Parañaque Cathedral


The Cathedral Parish of Saint Andrew, also known as Saint Andrew's Cathedral or Saint Andrew's Parish, and commonly referred to as the Parañaque Cathedral, is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It was established on by the Spanish Order of Saint Augustine. Today, the church serves as the seat of the diocese of Parañaque, which comprises the cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa.

History

Spanish Period

The story of the parish of St. Andrew started when Augustinian missionaries set foot on a fishing village near the sea, more than four hundred years ago.
left altar
The missionaries' purpose was to evangelize the natives. This would also help facilitate the conquest of islands for Spain. The town was called "Palanyag", the contraction for the word "Paglalayag" which means sailing. At that time, Palanyag consisted of several nipa huts grouped as a residential settlement known as "barangays."
In line with the Papal instruction of May 1493, known as the Inter Caetera, which enjoined the Spanish rulers to spread the gospel to the inhabitants that they would come to rule, it was tasked to the Augustinians to spread Christianity in the lands that they conquered. One town was Palanyag. The pioneer missionary in Parañaque was Fray Juan de Orto, Although based in Manila, he started to administer to the spiritual needs of the village folks in 1575.
In 1580 Fray Diego de Espinal, was appointed superior in the convent of Parañaque. He established a mission house, with its spiritual jurisdiction reaching up to Cavite El Viejo. He was assisted by Fray Francisco Campos, The Conference of Chiefs of the Religious Order, held on May 11, 1580, accepted Palanyag as an independent town, and it is in this date which the foundation day of the Parish of St. Andrew the Apostle was officially known. In the same year also, St. Andrew the Apostle, being the patron of fishermen was officially declared the patron and defender of the said church.
Fray Elviro Jorde Perez, being the Augustinian historian in the 19th century, wrote that as early as 1575, the Provincial Chapter subjected the populace of Palanyag to the patronage of St. Andrew, and later on to the advocacy of the Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag, an image of the blessed virgin Mary enthroned on August 10, 1625.
Since there was no income for parish maintenance at that time, royal support, as ordered by King Felipe II, was given to each religious order who worked on the conversion of the natives. Parañaque, in 1589, was given a periodic sustenance which consisted of 200 pesos and 200 bushels of rice for the two religious assigned at St. Andrew. Later on, financial assistance was given to buy wine and oil to keep the Blessed Sacrament lighted.
During the 16th and 17th century, the Parish of St. Andrew was made up of only a few homes, found mostly along the Parañaque River and Manila Bay in the present barrios of Don Galo, La Huerta and San Dionisio. Later, Tambo, Santo Niño and Baclaran developed. Barrios Don Galo, La Huerta and San Dionisio built bisitas, or satellite chapels with facades built facing the St. Andrew Church. The San Nicolas de Tolentino Chapel, the one located at Barrio La Huerta, still has the inscription 1776, the year the said chapel was erected.
In 1662, when the Chinese pirate Koxinga threatened to invade Manila, Governor General Sabiniano Manrique de Lara ordered the demolition of all stone churches and convents located outside Intramuros, Manila. The stones were used to beef up the defenses of Manila as well as to prevent its use by the enemy as defenses. More than a dozen churches and convents, which included the only one in Parañaque were torn down. The original convent of St. Andrew was demolished.
Fray Eusebio Polo, was the parish priest of St. Andrew in 1759, during the British invasion of Manila. He was then succeeded by Fray Manuel de Sto. Tomas Garcia, in 1762. Both priests were deported to Goa, India, with 12 other fellow Augustinians.

Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

After more than three hundred years of the Augustinians, the missionaries from the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary came to administer the parish. A lot of changes came, including the foundation of the parish's school, St. Andrew's School, the creation of the church's social arm, Parañaque Development Foundation, Inc., the several replacements of the church's altar and the creation of a dome on which the crucifix that signifies the Lord Jesus Christ is placed.

Secularization

Upon secularization on January 1, 1994, the altar was once again replaced and enthroned the image of the Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso in the center tabernacle. Because of the desire to make the altar more attractive, it was again replaced in 1997 by Very Rev. Msgr. Bayani Valenzuela with a classic baroque style. In this said altar, the image of the parish's patron, St. Andrew the Apostle is found on the right hand side of the altar, while the image of St. Joseph is found on the left. In the center of the altar is where the image of Our Lady of Buen Suceso de Palanyag is found.
On January 25, 2005, Most Rev. Jesse Mercado, Bishop of Parañaque launched after the 10 A.M. English Holy Mass the renovation of the cathedral. Rev. Msgr. Manuel G. Gabriel, then parish priest and rector of the cathedral parish, through a special project committee and the pastoral council, spearheaded the massive renovation of the cathedral and gathering of funds to sustain the project. The renovation has changed the Major altar placing the Crucifix on its center, adding two side chapels, replacing the glass windows with stained glass featuring some of the important events in the Life of our Lord Jesus, placing new marble stone on the floor and replacing the roof and ceiling of the cathedral painting the interior walls, replacing the doors, placing an air conditioning units and the restoration of the original image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag and St. Andrew the Apostle. In May 2010, during the 430th year of the church foundation, the newly renovated church was blessed by Bishop Jesse Mercado.

Cathedral

Before Manila Archbishop Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, retired, he erected new dioceses due to the increasing number of the faithful and one of the newly formed dioceses is in Parañaque. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Jesse E. Mercado, was appointed as its first bishop on January 28, 2003.
The church provided a new organ that the choirs use during masses. Also, a cathedra was placed, as a seat for the bishop. The baptismal font was placed in the right hand side of the altar and there were twelve marble stones with crucifixes which symbolizes the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. There was also the setting up of the PowerPoint visuals to guide the parishioners in celebration of the holy masses.
According to Rev. Fr. Jun Interno,, former St. Andrew's School administrator and former parish priest of the Sto. Niño Parish, based on the statistics done in the year 2002, the cathedral is now reaching out to more than 1,000,000 of the failthful.

Parish Priests

Below is the list of the past and present parish priests of the church that paved the way of Christianity within the locality of Palanyag and to the southernmost parts of Metro Manila.

1. Rev. Fr. Diego de Espinal, O.S.A.
2. Rev. Fr. Lorenzo de Leon, O.S.A.
3. Rev. Fr. Francisco del Camo, O.S.A.
4. Rev. Fr. Francisco de Canga Rodriguez, O.S.A.
5. Rev. Fr. Alonso de Vargas, O.S.A.
6. Rev. Fr. Juan de Valderrama, O.S.A.
7. Rev. Fr. Juan Gutierrez, O.S.A.
8. Rev. Fr. Juan Tapia, O.S.A.
9. Rev. Fr. Diego Guevarra, O.S.A.
10. Rev. Fr. Alonso de Vargas, O.S.A.
11. Rev. Fr. Gabriel Rojas, O.S.A.
12. Rev. Fr. Juan de Valderrama, O.S.A.
13. Rev. Fr. Jeronimo de Oviedo, O.S.A.
14. Rev. Fr. Francisco de Castramonte, O.S.A.
15. Rev. Fr. Dionisio Navarro, O.S.A.
16. Rev. Fr. Hernando Cabrera, O.S.A.
17. Rev. Fr. Gaspar de Onis, O.S.A.
18. Rev. Fr. Lorenzo Figueroa, O.S.A.
19. Rev. Fr. Lucas Atienza, O.S.A.
20. Rev. Fr. Pedro Castillo, O.S.A.
21. Rev. Fr. Juan de Guevarra, O.S.A.
22. Rev. Fr. Juan de Montemayor, O.S.A.
23. Rev. Fr. Geronimo Medrano, O.S.A.
24. Rev. Fr. Diego Robles, O.S.A.
25. Rev. Fr. Sebastian del Rio, O.S.A.
26. Rev. Fr. Esteban Manrique, O.S.A.
27. Rev. Fr. Dionisio Suarez, O.S.A.
28. Rev. Fr. Antonio Mojica, O.S.A.
29. Rev. Fr. Baltasar Herrera, O.S.A.
30. Rev. Fr. Jose de Mendoza, O.S.A.
31. Rev. Fr. Luis Herrera, O.S.A.
32. Rev. Fr. Alfonso Clemente, O.S.A.
33. Rev. Fr. Francisco Martinez, O.S.A.
34. Rev. Fr. Carlos Bautista, O.S.A.
35. Rev. Fr. Miguel Rubio, O.S.A.
36. Rev. Fr. Carlos Bautista, O.S.A.
37. Rev. Fr. Alonso Anillas, O.S.A.
38. Rev. Fr. Felipe Castro, O.S.A.
39. Rev. Fr. Jose Ricaforte, O.S.A.
40. Rev. Fr. Francisco Castrillon, O.S.A.
41. Rev. Fr. Ignacio Mercado, O.S.A.
42. Rev. Fr. Felipe Castro, O.S.A.
43. Rev. Fr. Gaspar de San Agustin, O.S.A.
44. Rev. Fr. Simeon Martinez, O.S.A.
45. Rev. Fr. Nicolas de San Pedro del Castillo, O.S.A.
46. Rev. Fr. Gaspar Garcia Sossa, O.S.A.
47. Rev. Fr. Gabriel de la Fuente, O.S.A.
48. Rev. Fr. Gaspar Garcia Sossa, O.S.A.
49. Rev. Fr. Gaspar de San Agustin, O.S.A.
50. Rev. Fr. Juan Antonio Navarette, O.S.A.
51. Rev. Fr. Gabriel de la Fuente, O.S.A.
52. Rev. Fr. Gaspar de San Agustin, O.S.A.
53. Rev. Fr. Alonso Inojedo, O.S.A.
54. Rev. Fr. Matias Mercado, O.S.A.
55. Rev. Fr. Jose Pasamonte, O.S.A.
56. Rev. Fr. Jose Nebot, O.S.A.
57. Rev. Fr. Jose del Ario, O.S.A.
58. Rev. Fr. Bernardo de la Iglesia, O.S.A.
59. Rev. Fr. Nicolas Rodriguez, O.S.A.
60. Rev. Fr. Manuel Barcina, O.S.A.
61. Rev. Fr. Juan Facundo Meseguer, O.S.A.
62. Rev. Fr. Jose Victoria, O.S.A.
63. Rev. Fr. Jose Viar, O.S.A.
64. Rev. Fr. Cristoval Ximenes, O.S.A.
65. Rev. Fr. Jose de Ordones, O.S.A.
66. Rev. Fr. Pedro Turado, O.S.A.
67. Rev. Fr. Domindo Beovide, O.S.A.
68. Rev. Fr. Juan Albarran, O.S.A.
69. Rev. Fr. Remigio Hernandez, O.S.A.
70. Rev. Fr. Manuel Vidal, O.S.A.
71. Rev. Fr. Pablo de Campos, O.S.A.
72. Rev. Fr. Juan Facundo Meseguer, O.S.A.
73. Rev. Fr. Gregorio Gener, O.S.A.
74. Rev. Fr. Eusebio Polo, O.S.A.
75. Rev. Fr. Manuel de Santo Tomas Garcia, O.S.A.
76. Rev. Fr. Jose de Leon, O.S.A.
77. Rev. Fr. Juan de Ignacio de Loyola, O.S.A.
78. Rev. Fr. Julian de Santa Ana, O.S.A.
79. Rev. Fr. Juan Solares, O.S.A.
80. Rev. Fr. Bartolme Solana, O.S.A.
81. Rev. Fr. Francisco Bencuchillo, O.S.A.
82. Rev. Fr. Pedro Hornillo, O.S.A.
83. Rev. Fr. Bernardo Notario, O.S.A.
84. Rev. Fr. Domindo Gorasarii, O.S.A.
85. Rev. Fr. Pedro de San Agustin Perez, O.S.A.
86. Rev. Fr. Narciso de Ayala
87. Rev. Fr. Juan Izaga, O.S.A.
88. Rev. Fr. Manuel Recio, O.S.A.
89. Rev. Fr. Tomas Garcia, O.S.A.
90. Rev. Fr. Andres Patino, O.S.A.
91. Rev. Fr. Juan de la Madrid, O.S.A.
92. Rev. Fr. Celedonio Hernandez
93. Rev. Fr. Juan de la Madrid, O.S.A.
94. Rev. Fr. Gregorio Gallego, O.S.A.
95. Rev. Fr. Joaquin Martinez de Zuñiga, O.S.A.
96. Rev. Fr. Andres Carpintero, O.S.A.
97. Rev. Fr. Gervacio Estar, O.S.A.
98. Rev. Fr. Pedro Juan Pometa, O.S.A.
99. Rev. Fr. Joaquin Martinez de Zuñiga, O.S.A.
100. Rev. Fr. Raymundo Martinez, O.S.A.
101. Rev. Fr. Juan Rico, O.S.A.
102. Rev. Fr. Andres Vehil, O.S.A.
103. Rev. Fr. Raymundo Martinez, O.S.A.
104. Rev. Fr. Jose Maria de Torres, O.S.A.
105. Rev. Fr. Hilario del Rosario, O.S.A.
106. Rev. Fr. Manuel Miranda, O.S.A.
107. Rev. Fr. Manuel Jaraba, O.S.A.
108. Rev. Fr. Francisco Miro, O.S.A.
109. Rev. Fr. Agustin de San Clemente, O.S.A.
110. Rev. Fr. Manuel Blanco, O.S.A.
111. Rev. Fr. Antonio Llanos, O.S.A.
112. Rev. Fr. Bonifacio Albarran, O.S.A.
113. Rev. Fr. Gregorio Prieto, O.S.A.
114. Rev. Fr. Matias Noboa, O.S.A.
115. Rev. Fr. Santiago Diaz, O.S.A.
116. Rev. Fr. Francisco Royo, O.S.A.
117. Rev. Fr. Jose Diaz, O.S.A.
118. Rev. Fr. Emilio Nulle, O.S.A.
119. Rev. Fr. Victor Perez, O.S.A.
120. Rev. Fr. Guillermo Diaz, O.S.A.
121. Rev. Fr. Manuel Ocol
122. Rev. Fr. Perfecto Lipoco
123. Rev. Fr. Miguel Tomas
124. Rev. Fr. Corneliode Brouwer, C.I.C.M.
125. Rev. Fr. Joseph Van Runckelen, C.I.C.M.
126. Rev. Fr. Victor de Klerck, C.I.C.M.
127. Rev. Fr. Joseph Van Runckelen, C.I.C.M.
128. Rev. Fr. Antonio Van Overveld, C.I.C.M.
129. Rev. Fr. Adolfo Cansse, C.I.C.M.
130. Rev. Fr. Louis Thys, C.I.C.M.
131. Rev. Fr. Paul Foulon, C.I.C.M.
132. Rev. Fr. Francis Gevaert, C.I.C.M.
133. Rev. Fr. Romerico Prieto
134. Rev. Msgr. Manuel Sebastian, P.C.
135. Rev. Msgr. Bayani Valenzuela, P.C., S.T.L.
136. Rev. Msgr. Manuel G. Gabriel, P.C., S.T.D.
137. Rev. Fr. Rolando R. Agustin
138. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Allen C. Aganon, P.C., V.G.
139. Very Rev. Fr. Augusto C. Pulido '''

Tripartite Council and Commissions

In order to achieve the parish's vision, the Tripartite Council was formed - the first the Parish Formation Council, headed by ------, the next is the Parish Pastoral Council, headed by Mr. Conrado Espiritu III, and the third Council is the Parish Finance Council, headed by Mr. Rolando B. De Leon.

Annual events

Feasts

Every year, the parish community of St. Andrew's celebrate two main feasts. First of them is the feast of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag. There was a plenty of misinformation about the Feast of Our Lady of Buen Suceso de Palanyag. After the World War II up to year 2004, the feast is celebrated every 29th day of November, therefore, there is no original feast and it depends upon the situation and needs of the faithful. The feast day of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag was then moved to August 10 in the year 2005, in line with her enthronement in this said parish by the Augustinians back in the year 1625. A novena prayer in honor of the Blessed Virgin is prayed for nine days before the actual feast day. Traslacion happens during the first day of novena from Sta. Monica chapel to Cathedral. But during the term of Rev.Fr. Rolando Agustin, the Traslacion was stopped because according to Fr. Agustin it's unliturgical. During the feast day itself, a procession is held at around 4 p.m. and a Solemn Mass follows. The same is also done during the feast day of the parish's patron, St. Andrew the Apostle.

Feast dates approved by the Diocese of Parañaque:
January 25 - Being a cathedral and seat of the bishop of Parañaque
May 11 - Being a parish church of Parañaque
August 1–9 - Novena Masses in honour to Our Lady of Buen Suceso de Palanyag
August 10 - Feast day and Enthronement of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag
August 10 - Being a Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag
September 8 - Canonical coronation of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag
November 21–29 - Novena Masses in honour of St. Andrew the Apostle
November 30 - Feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle

Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag

September 8, 2000 was the date when the image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag was canonically crowned as the Patroness of the City of Parañaque. Last September 8, 2010, the official replica made by Tom Joven was blessed including the book of sacrifice, the petition box and the thanksgiving box by Msgr. Manuel Gabriel during the Solemn High Mass. The Diocese of Parañaque approved a decree signed by the chancellor and the Bishop of Parañaque that the Cofradia de Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso was tasked to promote, propagate and preserve the devotion and shall be the custodian of the original image. The Recamaderas de la Virgen who are exclusively women whose members come from each sub-parishes, are primarily responsible for vesting the image together with the Commission on Patrimony that conducts the periodic inspection of the structural integrity and supervise the vesting of the image and its jewelries. They also instructed Mr. Matt Ryan de Leon to be the Camarero or Steward of our Lady of the Good Event. A manual "The Care of the Image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso: Policies and Procedures" was made kept by the cathedral office for the primary care of the original image of the Virgin Mary.

Renovation

On January 25, 2009 Rev. Msgr. Manuel G. Gabriel, the parish priest and rector of the cathedral parish launched the major renovation of the cathedral with the blessing of Most Rev. Jesse E. Mercado, DD. The renovation has changed the Major altar placing the Crucifix on its center, adding two side altars, replaced the glass windows with stained glass featuring some of the important events in the Life of our Lord Jesus, placed new marble stone on the floor and replaced the roof and ceiling of the cathedral painting the interior walls, replaced the doors, placed air conditioning units and has restored the image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso and St. Andrew the Apostle.
The newly renovated Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew was blessed on May 22, 2010 in line with the celebration of the 430th Dedication of St. Andrew's Parish.

Dedication of being the Parish of St. Andrew

The cathedral and Parañaqueños celebrated the 430th anniversary of St. Andrew Parish as a parish on May 11, 2010 with its theme: "Dakilang Pagdiriwang ng ika-430 taon ng Ebanghelisasyon at Biyaya...Tayo na, Pumalaot at Mamalakaya...". It was a one-week celebration starting May 11, 2010, until the blessing of the cathedral on May 22, 2010. The program included Parañaque traditions such as Grand Sunduan of all sub-parishes, Sayaw ng Pagbati Festival, Komedya ng San Dionisio, Food and Crafts Exhibit, Music Festival and the Parañaque/Palanyag Movie.

Declaration of being a Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag

In August 10, 2012, with the DOP Decree No. 2012-005 the Cathedral-Parish of St. Andrew was Officially made into a Diocesan Shrine of the Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag. After the Greeting during the Mass, Most Rev. Bishop Jesse Mercado D.D. through Rev. Fr. Carmelo Estores, read the declaration of the Cathedral-Parish of St. Andrew as the Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag.

Resources and bibliography