NUESTRA SENORA DE SALVACION PARISH PROFILE:
I. Nuestra Senora de
Salvacion Parish (F:
1971; EP: 1993)
II. Address: Brgy. Banago, Bacolod
City
III. Lot: Donated by Mr. Avelino
Torrecampo and Family
IV. Titular: Nuestra
Senora de Salvacion
V. Feast Day: November 30
VI. Vicariate: Bacolod
VII. Parish Priest (as of March 2009): Fr. Christopher
Entrata
VIII. Chronology of
Assigned Priests at Nuestra Senora de
Salvacion Parish:
As Part of Community Area of San Sebastian
some of the priests who celebrated Mass here were:
Fr. Antonio Y. Fortich 1945-1949
Fr. Pablo Decena 1949-1951
Fr. Antonio Santes 1952
Fr. Manuel Porques 1953
Fr. Romeo Esteban 1954-1961
Fr. RomeoEsteban 1961-1964
Fr. Gregorio Gigomo Jr. 1964-1968
Chaplaincy(1969):
1.
Fr. Norberto Chavez 1969-1973: was assigned Parochial Vicar of Villamonte: Immaculate Concepcion
Parish, Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City
2. Fr. Sol Puentespina(POM) 1973-May 17, 1979:
3.
Fr. Alan Abadesco(POM) May 17, 1979-
4. Fr. Ireneo Gordoncillo
5. Fr. Tom Coyle,
6.
Fr. Gerson Balitor 1986-Dec. 6,1988: was transferred to San Sebastian
7.
Fr. Telesforo Sardon 1987-1989:
Parish(January 1994):
Fr. Fr. Telesforo Sardon 1989-1997:
8.
Fr. Armando Onion March 10, 1997-
Parochial Vicar:
Fr. Ivan Victor Intong 1996-1999:
Parochial Vicar:
Fr. Jesmar Manato
Fr. Serafin Nava (one month
of 1994)
Fr. Christopher Entrata
9.
Fr. Gregorio Patino ____-April 18, 2005
10.
Fr. Christopher Entrata 2005-April 2009
VIII.
Religious vocations of men and women from Nuestra Senora de
Salvacion Parish:
Nun:
Felicity Boy, OSB
Nota
Bene:
The Banago
Pagsaulog ’97 parish fiesta program indicated that in 1953 reshuffling
Fr. Manuel Y. Porquez substituted Fr. Antonio Santes. This may be an honest miscalculation of the
date because according to the Priests’ Profile of the Diocese, Fr. Porquez was
only ordained priest in 1955 by Bishop Manuel Yap.
Fr. Norberto
Chavez was assigned to the chaplaincy in
1969 and stayed with the people. Thus, the foundation of the parish should not
have been 1971 but 1969. Daily Masses were held already in 1969, so despite the
absence of a formal convent, the ministry was established already by this time. The only lay organization was the Legion of Mary.
Fr. Chavez was a
bit strict when it comes to the holiness of the church. He used to use sling shot to shoo away
chickens from the church.
Introduction
On the night of ____________Sayong
was having a difficult delivery of her first child at their two-storey house at
Sayong. Lino was already upseat, irritated, anxious and excited at the same
time about the coming of a new member in his family. But the smooth delivery
did not come as anticipated, the child seemed to be comfortably fitted to where
he was that he seemed to resist the paltera’s
act of tugging him out. Because of fear for
dangerous situation his wife was in and the religious impulse in the
good-natured man, he grabbed the Nuestra Senora de La Salvacion statue in their
altar and put it over the bulging abdominal section of his wife. At that same
time he was asking the Virgin’s intercession to safe the mother and the baby
from the impending danger. After which the baby simply slipped out of his Mom
as if saying the time for him to come out had come!
The simple manug-da-ol due to sheer industry was
able to buy a punot and increased its
number and was able later to buy lots in Banago and other areas. Avelino, the grade six graduate through Caton
pedagogy was able to send his sons and daughters to college to different
schools in Negros and Panay . In 1960s he
divided the lots among his seven children in Banago with the intention that
they would not scatter away from the vicinity of his home. They were each given 700 sq. m. lot. This
despite the fact that other offspring were still minors.
Don Julio Ledesma
and Dona Purina Ledesma expressed to Fr. Manuel Y. Porquez that they were willing to spend for the church construction
if there would be a lot donated for the purpose. This was their way of thanking God for the
success of Negros Navigation which was originally based in Banago. The heirs of
Mr. Avelino Torrecampo believed that in the Last Will of Don Julio he
stipulated his wish to build a church and even a stated explicitly the amount
for church construction.
The interest of the
Ledesma couple of building a church touched the generous hearts of Mr. Avelino
Torrecampo and wife, Mrs Salome
Torrecampo which ultimately led to the donation of about 1,000 sq. m. lot for the church.
The
Phenomenological Church
1969-1980. In 1969, Fr.
Norberto Chavez was assigned as the permanent Chaplain of Banago. He renovated
the chapel with the help of the laity and even with the cooperation of the
barrio officials. He was the one who
initiated the construction of the convent with the generous cooperation of the
community. A convent was constructed for him to live. Regular schedules for
baptism, marriages and other sacraments and sacramentals were provided to he
community. He fixed the patronal fiesta
every December 16.
He activated the
Legion of Mary which increased the number of praesedia through his guidance. The Banago Youth Club was organized
which gave the youth the opportunity to share their talents and skills. A choir was established to enliven the
liturgical celebrations. Through Fr. Chavez’ invitation, the Carmelite sisters
did some pastoral work in the community. They provide skills training and thus,
job opportunities to the jobless youth.
The projects and
programs of Fr. Chavez were maintained by his successor, Fr. Sol
Puentespina. Fr. Sol emphasized
community involvement to the congregation by conducting seminars to different
sectors about their human rights as well as responsibility to others through Alay-Kapwa.
The Kristianong Katilingban was consolidated and many communities
resulted. These communities strengthened their unity through the Panimbahon which provided the
participants the opportunities to read and reflect on the Biblical texts. The
Bible through this Panimbahon came
alive, it became down-to-earth, not anymore fanciful and irrelevant. Many areas
were reached and area masses were held regularly. He gave attention to the plight of the poor and the oppressed. He renovated the chapel.
Fr. Alan Abadesco
took the responsibility of ministering the Banago congregation after Fr. Sol’s
term ended on May 17, 1979. The giftedness of Fr. Sol seemed to have rubbed on
the soul of Fr. Alan because he continued on his concern for the less
fortunate. To make the congregation aware of their belongingness to one
chaplaincy, he initiated the image visitation of Nuestra Senora de Salvacion to every Purok covering until Sibucao
and San Patricio.
1981-1990. The initiative and innovation of Fr. Alan seemed to be limitless. He
was able to convince different sectors to sponsor the Novena Masses for the
Patroness. The sponsors included the families, purok officials, youth groups,
professionals, drivers, mothers, small fisher folks and etcetera. The Pastoral Council was activated and dynamic
officers were chosen in 1981 which led to the successful Pastoral visit of
Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich.
He initiated the
Living Rosary during the month of October.
Through his urgings the youth trained in acting and cultural
presentations. Thus, the liturgy and cultural programs were venues for dramas
depicting human struggle and liberation. Duriong his term the Catechist were
trained and assigned to public schools.
The increased number of Sunday Mass goers became observable.
Fr. Gerson Balitor
came in 1985 as Chaplain. He continued the programs of his predecessors but he initiated
oriental healing to members who were interested in the skill. He demonstrated acupuncture and applied this art
of healing to some church members with positive results. He led the construction of the new
chapel. This project was completed by
the incoming priest, Fr. Telesforo Sardon.
1991-2000. In 1993, a very
active coordinator of BCC of Banago Parish, Mrs. Anita Oria, attended Diocesan
Pastoral Congress. The congress passed and approved 128 resolutions. It was
promulgated January 20, 1994. She was converted from a protestant church in the
late seventies to Catholicism because of the Catholic’s involvement in the life
of the poor.
It was during Fr. Sardon’s
term that Banago chaplaincy was declared a Parish on January 1994. On December
6, 1996, a young and energetic Parochial Vicar assisted the parish in the
person of Fr. Ivan Intong. With his
guidance, the youth groups initiated the Daigon ‘96 , the proceed of which
was used to acquire the new sound system
of the church.
On April 6, 1997
Fr. Armando Onion was installed by Bishop Camillo Gregorio as Parish Priest. By
a short span of time, the spirited pastor successfully persuaded the
participation of thirty one Puroks in
the May Flower Festival. With the help
of retired school teacher, Mrs. Filomena Hibaler, a Learning Center
2001-2009. The construction of a huge modern-church-structure which was the new
Banago Parish Church America who wrote in his Will
that a certain amount would be used for the Church construction of Banago Church
The Church of the Poor
The donation of
lots by the family of Torrecampo Family and Children: was considered as a manifestation of the
Church of the poor. The sharing of a simple man of his blessings to the church
for all members to share personified the Church of the poor. Among the Urban parishes, the Banago parish,
could be considered as being the most faithful to its calling as the Church of
the poor. Not only because of what it is but more so because of its history and
struggles.
The Banago Parish
had also it share of lapses. There were
times that, the spiritual aspect of man was more emphasized but there were more
times that the physical aspect of man was more emphasized. Both led to unfortunate ends of extreme
spirituality on the one hand and extreme activism on the other. But the latter impressed more on the mind of
the community than the former.
The urban parish of
Banago would forever be conscious to the plight of the less privileged. Its
history had taught it to be that way. The poor members who have a bit to share
will always share following the footsteps of the Torrecampos and other unknown
personalities who in one way or other have touched lives and changed characters
by their lifestyle.
SOURCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY:
A. Primary Sources
A.1. Unpublished
Documents:
1. Books of
Baptismal Records of Nuestra Senora de Salvacion Parish
2. Books
Marriage Records of Nuestra Senora de Salvacion Parish
3. Books of
Death Records of Nuestra Senora de Salvacion Parish
4. Books of
Appointments of Priests of the Diocese of Bacolod
5. Books of Profile of Priests of the Diocese of
Bacolod
A.2. Interviews:
1. Fr. Christopher Entrata at Banago Parish
Church
2. Fr. Gerson Balitor at his residence in Sum-ag on March 3,
2009. Fr. Balitor was parish priest of Banago Parish
from 1986-1988.
3. Fr. Ivan Intong at La Herencia
Subd., Bacolod City
4. Mr. Eduardo Torrecampo at his
residence on March 20, 2009. Mr. Torrecampo is the only son of the Mr.
Avelino Torrecampo, the donor of the Church lot. He is a former Punong
Barangay of Banago.
A. 3. Plaques, Monuments, Physical Evidence of
Historical Value
1.
The more than one hundred year
old Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Statue donated by Mr. Avelino and Mrs. Salome
Torrecampo could still be viewed by devotees in the present (May 2009) parish
church.
2.
The bust of Mr. Avelino
Torrecampo at the right side of the parish church with inscriptions about his
donation of the church lot.
`B. Secondary
Sources:
B.1. Books:
1. Romero, Ma. Fe Hernaez. Negros Occidental Between Two Powers (1888- 1909).
Negros Occidental Historical Commission,
Bacolod City
B.2. Memoirs and Articles:
1. Handurawan, 2006
2. 2008 Catholic Directory of the
Diocese of Bacolod
C.
Websites:
1. Diocese of Bacolod
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