PREFACE

This compilation of Church Histories stemmed from the desire of the compiler to put up a
record of the beginnings of every Local Church in the South Bicol Conference covering the
Provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate and Catanduanes.

The value of record cannot be underestimated. Much effort had been exerted by modern
historians digging into the past in order to find out how Christianity began, developed and
progressed in the different countries of the World, only to find out that sufficient records were
not available. Their painstaking research ended on conjectures and approximations.

The Church histories enclosed herewith were written by Local Churches themselves
through their church workers or volunteer members of the Congregation.

Style, form ang language used were left to the discretion of the writer. Since the writers
are not professional historians, deficiencies in form, style, grammar, etc., are under your care.

This compilation is merely an attempt to put into file some important records for basic
information and reference. It is the desire of the compiler that those churches whose histories
have not been included in this initial binding, will try their best to submit such histories, so they
could be included in the second printing.

This material awaits for somebody who could put it into a more comprehensive, more
complete and more refined structure.

Rose M. Jardinel
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Thanks are due first of all to the individual writers of each local church, namely: Rev. Joel
R. Camba; Mrs. Natividad Obiles; Pastor Teodoro L. Jesalva; Mr. Conrado M. Vibar; Pastor Josue
Lipata; Mr. Donato O. Olavere; Mr. Sergio N. Escoto; Mrs. Gwendoly J. Completo; Mr. Pio Mata;
Mrs. Nellie Primavera Rubic; Mr. Ronaldo Robles; Mr. Antero O. Paclibar Sr.; Pastor Rebecca CP.
Orlina; Pastor Aber Bartolata; Mr. Santiago Banalnal; Mr. Salvador Baltar; Mr. Heracleo Divino;
Mrs. Ruth B. Canon; Rev. Luz Jardinel Mella; Pastor Ernesto Buitizon together with the Ruiz
family.

Secondly, to the Committee who edited the manuscript. Miss Maria T. Teves and Mrs.
Maria G. Pejo.

To Miss Merlyn T. Olivar who painstakingly typed the manuscript overworking herself,
and Mr. Tony Mesa, who did the mimeographing job, and to the South Bicol Conference
Treasurer who advanced the financing of this project.

And finally, to Rev. David G. Asurto, the incumbent Moderator for his inspiring
introduction;

To them we owe a debt of gratitude, without whose contributions and efforts, the
compilation of this simple, initial project would not have been made possible.

R.M.J.
 INTRODUCTION

One of God’s most wonderful gifts to man is “memory”- the ability to remember.
Without it life could be very dull, unexciting and meaningless. When one wakes up in the
morning he will not remember who he is, where he is, or where he came from; he remembers
nothing about his relationship to peoples around, hence no friends or loved ones to be
concerned about; no experience no matter how sweet and pleasant to cherish or bitter or
horrible one that haunt. Without memory life, individually or corporately, would have been a
series of day to day empty existence.

This is perhaps the reason why the Bible is replete with the word “remember”. The Bible
as a book of history of what God has done through the ages that gives us insight of what is doing
today and will still do tomorrow, will be meaningless and useless were it not for this precious gift
to retain events in ones memory.

The following compilation of the brief history of each of the Local Churches within the
South Bicol Conference, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, is being undertaken with the
hope of giving worth and meaning to what God and how God accomplishes his will and purpose
in and through those who were out there in the frontiers ahead of us. Their seal, courage, loyalty
and sincerity in doing their share in God’s mission and should serve as source of strength and
inspiration for us today and for those after us.

We there encourage the churches who, as of now, have not yet sent in their portion in
this venture to hurry it up. The next volume of this piece of work is well on the way to include
hopingly, all the missing, yet important accounts in the life of the churches concerned.

Moderator DAVID G. ASURTO

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No.

P R E F A C E --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ii

INTRODUCTION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iii

CHURCH HISTORIES:

Albay Evangelical Church 5

Bacacay Evangelical Church 13

Daraga Evangelical Church 15

Del Rosario Evangelical Church 19

Gubat Evangelical Church 21

Guinobatan Evangelical Church 35

Inapugan Evangelical Church 37

Irosin Evangelical Church 41

Lacag Evangelical Church 47

Matnog Evangelical Church 49

Pilar Evangelical Church 51

Pioduran Evangelical Church 55

San Jacinto Evangelical Church 62

Sto. Domingo Evangelical Church 65

San Pedro Congregation 67

Siuton Evangelical Church 68

Sorsogon Evangelical Church 70

Tabaco Evangelical Church 78

SOUTH BICOL CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 79

SBC CHURCH WORKERS DIRECTORY 82

******************************************************************

5
ALBAY EVANGELICAL CHURCH
United Church of Christ in the Philippines

Historical Development of AEC

“ The history of the Albay Evangelical Church begins with a story

of the faith and zeal of the first American Missionaries and the early
converts. Many of them are not written here nor their achievements
mentioned, but who nonetheless helped passed on the torch that the
little ones should not perish but have everlasting life. Their love and
dedication to the work live or are immortalized in the lives of little
children, young people, and adults who are keeping up with the faith.”

As we look through the years, there is much to be thankful for and proud of. We are
grateful to God for sustaining and strengthening the life and fellowship of this Church in spite of
the many trials and vicissitudes of time and circumstances. God in His infinite mercy and love
blessed the life of our church much more abundantly than we ever realized. And this is our
Church – the Albay Evangelical Church!

The Dawn of Evangelical Christianity in the Bicol Region

The year was 1902, at Sagpon, Daraga, Albay, inside the American Military installation
with the Rev. James B. Rodgers, Mr. Strauss, and American soldiers held the very first Evangelical
Worship Service here in the Bicol Region, the first that the Bicolanos observed.

First Presbyterian Mission:

The Rev. Dr. James B. Rodgers was the first Presbyterian Missionary to the Philippines,
coming in 1899 from Brazil and had his missionary meeting in Iloilo, and upon instructions, came
to Albay by a small army boat. It was at his arrival in Albay that he led the first Evangelical Service
of Worship witnessed by the Bicolanos with the assistance of one known only by the name of Mr.
Strauss. The service was purposely done for the American Army officers and enlisted men.
Although the mission headquarters was stationed in the Province of Albay, the mission work
covered the whole Bicol.

- 1-
 6

But then, it was in the following year that the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Mission, USA
sent its pioneering missionary Rev. and Mrs. Roy Brown, who worked for Evangelical Christianity
among the people of the Bicol province and had brought the first motor cycle in the palace and
when he rides on his motor cycle, its roaring sound that attracted the people named his as “the
riding devil”.

The First Albay Converts:

The Browns had been faithful to their work, and as they went on their mission, the
Albayanos became interested in the evangelical faith and began to embrace the same. Among
those first Albayanos who were taken into the new discovered faith were prominent citizens of
the province. To mention the first one were Quiterio Oca, Leopoldo Verdote, Sr., Matias Jaucian,
the Contreras family, and the Dia family. The work spread to the barrios and not very long after
may people were Baptized to the faith. Then the first evangelical congregation in Albay was
organized.

The First Congregation Organized:

Rev. Brown’s work in Albay was not confined as already mentioned to one province; but
the mission was throughout the region. But in Albay alone, since it was the chosen headquarters
had much of the contact with the missionaries and so following the “good harvest”, the first
Congregation was organized in a small barrio in Legazpi (now the capital city of Albay) called
Banog. The present name is San Francisco, the year 1904.

With the new converts amidst the strong Roman Catholic saturated area under the
Franciscan Order, the gospel was spreading rapidly like fire in the nearby town of Daraga. The
evangelization was great, and new converts were being added to the present number until finally
a second congregation was organized in the same year where a chapel was built in Sagpon,
Daraga. Th first convert in the second congregation were father and son team (Tomas and Claro
Velasco respectively) the Maravillas family. Tomas Velasco was became the first baptized
convert then in that area after which he became its president until the congregation became an
organized church. Meetings were held in the home of the Browns which was formerly owned by
the Warner Barnes Co. before the chapel built in Sagpon, Albay near the Lealda Electric Company
(now the ALECO, Albay Electric Cooperative).

Aside from the Sunday School classes and a service of worship every Sunday morning,
there were two other services held in the evening: one for English Congregation (American
teachers, army officers and enlisted men) and the other one for the Bicol congregation.
 - 2–
7
The “Old Danday” Evangelistic Campaign

Like other stories of evangelism that we know, in trade or business, Tia Danday’s
personal evangelism is similar because she was engaged in selling “sechirias” goods. Having
faithfully attended Sunday School classes, prayer meetings, worship services finally inspired her
to tell stories about Jesus and the good news of salvation in Christ. Each customer she had,
heard of her stories and her new found faith and Lord. People would gather around and her
sechirias and while selling she continued telling stories of Jesus. And it became a fact that
through her many souls were brought to Christ. Anywhere you go you’ll hear the Old Danday or
about her and her sechirias, the “travellingevangelist”.

The Birth of Albay Evangelical Church

The growing need for a church building was great, as probably realized, when the
temporary church building nearly caught fire in Legazpi in 1924. The members with the assistance
of the missionary acquired a new lot where the present church building is located. The transfer of
Rev. Kenneth P. Macdonald from Naga, Camarines Sur in 1920 to Albay. Legazpi was a blessing
being a builder himself. In this report he wrote the following statement.

“The new concrete church of Albay Congregation is being

gotten ready as rapidly as various shades of red tapes can
be unwound. Just now we are held up by a new building law
which comes close to demanding the impossible. We are
confident however, that the matter can be adjusted in some
ways or the other. We had already begun the assembling of the
materials before this difficulties arose. The various delays may
make it necessary to postpone the work till February to avoid the
wet season”.

Note in the report submitted by the Macdonalds that problems had been encountered
with the government, in securing building permit. But as expected everything went on smoothly.

Laying of the Corner stone

The laying of the corner stone of the Albay Evangelical Church took place in 1925 when it
now stands. Great work had been exerted by the Rev. Macdonald that the construction was
finished in 1927. Many of the materials were donated by faithful members of the church like
Lazaro Frias and others.

I was during the laying of the corner stone that Dr. and Mrs. William MacAnlis and family
arrived from Dumaguete to become the permanent missionary doctor for Albay.
 - 3-

The Church Destroyed and Rebuilt

When the war 11 broke out, there was great destruction in the City. The left wing which
was the Sunday School building of the church was hit by a bomb. When peace time came the
church members continued to hold Sunday Worship services and Sunday schools classes under a
borrowed tent pitched beside the ruined building. A certain member Andong Cruz put up a sign
which read; “CHURCH SERVICES HELD HERE EVERY SUNDAY AT 8:00 AM”.

The MacDonals got hard time at the Japanese Concentra Camp in Fort Santiago, they got
sick especially Rev. MacDonald and was forced to have furlough for recovery. Upon their return
the construction was completed.

The Pastorate:

The Albay Evangelical Church being formally organized on October 9, 1927 had gone
through rigid tests and trials, and crucial experiences in her life. Pastors come and go serving
God’s people in different terms and length of service. Prior to the formal call of a minister under
the officially organized church, a number of pastors and workers had served the Albay
Congregations which comprise Albay (district of Legazpi), Legazpi proper and Daraga. Rev. James
B. Rodgers came in 1902 with Mr. Strauss, in 1903 Rev. and Mrs. Roy H. Brown, Sr., Pablo Dia of
Bacon, Sorsogon and evangelist in Cebu was taken by Rev. Brown to assist in the mission in 1905.

The fruitful years came then, when in 1911 three deaconesses were added to the work in
Albay, Daraga and Legazpi namely: Miss Geronima Solano (later became Mrs. Emiliano Reyes),
Miss Dolores Maravillas and Miss Apolonia Dino).The foremost among the church workers was
the first ordained lady minister in Bicol and second in the Philippines; the late Rev. Agripina N.
Moralde, the Lola Pening to all who started her work in 1915 after her studies at Ellinwood,
Manila.

When the church building was finished in 1927 official call for a minister offered to Rev.
Leonardo G. Dia, who served the church until 1939 when he accepted the pastorate of Bradford
Evangelical Church in Cebu. Rev. Dia became a Bishop and was elected General Assembly
Moderator of the United Evangelical Church on the same year.

Rev. Vicente Constantino succeeded Rev. Dia as pastor of the church(1938-46) with
Socorro Moralde (now Mrs. Ernesto Songco) as deaconess.

Even during the Japanese occupation, Rev. Constantino managed to hold regular Sunday
School Classes and divine worship services on Sundays. The members who evacuated to the
nearby barrios would come down for the services. The Pastor was also in constant touch with
them in their hiding places.

- 4–

In 1948, Benjamin Echano served the church as an intern Pastor after the reconstruction of
the building due to world war 11. When Mr. Benjamin Echano left Rev. Solomon Quila accepted
the pastorate and served the church starting 1949 to 1952. The following year did not have a
permanent pastor but continued to function as church and the manse was constructed for the
incoming pastor.

In 1954, Rev. Dario B. Alampay, a new graduates of the Union Theological Seminary
accepted the call of the church and was ordained that same year. With him was Mr. Gerardo
Natuel a graduate of Albay Bible School, working as an evangelist of the church until 1959. Rev.
Agripina Moralde served as acting pastor when Rev. Alampay went on a special study in India,
while the Baranuelo sisters (Socorro and Josefina) worked as deaconesses for the barrios.

At the end of Rev. Moralde’s term, Mr. Salvador Viste served as assistant pastor in 1961-
1962.

Inn1963, Rev. Alampay returned from India but was elected as Moderator of the former
South Bicol Annual Conference (now South Bicol Conference), but then Rev. David G. Asurto was
called to be the associate pastor for the church. Cordula Israel worked as a deaconess of the
Church.

In June 1964, Rev. Alampay was called to Ellinwood Malate Church and Rev. Assurto was
elected Moderator of the South Bicol Annual Conference. A young Pastor Rev. Erme R. Camba
responded to the call for a minister of Albay Evangelical Church. He served Guinobatan
Evangelical Church until that call of albay Church. Rev. Erme R. Camba then served until 1969
when he was give scholarship for further study in Silliman University, then went on to teach at
the Union Theological Seminary, during his pastorate. Mrs. Marcelina Marasigan succeeded Miss
Cordula Israel as church pianist.