A Glimpse on the History of Christian Igorots

by Unknown 1:02 AM 1 comments History Igorot Religion

Here's a look into the Christianization of the Igorots as presented during the 50th Anniversary of the Holy Rosary High School entitled: "Kayan Mission: A Brief History".

In 1665, more than a hundred years after the discovery of the Philippines by the Spaniards, a Spanish Military Expedition under the command of Admiral Pedro Duran de Monforte reached Kayan (Cayan in old records) through thick and thorns in search for gold which was believed to exist along the mountains of now named Lepanto. With them were three Agustinian friars, one of whom was Father Pedro Diaz, who settled in Kayan, hence the origin of "the Old Mission of Kayan", also known as the Mission of the Archangel Michael.


The Spaniards found the entrance to the gold mines but were not able to excavate them, instead the missionaries found a store of "gold" among the people of the mountains. "The place was deserted when they reached Kayan, but soon the people slowly came around when they sensed the friendly character of their visitors. The golden souls of the "Ygolotes" (mountaineers trading gold in the lowlands), so long hungry for the good message to reach them.” Three years of vain search and the lack of proper instruments and the necessary skills for mining made the expedition leave frustrated, with Fr. Diaz and some converts leaving with them.

When Father Diaz left, the people rapidly forgot their Christian teachings and went back to animism, however missionaries from Candon and other towns from the lowlands made repeated trips to Kayan and the surrounding villages to visit and comfort the new Christian, notwithstanding the dangers and bad conditions of those journeys to the mountains. There was rebellion against the conquestadores and the Igorots were often out hunting for human heads to offer in their own animistic rites. As shown in the records of the churches of Tagudin and Bangar, there were eighty three adults from Kayan baptized between 1753 and 1755.

Extensive expeditions were made in 1836, 1877 and in 1881, but in 1881, more than two hundred years after the first expedition by Duran, a permanent Spanish Military garrison was stationed in Kayan with a missionary priest of the Agustinian Order, Padre Rufino Redondo who continued on converting the Igorots to the Christian Faith. From 1881 to 1890, a total of 218 marriages were officiated, 686 children and 586 adults were baptized, and 395 Christian burials were recorded (Little Apostle, 1940).

On November 1907, two missionaries of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) settled in the Mountain Province, one in Bontoc and the other in Bauko. These two pioneers were Rev. Fr. C. Jurgens and Fr. J. Sepulchre. Fr. J. Sepulchre (the first Belgian Father to visit Kayan after the Spanish Occupation) lived in Bauko for a while. Meanwhile, the missionary work in Kayan has to be started all over again. Kayan then became an outstation of Bauko and was regularly visited by the zealous Fr. Sepulchre and his successors.

The latest was Fr. Jose Portelange (the reorganizer of the Kayan Mission) who was obliged to make Cervantes his residence from where he visited Kayan, Bauko and their barrios. During the time of Fr. Portelange, Kayan was divided into two factions, the upper and the lower camps. When he said mass in the upper camp which was held in the house of Mr. Lino Cardenas, those from the lower camp wouldn't join. The same was true with the lower camp. The mass for the lower camp was held at the house of Mr. Brigido Recile. It was at this point that Fr. Portelange decided to construct a chapel for Kayan and so he requested for a suitable place in lieu of the old site of the Spanish mission which was taken for another purpose. Several meetings with the people were made but in vain. Then Mr. Recile offered his house and lot for sale. Fr. Portelange took this kind and great opportunity and with some donations in his hands he wasted no time and closed the deal. The residential house was renovated into a chapel Mission in memory of the late Fr. Redican, assistant of the Right Rev. Monsignor McGlinchy of the Archdioceses of Boston and was inaugurated by Fr. Portelange himself. The Kayan Mission has since been established, Fr. Portelange succeeded in uniting the two camps in celebrating mass together.

Father Leon Wins (who spent the best of his life in working for Kayan) came to help Fr. Portelange. He was entrusted the outlaying districts of Cervantes and took charge of the Kayan Mission. Fr. Leon a sturdy priest and with his faithful mule Johnny, braved the steep trails to the barrios, rain or shine to say mass, teach catechism, and spread the gospel of God and bring the Sacraments to those in need. He gathered the children in the evenings for catechism, attracting the little ones to come by offering them medals, images and candies.

In June 1928, Father George Cardijn, a WW I veteran, came to Kayan and became the first resident missionary. He gave his best to the mission even to the cost of his health. Aside from evangelizing, teaching the doctrine of faith and serving the people in their spiritual needs, he built many chapels within the Kayan mission including that of Mankayan, which was then under the jurisdiction of his missionary district. In January 1929, he blessed a chapel in Tue, a barrio which gave him much consolation. The beautiful chapel of Tadian was built in May 1930.

In 1932, Fr. Cardijn went on leave and Fr. Juan Dekker came in his place. After a year, Fr. Cardijn was back and continued his work for five years. Because of his deteriorating health, he was transferred to La Trinidad, Benguet on May 1938 and Father Andres Marquez who was then the priest in La Trinidad came and took over. Fr. Marquez, a doctor priest, who before coming to Kayan was already known for his remarkable achievements in providing people comfort in their spiritual and physical health. He was a zealous missionary and easily won the hearts of his parishioners. Fr. Andres loved the people of the Kayan mission and was proud of them. Because of his medical ability and patience in attending to the sick he was well known not only in his mission station but also in the neighboring municipalities of Sagada, Besao, Bontoc and Mankayan.

On May 1940, Fr. Andres Marquez built a beautiful cement church with its equally beautiful interiors. It was blessed by Mons. Jose Billiet, Prefect of the Apostolate of Montanosa. The Church of the Holy Rosary was a monument to the sacrifices of the missionaries and the Christian faith of the Igorots. It defied the odds of getting leveled permanently by American bombers during WWII. Tons of bombs were dropped into the tiny village of Kayan that tore down all visible structures.

Father Andres left on July 1941 and was succeeded by Fr. Luis De Boeck who stayed only up to December of the same year. On the same month, Father Rafael Van Niewvenhove arrived. The mountains then were already occupied by the Japanese. The people evacuated to the forest but the very calm padre stayed. He did not leave his convent, even then, he did not forget his flock. He followed them in their evacuation camps to comfort and render them their spiritual needs, especially that there was an epidemic. He was harassed by Japanese soldiers and he had great difficulty traveling to the hiding places of the evacuees in the depth of the forests. When the war was over, Fr. Rafael left Kayan on February 1945. Father Carlos Desmet took over on June 6, 1945 to November 1946. A makeshift house near the church ruins was used as the church. On December of the same year, Father Harry Geeroms came. In 1950, Fr. GilHuenaerts came and started the reconstruction of the church. Under the skillful supervision of the parish priest and the brother-assistants, the church rose again. Since then, the Kayan Mission continues to survive and expand for the glory of the Lord Jesus.

Following are the clerics who served the mission either as parish priests or assistant parish priests from 1946 to the present:

Rev. Fr. Harry Geeroms
Rev. Fr. Gil Huenaerts
Rev. Fr. Cornelio Zonus
Rev. Fr. Jose Baute
Rev. Fr. Theodoro Bonarius
Rev. Fr. Camilo Dec1erq
Rev. Fr. Leon Dapiaoen
Rev. Fr. Victor Pil
Rev. Fr. Marcos Molitas
Rev. Fr. Vicente Castro
Rev. Fr. Alberto Duggom
Rev. Fr. Vie. Decquoran
Rev. Fr. Brigido Galasgas
Rev. Fr. Hubert Dec1erq
Rev. Fr. Wilfred Daels
Rev. Fr. Francisco Balacuit
Rev. Fr. Francis Dinacas
Rev. Fr. Rogelio Baychon
Rev. Fr. Patricio Guyguyon
Rev. Fr. Valentin Dimoc
Rev. Fr. Herman Bugatti
Rev. Fr. Vincent Sagandoy
Rev. Fr. Andrew Claver