The pre-Martial Law priests in Cebu (Part II)

The parish priest of El Pardo Church, Cebu City, officially called the Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish was Very Rev. Narciso Maglasang. While the Labangon Parish Church, officially called the Our Lady of Remedios Parish Church, which was inaugurated on April 6, 1960, was Rev. Jesus Alquileta. It was Fr. Ernesto Dumdum who became its first parish priest in 1960. He was then succeeded by Fr. Alquileta in 1962, then by Fr. Pastor Ybanez in 1967.

What we officially know was the Sacred Heart Parish was called  the Chinese Parish Church or the Our Lady Queen of China Parish when it was established in 1952. It was in 1963 that the present church, located in the Dionisio Jakosalem St., was constructed by Fr. Arthur Baur, a Jesuit.

The Lahug Cebu City Parish officially called the St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish located along Pasteur St. corner Edison St., Lahug, Cebu City had Rev. Armando Clement as its parish priest.

In Mandaue City, the Subangdaku Church, officially called the San Roque Parish, was established in 1964 with Rev. Salvador Fernandez, C.M. (Congregation of the Missions) as its parish priest. The National Shrine of St. Joseph, meanwhile, was established as early as 1601. The church site was donated by Capitan Felix Ceniza whose remains lie beneath the altar of the church. Its pre-Martial Law parish priest was Very Rev. Msgr. Jose Alojipan.

The church of Consolacion, Cebu officially called the San Narciso Church had Rev. Benjami Lepatan as its parish priest. The present church was constructed after World War II, the site was donated by Felipe Hatamosa and the construction financed by Dona Sergia Valle.

The Liloan Church, officially called the San Fernando Rey Parish, was constructed in 1847. Its patron saint is St. Ferdinand III (who was King of Spain from 1217 to 1252). It became a new parish, separated from Mandawe (Mandaue) on June 27, 1845. The pre-Martial Law parish priest was Rev. Jose Motus. The first parish priest of the Liloan Church was Fray Vicente Dolores, an Augustinian Recollect.

The Church in Compostela, Cebu officially called the St. James the Apostle Church (the Spanish name of James is Santiago that is why the Patron of the Church is Santiago de Apostol) had Rev. Teofilo Galeos as its pre-Martial Law priest.

The Danao Church, officially called the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church, was built in 1755. The parish priest in the 1960s was Very Rev. Cesar J. Alcoseba. Another church in Danao City is the St. Joseph the Carpenter Church. Its parish priest way back then was Rev. Uldarico Flores.

The Church of Carmen, Cebu officially called the St. Augustine Parish Church had Rev. Zacarias Suner as its priest in the 1960s. The next town, Catmon had Rev. Jose Branzuela as its parish priest. Fr. Jose served the people of Catmon from 1962 to 1970. He was then succeeded by Father Patricio Alcazaren who served from 1970 to 1979. Its official name is San Guillermo Parish. It was founded in 1835 by Father Miguel de Jesus.

The Sogod Church, officially called the St. James the Apostle, was built in 1842. Its parish priest in the 1960s was Rev. Manuel Montegrande, who later became parish priest of Balamban in 1979 up to 1987.

Next is the Bogo Church called the Sr. San Vicente Parish Church established on May 31, 1850. Serving as its parish priest before Martial Law was Very Rev. Diosdado Camomot. Its first parish priest was Rev. Fr. Jayme Macalit.

The town of San Remegio's church is called the San Juan Nepomuceno Parish, established on March 23, 1864. Its parish priest in the 1960s was Rev. Manuel Perez. (To be continued)