Our Lord’s Transfiguration Parish – Palo

District
Eastern District

Vicariate
Palo Vicariate

Feastday
August 6

PRIESTS CURRENTLY ASSIGNED

Parish Priest
Urbina, Rev. Gilbert G.

Parochial Vicars
Espiño, Rev. Adrian M.
Tiguelo, Rev. Pedro C.

PRIESTS FORMERLY ASSIGNED

JESUIT ADMINISTRATION (1596 – 1768)

The Early Jesuit Pioneers: 

1596 – Rev. Fr. Cristobal Jimenez, S.J., Rev. Fr. Francisco Encinas, S.J.
1598 – Rev. Fr. Alonso Humanes, S.J., Bro. Alonso del Barco
1601 – Rev. Fr. Alonso Rodriguez, S.J.
1602 – 1613  Rev. Fr. Pascual Acuña, S.J.

Note: By 1690’s the Jesuits grown in number, they started to assign permanent priest-in-charge in particular towns or mission stations then called “Operarius” literally means missionary in charge. However, It was only 1695 when Palo had its permanent missionary. The following are the operarius who were assigned to town:

JESUIT OPERARIUS (1695 – 1768)

1695 – 1698  Rev. Fr. Pedro Vello, S.J.
1698 – 1714  Rev. Fr. Mauricio Pereira, S.J.
1714 – 1721  Rev. Fr. Pedro Farriz, S.J.
1721 – 1728  Rev. Fr. Martin Gil, S.J.
1728 – 1732  Rev. Fr. Pedro Estrada, S.J.
1732 – 1735  Rev. Fr. Bartolommeo Lugo, S.J.
1735 – 1739  Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Herrero, S.J.
1739 – 1748  Rev. Fr. Juan de Eguia, S.J.
1748 – 1749  Rev. Fr. Angelo Brescia, S.J.
1749 – 1754  Rev. Fr. Bartolommeo Lugo, S.J.
1754 – 1760  Rev. Fr. Roque Corbino, S.J.
1760 – 1768  Rev. Fr. Juan Miguel de la Cuesta, S.J. (last Jesuit Parish Priest and Rector of Palo)

Note: In 1768, The Jesuit Missionaries were later expelled by the Royal Order of the King of Spain known as “The Pragmatic Sanction”. The last Jesuit priest who served at the time of Expulsion was Rev. Fr. Juan Miguel dela Cuesta, S.J.

AUGUSTINIAN ADMINISTRATION (1768 – 1843)

1768 – 1774  Rev. Fr. Matias Rosel, O.S.A.
1774 – 1788  Rev. Fr. Ignacio Callazo, O.S.A.
1788 – 1793  Rev. Fr. Lorenzo Molina, O.S.A.
1793 – 1796  Vacant
1796 – 1804  Rev. Fr. Andres Carpintero, O.S.A.

Note: Due to scarcity of Augustinian priests who cannot fill in the parishes, The parish was given temporarily to the Diocesan Clergy of the Diocese of Cebu from 1808 – 1844.

1804 – 1808  Rev. Fr.  Apolinario Damian
1808 – 1826  Rev. Fr.  Adriano del Castillo
1826 – 1843  Rev. Fr. Ignacio del Castillo
1843 – 1844  Rev. Fr. Francisco Vicente de Paula Villasis

THE FRANCISCAN ADMINISTRATION (1844 – 1898)

Note: When the Augustinians left, The Franciscan Missionaries took over the parish, Being the first Franciscan [parish] priest of Palo,  Rev. Fr. Fray Baldomero Baena O.FM. 

1844 – 1847  Rev. Fr. Baldomero Baena, O.F.M.
1847 – 1857  Rev. Fr. Agustin Consuegra, O.F.M.
1857 – 1858  Rev. Fr. Leon Continelever
1858 – 1861  Rev. Fr. Leon Tellez de Temblegue, O.F.M.
1861 – 1879  Rev. Fr. Juan Perez, O.F.M.
1879 – 1879  Rev. Fr. Isidro Gomez Y Aquino
1879 – 1882  Rev. Fr. Florentino Garcia, O.F.M.
1882 – 1885  Rev. Fr. Sebastian Moraleda de Almonacid, O.F.M.
1885 – 1886  Rev. Fr. Pedro Ruiz, O.F.M.
1886 – 1887  Rev. Fr. Gil Martinez, O.F.M.
1887 – 1898  Rev. Fr. Pantaleon dela Fuente, O.F.M.

Note: When the Philippine Revolution came in 1898, The Spaniards were requested to leave the country, including the Spanish Friars, and gave the parishes to the Filipino Secular Clergy. 

SECULAR/DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATION (1898 – PRESENT)

1898 – 1899  Rev. Fr. Fabian Avelino
1899 – 1899  Rev. Fr. Agustin Medalle
1899 – 1938  Rev. Fr. Juan Pacoli
1938 – 1939  Rev. Fr. Zenon Ocampo
1939 – 1946  Rev. Msgr. Lino R. Gonzaga
1946 – 1949  Rev. Msgr. Lesmes Ricalde
1949 – 1950  Rev. Msgr Lino R. Gonzaga
1950 – 1951  Rev. Msgr. Zenon Ocampo
1951 – 1952  Rev. Fr. Climaco Faelnar
1952 – 1960  Rev. Msgr. Zenon Ocampo
1960 – 1962  Rev. Msgr. Cipriano V. Urgel
1962 – 1962  Rev. Fr. Aluino Estalilla
1962 – 1968  Rev. Fr. Estanislao A. Abarca
1968 – 1971  Rev. Msgr. Filemon Quianzon
1971 – 1974  Rev. Fr. Bartolome Pastor
1974 – 1977  Rev. Msgr. Estanislao A. Abarca, P.A.
1977 – 1987  Rev. Msgr. Leonardo Y. Medroso
1987 – 1989  Rev. Msgr. Estanislao A. Abarca, P.A.
1989 – 1994  Rev. Msgr. Pastor Cotiangco, P.C.
1994 – 2001  Rev. Msgr. Benedicto B. Catilogo, P.C.
2001 – 2004  Rev. Fr. Stephen Pasado
2004 – 2007  Rev. Msgr. Benjamin M. Bacierra, P.A., S.Th.D.
2007 – 2010  Rev. Msgr. Ramon Stephen B. Aguilos, P.C., S.Th.D., M.S.E.M.
2010 – 2014  Rev. Msgr. Bernardo R. Pantin, P.C., J.C.D.
2014 – 2017  Rev. Msgr. Rex C. Ramirez, S.L.L.
2017 – Present  Rev. Fr. Gilbert G. Urbina, S.Th.D., S.L.L.

References:

• CATALOGO BIOGRAFICO DE LOS RELIOSOS FRANCISCANOS DELA PROVINCIA DE SAN GREGORIO DE MAGNO By: Fr. Gomez Platero Eusubio
• CATALOGO BIGOGRAFICO DE LOS RELIOSOS AGUSTINOS DEL SANTISIMO NOMBRE DE JESUS DE FILIPINAS 
• SECULAR CLERGY IN THE PHILIPPINES BY: BRUCE CRUIKSHANK
• JESUITS IN THE PHILIPPINES (1581-1768) BY FR. H. DELA COSTA S.J.