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CHRISTIANITY

•The most widely distributed  of  the world  religions,  having  substantial representation  in  all  the  populated continents  of  the  globe.  In  the  late 1990s,  its  total  membership  exceeded 1.9 billion people.

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.

In 1841 the province of Vizcaya was created. 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.

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 efforts, the faith spread through out the region.

Augustinian Friars

Dominican Friars

In 1856, Isabela province was created. It was named after Queen Isabela of Spain. Isabela is now the center province of the Cagayan Valley known as Region II. The entire region is traversed longitudinally by the Cagayan  River, which the Spaniards called it 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, 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:

1. The Ybanags who inhabit the northern towns;

2. The Yogads and Gaddangs who are in Echague and Cauayan.

3. 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. 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, Pope Benedict XVI  has appointed Rev.  Fr.  Joseph Amangi  Nacua, OFMCap., as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Ilagan. He was ordained Bishop of Ilagan on August 19, 2008. 

There are 37 parishes today in the diocese, served by 40 priests (religious congregations included) and 37 sisters working in related pastoral activities.

That’s all!   Thank you! and God bless you! 

• Prepared by:– Jona Mae R. Pascua--------------BEED-II– Wilbert G. Oania------------------BEED-II– Czarinah M. Baui------------------BEED-II– Kuya I.T