CHURCHES IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PALO: Palo Vicariate

The Archdiocese of Palo was created a diocese on November 28, 1937 separating it from the mother diocese of Calbayog. It was elevated into an archdiocese on November 15, 1982 and erected on February 14, 1983. The archdiocese comprises thirty one towns and two cities in the civil province of Leyte excluding ten municipalities, six of which in the southwest belong to the Diocese of Maasin and four in the northwest part of the province belong to the Diocese of Naval. Ecclesiastically, the archdiocese is divided into two districts: the Eastern district (the Waray speaking parishes) and the Western district (Cebuano speaking parishes). It is further divided into seven vicariates: five in the eastern district and two in the western district. At present there are eighty-six parishes and mission stations in the Archdiocese of Palo.

I have been documenting the churches of Palo for the past sixteen years, witnessing firsthand their gradual transformation. Many have undergone renovation; some have been expanded; others simply repainted; and still others—especially the newly established mission stations, many of which have since become parishes—were then in the process of construction. Several churches also replaced their simple altar crosses with beautifully crafted, gold-leafed retablos, many made of wood and others of concrete.

When Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated the entire Archdiocese on November 8, 2013, numerous churches were either destroyed or had their roofs torn off, forcing communities to begin rebuilding once more.

In a series of posts, I will feature the parish churches of the Archdiocese of Palo as they stand today, alongside collage images showing the changes many of these parishes have undergone over the years. The posts will be divided into the seven vicariates in the Archdiocese of Palo: Palo, Abuyog, Burauen, Tacloban, Carigara, Ormoc and Palompon. 

EASTERN LEYTE ECCLESIASTICAL DISTRICT

Palo Vicariate

The Transfiguration of Our Lord Metropolitan Cathedral Parish,

Palo, Leyte 6501

Founded: 1596

Feastday: August 6

The Stations of the Cross

The Chapel of the Our Lady of Hope of Palo is situated perpindicular to the right side of the Cathedral main entrance, but the main door of the chapel is at the side entrance going to the Rectory. The statue of the Our Lady of Hope of Palo was made by Willy Layug, depicting Our Lady standing on a globe with strong waves beneath holding the child Jesus who is reaching his hand with a Rosary to a drowning child below. The scenes at the back of the statue depict scenes during the super typhoon Yolanda and the visit of Pope Francis to Leyte.

In 2010 the Palo Cathedral underwent a major renovation in time for the celebration of the Diamond jubilee of the diocese in 2012.  In less than a year after its renovation, super typhoon Yolanda destroyed it. Rebuilding started again afterwards. I will be featuring in another post the process of the renovation, destruction and reconstruction of the Cathedral. 

San Joaquin Parish

 San Joaquin, Palo, Leyte 6501

Founded: 1973

The sidewings of the church was enlarged and got repainted in 2005. It is only one of two churches in the archdiocese of Palo that has Quonset hut roofing. Right after the typhoon Yolanda, the front of the church became a mass graveyard.

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish

Pawing, Palo, Leyte 6501

Founded: 2003

When Pawing was created a parish in 2004, the church was already delapidating. But a year later it was repaired and repainted. By 2008 the roof at the side wings was elevated and a new facade was built only to be destroyed by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013. When it was reconstructed the facade was again enlarged.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish

Libertad, Palo, Leyte 6501

Founded: 2004

When Libertad was created a Mission Station in 2004 it had a very simple altar. By 2007 a new altar with a concrete arched paneling with a stained glass of St. Elizabeth of Hungary at the center replaced the old altar. However, the church was totally destroyed during the Nov. 8, 2013 super typhoon. Starting from a makeshift chapel to celebrate Christmas, a new and bigger church was soon constructed. 

Assumption of Our Lady Parish,

Tanauan, Leyte 6502

Founded: 1704 

The church of Tanauan also features beautiful Stations of the Cross in relief. 

The concrete canopy encasing the Patron saint at the altar was remodeled and and got repainted. Paintings at the back and the side walls of the altar were soon added. 

(Photo taken: June 17, 2024) 

Divine Lord and Savior Quasi-Parish

Salvador, Tanauan, Leyte 6502

Founded: 2004

When Salvador was created a Mission Station in 2004 they only had a small barangay chapel. They soon started building a bigger church at the back of the chapel which was destroyed during the 2013 typhoon. Construction of a bigger and more beautiful church started in 2014.

St. Vincent Ferrer Parish

Canramos, Tanauan, Leyte 6502

Founded: 2005

Feastday: August 14

Holy Trinity Parish

Alangalang, Leyte 6517

Founded: 1852 

Taken: May 25, 2021

Taken: Dec. 23, 2015

 The altar of Alangalang underwent a number of transformations. The altar table was enlarged and placed down at the footsteps of the altar.  The altar was transformed into semi-circular form with paintings of the evangelists and some saints placed on the back wall divided by arches resting on carved wooden columns. In the middle was also a semi-circular half-dome canopy resting on eight carved wooden columns with a crucifix at the center with the tabernacle at the bottom. The statue of the Holy Trinity was on top just below the half dome. When Yolanda struck, the roof was blown away together with the fiber glass dome. A much beautiful church with the columns gilded in gold leaf came out when reconstruction was finished. 

St. Michael the Archangel Parish

Tolosa, Leyte 6503

Founded: 1863

Feastday: May 8

For a number of years the altar of Tolosa was a wood-carved three tiered tall retablo burnished in brown which had a dark feel to it. Two years ago the retablo was gold-leafed and became brighter and the carvings stood out. At present the facade is undergoing transformation. 

 St. Peter the Apostle Parish

Telegrafo, Tolosa, Leyte 6503

Founded: 2007

Feastday: June 29


When Telegrafo was created a mission station in 2007, the church had a low roofing. Then they started renovating the church, making it bigger and higher with a new facade. It was still in the process of being finished when Yolanda struck but it did not suffer much damage.

St. Francis of Assisi Parish

Pastrana, Leyte 6514

Founded: 1891

Feastday: October 4 

The roof of the church of Pastrana was destroyed by typhoon Yolanda. When they started rebuilding the church, some new niches were created beside the San Damiano cross of St. Francis. Then a new retablo replaced it covering the entire wall of the altar. 

St. Anne Parish

Sta. Fe, Leyte 6513

Founded: 1954

Feastday: July 26

Taken: May 25, 2021

Only the belltower and a few of the walls remained when Yolanda struck. Reconstruction slowly began thinking that some parts of the old church could still be put to use only to be demolished later.  A bigger church with twin bell towers of a semi-gothic type was constructed. 

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Mission Station

Dapdap, Alangalang, Leyte 6517

Founded: 2004

Taken: May 25, 2021

When Dapdap was created a Mission station in 2004 it had a very small chapel which they provisionally enlarged to accommodate more churchgoers. They already started to build a bigger church in the lot that was donated just across the old chapel when Yolanda struck and brought to rubble what was started. Caritas Manila built a small chapel in its place which was later on expanded using the old posts that remained.



St. Teresa of Calcutta Mission Station

Castilla, Palo, Leyte 6517
Founded: 2017

Castilla was building a concrete retablo just before Yolanda came and destroyed the whole chapel with the belfry left only standing. Caritas Manila built the new chapel which in 2017 became the seat of the new Mission Station.

St. Roch Chaplaincy
Arado, Palo, Leyte

When Yolanda struck and destroyed the Chapel of Arado, it was no longer rebuilt in its old location. Instead a new chapel was constructed at the grounds of the Archbishop's Residence which later on was created a Chaplaincy, separate from the Cathedral parish.