April 15, Tuesday
In between my journey to the remote coastal towns of Isabela—Maconacon, Divilacan, and Palanan—I had the privilege of visiting several towns and churches in the province. On my first day in Ilagan, before heading to Maconacon, Bishop William graciously offered to take me around as both guide and driver.
Our first
stop was the St. Clare Monastery in Gamu, a peaceful sanctuary not far from the
National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation in Barangay Guibang, also in
Gamu. The shrine had been completely rebuilt since my last visit about ten
years ago. This time, instead of facing the highway, the church's new facade
stood parallel to it—an architectural shift that caught my attention.
From
there, we proceeded to Benito Soliven, where the parish is under the care of
the Order of Carmelites (O.Carm.). The parish priest, a native of the town, had
expressed his desire to be incardinated into the diocese, but his superiors
prevailed upon him to remain in his community. In response, the Carmelite
community requested that a parish be entrusted to them within the diocese,
allowing their priest to serve in familiar surroundings. Sadly, the church’s
expansion is limited, as part of the frontage and left side of the church
already encroach on private property.
Incidentally,
Benito Soliven, the town's namesake, was a well-known statesman from Sto.
Domingo, Ilocos Sur. He was instrumental in the town’s creation and was honored
posthumously by having the municipality named after him.
We then
made our way to San Mariano, where the church is dramatically perched on a
hilltop, as if on a cliff, with the Ilagan River flowing just below. There, we
were welcomed by one of the priests assigned to the parish—a classmate of Fr.
Jake Kanoy, the priest residing at the bishop's residence. The parish, dedicated to St.
Thomas Aquinas, houses a remarkable relic said to be part of the saint’s skull.
We were served coffee and binalay, a sticky rice delicacy wrapped in
banana leaves made especially during Holy Week, along with inatata—another
traditional treat.
Our final
stop for the day was the parish of Reina Mercedes, where we also met the parish
priest. Nearby, we visited the Meraki Garden, a blooming expanse filled with
vibrant bougainvilleas in every imaginable shade. The garden's gracious owner,
Lyn, welcomed us warmly.
We
returned to the bishop’s house at around 7:30 p.m., just in time for supper.
National Shrine of Our Lady of the VisitationBrgy. Guibang, Gamu, Isabela
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Our Lady of Peace Parish (F-1970)Benito Soliven, Isabela
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish (F-1957)San Mariano, Isabela
The relics from St. Thomas Aquinas. It's the biggest relic of a saint that I ever saw here in the Philippines.
St. Anthony of Padua Parish (F-1877)Reina Mercedes, Isabela
Meraki Gardens, Reina Mercedes, Isabela
After arrival at the Cauayan airport from Palanan, I passed by the parish church of Cauayan City before proceeding to the bishop's house in Ilagan. With still enough time to spare in the afternoon, Bishop
William asked Fr. Jake Kanoy to take me on another round of church visits. We
left around 2:45 p.m. and first stopped by the Naguilian church, which is
currently under renovation. A larger structure is being constructed to enclose
the old church, and the foundational posts of the new building are already in
place.
Our Lady of the Pillar Parish (F-1741)
Cauayan City, Isabela
St. Joseph the Spouse of Mary Parish (F-1896)
Naguilian, Isabela
We next
visited the town of Angadanan. As we parked near the church, we discovered that
a key had punctured the rear tire, causing it to slowly deflate. Several
kind-hearted locals from the convento offered to help change the tire,
but the metal rod needed to release the spare tire was stuck. In the end, the
tire had to be brought to a vulcanizing shop in Alicia. This detour delayed us
for over an hour.
While we
waited, the assistant parish priest—whom I initially mistook for a sacristan
because of his youthful appearance—prepared some snacks. He turned out to be a
classmate of Fr. Jake. Despite the delay, we managed to squeeze in one last
stop: the town of San Guillermo, though it was already getting dark by the time
we arrived.
St. Vincent Ferrer Parish (F-1778)
Angadanan, Isabela
St. William the Hermit ParishSan Guillermo, Isabela
With Fr. Jake Kanoy, who toured me around some of the towns.
That evening, we had supper at the bishop’s residence with Fr. Edmundo “Jun” Castañeda, who joined us. I had asked to meet him because he is the younger brother of Mandy Castañeda, a high school classmate I haven’t seen in decades. We spent a long evening catching up—over Heineken and good conversation.
April 21, Monday – The Last Stops
With my
return flight to Manila scheduled in the afternoon, I had some time in the
morning to visit a few more churches.
Our first
stop was the old Cathedral of Ilagan in the town proper, whose interior had
been tragically destroyed in a fire the previous year during ceiling
renovations. The blaze caused a large portion of the roof to collapse, leaving
the structure in a sorrowful state, though still standing with dignity.
From
there, we drove to Quirino, where the Stations of the Cross in the church
captivated me. Each station was a carved wooden panel, uniquely depicting
either just the hands or the feet of Christ—an artistic and contemplative
approach that stayed with me.
We
continued on to Burgos, then made a final stop in Gamu, where I had the
pleasure of meeting the parish priest—an alumnus of the University of Santo
Tomas.
St. Ferdinand Parish Church (F-1612)
Ilagan, Isabela
While they were trying to put some steel trusses in the ceiling to support the ceiling fans they were trying to install fire broke out destroying the church last April 22, 2024.
St. John the Evangelist Parish (F-1998)
Quirino, Isabela
The wooden Stations of the Cross which were displayed around the church were beautifully carved.
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