History of the Our Lady of Assumption Parish PDF

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Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Guinobatan, AlbayAlthough the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption today no longer mirrors antiquity, Albay’s history would be incomplete and poorer without it. While this current structure datesback to its latest rebuilding in 1906, the first Guinobatan Church was act...

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Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Guinobatan, Albay Although the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption today no longer mirrors antiquity, Albay’s history would be incomplete and poorer without it. While this current structure dates back to its latest rebuilding in 1906, the first Guinobatan Church was actually constructed in the late 1600s. In 1578, the aborigines of Guinobatan were the indigenous tribes found by the Franciscan Missionaries of Camalig at Tandarora and Bubulusan, formerly part of Camalig but now barrios of Guinobatan. It was in 1678, where the people, through the Franciscans, petitioned the Governor General that their settlement be declared as independent town, a request formally granted ten (10) years later. Don Francisco Bagamasbad, chief of the “ Tenientes Absolutos,” spearheaded efforts in 1678 to elevate Guinobatan’s status from a visita of Camalig into an independent municipality, and these achieved fruition in 1688. Soon after, a church dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption was built, with Fr. Jose. Carreon as its first Parish Priest and Ecclesiastical Administrator, and Fr. Alfonso De Zafra as the first Minister of the Church. Through the centuries, the Guinobatan Church suffered destructions in the form of natural calamities like typhoons and Mayon eruptions as well as the ravages of the Revolutionary and Philippine-American Wars. Up to this day, the Church still stands as it celebrates the town’s Patroness (from 1688 to the present), the Our Lady of the Assumption, whose Feast falls on the 15th of August.

Source: FB page

THE COMING OF THE FAITH TO GUINOBATAN In 1578, the aborigines of Guinobatan were the indigenous tribes found by the Franciscan Missionaries of Camalig at Tandarora and Bubulusan, formerly part of Camalig but now barrios of Guinobatan. In 1672 – 1678, when Christianity gained foothold in the place, the missionaries gathered the converts in the nearby place called Binanuaan. This settlement expanded considerable and was subsequently recognized as permanent Vista and designated as the Christian outpost. Meanwhile, Mauraro, then a distant settlement with 217 inhabitants were also considered a temporary religious station.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TOWN AND THE PARISH 1678, THE PEOPLE, THROUGH THE Franciscans, petitioned the Governor General that their settlement be declared as independent town, a request formally granted ten (10) years later. DOU FRANCISCO BAGAMASBAD was appointed as Gobernadorallo and recognized as ethe first cjvjl administrator of Guinobatan, With FR. JOSE vTE. CARREOU as Its first (I S!) Pansh Pnest and Ecclesiastical Administrator. FR. ALFONSO DE ZAFRA was also desjgnated as the first ( 1 st ) Minister of the Church of the new Parish.

BUILDING AND REBUILDING THE CHURCH By the start of the 18th century, the community had grown bigger, and the Catholic Faith was formally established. A church was built in Tandarora but the “bagyong Ogun” of 1742 destroyed it. Then fate took an abrupt and violent turn. Mayon Volcano had its serious recorded eruption in 1742. Smallpox epidemic claimed the lives of many infants and adults in 1790, followed by a series of great fires that razed the town, reducing the settlement to ashes, leaving nothing, not even its beautiful church. The inhabitants were forced to moved closer to San Francisco River and under the guidance of the Franciscan Missionaries Guinobatan started rebuilding itself. A new and bigger church was built, and a new set of bells was installed a year after the råin of volcano stones in 1800. These bells are still in Guinobatan Church up to this time. In 1806, the Church which was barely finished, was destroyed by a big fire, and leaves another smallpox epidemic occurred. Then came the terrible eruption of Mayon Volcano on February 11, 1814 which caused the natives to move to the settlement of Mauraro. Still considering Mauraro unsafe from the volcano’s wrath, the town elders ordered to a general evacuation to Panganiban Bay (now Pioduran) where provisional camps were along the shores for refugees. However, “Moros” from the nearby Burias Island launched sporadic attacks and the people broke camp and returned to Guinobatan (in 1818), not to the original site on the high bank of San Francisco River but to the present Guinobatan Church Site. The refugees started building nucleus of the present Poblacion by constructing a tribunal for civic purposes and a church. In 1863, the Church under the advocation of the Assumption of our Lady, was of good structure and so likewise was the parochial house. There were two (2) “Ermitas” both dedicated to St. Vincent. It has a royal house of stone, half-ruined, a school for primary instruction endowed by the funds of the community and a school for girls funded by the charity of its Parish Priest, REV, FR. BERNARDINO MELENDRERAS. The state of the parish; at the time has a pertinent data: a) Tributes 4,067 and b) Souls 15,556. The conversion of the Philippines to the Christian Faith and the Revolution of 1896, culminated in the establishment of the First Philippine Republic. These two (2) events brought to shape the religious temper and the national unity of the Filipinos.it was the Revolution of 1896 that put in bold relief of the patriotism of some of our fellow Guinobateöos that inspired our genuine pride as Bicolanos.

During the..later part of 1898, the Spaniards hauled down their flag for the last time in Guinobatan under the mounting pressure of the revolutidnary victories in Albay. The Church, public buildings and all the houses in the town stood unchanged. The people went about the usual business with the same Christian-Spanish names in which they have been baptized. The unique change was the complete absence of the Spaniards. In 1899, the Provincial Government of Albay, under the Malolos Government, was transferred to Guinobatan. Colegio de San Buenaventura was the seat of the Provincial Revolutionary Government. Prior to the outbreak of the Filipino-American war on February 4, 1899, the Local Revolutionary Government of Guinobatan was established with the following local officials:

Francisco Lukban

After a short period, a peace in Guinobatan (1898 – Feb 03, 1899) Filipino — American hostilities broke out. The Americans started the war on February 94, 1899. On January 23, 1900. The American Occupation Forces under GEN. WILLIAM KOBBE, Commander of the American Expedition to the Bicol Region, attacked Legazpi Port. The fourth (4th) Regiment under Col. Howe tried to enter Guinobatan by way of San Francisco Bridge. The American soldiers were interested in the capture of Guinobatan, it being temporary provincial capital of Albay. To Hundred (200) “Macheteros” (Bolo Battalion) under CAPT. JOSE ARBOLEDA and two (200) hundred riflemen were stationed in the Poblacion of Guinobatan.

MAJOR SIMEON ARBOLEDA OLA and COL. ENGRACIO ORENCES t s troops were strategically positioned in the Barrio of Binogsacan. Ola’s troops were to delay the entry of the American Soldiers from the Northern sector of Poblacion. Ola and Orense fought furiously COL. DORST’s forces in Binogsacan and in Ominipus. The troops of GEN. JOSE IGNACIO PAWA fought the American invaders from the south. While the fight was going on, Gen. Pawa ordered his bugler, CAPT. MESIAS PIMENTEL, to burn Colegio de San Bu•enaventura and other big buildings in the Poblacion to prevent the Americans from occupying them. The old Church was also burned. What stands today of the Franciscan Seminary of Coslegio de San Buenaventura are its ruins and was never rebuilt. The colegio was constructed in 1895 through the initiative of the last AUGUSTINIAN BISHOP of Nueva Caceres, MOST REV. ARSENIO M. OCAMPO who channeled the construction to the Franciscan Missionaries. It was, however, REV. FR. CARLOS CABIDO, Franciscan Parish Priest of Guinobatan who personally directed the construction of the college and let its solemn inauguration on January 7, 1895. With the Colegio de San Buenaventura, the Church and other buildings burned. Most of the people took refuge in Barrio Malobago. The Commander of the Revolutionary forces in Albay, GEN. VITO L. BELARMINO and his men retreated also to Malobago. Rev. Fr. Jose natera temporarily established the Church in the house of CAPTAIN MARIANO OPE, the father of MSGR. JULIAN O. OPE. In 1903, the first (1 st) Guinobataöo Parish Priest who succeeded Rev. Fr. Natera was Rev. Julian O. Ope. The early historical development of Guinobatan and its church had been closely linked to events of the Revolution and the Mayon Volcano eruptions. The mobility of Guinobatan and its church, so to say, had been possible due to the consequence of a hostile environment and perseverance an d sa crifices of its people. The sonsequences happened due to the Revolution of 1896. The Filipino-American War 8991903), th e Mayon eruptions and other natural and man-made calamities-

Out of the Havoc of war and natural calamities, Msgr. Julian Ojeda Ope was determined to reconstruct the burned church of Guinobatan. As he viewed one morning the vast ruins of the Colegio de San Buenaventura and the church and as far as the ruins of San Rafael, Msgr. Ope’s desire to rebuild the church of Guinobatan was firmly developed in him. Msgr. Ope religiously and constantly appealed to his fellow Guinobataöos for patience and perseverance in the construction work. The Guinobataöos, considering the deep and solid foundations of the culture and Catholic religion engrained in their hearts, which Spain had left as a legacy to them, unanimously rallied behind Msgr. Ope’s project of rebuilding the Church. It was said that every member of the families of Guinobatan, be they children and adults were seen in long lines to the direction of the Church site bringing stones, bricks, sand, and other building materials they could freely contribute for the reconstruction of the Church. However, all the rest of the materials were provided by Msgr. Julian O. Ope’s brothers and parents in addition to his own. It was also revealed that most of the Ope family’s property was exhausted for the reconstruction of the Church.

INAGURATION OF THE CHURCH OF GUINOBATAN On December 8, 1906, after all the sacrifices of Msgr. Julian Ojeda Ope his construction, the community saw the fruits of their labors- the completion of the reconstructed church, From then on, the church of Guinobatan emerged from its transferable status of a stationary one. It has survived to stay put jn the preent site and probably never to be removed again to other places, although it had undergone some repairs during the time of Msgr. Carlos Badiola and even up to the present.

Originally, the church had three main doors, now, it has five main doors. It is likeswise hoped that the murals, (painting in the ceiling) be restored due to their religious and historical significance. In the solemn Diamond Jubilee Year of the Guinobatan Church, a challenging question was posed. “Do we still possess these traits of the Guinobateöos during the time of Msgr. Julian O. Ope, seventy-five (75) years ago, wherein everyone had a hand in the reconstruction work of the church?” Well, two parish priests, earlier assigned in the Guinobatan Parish, took turns in the renovation of the church when it was again destroyed by successive typhoons in the area. Msgr. Juan B. Binlayo and Rev. Fr. Roberto Crisol made tremendous improvements of the physical aspects of the church of Guinobatan. Through the creation of the church’s Commission on Temporalities , the whole-hearted support and cooperation of all religious organizations and parishioners, the Guinobatan Parish Church appears to be well-renovated as it approaches its hundred years of existence come December 8, 2006.

Compiled by: Carmen N. Orpiada

THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF GUINOBATAN CHURCH (December , 1906- December 8, 2006) By: Lilia F. Rosales, (Sec. PPC)

December 8, 2006 was a red letter day for all Guinobateöos. Pompous activities for that most-awaited moment had been planned, prepared and would.have been implemented and observed had it not been for a destructive natural catastrophe which swept and viciously hit specifically the town of Guinobatan and neighboring towns in the province of Albay.

Everyone anticipated the most memorable Centennial Celebration, November 4, 2006 was the launching of its celebration via a Motorcade which started 9:00 in the morning. This was joyfully participated in by the Motorcycle Club of Guinobatan and parishioners on their cars, vans, jeepneys, trucks and tricycles , the motorcade’s route was from the Church patio, then around Poblacion on the boundary of Guinobatan and Camalig; then went to Ligao-Guinobatan Boundary. The motorcade ended up at the church patio; participants proceeded to the Baptistry building where the blessing of the Centennial Information Center took place. It was in this place where all information relative to the church, its history, Parish Priests assigned and the activities of the different religious organizations of the parish could be gathered and known. The drum & Bugle Corps of the Marcial O. Raöola Memorial School (MORMS) and that St. Benedict’s Academy Drum & Lyre Corps made such Launching more lively. From then on, the different working committees focused their attention on their respective areas of responsibilities relative to the most awaited December 8 which coincides with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. November 30, 2006, a day which would never be forgotten by the Albayanos, specifically Guinobatefios and other towns, washed away all plans, preparations, and anticipation for that memorable day. Supertyphoon Reming did all of these. Hence, attention and activities had been centralized on sharing and caring for victims of said typhoon. Not one desired a joyful celebration amidst the hundreds of grieving and wailing bereaved families who lost their loved ones. Dead bodies of children, men and women scattered in every nook; damaged properties, uprooted trees washed away houses, farms and everything; homeless people with nothing left except themselves. Such was a terrible sight to behold. Gone were the beautiful preparation for the Centennial celebration. However, despite the pitiful and heartbreaking environment condition surrounding Guinobatan and its neighboring barangays, a three-fold purpose Holy mass had been pushed through in the afternoon of December 8, 2006 with His Excellency, Most Rev. Lucilo B. Quiambao, D.D. as the main celebrant and preacher. Joining him were Reverend Fathers: Tony Pet Ballares of Ligao Parish, Jonathan Calleja of Mauraro, Jojit Borromeo, Renato Recto Jr. of this Parish, and Rev Fr. David Thomas Ramoso, the parish Priest. The Parishioners and visitors from nearby towns eagerly attended the said mass. Bishop Quiambao’s homily Centered on Mary, Msgr. Julian Ope, the first Guinobateöo Parish Priest, his dedication and efforts in building the Church with the spirit of bayanihan displayed by men, women and children who rallied behind him in his project—that of building Guinobatan Church. He did not forget to express his sentiments of what happened to the grieving families and gave them inspiration: life must go o n despite everything coupled with strong faith and trust in the Lord who knows what is best for us.

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