Saint Ferdinand Co-Cathedral (Ilagan)

Saint Ferdinand Parish Church
Proto-Cathedral of Ilagan
Cathedral facade in 2022
Saint Ferdinand Parish Church is located in Luzon
Saint Ferdinand Parish Church
Saint Ferdinand Parish Church
Location in Luzon
Saint Ferdinand Parish Church is located in Philippines
Saint Ferdinand Parish Church
Saint Ferdinand Parish Church
Location in the Philippines
17°08′58″N 121°53′21″E / 17.14931°N 121.88907°E / 17.14931; 121.88907
LocationIlagan, Isabela
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusCathedral
Founded1686
Founder(s)Pedro Jimenez
DedicationSaint Ferdinand of Castile
Past bishop(s)
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architectural typeChurch building
Specifications
MaterialsBrick, sand, stone, gravel, cement, steel, concrete
Administration
ProvinceTuguegarao
MetropolisTuguegarao
ArchdioceseTuguegarao
DioceseIlagan (since 1970)
Clergy
ArchbishopRicardo L. Baccay
Bishop(s)David William V. Antonio
Priest in chargeRic-Zeus E. Angobung

Saint Ferdinand Parish Church, also known as the Proto-Cathedral of Ilagan, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Barangay Bagumbayan in Ilagan, the capital of the province of Isabela, Philippines. The cathedral used to be the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Ilagan until it was transferred to the Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel in the neighboring town of Gamu in 2003.[1]

History

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Ilagan had its beginnings as an encomienda of Don Hernandez de Paz circa 1617. The town was also founded as a mission of the Dominican priests called San Miguel de Bolo on April 21, 1619. After the revolt in 1621 by the inhabitants of Ilagan and the nearby towns of Naguilian and Baculud, nothing was written about the town's history until it was re-founded by Pedro Jimenez in 1678. During that time, it was officially named as San Fernando de Ilagan. It was also formally accepted as a Dominican mission in March 1686.[2]

At around noontime on April 22, 2024, the church was struck by an hour-long fire that occurred during renovations on its roof, destroying its interior and causing a large portion of the roof to collapse. One person was injured after coming into contact with superheated metal while salvaging items from the cathedral.[3][4][5] Several religious images were rescued from the church.[6]

Architectural history

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Records tell that the construction of the church of Ilagan started around 1696 to 1700. In 1777, Pedro de San Pedro started the construction of the belfry. Later on, the tower was completed by Joaquin Sancho in 1783, the date indicated in the clay inset found at the top of the tower. The church was recorded to have sustained heavy damages during a typhoon in 1866. It was torn down by the parish priest in the hopes of erecting a new structure. The current church structure is no longer the old stone structure erected in the Spanish-era.[2] Only the tower remains intact.

Transfer

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The cathedral served as the episcopal seat the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan since its establishment in 1970[5] until 2003, when it was transferred to the newer Saint Ferdinand Cathedral in Barangay Upi, Gamu. In 2013, Pope Francis decreed that the new cathedral be dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel although the diocese remains under the patronage of Saint Ferdinand of Castile.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Darang, Josephine (September 22, 2013). "Pope Francis transfers episcopal seat of Diocese of Ilagan to Gamu, Isabela". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Hornedo, Florentino H. (2002). On the Trail of Dominican Engineers, Artists & Saints in the Cagayan Valley & Batanes (First ed.). Manila, Philippines: University of Santo Tomas Publishing House. p. 31. ISBN 9715061923.
  3. ^ Velasco, Lanie (April 22, 2024). "St. Ferdinand Parish Church sa City of Ilagan, nasunog" (in Filipino). Bombo Radyo Cauayan.
  4. ^ "Fire guts Ilagan diocese's original cathedral". CBCP News. April 22, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Esmaquel, Paterno II (April 22, 2024). "Fire engulfs 17th-century Isabela church during renovation". Rappler.
  6. ^ Felina, Jayson (April 23, 2024). "Rebulto ni Mama Mary na inilabas sa nasunog na St. Ferdinand Parish Church agaw pansin dahil tila lumuluha" (in Filipino). Bombo Radyo Cauayan.
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