San Nicolas Parish History

Patron: ST. NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINE
Founded in 1584

The beautiful church of San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish speaks of the numerous people who kept the Catholic faith alive despite the turmoil of the past 400 years brought about by calamities that destroyed the church building and by the Aglipayan schism, which threatened the Christian community.

The community began as a visita of Vigan in 1575. Every year, an Augustinian missionary visited this community of Malay origin that settled south of the Padsan River. Under the patronage of St. Lawrence the Deacon, the first chapel of bamboo and cogon was built for the visita. This was replaced with a small church of masonry, wood and cogon. But this was soon destroyed by earthquake and typhoons.

In 1701, Fray Antonio de Villanueva constructed a bigger and more massive church about half the size of the present one. This construction was completed in 1703 only to be toppled down by a strong earthquake on November 14, 1707.

In 1733, a strong typhoon ravaged Ilocos Norte, and many of the townspeople took refuge in the church. They asked for the help of St. Lawrence, but the typhoon did not stop. Later, they turned to St. Nicholas of Tolentino, and the typhoon and ensuing flood miraculously subsided. This was the time that the town and the parish took the name of St. Nicholas of Tolentino.

In 1895, the church belfry was constructed under the leadership of Fray Victoriano Garcia, himself an architect and an engineer. Molasses was mixed with lime as a strengthening chemical for the stones and bricks.

During the revolution of 1898, the Katipuneros occupied the church. A year later, the American forces took over the church and used it as headquarters. However, the U.S. government ordered that churches be vacated by military forces. Gregorio Aglipay, together with renegade priests, took this opportunity to take over the church. Majority of the Catholics in the town embraced the Aglipayan Church. However, the Supreme Court decreed that the sequestered properties of the Catholic Church be returned by the Aglipayan rebels. The building was returned, but its records and movable properties could not be retrieved anymore.

During World War II, the church was occupied by Japanese forces, and its belfry became a watching post. After the war, Rev. Catalino Racca started the repairs of the church.

Before the turn of the millennium, the church façade and belfry went through a major facelift. New bells were added to the old set. Today, the parish boasts of having the only automated belfry in Ilocandia.

In 2004, the church underwent yet another makeover. But more than the physical transformation which is immediately palpable is the fervor of the faithful to wield greater zeal and strength of spirit to renew and be renewed and courageously walk the stretch ahead. Moreover, the faithful, motivated by their pastors, are invigorated with the spirit of charity and unity that fires up their hearts and spurs them on to do what they can for the good of the Church. Now, all they have to do is stay on course.

Since the creation of Laoag as a diocese, the following priests have served in the parish: Rev. Catalino Racca, Rev. Mauro Resurrecion, Rev. Juan Ballesteros, Rev. Policarpo Albano, Rev. Sylvio Lacar, Rev. Gil Albano, Jr., Rev. Rodolfo Nicolas, Rev. Amador Foz, Rev. Domingo Albano, Rev. Jose Agustin, Rev. Ruben Abaya (with Rev. Rey Magus Respicio then Rev. Engelbert Elarmo as assistants), Rev. Mario Garaza (with Rev. Joel Reynold Castillo then Rev. Nolasco "Tom" Pascua, Jr. then Rev. Lorenzo Torreflores as assistants), Rev. Ramon Danilo Laeda (with Rev. Melchor Palomares as assistant).

Vintar Parish History

Patron: ST. NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINE
Founded in 1774

Vintar was a visita of Bacarra in 1600 under the administration of Fr. Lazaro Ordonez, and it was established as a parish in 1774 under the patronage of San Nicolas de Tolentino. The Church of Vintar is a construction of the late 18th century. Fr. Mariano Ortiz restored it in 1894, and Fr. Ricardo Alonso restored the convent in 1877. According to Llanes, the convent, one of the biggest in the province, had an inner patio. A part of the mission complex was patterned after those found in Mexico; it was more of a decorative garden.

During the earthquake of 1931 the church was partly destroyed, and its subsequent restoration in 1935 lost its antique nobility and dignity. The bell tower collapsed and was damaged almost beyond recognition or repair. During the earthquake of August 17, 1983, the façade and the wall of the sanctuary collapsed.

The townspeople of Vintar practice great devotion to San Nicolas. A religious tradition left by the Augustinians continues to be practiced in Vintar. The town has the largest land area in the province. Aside from its vastness, the geographical barriers brought about by rivers and mountains make it hard for evangelization to progress. However, the priests assigned in their parish find joy in going to as far as Isic-Isic. Their pastoral mission has been complemented by the apostolate of the Daughters of the Divine Zeal, who have been in the parish since 1968.

In 1989, a Parish Pastoral Assembly was held in Vintar. On December 11, 1991, Rev. Primo Cabanos was ordained priest. That same year the diocesan Christ the King celebration was held in the parish. Rev. James Bonoan celebrated also in Vintar his silver anniversary of ordination on December 20, 1994.

Since the foundation of Laoag as a diocese the following have served as pastors: Rev. Mariano Saraos (1957-June 1967); Rev. Bernardo Balderas (July 1967-December 1967); Rev. Jose Agustin (1967-1969); Rev. Andres Respicio (1969-1972); Rev. Onofre Aurelio (1972-1976); Rev. Antonio Molina (1976-1980); Rev. Godofredo Albano (October 1980–December 1980); Rev. Domingo Albano (1981-1983); Rev. Damaso Argel (1983-1986); Rev. Tito Bonoan (1986-1993); Rev. Victor Hernando (1993-1994); Rev. James Bonoan (1994-2001); Rev. Ramon Danilo R. Laeda (2001-2008); Rev. Hermogenes G. Saturnino, Jr. (present).

Local Church Still Seeking Justice For Murdered Priest A Year After Killing

September 1, 2008, LAOAG CITY, Philippines (UCAN) -- A streamer demanding "Justice for Father Rigonan!" still hangs at the gate of the slain priest's parish in the northern Philippines, a year after he was killed.

The slaying of Father Florante Rigonan remains unsolved largely because the police are "not doing what they are supposed to do," Bishop Sergio Utleg of Laoag told UCA News on Aug. 28. Father Rigonan headed the diocese's St. Isidore Labrador Parish in Pinili town.

In the bishop's view, investigators "lack motivation" to solve the year-old murder case. "More effort" should be exerted to pursue the investigation, he said, so justice will prevail not for Father Rigonan, who is "already resting," but for the sake of the people he left behind.

"Peace" will not be achieved in Ilocos Norte with an "inefficient justice system," the prelate added. Laoag City, the provincial capital, lies 340 kilometers north of Manila.

Father Rigonan died on the spot on August 28, 2007, when gunmen shot him in the head and other parts of the body after he said Mass at the house of Florencio and Elisea Macalma in Puritac, Pinili, about 30 kilometers south of Laoag City.

Parishioners, friends and relatives of Father Rigonan gathered at the parish church this Aug. 28 for a Mass Bishop Utleg led with Pinili parish priest Father Richard Blas-Antonio concelebrating.

Parishioner Nita Antonio, who attended the Mass, is "still shocked" that "God's instrument for people's salvation" was killed. The 48-year-old church worker told UCA News she also feels sad that justice has not been served.

Days after the murder, Philippine National Police (PNP) regional director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil created Task Force Rigonan to speed up investigation of the crime. Its membership was drawn from the PNP Crime Investigation and Detection Group, the Crime Laboratory, the Regional PNP Intelligence Group and local police.

Based on witnesses' testimony, the task force recommended in September 2007 that the provincial Prosecutor's Office file murder charges against Liwliwa and Lyndia Macalma, Elisea's nieces.

However, a court case has not been filed because the testimony and evidence submitted were "purely circumstantial" and "not enough," provincial prosecutor Bernardo Agdigos told UCA News on the day of the anniversary Mass.

Father Rigonan's case is "pending investigation" by the PNP, Agdigos said at the Ilocos Norte Marcos Hall of Justice in Laoag City. He explained the prosecutor's office is waiting for the PNP to submit "any additional evidence" that would "directly pinpoint" suspects in the priest's killing.

The prosecutor reported that witness testimony submitted by Task Force Rigonan last year and other evidence were returned due to "insufficiency to establish probable cause."

Witnesses included Father Rigonan's sister, Eva, and Elisea Macalma.

In her sworn statement, Eva reported her brother had received death threats from Liwliwa and Lyndia, who were allegedly jealous of the 5-million-peso donation Florencio and Elisea gave the priest for the construction of the St. Isidore Labrador Parish church. At that time, the donation was equal to about US$108,000.

Meanwhile, Elisea's affidavit says Liwliwa also appeared to have resented the fact that Elisea and her husband Florencio took Father Rigonan with them to the United States and paid for his airfare.

Ilocos Norte has a "good crime solution efficiency percentage," a PNP official told UCA News on condition of anonymity. Only 14 of 59 cases of murder, homicide, physical injury, rape and robbery registered in the province between April and June 2008 have not yet been solved, the provincial website reports.