The District of Bohol

Fr. Felipe Sendino Redondo, in his report in 1886 of the brief survey of what was and what is the Diocese of Cebu, reports that Bohol was part of the Diocese of Cebu. The District of Bohol was separated from Cebu by Royal order of May 3, 1864.

The District of Bohol then was composed of two vicariates, the Northern and Southern. The Northern Vicariate was headed by Tagbilaran, a parish created in 1767, under the patronage of St. Joseph.

One of the other parishes that comprise the Northern Vicariate was Dauis, created in 1720 under the patronage of Our Lady of the Assumption. The book notes that the oldest entry in the baptismal books dates back as early as April 20, 1697.

Panglao was created in 1782, the records of its creation are based on the Estadistico delos Recoletos or the Statistics of the Recollect Fathers. According to the parish priest as surveyed in 1886, he tells that the parish was administered in 1803 under the patronage of the Patriarch Bishop and Doctor St. Augustine.

Baclayon, created in 1717 under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, has the oldest entry in its baptismal books dated October 14, 1759 (CEBUpedia notes that these baptismal books have been preserved up to the present and can be seen at the convent converted into a museum, surviving the October 15, 2013 earthquake which toppled the belfry of San Agustin (Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, in Cebu).

Corella was erected as a parish by Diocesan decree on September 3, 1841 under the patronage of Our Lady of Villar, through Superior approval on August 27, 1841 (its mother parish is Baclayon).

Alburquerque was created on June 18, 1869 under the patronage of Santa Monica. Balilijan (presently spelled as Balilihan) was erected on May 20, 1829 under the patronage of Our Lady of Carmel. Catigbian (now known as Cortes) was created on December 19, 1848 while Paminguitian was created in 1794 under the patronage of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (more known as Sto. Niño).

Antequera was created on August 13, 1880, through Superior approval of August 3, 1880 under the patronage of Our Lady of the Rosary, it was separated from its mother parish, Maribojoc. (To be continued)