The Episcopal Ordination and Installation of Bp. Herman Abcede, RCJ in Daet

          Last May 1, I had the privilege of attending the episcopal ordination and installation of the new bishop of Daet, Most Rev. Herman Abcede, RCJ. The principal consecrator was Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon, the former bishop of Daet and now the archbishop of Caceres. Coincidentally, Fr. Anthony Timoner, who had been serving as the diocesan administrator of Daet, was also recently appointed bishop of Pagadian.

Following the ordination rites, I took the opportunity to visit the last two towns in Camarines Norte that I had not yet seen during my previous tour of the province in 2018.

The first stop was San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first and only municipality in the Philippines named after the first Filipino saint. Originally established as the municipality of Imelda in 1970, it was officially renamed San Lorenzo Ruiz on February 10, 1989, two years after the canonization of the saint in 1987. Located just about 15 kilometers west of Daet, the town holds a special distinction in both civil and ecclesiastical history.

We then proceeded to the town of San Vicente, located north of and almost parallel to San Lorenzo Ruiz. However, since there is no direct road connecting the two towns, we had to return to Daet and take a different route to reach it.

At the episcopal ordination, I had the chance to reconnect with Fr. Mark Sagrado, a Piarist priest whom I had known since his ordination. One of his fellow ordinands was from Ormoc City, where I was then serving as parish priest. I vividly remember Fr. Mark attending the thanksgiving Mass of his contemporary in Ormoc. Upon learning that he was now assigned to San Vicente, I made sure to inform him that we would be visiting his parish later that afternoon. 

Bishop-elect Herman Abcede, RCJ making his Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity in the presence of Abp. Rex Andrew Alarcon, the previous bishop of Daet and now Archbishop of Caceres with Bishop-elect Anthony Timoner, the diocesan administrator of Daet looking on. 

The laying on of hands by Abp. Alarcon. 

San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish
San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Norte

St. Vincent Ferrer Parish
San Vicente, Camarines Norte

With Fr. Mark Sagrado.

The miraculous statue of St. Vincent Ferrer, visited by pilgrims from near and far, is encased in glass on the left side of the altar.

I would say that the artwork of the altar is unique that I have not seen anywhere. 

THE CHURCHES OF ILOCOS SUR, Part 2

           After spending the night at the Bishop’s residence as a guest of Bishop Daniel Presto in San Fernando de La Union, I embarked on a full day of travel through several towns in Ilocos Sur that I have not yet visited on the way to Vigan to attend the golden sacerdotal anniversary of Archbishop Marlo Peralta. Many of the towns we visited were off the usual route to Vigan, located in the more mountainous and remote areas of the province. These included Sugpon—the southernmost town of Ilocos Sur—Suyo, Galimuyod, Salcedo, Banayoyo, Lidlidda, Burgos, and Nagbukel. We also passed through towns closer to Vigan, such as Santa, Caoayan, Santa Catalina, San Vicente, Bantay, San Ildefonso, Santo Domingo, Magsingal, and the farthest among them, San Juan. 

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA PARISH (F-1995)
Sugpon, Ilocos Sur

When we arrived in Sugpon, the Sunday mass was just about to start. We planned at first to attend mass at the Cathedral in San Fernando. Considering that we had to travel to several towns I decided that we hear mass along the way, even planning to celebrate a private mass if necessary. 

Posing with the parish priest, Fr Larry Somera after the mass. 

These used truck and vans were the display at the entrance of the town just after crossing the long bridge which connects La Union to Ilocos Sur. 

ST. ANDREW THE APOSTLE PARISH (F-1978)
Suyo, Ilocos Sur

This parish church was not actually in the town proper of Suyo but in the next barangay of Uso.

SACRED OF JESUS PARISH (F-1948)
Galimuyod, Ilocos Sur

ST. JOSEPH PARISH (F-1948)
Salcedo, Ilocos Sur

OUR LADY OF LOURDES PARISH (F-1945)
Banayoyo, Ilocos Sur

OUR LADY OF FATIMA PARISH (F-2002)
Lidlidda, Ilocos Sur

MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS PARISH (F-1933)
Burgos, Ilocos Sur

The parish church was also not in the town proper but in Barangay Luna. 

ST. JOSEPH PARISH (F-1935)
Nagbukel, Ilocos Sur

ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA PARISH (F-1713)
Santa, Ilocos Sur

ST. DOMINIC DE GUZMAN PARISH (F-1762)
Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur

The altar retablo was being renovated, hence it was covered with a fl. Hence, it was covered with a floor-to-ceiling cloth.

The main altar retablo was undergoing some renovations. 

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH (F-1722)
San Juan, Ilocos Sur

ST. WILLIAM THE HERMIT PARISH (F-1676)
Magsingal, Ilocos Sur

ST. ILDEPHONSE PARISH (F-1769/1906)
San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur

Just across the street from the church of San Ildefonso was this airplane on a garden. 

ST. VINCENT PARISH (F-1795)
San Vicente, Ilocos Sur

ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA PARISH (1795)
Sta. Catalina, Ilocos Sur

OUR LADY OF HOPE PARISH (F-1825)
Caoayan, Ilocos Sur

ST. PAUL METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

The Cathedral is still undergoing repairs after the 2022 earthquake

The Belfry of Vigan undergoing repairs and retrofitting. 

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
Vigan City

The Seminary Chapel

The Clergy House is within the compound of the ICST

The Chapel of the Clergy House

ST. AUGUSTINE PARISH (F-1590)
Bantay, Ilocos Sur

There were still scaffoldings at the facade of the church of Bantay as renovations were still ongoing after the church was damaged from the earthquake in 2022. Was told that the scaffoldings inside the church was just taken out in time for the celebration of the golden sacerdotal anniversary of Abp. Peralta. It was not done at the Vigan Cathedral as the church is still under repairs. 

For the previous post on the Churches of Ilocos Sur click here.