The Province of Davao Oriental, created on July 1, 1967, is composed of ten municipalities and one city and holds the distinction of being the easternmost province in the Philippines. Its municipalities are Baganga, Banaybanay, Boston, Caraga, Cateel, Governor Generoso, Lupon, Manay, San Isidro, and Tarragona, with Mati as its lone city and provincial capital. Ecclesiastically, the entire province falls under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Mati.
I had the opportunity to travel around Davao Oriental after attending the CLSP Convention in Davao from March 1–4, 2018. Since I wanted to visit the different parish churches and some of the notable sites of the province, I asked a former student who was then assigned in Mati to accompany me on the trip.
Fr. Bernard picked me up in Davao and brought me to Mati. Along the way, we stopped at the parish church of Lupon, where he was assigned, and had lunch there. After a short rest, we continued our journey to Mati. At the clergy house, we met Fr. Darwey, another former student of mine, who was then serving as Chancellor and Oeconomus of the diocese. He still had to attend a meeting at the Cathedral in preparation for the installation of their new bishop, but he planned to join us later for the trip to Cateel.
Cateel, the second-to-last town in the northern part of the province, would serve as the starting point of our tour. From there, we planned to make our way back through the other towns of Davao Oriental.
At around five in the afternoon, we set out for Cateel, approximately 189 kilometers from Mati. We arrived shortly after eight in the evening and proceeded to the Maryknoll Academy of Cateel, which was administered by a diocesan priest with the assistance of some Passionist Sisters. We were accommodated in a small dormitory normally used by senior high school students.
Dinner was served on the open-air second floor of the building, which was roofed but had no walls. Waiting for us was a lechon de leche that had been specially prepared for our arrival—a generous welcome after our long journey from Mati.
ST. JAMES
THE APOSTLE PARISH
Cateel, Davao Oriental
Founded: 1894
MARYKNOLL ACADEMY OF CATEEL
Cateel, Davao Oriental
After
passing by the Church of Cateel we went to Aliwagwag Falls which was twenty
kilometers away on the way to Compostela, Davao de Oro. The falls could be seen
just by the bridge. Tried crossing the monkey bridge over the falls which was a
steel rope but with a harness for safety.
Then we
next proceeded to San Victor Island near Brgy. Kinablangan, Baganga. It was a
three-hectare island owned by the diocese. It was just about 200 meters from
the mainland with soft ivory white sand on the part facing the mainland. Had
lunch there with food we brought along. While I was snorkeling I saw some
edible sea weeds “lato” which I dove and harvested some which became part of
our lunch.
Then in
the afternoon we went to the Mt. Hamiguitan Heritage Park in San Isidro, Davao
Oriental. Afterwards we passed by the parish church of San Isidro. Then we went
to Lupon where we stayed overnight for my trip back to Davao and back to Manila
the following day.
