A Brief History of the Diocese of Ilagan

(Isabela)
The history of Christianity in the province of Isabela is
intimately linked with that of its sister provinces in the Cagayan
Valley region, namely Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya. All three
provinces were just one political unit called Cagayan during the
early Spanish period.
Mission stations in the area which later became settlements
were founded by Augustinian and Dominican friars as early as
1717. An earlier attempt at evangelization has been made in a
little place called Ituy, found in what is now Nueva Vizcaya.
Through the efforts of the Augustinians and the Dominicans the
faith spread through out the region.
In 1841 the province of Vizcaya was created occupying the entire lower half of the Cagayan Valley. This
divided the region into two provinces, the demarcation line cutting horizontally across what is now Isabela.
Until 1856 Isabela was just part of the provinces of Cagayan and Nueva
Vizcaya.
In 1856, Isabela province was created, deriving its territory half from
Cagayan and half from Nueva Vizcaya. It was named after Queen
Isabela of Spain, the reigning monarch at that time. Isabela is now the
center province of the Cagayan Valley known as Region II. The entire
region is traversed longitudinally by the Cagayan River, the largest and
the longest river in the country which the Spaniards called the Rio
Grande, or larger river. The capital of Isabela became Ilagan.
During the Philippine Revolution of 1896, Isabela was known to be a
stronghold of Filipino forces under Colonel Daniel Tirona against Spain.
But Isabela is more significantly remembered in the Philippine history as
the place where General Emilio Aguinaldo, the president of the first
Philippine Republic, was unfortunately captured by American forces in
1901, in the town of Palanan.
Today, Isabela is one of the rice granaries of the country. It is also
known for its sprawling fertile valley and forests that are abounding in
flora and fauna. It is home to Magat Dam and Tourism Complex known
to be the highest dam in Asia. It is second largest province in the
country in terms of land area.
The Diocese of Ilagan was created on January 31, 1970. It was canonically erected on May 12, 1970 with
the Most Rev. Francisco R. Cruses, D.D as its first Bishop. Its titular patron is St. Ferdinand. It is a suffragan
of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao. The territorial jurisdiction of the diocese has a total land area of 10,644
square kilometers. The natives of Isabela are: the Ybanags who inhabit the northern towns; and the Yogads
and Gaddangs who are in Echague and Cauayan. Moreover, Ilocanos now comprise majority of the entire
population of the province. Before its separation from the Diocese of Tuguegarao, which was one of the four
new dioceses recognized by Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) by the Bull Mari Sunico and implemented by Pius X
(1903-1914) thru the Decretum Consistoriale on April 19, 1910, Isabela remained under the aegis of the
Diocese of Tuguegarao.
Under the Diocese of Tuguegarao, the first appointed Vicar General was our own Rt. Rev. Msgr. Ricardo
Jamias, D.P., S.T.L. who was also a member of the Council of Administrators, Pro-Synodal Examiners and
Diocesan Directors.
On March 26, 1974, the Most Rev. Miguel G. Purugganan, D.D., a native of Cabagan, Isabela, succeeded the
Most Rev. Francisco R. Cruses, D.D. as Bishop of the Diocese of Ilagan.
On February 10 1997, the Most Rev. Sergio L. Utleg, D.D., a priest of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao from
Solana, Cagayan, was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Ilagan. He was consecrated to the episcopacy on
March 17, 1997. On July 26, 1999, becoming the third Bishop of the Diocese of Ilagan. After a decade of a
Spiritual father of Ilagan, the Most Rev. Sergio L. Utleg was transferred to the Diocese of Laoag.
On January 15, 2007, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Marino D. Gatan, H.P. a native son of the town of Cabagan became the
Diocesan Administrator while the Diocese of Ilagan became sede vacante.
On January 5, 2008, a year and a half after the Diocese was declared vacant, His Holiness Pope Benedict
XVI has appointed Rev. Fr. Joseph Amangi Nacua, OFMCap., a Parish Priest of San Isidro Labrador Parish,
Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay, (Prelature of Ipil) as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Ilagan. He was ordained
Bishop of Ilagan on August 19, 2008 at St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay by His
Excellency Most Rev. Diosdado Tamalayan, D.D. in the presence of the Most Rev. Edward Joseph Adams,
D.D., Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.
There are 37 parishes today in the diocese, served by 40 priests (religious congregations included) and 37
sisters working in related pastoral activities.




















The Bishop

Most Rev. JOSEPH AMANGI NACUA, OFMCap., D.D.
BISHOP

Born: January 5, 1945 in Mankayan, Benguet
Ordained Priest: June 27, 1971
Appointed Bishop of Ilagan: June 05, 2008
Ordained Bishop: August 19, 2008
Installed Bishop of Ilagan: September 9, 2008
Explanation of the Coat of Arms
The Stigmatized Hands
The crossed-over hands are those of Jesus and St. Francis of Assisi;
The Crown
Symbolic statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary
under whose patronage our country is dedicated to; It is also a representation of
Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang, Gamu, Isabela.
The Fleur de lis
The heraldic representation of a lily is a reminder of the lily of St. Joseph -
the protector of the Universal Church.
Three Mountains
Mt. Tabor, where He revealed His identity to His disciples,
Mount of Olives, where He struggled but then accepted the Father's will,
and Mount Calvary, where He completed His work of love for our Redemption;
The Field of Blue
Represents the earth; the Blue Planet, and the wide express of the
Pacific Ocean, which is the ocean of Peace as pacificum means "peaceful"...
PEACE that we all need in our country
THE EPISCOPAL MOTTO
"Recordatus Misericordiae Suae
("Remembering His Mercies Forever")
Former Bishops
Most Rev. Francisco Raval Cruces, D.D.
First Bishop

Born: September 29, 1928 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte
Ordained Priest: March 25,1944
Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan: April 2, 1968
Ordained Bishop: March 04, 1970
Installed Bishop of Ilagan: May 12, 1970
Appointed Archbishop of Zamboanga: August 25, 1973
Most Rev. Miguel Gatan Purugganan, D.D. JCD
Second Bishop

Born: November 18, 1931 in Cabagan, Isabela
Ordained Priest: March 3,1957
Appointed Auxillary Bishop of Nueva Segovia: January 23, 1971
Ordained Bishop: April 22, 1971
Appointed Bishop of Ilagan: January 23, 1974
Installed Bishop of Ilagan: March 26, 1974
Retired: July 26, 1999, Centro, Cabagan, isabela
Most Rev. Sergio Lasam Utleg, D.D.
Third Bishop

Born: September 11,1943 in Solana, Cagayan
Ordained Priest: March 30, 1968
Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Ilagan: February 10, 1997
Ordained Bishop: March 17, 1997 at St. Peter's Cathedral,
Tuguegarao, Cagayan
Installed Bishop of Ilagan: July 26, 1999
Appointed Bishop of Laoag: November 13, 2007
Installed Bishop of Laoag: January 11, 2007



Vicariates and Parishes of the Diocese of Ilagan
Vicariate of Our Lady of Lourdes
Fr. Floyd Codog
Vicar Forane
Parish of St. John Bosco
Quezon 3324 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Darwin Mamauag
Parish of St. Joseph
Mallig 3323 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Virgilio Velasco
Parish of St. John the Evangelist
Quirino 3321 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. John Couvreur, CICM
Parish of Our lady of La Salette
Roxas 3320 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Edmundo Castaneda, Jr.
Parish of San Lorenzo
Burgos 3322 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Herman Bugatti
Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes
San Manuel 3317 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Floyd Codog
<centerParish of St. Isidore the Farmer
Aurora 3316, Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Carlos Marquez</center

Vicariate of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception
Fr. Fr. Emery Cadiz
Vicar Forane
Parish of Our Lady of Immaculate
Conception
Sta. Maria, 3330 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Saturnino Talosig, Jr.
Parish of St. Paul the Apostle
San Pablo 3329 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Emery Cadiz
Parish of St. Joseph Husband of Mary
Sto. Tomas 3327 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Andrew Litiqo, OFM
Deacon: Rev. Edison Tabag, OFM
Parish of St. Paul the Apostle
Cabagan 3328 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Amadeo Vinasoy
Parish of St. Joseph the Spouse
Delfin Albano 3326 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Edward Negrete, O.P.
Parish of St. Matthias
Tumauini 3325 Isabela
Pariish Priest: Fr. Florman Cabauatan

Vicariate of Our Lady of the Visitation
Fr. Daniel Guiyab
Vicar Forane
Parish of St. Elizabeth of Portugal
Sta. Isabel Sur, Ilagan 3300 Isabela
Parish Priest: Joefrey Escorpezo
Parish of St. Ferdinand
Ilagan, 3300
Parish Priest: Fr. Roseller Lora
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel
Calamagui 1st, Ilagan, 3300
Priest: Fr. Ingeno Rapadas (Guest Priest)
Parish of San Antonio de Padua
San Antonio 3300 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Ric-Zeus Angobong
Parish of St. Rose of Lima Our Lady of the Visitation National Shrine
Gamu 3301 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Antonio Ancheta
Guibang, Gamu 3301 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Daniel Guiyab
Parish of St. Joseph the Spouse
Our Lady of Peace Parish
Naguilian, 3302 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Ramon Navarro
Parish of Our Lady of Peace
Benito Soliven 3331 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Edward Negrete, O.P.
<centerParish of St. Thomas Aquinas
San Mariano 3332
Parish Priest: Fr. Peter Simangan</center

Vicariate of Our Lady of the Pillar
Fr. Mario Jerry Daquiuag
Vicar Forane
Parish of St. Anthony de Padua
Reina Mercedes 3303 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Evan Blair Cauan
Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar
Cauayan City 3305 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Angel Luga
Associate Pastor: Fr. Elmer Lozano
Our lady of the Visitation Seminary
Cauayan City 3305 Isabela
Rector: Fr. Francisco Albano
Parish of Our Lady of the Visitation
Luna 3304, Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Mario Jerry Daquiuag
Parish of St. Andrew
Cabatuan 3318 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Buencamino Mendoza
Parish of Our Lady of Atocha
Alicia 3306 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Roseller Martinez
Associate Pastor: Fr. Francisco Uanan
Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer
Angandanan 3307 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Patrick Caro
Parish of San Isidro Labrador
San Guillermo 3308 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Marshall Bartolome II

Vicariate of Our Lady of Holy Rosary
Fr. Carlito G. Sarte
Vicar Forane
Parish of St. Matthew
San Mateo 3318 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Edwin Ramirez
Parish of San Roque
Ramon 3319 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Adondee Arellano, MS
Parish of San Isidro
San Isidro 3310 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Michael Gazzingan
Parish of St. Joseph the Worker
Echague 3309 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Patrick Henry Pua
Parish of Our lady of the Holy Rosary
Jones 3313 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Arnold Sadya-as
Parish of St. Agustine
San Agustin 3314 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Carlos Villanueva
Parish of St. James the Apostle
Santiago City 3311 Isabela
Parish of Sto. Nino de Padua
Cordon 3312 Isabela
Parish Priest: Msgr. John Arthur Bartolome,
VG. Associate Pastor: Fr. Vener Ceperez
Parish Priest: Fr. Carlito Sarte

Vicariate of Our Lady of Abandoned

Vicar Forane
Parish of Mary Magdalene
Palanan 3334 Isabela
Parish Priest: Fr. Sammy Salazar, OFM