with granite, and the lectern
for the commentator, both of which were designed by Msgr Robredillo,
were already being used in liturgy. (Incidentally, the ambo is the
first in the Diocese of Borongan that conforms to liturgical law.)
These replaced the ones that Jose Dala donated, although the latter are
still used for lectures, conferences and retreats. Msgr Robredillo also
bought two big chandeliers, each costing P13,000, and hang them at the
sanctuary. On March 12, 2009, he placed the image of Our Lady of
Guadalupe, made of wood, worth P31,200, through the generosity of Capt
Henry and Naida Cepeda, the hermano mayor of Christmas 2008. An
electric sanctuary lamp, first lighted on Feb 7, 2009, hangs at the
recessed arch. Concrete cum granite pedestal were made for the images
of the Resurrected Lord and the Virgin of Sorrows, standing beneath the
niches for the Virgin of Guadalupe and the Virgin of the Assumption
respectively.
The renovation started with the initial donation of Maribel Shirlane
Loste (P24T), Sarah Edres and Lesma Batula (22+T), Beverly Ivy Abrao
(20T), Maureen
Catudio (15T), Purok 5 (15T), Analina Bagas (13+T), Maricris Catudio
(10T), Fr Rolly Tabo (10T), Liza Devora (10T), Amalia Bagas Henn and
Rosa Bagas Haas (10T) and many others, although the biggest benefactor
was the Manila Economic and Cultural Center, which gave about P200T
worth of construction materials (no cash!). Marilu Azul-Alido
was a big help in the solicitation of funds. By March 31, 2009, the
renovation of the sanctuary was largely finished. On April 3, with the
donation from Cheerful Giver (12T), Rowena Capones (10T) and Cynthia
Lares (10T), the two rectangular windows on both sides of the church
were replaced at the cost of P24,000 on April 3-8, 2009 with
semicircular ones permanently open, made of steel and glass to match
with the other windows. The renovated sanctuary was blessed by Most Rev
Crispin Varquez, DD, Bishop of Borongan, on the occasion of the
birthday of Msgr Lope Robredillo, on April 21, 2009. For this event, he
had the church painted, starting with the façade, and later the rest of
the building.
Grottoes.
The grottoes stand at the corner of the western and northern concrete
fences. On the upper grotto is reposed the image of Our Lady of
Lourdes, which can reached
by a concrete curved staircase, while inside
the ground cave is the permanent altar with a glazed top. These were
designed by Msgr Lope Robredillo and constructed from Sept to Nov 2004
under his direction, with the help of the Confradia of the
Children of Mary, with Donatila Dolot as president, and with the
financial backing largely of Lalawignons in the United States , who
donated more than P73T. (It may be recalled that a simplier grotto
stood half-way between the gate and the rectory, but this was demolished
since, with the acquisition of the piece of land from Romulo Sabate, it
became an obstruction to the landscaping of the church grounds.) The
construction of the grottoes, together with the leveling off of the
ground, the setting up of the lighting system, water system, concrete
and steel fence along San Roque Street , and the 1st span of the east wall was worth P102,404.70. The front steel gate to the convento
was a donation from Marissa Capada. As already noted, a balustrade
along the pathway from the gate to the rectory was raised from Oct to
Dec 2006 to completely enclose the park.
E. Parish Rectory
After the parish was created in 1964, Msgr Jose Ma Ricaldo temporarily
resided in the house of Jacinta Sabate, after briefly staying at the
house of Lilian Ecao, just a stone’s throw from the church. However,
through the help and pintakasi of the people, he was able to
build a semi-concrete, two storey rectory. This was his first
infrastructural project. Since the rectory had no place for meetings
of cofradias and other parish organizations, Fr Joberto Picardal
extended the ground floor eastward to give room for conferences. The
walls were concrete, and jalousies were installed on the windows. He
concreted half of the ground floor. In 1983, Msgr Balagapo placed a
book shelf which he filled up with donated books in the hope of making a
parish library.
Since this could no longer be salvaged, Fr Fitzgerald Azul started the
construction of a two-storey concrete building, largely funded by
Missio, a foreign funding agency. While the ground floor was being
done, he temporarily slept and held office at the choir loft, but when
the basic structure of the ground floor was over, he immediately
transferred to unfinished first floor. No sooner was the upper floor
was started than Fr Azul was transferred to Sulat, and it was Fr Erich
Brandes who continued the project. Fr Brandes started the second floor.
Upon the untimely death of Fr Brandes, Fr Roderick Rodeles took over
the project, largely with help coming from a US funding agency, and when
he left the parish in 2001, the rectory was as good as finished, with
tiles installed in the second floor. It measures 13.5 m. long, 13 m.
wide, and 6 m. high. The interior of both floors was painted, and a
water system was installed.
In 2001, under Msgr Robredillo, the staircase to the second floor was
tiled, and the balcony was added, with tiled floor, out of the proceeds
of the novenario in honor of the Holy Rosary (P7T+) and donation
from Amelita Ty, and with the help of Marilou Alido. He also purchased
electric water pump, out of the love offerings of Eugenia Tabo, since
the old one was removed. In the same year, he bought an engine and a
generator (P42,505) in Tacloban, from the funds contributed to by the
parishioners. In 2002, he purchased a second engine in Manila , a
China-made Yanmar (P23,250), because the first one broke down. (The
latter was repaired, but never used again; it is stored on the ground
floor). From Jan 3-7, 2006, a temporary garage was built, as well as a
provisional roof behind the church set up for P9,777.
From Jan 9 to 17, 2006, a powerhouse cum “dirty” kitchen was
constructed behind the rectory at the cost of P5,153, replacing the old
one of light materials that could no longer be rehabilitated. On Dec
16, 2008, the two chandeliers at the sanctuary of the parish church were
transferred to the rectory, one was placed at the sala, the other over
the staircase. From Feb 5 to 14, Feb 2009, Msgr Robredillo had 16.5x16.5
white granite tiles installed on the ground floor. More than half of
them were donated, the rest coming from the extra fund in the renovation
of the sanctuary. In April, he had the parish rectory, beginning with
the interior.
F. Parish Cemetery
Until 1988, Lalawigan parish never had a cemetery all its own. Dead parishioners
were interred at the Catholic cemetery in Balud, or in the civil
cemetery in Campisao, Borongan. But in 1985, Msgr Conrado Balagapo and
the Knights of Columbus, aware that these cemeteries were overcrowded
and not financially accessible to most of the parishioners who were
poor, apart from being distant from the parish, were able to convince
some Lalawignons to donate some portions of the land in Sitio Anahao,
Bgy Locsoon. The donors were: Mrs Felisa J. vda de Devora, Mrs Victoria
Caranzo Azul, Mr & Mrs Felipa Dala, Mrs Josefa Catudio Bacal, the
heirs of the late Simon Batula, Mrs & Mrs Socorro Busa, and Mr
Maurilio Azul. The whole area covers 3,763 sq. m. During Fr Balagapo’s
term, a concrete entrance was erected.
With the help of the Knights of Columbus of Lalawigan under GK Ricardo
Caspe, the clearing of the cemetery grounds was started, and in 1988,
when Msgr Crescente Japzon was parish priest, it began to operate. It
was named the Most Holy Rosary Memorial Park . (With this, Lalawigan
was able to meet all the requirements that are normally needed for the
creation of a parish.) The first to be buried, upon his own request,
was 45-yr old Jovencio Bacal on Sept. 14; son of Prudencio and Angeles
Arma, he died a day before of heart disease. During the tenure of Fr
Fitzgerald Azul, hallow blocks and concrete walled the front, the
northern and the southern limits of the cemetery, thanks to the work of
the KC.
In 2002, under GK Cesar Dala, the cemetery acquired a new concrete
chapel, which is 4.25 m long, 3.75 m wide, and 4.3 m high, the previous
one of nipa and light materials that was constructed under Rev
Nilo Apura having suffered from the elements and been blown down. This
concrete chapel was blessed by Msgr Robredillo on Nov. 2, 2002 in the
presence of the KC officers. In June 2004, financed out of the cemetery
funds, Msgr Robredillo caused the construction of a 7-foot wide pathway
from the gate to the chapel, as well as a 4-foot pathway that crosses
from north to south of the cemetery; on October 26, a steel gate was
placed at the entrance. In Oct 2006, he likewise saw the setting up of
a concrete, tiled altar for P5,719, taken from the cemetery funds. In
2007, the KC of Lalawigan engaged in the making of a parking pavement
between the cemetery front fence and the asphalt road so devotees can
safely leave their vehicles, but this remains unfinished. In 2002, out
of the cemetery funds, Msgr Robredillo put up a comfort room and a vault
that serves as ossuary. With the purchase of a mechanized cutter, the
grass is trimmed once every two months.
On Nov 30, 2009, after having consulted the members of the parish
pastoral council, and with the consent of Bp Crispin Varquez, Msgr
Robredillo purchased a 2.087.13 sq m lot adjacent to the present
cemetery and owned by Alicia Barcelon, Rosita Arma and Juana Alegre in
the amount of P417,426. The money used to buy the lot came from the
cemetery funds, and from Judge Enrique Dala, who donated P20,000 as his
personal contribution to the purchase. The geographical limits of this
purchased lot are marked with wooden posts and barbed wire. As his
last act as parish priest to improve the cemetery, Msgr Robredillo had
the entire floor of the cemetery chapel covered with 16x16 glazed tiles
from February 16 to 18, 2009.
These improvements, not to mention the maintenance of order, were
under the management of the Ministry for Cemetery (2002), formerly
through Conrado Dolot, now through Magdalena Esperancilla, who serves
the ministry as chair to date. It is actually this Ministry that
oversees and manages this parish plant, after the KC turned it over to
the Parish Pastoral Council. The most distinctive feature of this
cemetery is that no one is allowed to build a structure above the ground
which is planted to either carabao grass or bermuda.
G. Barrios and their Sitios, Distance/Access and Patronal Feasts
Month & Day
|
Barangay
|
DistanceAccess
|
Patron/ess
|
May 15
|
Cabalagnan
|
1 hr walk from Camada
|
St Isidore the Farmer
|
May 27
|
Pinanag-an
|
3 hrs & 35 min. by motorized banca from Camada
|
Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage
|
May 29
|
Bagong Barrio
|
4 hrs & 35 min. by m.b. from Camada
|
St Isidore the Farmer
|
June 10
|
Suribao
|
15 min. by car or motorcycle from Lalawigan
|
St Anthony of Padua
|
June 13
|
Divinubo
|
30 min. by m.b. from Lalawigan
|
St Anthony of Padua
|
June 3rd Sat
|
Cabong
|
5 min. by car or motorcycle
|
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
|
June 3rd wk
|
Canyupay
|
50 min. by m.b. & 1 hr walk from Camada
|
St Anthony of Padua
|
July 3rd Sat
|
Baras
|
3 hrs & 15 min. by m.b. from Camada
|
Our Lady of Mt Carmel
|
July 4th Sat
|
Hebacong
|
1 ½ hrs by m.b. from Camada
|
Our Lady of Salvation
|
Aug 1st Sat
|
San Gregorio
|
15 min. by m.b. from Camada
|
Mother of Perpetual Help
|
Aug 2nd Sat
|
Banuyo
|
25 min. by m.b. from Camada
|
Immaculate Heart of Mary
|
Aug 22
|
Locsoon
|
5 min. by car or motorcycle from Lalawigan
|
Immaculate Heart of Mary
|
Aug 22
|
Can-abong
|
8 min. by car or motorcycle
|
Immaculate Heart of Mary
|
Aug 24
|
Nabiyawan
|
10 min. by car or motorcycle
|
St Roch
|
Aug 3rd Sat
|
Benowangan
|
2 hrs by m.b. from Camada
|
St Roch
|
Oct 1st Sat
|
Camada (North)
|
15 min. by car or motorcycle from Lalawigan
|
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
|
[Though the foregoing account is by and large historical in intent, I
would like to add a note of thanks to the following from among many that
I cannot mention by name to express my gratitude: (1) Miss Noelle Teotico, together with her mother, Linda Teotico, who since the death of Ms Rafael Catudio, takes care of the linens used in the sanctuary; (2) Ms Magdalena Espe-rancilla, who daily sees to it that the parochial church and its surroundings are clean; (3) Mrs Fe Bacal
who, out of her own personal money, always provides the candles used in
the daily and Sunday liturgy, as well as the fuel for the sanctuary
lamp; (4) Ms Marilu Alido and Ms Wilma Dala, for handling the cemetery fund with care and devotion; and (5) Mr Nicasio Caspe, Jr for his helping hand especially in various repair jobs, mechanical, electrical, and many others; (6) Ms Lilian Obina and Ms Nilda Corado who take charge of the liturgy assignments; (7) Mr Antonio Ranit, who, through his talent in music, never failed to provide service to the liturgical celebrations; (8) Mrs Adela Sucayan, who provided flowers for the altar and tabernacle; and (9) Mr Conrado Dolot, who voluntarily looked after the cleanliness and order at the parish cemetery.]
APRIL 21, 2009
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