Bangui Parish History

ST. LAWRENCE THE DEACON PARISH
Founded: 1624
Patronal Fiesta: August 10


The town of Bangui was an encomienda of Captain Riberos (1605) who requested for a minister from the flourishing town of Bacarra to come and work among the people. Thus the encomienda was converted into a visita of Bacarra, and a priest was sent there “for the consolation of the natives.” Since Bangui was nearer to Cagayan, it was annexed to the mission of Cagayan. On October 31, 1624, a council of the Augustinians separated Bangui from its previous matrix, and Fr. Francisco de Valenzuela was named prior-vicar of the parish. This new parish was placed under the patronage of St. Lawrence the Deacon, Martyr.

The years that followed saw different events in the parish. In 1635, Bangui was reduced again into a visita due to the lack of priests. Then after few years, it was considered again
a parish according to the number of souls. During the Malong-Magsanop uprising (1660-1661), a religious priest by the name of Fr. Jose Arias was assassinated in Bangui. Several priests were imprisoned in the years that followed.

After those turbulent years, Fr. Benito de Mesa made Bangui the “spiritual center” of his missionary expansion to the Apayaos. He was considered the founder of Bangui.

In 1668, Bangui was separated from Bacarra, together with Bangbangon, Vera and Adams. Fr. Domingo Soler was named vicar to all these towns.

During these years, the church in Bangui was made of stone and wood, materials which were easily worn out in the course of time. In 1877, Fr. Antonio Garcia rebuilt the church and made used of stones. The earthquakes of 1880 and 1891 damaged the old church and the convento which Fr. David Diez repaired. Again during the Japanese occupation, the church was heavily damaged. Recently, it has been retored and half of its original edifice is now utilized. Its nearby indigenous town of Dumalneg is also within the jurisdiction of this parish.

Three priests native of the town have been ordained: Rev.Peter Acoba (1982), Rev. Ronald Bonayon(1999) and Rev. Abraham Aguino, CICM (1999).

Since the foundation of the Diocese of Laoag, the following have served in the parish: Gaudencio Dacuycuy, Rev. Pedro Santos, Rev. Rosario Lopez, Rev. Dionisio Rios, Rev. Saturnino Rafada, Rev. Amador Foz, Rev. Teodoro Remigio, Rev. Noel Vander Plaetsen, CICM, Rev. Gaudencio Dacuycuy, Rev. German Cabillo, SVD, Rev. Artemio Rillera, SVD, Rev. Stanislao Ros, Rev. Tranquilino de Ocampo, Jr. SVD, Rev. Vicente Tiam, SVD, Rev. Pedro Acoba, Rev. Carlito Ranjo, Jr., Rev. Manuel Lamprea, Jr., Rev. Leobardo Lorenzo.