San Jose de Malibago Parish – Malibago, Babatngon

The first Captain of Malibago was Captain Florentino Saballa. The credit however of having organized the municipality of Malibago went to certain Captian Ballais, who succeeded Captain Saballa. The Herman Japson and later Lucio Labanda, who served until that time when Malibago was incorporated with Babatngon, Leyte.

Malibago is the biggest barangay of theMunicipality  of Babatngon, being composed of two barangays, most of them are engaging in fishing and farming. The main product of livelihood is copra, root crops and fish. It is bounded on the north of San Juanico Strait, on the South by Barangay Naga-asan and Victory, on the East by barangay Magcasuang and Taguite, on the West by barangay Sangputan. Now the place is divided into Barangay Malibago and San Isidro.

The barangays have a SINULOG, a colorful re-enactment of the tribal war between Moros and the Christians which is presented during the barangay fiesta in honor of the patron saint. Senior San Jose had been the great defender and protector of the people of Malibago against Moro invaders or “pulahan”.

The famous SINULOG of Malibago started sometime in the 1800’s after the two elderly leaders of Malibago – Eduardo Cantanero and Alejandro Erandio dreamed of St. Joseph, the village patron saint. Interpreting the dream as a sign that something must be done to honor St, Joseph, two leaders strongly suggested that the SINULOG be re-enacted during the village fiesta. There are some who believe that the calamity would strike Malibago if it should fail to observe this honored tradition…

As it performed now, the SINULOG consists of two groups of dancers – one representing the Moros “Pulahan” and the other group representing the Bisaya or the village (Busag). The dancers – the warriors (capitanes), drummers (tamboleros), and emissaries (embahadores) among them got through march, dance and drumming sequences within the procession of Senior San Jose.

The chapel of Malibago was part of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish of Babatngon. On June 2, 2004, it was created into a Mission Station through the decree made His Excellency, the Most Reverend Pero R. Dean, Archbishop of Palo. The first priest in charge is Rev. Fr. Rodolfo P. Barro. On June 15, 2005, vespers of the feast day of St. Joseph in Malibago. The Mission Station was elevated into a Quasi-Parish and named San Jose de Malibago Quasi – Parish.

Subsequently, the San Jose de Malibago Quasi parishioners continued to demonstrate enthusiasm and active participation in the different activities for their spiritual upliftment undertaken by the church. A such, on October 13, 2007, the San Jose de Malibago Quasi – Parish was elevated into a parish named San Jose de Malibago Parish with Rev. Fr. Rodolfo P. Barro as the first Parish Priest.

On September 4, 2008, almost eleven months later, Rev. Fr. Edgar P. Mallen was installed as the second Parish Priest of San Jose de Malibago Parish. After almost six (6) years, Rev. Fr. Mallen was transferred to Carigara and another parish priest was installed and on February 2015, Rev. Fr. Herculano R. Tabada was assigned as the third Parish Priest of San Jose de Malibago Parish.