St. Roch Chaplaincy – Arado, Palo

Senor San Roque is the Patron Saint of Barangay Arado, Palo, Leyte.

It all began with a small makeshift that was made of bamboo and nipa. A very concerned native of this Barangay, Catalino Nerida Sr., who was also a very dynamic leader and a devotee, started it all. He and his wife, Salvacion Nerida and with the help of some friends and neighbours built a makeshift chapel so people of Barangay Arado can have a place of worship even on Sundays only.

During the 1950’s, they could hardly build a sturdy makeshift, hence, every year they would repair it and would even have it erected in the different corners within the Barangay, since there was no permanent place for the chapel. Aside from exercising all these leadership in the Barangay, Mano Talino, as they call him, was one of those responsible in composing the “Hymno kan Sr. San Roque”, and together with a certain Mano Pilo Villones and Mana Guillerma Castillote Oliva, they were able to arrange this beautiful song for San Roque which became popular even to children. Mrs. Guillerma Oliva, a native also of this Barangay, wrote the “Verso” which was also used during the Hymno around the Barangay for eight consecutive days before the Feast Day.

Consequently, after the Hymno, funds will be raised, thus the next hermanahan is already funded.

In May 16, 1953, Mano Talino became the first Hermano Mayor of their Barrio Fiesta. At this time of the year, they organized a “Kapunungan” so they could take turn in hosting of the Barrio Fiesta.

Finally, in 1990, a certain Emilia Dolina, a kindhearted resident of the Barangay offered to build the little Chapel of Senor San Roque in her backyard for free. For several years, the parishioners of Barangay Arado held special devotion in honor to Senor San Roque and hear Sunday masses in the small Chapel. 

Flores de Mayo, a whole month devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary are also held in the small Chapel were kids are taught how to pray the rosary and offers flower to Mama Mary.

November 8, 2013, when the devastation came were “Super Typhoon Yolanda” struck the whole region of Leyte and Samar. It was so ravaging that it killed so many people and ruined so many structures. 

After Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit the country, Pope Francis donated through the Cor Unum which is considered the Pontifical Council Cor Unum for Human and Christian Development of the Vatican or simply the Caritas of the Holy See, an emergency aid amounting to $150,000 for the survivors. 

January 28, 2014, Robert Cardinal Sarah, Cor Unum President led the ground breaking ceremony for the proposed Orphanage, Clinic and Home for the elderly. It also include among other a small convent for the Nuns and a Chapel.