Diocese of Ilagan
The history of Christianity in the province of Isabela is intimately linked with that of its sister provinces in the Cagayan Valley region, namely Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya. All three provinces were just one political unit called Cagayan during the early Spanish period.
Mission stations in the area which later became settlements were founded by Augustinian and Dominican friars as early a 1717. An earlier attempt at evangelization had been made in a little place called Ituy, found in what is now Nueva Vizcaya. Through the efforts of the Augustinians and the Dominicans the faith spread over the region.
In 1841 the province of Nueva Vizcaya was created occupying the entire lower half of the Cagayan Valley. This divided the region into two provinces, the demarcation line cutting horizontally across what is now Isabela. Until 1856 Isabela was just part of the provinces of Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya.
In 1856, Isabela Province was created, deriving its territory half from Cagayan and half from Nueva Vizcaya. Isabela is now the central province of the Cagayan Valley known as Region II. The entire region is traversed longitudinally by the Cagayan River, the largest and longest river in the country which the Spaniards called the Rio Grande , or large river. The capital of Isabela became Ilagan.
During the Philippine Revolution of 1896, Isabela was known to be a stronghold of Filipino forces under Colonel Daniel Tirona against Spain. But Isabela is more significantly remembered in Philippine history as the place where General Emilio Aguinaldo, the president of the First Philippine Republic, was captured by American forces in 1901, in the town of Palanan. His capture officially ended the existence of the First Philippine Republic.
Today Isabela is one of the rice granaries of the country. Until the imposition of the log ban by the Government to preserve and replenish Philippine forests, Isabela ranked first in log production. Its inhabitants are a mixture of Ibanags, Tagalogs, Pangasinenses, Pampangos, and Gaddangs.
The Diocese of Ilagan was created on January 31, 1970 and canonically erected on May 12, 1970, comprising the civil province of Isabela. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao. Its titular patron is St. Ferdinand whose feast the diocese celebrates on May 30. The land area covered by the diocese is 10,664 square kilometer, and its population is now 1,120,235 of which 76 per cent are Catholics.
On May 12, 1995, the Diocese of Ilagan celebrated the 25th anniversary of its canonical erection. Just before, in April, the first diocesan pastoral assembly was held. The implementation of the decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines and the renewal of the diocese in the faith were the twin pillars of the pastoral assembly.
There are 28 parishes and 8 quasi-parishes today in the diocese, served by 54 priests and 54 religious sisters working in related activities. Its Catholic institutions include 3 colleges, 11 kindergarten, 9 elementary and 16 high schools, and 7 pastoral centers. Basic Ecclesial Communities now cover 87 communities.
A Brief History of the Diocese of Ilagan (Isabela)
The history of Christianity in the province of Isabela is intimately linked with that of its sister provinces in the Cagayan Valley region, namely Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya. All three provinces were just one political unit called Cagayan during the early Spanish period.
Mission stations in the area which later became settlements were founded by Augustinian and Dominican friars as early as 1717. An earlier attempt at evangelization has been made in a little place called Ituy, found in what is now Nueva Vizcaya. Through the efforts of the Augustinians and the Dominicans the faith spread through out the region.
In 1841 the province of Vizcaya was created occupying the entire lower half of the Cagayan Valley. This divided the region into two provinces, the demarcation line cutting horizontally across what is now Isabela. Until 1856 Isabela was just part of the provinces of Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya.
In 1856, Isabela province was created, deriving its territory half from Cagayan and half from Nueva Vizcaya. It was named after Queen Isabela of Spain, the reigning monarch at that time. 
Isabela is now the center province of the Cagayan Valley known as Region II. The entire region is traversed longitudinally by the Cagayan River, the largest and the longest river in the country which the Spaniards called the Rio Grande, or larger river. The capital of Isabela became Ilagan.
During the Philippine Revolution of 1896, Isabela was known to be a stronghold of Filipino forces under Colonel Daniel Tirona against Spain. But Isabela is more significantly remembered in the Philippine history as the place where General Emilio Aguinaldo, the president of the first Philippine Republic, was unfortunately captured by American forces in 1901, in the town of Palanan.
Today, Isabela is one of the rice granaries of the country. It is also known for its sprawling fertile valley and forests that are abounding in flora and fauna. It is home to Magat Dam and Tourism Complex known to be the highest dam in Asia. It is second largest province in the country in terms of land area.
The Diocese of Ilagan was created on January 31, 1970. It was canonically erected on May 12, 1970 with the Most Rev. Francisco R. Cruses, D.D as its first Bishop. Its titular patron is St. Ferdinand. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao. The territorial jurisdiction of the diocese has a total land area of 10,644 square kilometers. The natives of Isabela are: the Ybanags who inhabit the northern towns; and the Yogads and Gaddangs who are in Echague and Cauayan. Moreover, Ilocanos now comprise majority of the entire population of the province. Before its separation from the Diocese of Tuguegarao, which was one of the four new dioceses recognized by Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) by the Bull Mari Sunico and implemented by Pius X (1903-1914) thru the Decretum Consistoriale on April 19, 1910, Isabela remained under the aegis of the Diocese of Tuguegarao.
Under the Diocese of Tuguegarao, the first appointed Vicar General was our own Rt. Rev. Msgr. Ricardo Jamias, D.P., S.T.L. who was also a member of the Council of Administrators, Pro-Synodal Examiners and Diocesan Directors.
On March 26, 1974, the Most Rev. Miguel G. Purugganan, D.D., a native of Cabagan, Isabela, succeeded the Most Rev. Francisco R. Cruses, D.D. as Bishop of the Diocese of Ilagan.
On February 10 1997, the Most Rev. Sergio L. Utleg, D.D., a priest of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao from Solana, Cagayan, was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Ilagan. He was consecrated to the episcopacy on March 17, 1997. On July 26, 1999, becoming the third Bishop of the Diocese of Ilagan. After a decade of a Spiritual father of Ilagan, the Most Rev. Sergio L. Utleg was transferred to the Diocese of Laoag.
On January 15, 2007, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Marino D. Gatan, H.P. a native son of the town of Cabagan became the Diocesan Administrator while the Diocese of Ilagan became sede vacante.
On January 5, 2008, a year and a half after the Diocese was declared vacant, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Rev. Fr. Joseph Amangi Nacua, OFMCap., a Parish Priest of San Isidro Labrador Parish, Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay, (Prelature of Ipil) as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Ilagan. He was ordained Bishop of Ilagan on August 19, 2008 at St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay by His Excellency Most Rev. Diosdado Tamalayan, D.D. in the presence of the Most Rev. Edward Joseph Adams, D.D., Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.
There are 37 parishes today in the diocese, served by 40 priests (religious congregations included) and 37 sisters working in related pastoral activities.
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ST. FERDINAND PARISH
ReplyDeleteWaySearch (-1612), ILAGAN
3300 ISABELA
Region II Philippines
Feast Day: May 30
Email: Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Contact Person: Fr. Roseller R. Lora
Phone: 624-2467 (0920) 921-1997
http://parishes.pinoycatholics.org/index.php?option=com_sobi2&sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=2&sobi2Id=318&Itemid=56
DIOCESE OF ILAGAN
ReplyDeleteBishop's Residence Ilagan
3300 Isabela
Region II Philippines
Contact Person: Bishop Miguel G. Purugganan, DD, JCD
Phone: (0917) 578-2631, (078) 652-0685, 662-2594
any contact for Fr. Emery Cadiz..?
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