Gamu Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel, formerly known as Saint Ferdinand Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in the town of Gamu, in the province of Isabela, Philippines. Before the cathedral was built, the former seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan was located in Saint Ferdinand Proto-Cathedral in Barangay Bagumbayan, Ilagan, Isabela.[1]
| St. Michael Cathedral | |
|---|---|
Gamu Cathedral in 2015 | |
St. Michael Cathedral St. Michael Cathedral | |
| 17°05′16″N 121°51′16″E / 17.0877°N 121.8545°E | |
| Location | Gamu, Isabela |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Saint Ferdinand Cathedral |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | 1686, 2013 |
| Founder(s) | Pedro Jimenez |
| Dedication | Saint Michael the Archangel |
| Past bishop(s) |
|
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick, sand, stone, gravel, cement, steel, concrete |
| Administration | |
| Province | Tuguegarao |
| Metropolis | Tuguegarao |
| Archdiocese | Tuguegarao |
| Diocese | Ilagan (since 1970) |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Ricardo L. Baccay |
| Bishop(s) | David William V. Antonio |
Old Saint Ferdinand Cathedral edit
History edit
Ilagan had its beginnings as an encomienda of Don Hernández de Paz circa 1617. The town was also founded as a mission of the Dominican priests called San Miguel de Bolo on April 21, 1619. After the revolt in 1621 by the inhabitants of Ilagan and the nearby towns of Naguilian and Baculud, nothing was written about the town’s history until it was re-founded by Pedro Jimenez in 1678. During that time, it was officially named as San Fernando de Ilagan. It was also formally accepted as a Dominican mission in March 1686.[2]
Architectural history edit
Records tell that the construction of the church of Ilagan started around 1696 to 1700. In 1777, Pedro de San Pedro started the construction of the belfry. Later on, the tower was competed by Joaquin Sancho in 1783, the date indicated in the clay inset found at the top of the tower. The church was recorded to have sustained heavy damages during a typhoon in 1866. It was torn down by the parish priest in the hopes of erecting a new structure. The current church structure is no longer the old stone structure erected in the Spanish-era.[2] Only the tower remains intact. On April 22, 2024, a fire started from the roof of the 300-year old church which destroyed most of its interior.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
New Gamu Cathedral edit
The current cathedral was built in 2000.[9] In 2003, the episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan was transferred from the Saint Ferdinand Parish Church to a new Church in Barangay Upi, in the town of Gamu. In 2013, Pope Francis decreed that the cathedral be dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel although the diocese remains under the patronage of Saint Ferdinand of Castile.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b Darang, Josephine (September 22, 2013). "Pope Francis transfers episcopal seat of Diocese of Ilagan to Gamu, Isabela". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
- ^ a b Hornedo, Florentino H. (2002). On the Trail of Dominican Engineers, Artists & Saints in the Cagayan Valley & Batanes (First ed.). Manila, Philippines: University of Santo Tomas Publishing House. p. 31. ISBN 9715061923.
- ^ Patinio, Ferdinand (April 22, 2024). "Fire engulfs cathedral in Isabela". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Iñigo, Liezle Basa (April 22, 2024). "Fire hits church in Isabela". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Fire engulfs 17th-century Isabela church during renovation". Paterno R. Ismael II of Rappler Philippines. rappler.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "AFTER A FIERY BLAZE". Official Facebook Page of the 50th Anniversary of the Diocese of Ilagan (Isabela, Philippines). facebook.com/ilagan50th.weebly.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Fire guts Ilagan diocese's original cathedral". Official Website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP News). cbcpnews.net. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Fire destroys Isabela's 400-year-old church". Jun Elias(The Philippine Star). philstar.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ "Fire guts Ilagan diocese's original cathedral". CBCP News. April 22, 2024.
External links edit
- Media related to Gamu Cathedral at Wikimedia Commons