I know it’s too late to share this Visita Iglesia in Misamis Oriental but I’m sure this is helpful. For those who have plans to do Visita Iglesia Misamis Oriental next Holy Week, this is for you. In the past few years, we usually spent our holy week at Camiguin Island for the Panaad, and on the next day, we usually went to the beach, waterfalls, or the cold spring of Camiguin Island. We also love to travel as well with our family or friends during the holy week. But this holy week of 2019 we decided to change it, instead of going to Camiguin Island or going into travel, we decided to the Visita Iglesia Misamis Oriental. During our Visita Iglesia, we visited 7 churches only. We found out that doing this Visita Iglesia is more exciting compared to traveling during the holy week. Some of the churches that we visited are considered heritage because it was built during the 18th century. Below are the 7 churches we visited during Visita Iglesia Misamis Oriental.
-
Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church
This is our first stop and this church is located at Cawayanon Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. The church was built in the early 1960s by 6-time Philippine Open Champion Celestino Tugot for his wife Obdulia. The Mother of Perpetual Church as it stands today continues to spread and inspire devotees and has since become one of the pilgrimage sites of the people of Northern Mindanao and its surrounding areas. Located in front of the Del Monte Golf Course at Cawayanon, San Miguel, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
-
Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church
Our 2nd church and it’s is located at Aplaya, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.
-
Immaculate Concepcion Church
Our 3rd church is also from Jasaan, the Immaculate Concepcion Church. The church was built starting in 1887 by the Jesuits and finished in the early 20th century. The church is said to have been an attempt at a modest copy of the Order’s mother church, the San Ignacio (the second one after their return to the Philippines) in Intramuros. The first level is made from bricks while the second level is of wood. The church was declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2001.
-
Rita de Cascia Church
We need to travel around 30-40 minutes to our 4th church destination, Balingasag. Sta. Rita de Cascia Church is our fourth church in Misamis Oriental during the Visita Iglesia. Construction of the brick church is said to have started in 1892 by the Jesuits. It was finished in 1895 at the present location as the original wooden church near the coast was eventually destroyed by an encroaching sea. The lower level is made of bricks while the upper level is made of wood. Two wooden belfries stood at the sides and three altars were installed.
During World War II, the guerrillas hastily burned the church because Japanese soldiers were stationed there. After the war, only the stone structure was left standing.
-
Shrine of the Black Nazarene
From Balingasag we go back to Cagayan de Oro for the 5th church and this is the Black Nazarene. Shrine of the Black Nazarene is just located along Claro M. Recto Avenue, Cagayan De Oro City. Every January of the year Kagaya-anons celebrates The Feast of the Black Nazarene. The procession of the Black Nazarene in Cagayan de Oro City is the only authorized one outside of Manila.
The replica of the Black Nazarene housed at the Jesus Nazareno shrine contained a portion of the original Black Nazarene of Quiapo in Manila. “The Black Nazarene is the poorest of the poor, because of his love for us, his life, the ultimate gift of life,” This year is the 10th annual Feast of the Black Nazarene and translation.
-
Divine Mercy
From Cagayan de Oro we travel to El Salvador Misamis Oriental for the 6th church, the Divine Mercy Shrine. As I remember my first visit to Divine Mercy was in 2008 while the construction of the Divine Mercy is ongoing. However, the construction of this holy statue was started around 2007. It is 50 feet tall and faces the Island of Camiguin. Aside from being holy in this place, it is also one of the tourist attractions in Mindanao. They celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy after the holy week. The Divine Mercy Shrine is also known for it’s dancing sun after the morning mass during the feast.
-
San Agustin Cathedral
From Divine Mercy, we go back to Cagayan de Oro for our last and final church to visit the San Agustin Cathedral. The Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. The cathedral, dedicated to Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, is the ecclesiastical seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.
History of Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral
The present Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro had its beginnings as a territory of the Archdioceses of Cebu and Jaro from 1607 to 1910. Its administration was later transferred to the Diocese of Zamboanga from 1911 to 1933 before its canonical erection in 1933.
During its early history, it was believed that the first church structure built in present-day Cagayan de Oro (formerly Cagayan de Misamis) was erected in 1624 by the Augustinian Recollects under the leadership of Father Agustin de San Pedro. The old settlement used to be located in an area called Himologan or Huluga. It was moved to its present location due to Father San Pedro’s urging, reasoning out that the current location would be easier to defend from marauding pirates and other enemies. The church structure during that time was made of light materials with fortifications built of the same materials.
The church was frequently attacked and razed to the ground by soldiers from the non-Christian areas of Mindanao. One such instance happened in 1649 when a Manobo tribe under the leadership of a certain Dabao revolted against the presence of the Spanish government and church in the area. After the incident, the church was rebuilt with wood and other light materials until it was again burned in 1778. The following year, Father Pedro de Santa Barbara led the construction of a new and bigger church. The said church, like its predecessors, was also razed by fire in 1831.
After the most recent fire, the church officials did not rebuild the church until 1841 when Father Simon Loscos instigated the construction of a stone church. The town mayor during that time, Don Jose Corrales, together with members of the local clergy, helped in the construction of the stone church. The church construction lasted from 1843 to 1851. In 1886, the parish priest of Cagayan de Oro, Father Ramon Zueco, bought a pipe organ from Manila.
In 1942, during the Second World War, the church of Cagayan de Oro was bombed. Soon after the war, the construction of the present cathedral structure was started. It was not specified when the current Neo-Gothic cathedral was completed. Wiki