QUIRINO PROVINCE

The province of Quirino is composed of only six municipalities: Aglipay, Cabarroguis, Diffun,  Maddela, Nagtipunan and Saguday.  It formally became a province on February 10, 1972.  Ecclesiastically, Quirino belongs to the Diocese of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya forming one vicariate. There are, however,  only four parishes in the province as the parish of Cabarroguis includes the town of Saguday and Maddela includes the municipality of Nagtipunan which ironically has the largest land area of all the municipalities.

During the long labor weekend of May, together with some office workers, we explored this landlocked province in the north. We left Manila very early in the morning and arrived in  the first town of Quirino in Diffun at past four in the afternoon after about twelve hours of drive with a few stops along the way. We visited first the parish church.  Our next stop was the parish of Cabarroquis where we were warmly welcomed by Fr. Ronnie Flores, the parish priest who prepared sumptuous dinner for us for two nights.  Fr. Ronnie was saying that, however much as he wanted us to stay at the parish but they don’t just have enough water supply, which is a problem in the main town. They depended only on the rain for their water supply which they gather and keep at the tank beneath the church. With proper water use, their supply would usually last till the next rainy season. We stayed at the Abrasa MPC Hotel which was just a barangay away from the main town of Cabarroguis.

The following day we visited the churches of Aglipay and Maddela. Then we explored the sights that the province offered which was caving in Aglipay and a river tubing along the Siitan river in Nagtipunan. On our way back to Manila we went eastward by way of Aurora passing by the Junuan waterfalls in Brgy. Disimungal, Nagtipunan.

SAINT JOSEPH PARISH
Diffun, Quirino
Founded: 1963

ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST PARISH CHURCH
Cabarroguis, Qurino
Founded: 1979

Fr. Ronnie (second from right) had an exhibit of the Paper tole prints he made. Paper tole art is a paper craft which involves cutting, shaping, sculpturing and gluing cutouts obtained from identical prints and building these components up using silicon to create a 3D picture. 

Some of the paper tole prints Fr. Ronnie made.  

Food personally prepared by Fr. Ronnie.

ST. VINCENT FERRER PARISH CHURCH
Maddela, Quirino

 OUR LADY OF LOURDES PARISH CHURCH
Aglipay, Quirino

AGLIPAY CAVES

Had lunch at MJ Snack and Pancit Cabagan Restaurant in Brgy. Ponggo, Nagtipunan before going  tubing at the Siitan River. 

We had their specialty, Pancit cabagan  which is a stir-fried noodle with vegetables and bits of lechon kawali and hard boiled eggs with thick soy-sause based broth. 

Tubing at the Siitan River in Nagtipunan. 

Nagtipunan has also scenic views of rolling hills and mountains. 

 Junuan Falls in Brgy. Disimungal, Nagtipunan,Quirino. 

 The road from Nagtipunan connecting to Aurora was still being widened and concretized at that time. 

 We had to pass through this shallow river

 Once we reached the east coast, the road was already cemented passing through Dipaculao and Baler with scenic views of the sea along the way. 

Map of the Parishes of Quirino Province

DAVAO DEL NORTE

            I got invited by the Tagum clergy to give them a talk  regarding the canonical and pastoral functions and duties  of the parish priests and parochial vicars as part of their ongoing formation. Although the talks were given at the Rivier Retreat House in Davao City, I asked the organizers if I could visit Tagum since it has been about twenty years since I have been there.  Tagum was not yet a city then. We first visited the newly constructed retirement home of the clergy of the Diocese of Tagum. Then we went to visit their new Cathedral and the former Cathedral which was also renovated.  Since, Tagum was the host for the Palarong Pambansa that year, we also passed by to see the final preparations they were doing at the Athletic grounds.  On our way back to Davao we were able to pass by the church of Panabo. 

On the way to Tagum City from Davao one is met with these beautiful palm trees lined along the streets. 

The unfinished City hall of Tagum which is rapidly deteriorating. 

The Athletic grounds of the province which was being readied for the 2015 Palarong Pambansa. 

The olympic-size swimming pool of the province. 

CHRIST THE KING CATHEDRAL

Diocese of Tagum

Tagum City, Davao del Norte

Founded: 2001 as Parish

This new Cathedral was solemnly consecrated and dedicated on October 11, 2005 on the occasion of the Silver anniversary of Tagum as a diocese. 

At the side of the Cathedral are found the Stations of the Cross. 

At the back of the Cathedral is this giant-size statue of the Sacred Heart with the beads of the Holy Rosary in front of it. 

The back part of the Cathedral houses the Rectory. 

The Holy Rosary Garden with the image of the Sacred Heart as seen from the Rectory. 

CHRIST THE EUCHARISTIC KING PARISH

Tagum City

Founded: 1947

This parish church served as the Cathedral before until it was transferred to its present  site in 2005. 

CLERGY RETIREMENT HOME OF THE DIOCESE OF TAGUM

The diocese has just newly built a retirement home for the clergy including that of the bishop in this sprawling space. 

STO. NIÑO PARISH CHURCH

PANABO CITY, DAVAO DEL NORTE

Founded: 1955