Brief History of St. John Baptist Parish-Lagonglong, Mis. Or.

Early Beginnings:

The evangelization of Lagonglong is seemingly inter-related with the rest of the towns of Misamis Oriental particularly those of Balingasag, Jasaan and Cagayan de Oro.

Christianity came to Cagayan through Tandag in 1622 when Pedro de Arce, Bishop of Diocese of Cebu sent eight Recollect priests to the latter, after the pacification of a rebellion in Caraga by Juan de Vega.[i] Tandag became a permanent Spanish settlement. Two of the eight Recollects missionaries in Tandag, Fr. Juan de San Nicolas and Nicolas de la Madre de Dios journeyed to Agusan and reached Butuan. They knew from there that there was a thriving native settlement called Himologon some ten kilometers upriver from the present Cagayan de Oro. They sailed to Camiguin and implored the assistance of Dona Magdalena Baaya, a Christian convert who was the grandmother of Datu Salangsang, ruler of Himologan. Through the assistance of Baaya, the two priests were permitted by Datu Salangsang to stay in Himologon, but some kilometers away downriver from his camp.[ii] This event started the evangelization of Cagayan.

In 1624, Mindanao was divided imaginarily from North to South starting at Punta Sulawan in today’s El Salvador City going on straight line up to Cape San Agustin in today’s town of Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental. The areas fronting east belonged to the missionary charge of the Recollects while the other half to the Jesuits. Thus, the Recollects or the Order of the Augustinian Recollects (OAR) took charge of the evangelization of our place.[iii]

Despite, early scholars had not expressly mentioned Lagonglong as a visita[iv] of the Recollects in 1744, because it is said that the Recollects of Cagayan had only Hiponan or Iponan, Tagoloan, Gompot and Balingoan as visitas,[v] Lagonglong could also be one of the missionary destinations or a rancherias of the Recollects because based on traditions and history, it was attached to Gompot or today’s Balingasag politically even until 1949. It is so near to Balingasag and there could be no reasons why early missionaries had not evangelized it.

Earlier in 1650, there were only three visitas namely Iponan, Tagoloan and Gompot.[vi]

The vastness of the vineyard truly hinders evangelization. The faithful felt the need to have a nearby parish in the eastern side of Misamis so they could be served spiritually better.

Eventually on March 12, 1830, the principalia or ruling class of Tagoloan, Jasaan, Balingasag (Gompot), San Jose (Binuangan) and Bagacay referring to Kinoguitan formally requested the Corregidor of Misamis to create Jasaan as a Parish. Bishop Maranon of Cebu approved the request. Thus, Jasaan became a parish in 1830 with the titular title as the Parish of the Immaculate Conception. But the pioneering parish priest Fr. Jose Casals de la Santisima Trinidad was sent later by their Father Provincial. He arrived on May 22, 1831.[vii] With his arrival, the Immaculada Concepcion Parish started the spiritual rearing of the visitas and rancherias in the eastern side until a new parish would have been created.

From the archives of Immaculada Concepcion Parish, the following priests visited Lagonglong: Fr. Jose Casals de la Santisima Trinidad visited intermittently Lagonglong in 1835 to 1836, so with the other priests, Fr. Manuel de Santa Rita in 1837, 1838 and 1839-May 1843; Fr. Vicente Dolores Estanislao de San Pascual in August 1844; Fr. Gregorio Logronio del Dulcessimo Nombre de Maria in 1845 to June 1847; Fr. Miguel de San Crispin in 1847 to September 1849 and October 1849.[viii] These priests visited Lagonglong despite irregularly, so our ancestors could fulfill their Easter duties, to at least hear mass and receive Holy Communion even once a year.

In 1844 Lagonglong as a visita had its first Fiscal named Francisco Cristino.[ix] Earlier in 1843 another reduction area[x] was created in Lagonglong. The creation of Canal as a barrio of Balingasag together with three other barrios namely: Blanco, Cezar and Claveria happened during the time of Governor General Narciso Claveria.[xi] Canal is today’s Barangay Umagos.[xii]

Inter-relationship with the Immaculada Concepcion and Sta. Rita de Cascia Parishes:

It took almost two long decades yet for another parish to be established in the eastern part. Its creation was during the time of Bishop Romualdo Gimeno, the Bishop of Cebu when entire Mindanao was still under the jurisdiction of Diocese of Cebu.[xiii] Later in 1865 the Diocese of Jaro in Iloilo was created and beginning 1870 Mindanao was divided between the two dioceses. The western part including Cotabato belonged to the Diocese of Jaro.[xiv]

Balingasag was created as a parish on November 3, 1849. The first Parish Priest was Fr. Estanislao Severo OAR (11-3-1849 to May 1850) then followed by Fr. Angel Martinez del Carmen, OAR, who stayed for twenty-five years (May 1850 to 1875) and Fr. Francisco Arcaya (1875-1877).[xv] Beginning 1849, Lagonglong and the villages or rancherias of the east were visitas of Balingasag. The farthest were Gingoog and Linugos.[xvi]

However, in 1877 the parroquias of Misamis de Cagayan under the Recollects were turned over to their Spanish counterparts the Jesuits in conformity of a colonial order granting all of Mindanao as an exclusive missionary charge of the Jesuits beginning 1859.[xvii] Except for the parroquia of San Agustin of Hippo of Cagayan (few others in Misamis-Ozamis), they continuously held Cagayan until 1898 with Fr. Angel Velaza, OAR as the last Recollect parish priest.

In 1877, Fr. Gregorio Parache, SJ was the first Spanish Jesuit assigned in Balingasag. He was the Local Superior of the Balingasag Mission which covered the areas during those periods not only at the eastern side of Misamis Oriental up to Linugos-Magsaysay, but as well as the areas of Bukidnon, as far as Linabo and Bugcaon near the confluence of the Pulangi River.[xviii] Jasaan which formerly was a Recollect residence was no longer made as residence by the Spanish Jesuits not until in 1896.[xix]

On October 1, 1878 Fr. Francisco Xavier Martin Luengo, SJ arrived in Balingasag as an Episcopal Visitor authorized by the Bishop of Cebu to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation.[xx] The significance of such visit was not confined to the faithful of Balingasag alone, but certainly had a trickle-down effect in the visitas and rancherias nearby. They too had received the sacrament of confirmations because instead  of converts or conquistas to look for the priests, they had it it right at their doorsteps.  

In May 1889, while Canal or Umagos was still a reduction area, the Jesuit Mission Superior of the Philippine Province, Fr. Pablo Pastell, SJ, who previously was assigned as missionary priest in Balingasag Mission at the Jesuit Residence of Tagoloan; on his annual visitation to the mission areas reached Umagos from Balingasag.[xxii]

Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish during the Revolution:

When the revolution in August 1896 under Bonifacio started, it flared spread like wild fire and reached Mindanao. The disciplinarios or inmates at Fort Cristina in Iligan joining the noble cause mutinied, killed their Spanish jailers and en mass jail break on September 27, 1896. The parishes or churches of Misamis Oriental including Sumilao and Linabu in Bukidnon were on alert. The disciplinarios were on their way to Surigao to join the rebel forces under General Simon Gonzales. However, the Spanish authorities blocked them at Agusan, Cagayan and a battle ensued.[xxiii] The disciplinarios managed to break through and escape, leaving their wounded. They escaped to Bukidnon and crossed the Tagoloan River for Surigao.

The second uprising in 1898 was totally different from 1896, it shuddered much the Jesuit mission areas. The priests and brothers of Jasaan residence - Fr. Juan B. Heras, SJ and Brother/Coadjutor Juan Angeles, and Fr. Raimundo Peruga of Tagoloan residence were arrested early in the morning of January 13, 1899 at the convent in Jasaan.[xxiv] Days later, all priests and brothers of the Jesuit Mission in Mindanao were imprisoned. 

Beginning on the day of their arrests, masses and regular missionary works were suspended. For the Parish of Sta. Rita de Cascia and her visitas, masses and other priestly functions the same were carried out later by secular priests from the Diocese of Cebu. Fr. Severino Pecson, Fr. Francisco Latorre and Fr. Castro were assigned in Balingasag. Probably, one after the other, the priest arrived, but there are no more primary records at the parish to account their activities, except from few lines in local history books.[xxv]

Post Revolution Days up to the Turn-over of Balingasag Parish to the American Jesuits:

When political stability was restored in Misamis or when the Americans occupied Cagayan de Misamis, the Spanish Jesuits returned to their old or new parish assignments.[xxvi] Fr. Gregorio Parache returned to Balingasag in 1901 and with him was Fr. Santiago Canudas.[xxvii] The Spanish Jesuits continued to serve Cagayan de Misamis particularly Sta. Rita de Cascia parish - Balingasag and her visitas until 1927. We had Fr. Simeon Sambola from 1910-1912; Fr. Juan Martin, 1913-1916; and Fr. Ramon Vila, 1917-1927, the last Spanish Jesuit in Balingasag.

Sometime in the 1920’s the Jesuit Province of New York and Maryland took over the missions of the Spanish Jesuit Province of Aragon in the Philippines. The first American Jesuit who was assigned at St. Rita de Cascia Parish-Balingasag was Fr. William Corliss, SJ, 1927-1930 then followed by Fr. Martin O’Shaugnessey, SJ, 1930-1937; Fr. Vincent Risacher, SJ, 1937-1949; Fr. John Pollock, SJ, 1949-1954; Arthur F. Shea, SJ, 1954-1955; Fr. William Joseph J. Ahern, SJ, 1955-1958; and Theodore Daighler, SJ, 1958-1959.[xxviii]

Lagonglong Churchs’ Records: Lagonglong became a municipality on July 1, 1949. Therefore all vital events occurring were registered in Balingasag, thus births, marriages, as the same are deemed registrable at the Civil Registry Office per Act 3733, the Civil Registry Law.

For the church records of capilla of San Juan de Bautista, Lagonglong, church records wouild have started from 1949 up to the present.  Beginning 1949, all church records would have been registered at the Balingasag, however due to World War II it was impossible. 

From the archives of the Local Government of Lagonglong, marriages solemnized at the church of St. John Baptist and all the capillas, officiated by Jesuit priests from 1949 up to the later part of 1958 are recorded in the civil registry books.[xxix]

The Church records of St. John Baptist started only on January 1, 1953 for Deaths; Baptism on February 22, 1953; and on Marriages on March 1, 1953. The last Jesuit missionary weddings recorded both in the archives of St. John Church and LGU archives (Registry No. 374 to 376) were those officiated on October 1958 by Fr. William J. Ahern and Fr. Theodore Daighler, the later was the last America Jesuit Parish Priest of Balingasag.  After that there were no other weddings made by them in Lagonglong.

The Diocesan Priests:

The first wedding ceremony which a diocesan priest officiated in Lagonglong was in December 1958. Fr. Vicente Magto, the solemnizing priest reported the marriage documents to the Civil Registry Office on December 27, 1958. Thereafter, all marriages from January 1959 to June 1961 were officiated by Fr. Magto except in October 31, 1959 when Fr. F. Gaabucayan and on November 6 and December 6, 1959 when Fr. Joaquin Resma had their wedding masses, respectively.

These are the other parish priests and parish administrators of Lagonglong: Fr. Pedro Pacuribot, July 1961-December 1961; Fr. Joquin Resma, January 1962 to October 1962; Fr. Leo Cervantes, November 1962 to 1963; Fr. Angelisio Hallazgo, 1964-1971; Fr. Mariano Valmoria, 1971-1976; Fr. Gil Escalante, 1976-1980; Fr. Columbus Villamil, 1980-1983; Fr. Felomeno Cabulosan, 1983-1989; Fr. Elias Salomon, 1989-1992; Fr. Remar Dagoc, 1992-1995; Fr. Vicente Cervantes, February 1995-May 1995; Fr. Rene Soldevilla, 1995-2000; Fr. Wilson Legaspi, August-December 2000; Fr. Reno Alima, 2001-2006; Fr. Roniedon Valmoria, 2007-2013; and Fr. Floro Barsobia, 2014 to the present time.

Glimpses:

         The Old Church. Most churches evolve from their early beginnings as made of crude and light materials such as bamboo, wood and nipa; and these materials are found bountifully in our environs. Big churches even cathedrals are not made overnight, but undergo a process of transformation from its humble beginnings as a mere capilla to its present state. The process of transformation depends on the growth of the church or the people professing the faith. When the community of faithful grows bigger then certainly a small capilla could no longer accommodate the churchgoers, so it has to be rebuilt or renovated to answer the need, thus its logical evolution.

The old church in our place which we are referring to was the church that was constructed into concrete. At first it was a wooden structure with bricks and tabigue pampango or cement mixed with lime and corrals, about three feet in width and rose to five or six feet more or less in elevation, which served as the church’s enclosure, the main or secondary support of the wooden walls where wooden columns stood in even intervals and perpendicular to the inner columns. Its size was more or less significantly lesser in length and width in comparison with the present church's columns of concrete.

There was a belfry on the north-side at the right side corner of the church where three bells were installed. The church had two side doors and a main door.  Right above the main door, was a wooden structure which formed the second floor where the cantoras or choirs used to sing during masses. A wooden stairway at far right side of the puerta mayor served as an access to the belfry and the choir’s cloister.

The altar and retablo were made of fine wood and the sanctuary was secured by a communion rail that later was removed due to the innovations introduced by Vatican II in mid-1960.

However, traditions says that the earliest wooden church, and this does not refer to the one we have just described above; was accordingly burn sometime at the onset of the 20th century. If such was done deliberately, the act was rightfully an arson or a desecration of sacred place even if such was a consequence out of negligence and recklessness. We doubt if this really happened.  But during our research, we had the privilege to talk with some people not necessarily those who are already senile, but to people who can think clearly in their past sixty’s. They said, they heard their older folks – grandparents or parents talked about it. Nevertheless, they could not give anything clearly, except to say that their old folks had mentioned it sometime that it was burn. 

Had it been totally razed to the ground, we do not know that and whether it is true or not, we do not have either conclusive fact to say that it is true or not. Despite there is a talk about it handed orally down, we would just leave it as is, or rightly close the issue. But if it did happen, no one in his right mind would ever do such thing unless there had been compelling reasons urging one to do it so.

        Convento. Not far from the church is the old wooden priest’s house which the earlier priests built. The convent was improved or repaired by every priests since the materials were wood. However, it was only in mid-1960 under Fr. Angelisio Hallazgo when significant improvements were brought forth.  The convent became bigger, its roof was replaced of zinc and comfortably livable than it was before. Obviously, periodic repairs were done by succeeding priests since it was still not made of concrete.

Before the end of 2013 or occurring earlier before that, Fr. Roniedon Valmoria renovated the ground floor.

      Formation Center. The parish has a Formation Center at the corner of the convento’s ground fronting the plaza. In the 1960’s under Fr. Joaquin Resma, it was just a wooden structure on the ground. However, beginning in the later part of 1990’s under Fr. Rene Soldevilla construction work was done. A two-story concrete structure stood but was just roughly completed, yet it has served already church’s social activities, notwithstanding.  But before the close of 2006, Fr. Reno Daniel Alima tiled the floor area of the top floor and the ground floor was improved.

Occurring on similar time, the church’s gate of steel was placed and a concrete perimeter fence fronting the municipal park was made. Moreover, the vacant space along the driveway to the convent was landscaped and a grotto of St. John the Baptist was erected.

Today, Fr. Floro Barsobia initiated the fine touching of the building and the two outer concrete stairways to make it more architectural beautiful. Nevertheless, work is not too fast because of other pressing priorities, yet he never would forego his desire to make the Formation Center better.

       Missionary & Apostolate Endeavors. In 1971, CSSR or Redeemptorist Fathers under Fr. Rudy B. Romano had their evangelical and pastoral missions in Lagonglong in support of the parish priest for a month or two. The barrios in the hinterlands were penetrated and preached. Many unwed couples were ecclesiastical married in accordance with Art. 76 of the Civil Code after rigorous catechism. When the Redeemptorist left the parish, Fr. Mariano Valmoria together with some church lay leaders from the Cursillo Movement and Parish Council continued the missionary penetration to the hinterlands. Thus, in 1971-1976 the capillas of Kapatagan in barrio Umagos, sitio Bunal in Gaston and Kamansi near Lantad were founded. Not much later, Bunal was taken cared as a regular chapel of the Parish of St. Joseph the Worker of Salay, for pastoral reasons.

      Vocation. In 1976 to 1980 or during the time of Fr. Gil Escalante, many young men from Lagonglong entered the seminary. Vocation was rich, the church had enticed them to glorify God by becoming priests. The first ordained priest of Lagonglong was Fr. Ruben Elago on December 17, 1974 then followed by Fr. Roger Lood in 1979 and Fr. Jose Sumastre in 1984. Nevertheless, a handful of those who entered the seminary in 1976-80 were ordained as priests in mid-1980 until the early 1990’s. However, till today Lagonglong holds the most number of priests in the diocese. The bishop of Malaybalay, The Most Reverend Jose Araneta Cabantan hails from Lagonglong.

         Construction of a new Church. When Fr. Columbus Villamil was the parish priest, the construction of a concrete church on the site where the old church was, began in 1981. The old wooden structure was demolished, however unfortunately it was marked with tragedy.[xxx] Despite of unsurmountable difficulties the parish priest and the faithful experienced, the structure was finished through arduous work of solicitations and fund raising. It was inaugurated in 1983 by Patrick Cronnin, DD, SSC, Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro.

Those priests who came ahead, had organized and strengthened the communities to be more responsive and committed to a cause which came later; and those who arrived after its completion had beautified it. The beautiful church would always be remembered as a grandiose undertaking by all priests who were assigned in Lagonglong; and those who would come later on, would consider the industry of their predecessors. It would be a tangible guiding icon for them to do what is best for the parish.

  

Visions:

In line with the ecclesiastical theme “Parish as a Communion of Communities”, the Parish Priest, Fr. Floro A. Barsobia, SSJV, with the assistance of the Parish Council, church-based organizations and in coordination with the Lord’s Leaven Mission Society of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro had concertedly organized a three-day forum - a Cenacle Program of BEC on October 13-15, 2017. The timely arrival of the Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Portugal to the parish during the Cenacle in commemoration of Her centenary apparitions, boosted everyone’s piety.

A Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima would be erected someday on a hill near the Poblacion.  Indeed on November 5, 2017, there was a ground breaking of the project. It would be an endeavor of the Parish, religious organizations in ACDO and the Local Government.

On the other hand, a new challenge await the faithful now. The construction of a two-story convent is being envisioned for. Its plan and design has been approved. In fact, a perspective drawing has been posted conspicuously for everyone to visualize or concretize how it would look someday.[xxxi]

Consequently, the construction work has started this November 2017. The arduous task has begun. Every hope is geared for its completion, it is a common aspiration of the parishioners.

Finally, we wish to end this Brief History of our Parish by asking perhaps ourselves this question, “When Do I Think St. John Baptist Become a Parish”. While it is true that our church records began in 1953, could this be a valid indicator or reference that we had been a parish in 1953? Possibly, we were because we started keeping our records. On the contrary, perhaps we were not since we unfortunately do not have hard evidence or primary documents as of the moment to prove that we had been a parish in that year.

By circumstances, the town’s Civil Registry Archives from 1949 to 1958 on marriage records, so with the records of the church beginning 1953 to 1958 disclosed that different Jesuit priests from their residence at Balingasag officiated those marriages and baptisms, and so on. Would it not fairly suggest that we were just still a visita or a bigger chapel of Balingasag or was only on a chaplaincy status that is why we were trained to keep our records just as today’s chaplaincy is? If we were a Parish in 1953, then rightly majority of those records (1953-58) on baptism, marriages including death records would have indicated the name of the priest who supposedly was permanently assigned to Lagonglong. But it had not. Those who officiated were from the Jesuit Balingasag Residence. It was only beginning in late 1958 until today that sacraments or church’s records are officiated or signed by a diocesan priest who stays in Lagonglong permanently. So, could we have been perhaps created as a parish only in 1958 as a consequence of the turn-over of the American Jesuit mission areas to the Archdiocese and not in 1953?

Since history is dynamic and continuous, we would not worry much if by now we can not exactly establish when we became a parish in the absence of primary documents proving the same. However, ambiguity could not be constant because history is dynamic, one day a paper would certainly come easing out uncertainties for its comprehensiveness and adequateness.

Be as it may, it is however less significant for us whether or not we became a parish in 1953 or 1958 or on a much later time, but what is unequivocally important is the fact that we still stand today as a Catholic community consistently firm to our faith, notwithstanding the rigors of life.

May the guiding theme dwell in us in-depthly that a Parish is indeed a Communion of Communities.                            

000

  

NOTES

[i] Blair & Robertson, Vol. XXXI, pp. 197, 213-225. __See Fr. Luis de Jesus, OAR. Historia General de los Religioso Descalzos de Orden Hermitanos del Grand Padre y Doctor de la Iglesia San Agustin, de la Congregaion de Espana y de los Indias, Vol. II, Madrid, Lucas Antonio de Bedmar, 1681.

[ii] Ibid, pp. 231-233.

[iii] Fr. Miguel A. Bernad, SJ. The Great Island: Study in the Exploration and Evangelization of Mindanao, p.56, ADMU Quezon City, 2004.

[iv] A “visita” is a cluster of more or less numerous houses so called, because they do not have a resident priest, but would just be regularly visited by priest in view of few missionaries in the country to administer the sacraments and teach basic Christian doctrine, or in general to see how the Christians are faring. __See Fr. JS Arcilla, SJ. Jesuit Missionary Letters from Mindanao. The Dapitan-Balingasag Mission, Vol. IV, p. 222.

[v] Fr. Rodolfo F. Cabonce, S.J., Brief History of the Archdiocese, edited by Fr. Francisco Demetrio, SJ. Historical Glimpses of Northern Mindanao, p. 492. __ See Padre Licinio Ruiz, Sinopsis pp.189-190.

[vi] Fr. Florencio Salvador, Jr. SSJV, STL. An article, ”The Church of Jasaan: Its Foundation and Early History” Golden Jubilee ACDO Souvenir Book, Legacy Sales & Printing Press, Cagayan de Oro City 2001.

[vii] Ibid.

[viii] From the unpublished research paper of Fr. Roniedon P. Valmoria, SSJV former Parish Priest of St. Andrew Parish, Bobontugan, Jasaan. Annotation mine.

[ix] Ibid. ___ A fiscal during Spanish Colonial Philippines is the one who keeps the church records or administrator of the capilla in the absence of a priest.

[x] Reduction was used as tool to carry out the colonization process by gathering the natives or IP’s into a settlement or reduction area where they would be humanized and eventually evangelized. Bevans and Schroeder, Consants in Context, p. 179.

[xi] Fr. JS. Arcilla, SJ, Jesuit Missionary Letters from Mindanao, Vol. IV, The Dapitan-Balingasag, Mission, UPCIDS 2000.

[xii] Garcilazo F. Vega, Historical Glimpses of Balingasag, Lithograph Pub. House, Quezon City.

[xiii] DV Dongallo, JH Valmores & LC Diestro, History of Balingasag, Manila.

[xiv] Mariano Cuarteros was the first bishop of Jaro, annotates Fr. John Schumacker, SJ, Readings in Philippine Church History.

[xv] DV Dongallo, MJ Valmores & LC Diestro, History of Balingasag, Manila.

[xvi] Fr. JS Arcilla, SJ. Jesuit Missionary Letters from Mindanao, Vol. IV (Fr. Ramon Llord, SJ Letter to the Mission Superior dated December 26, 1888). __ Talisayan became a parish on 25 December 1888. The first parish priest was Fr. Ramon Llord. The other members of the community were Fr. Juan Terricabras and Bro. Coadjutor Valentin Gros.

[xvii] Fr. MA Bernad, SJ. The Great Island, p. 108.

[xviii] Fr. Jose S. Arcilla, SJ, Jesuit Missionary Letters from Mindanao, Vol.IV

[xix] Ibid.(Fr. Juan Heras, SJ. Letter to the Mission Superior dated 14 November 1896 written in Jasaan.)

[xx] Ibid.

[xxi] Ibid. Fr. Antonio Obach, SJ. Letter to the Mission Superior dated 25 July 1883. In summary or paraphrase, he said that while he was in Talisayan he was able to baptize 130 natives and 40 still waited for baptism. The mountain people of KIbahug in Lagonglong were baptized except for Blanco who are to be prepared for baptism yet.

[xxii] Ibid. (Jose Maria Clotet, SJ, Letter to the Rector of Ateneo de Manila dated 15 May 1889.)

[xxiii] Ibid. (Letters dated October 20, 1896 to December 8, 1896 by Jesuit Priests to the Mission Superior.)

[xxiv] Fr. JS Arcilla, Jesuit Missionary Letters, Letter of Fr. Raimundo Peruga dated 25 August 1899: The undersigned would summarize it: Fr. Peruga from the Jesuit residence of Tagoloan visited Fr. Heras in Jasaan. They and Fr. Francisco Chorro of Balingasag supposedly should meet to discuss pressing matters about the revolution.   Spanish Governor General Rios evacuated the colonial office to Iloilo and wrote to Fr. Peruga that the Jesuits shall be given free passage and boat to Manila. But they were arrested excluding Fr. Chorro who arrived later. The two priests and Bro. Angeles boarded a boat from Jasaan to Cagayan. In the following days, priests and brothers from Talisayan, Balingasag, Sumilao and Linabo were arrested and prisoned in Cagayan. But on January 25, 1899, the Rector of Normal School Manila, Fr. Pedro Torra arrived and negotiated for the release of the priests since he said that the priests would go with him to Manila to discuss with the new Revolutionary Government the situation of Mindanao since they knew the problem well. So on the following day, all priests were released, but not all had accompanied him to Manila. Fr. Torra appointed Fr. Heras as the new Superior of the District and order a new assignments. Fr. Heras returned to Jasaan with Bro. Tricas, Fr. Ramon Vila and Bro.Guila in Balingasag, Fr. Falomier and Fr. Guardiet in Talisayan, Gingoog no assignment – the residence was long closed on January 2, 1899 because there are no more Tercios; and Fr. Martin and Bro. Vilanova to Sumilao and Linabo. However, the priests Fr. Peruga, Fr. Heras and Bro. Tricas were arrested again separately on February 14, 1899 because the Filipino-American War started on Feb. 4, 1899. By February 27, 1899 all the priests in the missions were all in prison by the Revolutionary Government in Cagayan within the areas of St. Augustine Church. They said masses, but were restricted to go somewhere, except when authorized. They were set free on March 1, 1900 by the Revolutionary Government because the Americans were about to occupy Cagayan.

[xxv] Church records were either burned or destroyed due to the burning of the old brick church by the resistance movement-guerrillas on September 15, 1942 during the war because Japanese soldiers took refuge at the church. __ See G Vega, Historical Glimpses of Balingasag and DV Dongallo, JH Valmores, LC Diestro, History of Balingasag.

[xxvi] Fr. F Demetrio, SJ. Glimpses of Northern Mindanao __In summary or paraphrase he said, 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.

[xxvii] Fr. JS Arcilla, SJ annotates the death of Fr. Canudas in Balingasag on March 14, 1908 in his book, Jesuit Missionary Letters, Vol. IV.

[xxviii] The American Jesuits turned over the parishes of Misamis Oriental to the Archdiocese of Cagayan late in the 1950’s. Cagayan was established as a diocese in 1933 with Bishop James Hayes as the first bishop. Later in 1951 it was uplifted as an archdiocese with Bishop James Hayes, as well. Auxiliary Bishop Teofilo Camomot was assigned in Balingasag from January 1959 to June 1959 and returned in April 1961 until September 1962. In June 1959 Fr. Resma was assigned in Balingasag until 1962.

[xxix] We have the following officiating Jesuits priests from the Civil Registry Records Lagonglong: Fr. Jose Ma. Rosauro, Fr. John Polllock, Fr. Cecero Cebero, Fr. Ralph Lynch, Fr. Mark Falvey, Fr. Eugene Lauson, Fr. J. Gordon Koller, Fr. Camilo Balansag,  Fr. Philip J. Boyle,  Fr. Sergio Cerutte, Fr. Luigi Moggi,  Fr. Estanislao Lagutin, Fr. Arthur Shea, Fr. William Ahern, Fr. Robert Cunningham, Fr. James Collins and Fr. Theodore Daighler. __From the archives of the Local Civil Registrar’s Office, Lagonglong. Annotation mine.

[xxx] Felizardo Ubalde died, he was the father of Fr. Pete Ubalde, SSJV. Luis Regidor survived the dreadful fall accident. The two were trying to remove the remaining truss of the roof structure. It was removed, but it swung and hit them. (Annotation mine.)

[xxxi] Alfie Yazar, CE from Brgy. Lumbo voluntarily offered his services and made the structural plan, design, and costing of the project.

                                                                   ****************

The Contributor Speaks!

With much sincerity, I wish to beg the readers’ apology for the inadequacies of this paper. I know it’s not comprehensively within because the scope covers not only in the micro setting, but as well as in the macro scene. Thus, names, places and incidents not happening in Lagonglong had been mentioned in this brief history of our parish. Such is never made just to elongate the story, but I feel its need because of its historical value which in one way or the other could help us portray or perhaps establish truly the fact how evangelization went on; and that long before we became a parish, Christian teachings had been brought to us by early missionaries, despite our place has never been mentioned as a visita as notably written by early scholars.

In this article, I said “History is dynamic and continuous…” It is hoped that one day someone would write a paper about us as a parish, which could get rid of the uncertainties one may have after going on true with this humble work.

Finally, I would like to sincerely thank the Civil Registry staff of Lagonglong, Parish Offices staff of Lagonglong-Balingasag, and to every resource whom I talked with. To Mr. Villamor Ubalde, whose inputs I wish to acknowledge greatly with esteem, thank you. Indeed, their assistance are so essential, without such, this paper may have not come into what it is now, despite of its inherent inadequacies.

RexRValmores

Lagonglong, Mis. Or.

212017No