450th Anniversary of the First Church in Luzon

- By Armeena Red

This year, we commemorate the 450th year of the Gibalon Shrine in Brgy. Siuton, Magallanes, Sorsogon.

Less than three centuries before it will be named after the Portuguese, Ferdinand Magellan, Magallanes housed a significant religious milestone for Catholics in Luzon. Back then, the place was named Parina, from the name of a reputed tree for its durability that is known to last for centuries. In the year 1569, the Jimenez-Orta expedition landed at the shores of one of Parina’s subdivision, Barangay Ginangra. It was in a nearby barangay, Gibal-ong (now part of Siuton), when the first Catholic mass in Luzon was held, and as a result, the first Christian settlement. A small chapel was built, and Fray Jimenez stayed for quite some time and baptized many locals, the first Catholics of Luzon.

The records, held at the San Agustin Museum, tell the story in a portion originally written in Spanish:

“..aqui paso a Ibalon (stands for Gibal-ong), de la provincial de Camarines (the name of Bicol Region at the time), donde residio algun tiempo, bautiza a muchos indios y principals, levanto una pequena Iglesias…”

Until present, every October, the community in Siuton recreates history to pass down a part of history of Christianity where their ancestors has played a large part of. In the re-enactments, they bring out their creativity to portray the arrival of the expedition of Fray Jimenez and Captain De Guzman, their settlement, the baptism of the first Catholics in Luzon, the building of the first chapel, and the first mass.

It has been four and a half century that passed, and in fifty years – a millennia, after Luzon accepted the faith that will soon be a part of the Philippine’s identity; the faith that will enlighten and guide the people towards an ever-changing future, tested time and time again, but never faltering. Today, more than 80% of Filipinos are Catholics, and it began when the first encounters were built on faith, even without seeing what will be, no guarantees, just a promise that:

Matthew 18:20 Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I with them.

Indeed You are, Lord.

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