HISTORY OF SANTIAGO CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
ENTRY OF METHODISM IN NORTHERN LUZON
The first batch of American Missionaries of the Methodist Church, then known as the
Methodist Episcopal Church crept slowly in the Northeastern Luzon areas bringing evangelistic
work in Isabela via Aparri, Cagayan in the north and Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija in the south as early
as 1902 immediately after the Americans occupied the Philippines from the Spaniards.
During the Spanish rule, the Roman Catholic Church has already made strong roots in the
valley, and history indicates that the Methodist Episcopal Church has been next to the Catholics in
setting foothold in Santiago converting native Ybanags, Gaddangs and Ilocanoes into Methodism. It
was through the joint effort of the American Missionaries and the first Filipino church workers that
resulted in the conversion of few but dedicated members.
Today, the Santiago Central United Methodist Church edifice stands strongly, facing the East
along Abauag Street, 100 meters away from the city road in the North, 400 meters away from the
National Road in the South and right at the heart of the city at Barangay Centro East.
The story of Santiago as a town and a city is also the story of Methodism in the area.
Santiago then, when the missionaries came to spread the Gospel, was a big geographical town
which included progressive barrios which were now separate towns like; San Mateo, Ramon,
Diffun, Aglipay, Saguday and Cordon. These towns have already their own churches which started
from the work, enthusiasm and perseverance of the early Methodist converts of Santiago.
1906 – 1916. THE WORKS OF THE EARLY MISSIONARIES, CHURCH WORKERS AND CONVERTS.
From the port of Aparri, Cagayan, American Missionaries travelled by boat along Cagayan
River or by horseback spreading the Gospel within the Cagayan Valley area dropping in principal
towns along their way in Ilagan, Echague and Carig(Santiago) Isabela. Among the early converts
then were Narciso Romero, Lorenzo Magatas, Basilio Balonquita, Gregorio Romero, Serapio
Feliciano, Andres Feria, Baldomero Feria and others whose names were not made available in
the records.
In 1908 Isabela was part of the Northern Mission District under Rev. Ernest S. Lyons as the
presiding elder when the mission conference was charged to the Philippine Islands Annual
Conference; more converts were recorded, worship services were conducted alternately at the
house of the early converts. Later on, those involved in the Methodist Movement held their worship
services in bigger spaces below shades of acacia trees and along open streets or at times, at the
plaza to accommodate bigger group. It was in 1910 that one of the early converts, Juan Romero,
embraced the new faith together with his family, he was the first licensed Methodist local preacher
from Santiago.
Even if they were few, the desire to put up a house of worship was kindled by the fire of
unwavering faith in God and the desire to spread the Gospel, in 1911, a temporary but modest
chapel of wood, bamboo and cogon materials was erected on a lot owned by Santiago Lumidao
along Carreon Street near the plaza and public market(now the Santiago Water District). The first
pastor assigned was Rev. Dionisio Gelacio from La Torre, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. He
eventually organized the congregation of the converts at Oscariz, a barrio then of Santiago. And in
1913, Rev. Juan Romero took over his assignment for Santiago, succeeded by Rev. Demetrio
Taguba, the time when the church finally acquired a lot located at Abauag Street from Santiago
Lumidao. The Rev. Jose Siason was the pastor assigned on 1916 who supervised the transfer of the
church building materials to the new site and a temporary church structure was re-erected with
concrete flooring, bamboo walls and cogon roofing. Rev. Dionisio Gelacio was assigned again with
Florentina Mapala as the first deaconess-assigned.
1917 -1926. CHURCH DEVELOPMENT AND MEMBERSHIP GROWTH
In 1917 Santiago Methodist Church became a regular Charge Conference during the time of
Rev. Mariano Ginez succeeded by the Rev. Ambrocio Binag. It was in 1918 that Rev. Pedro
Macatuggal took over and more converts were added into our fold. In 1919, a strong typhoon
struck Santiago City that blown down the church structure, the District Superintendent advised the
church people that they ought to replace the church building with a more substantial building in
order to accommodate the growing number of members from 12 preaching places in Santiago and
Echague. New converts were added from Dubinan namely; Galo’s, Labrador’s, Agas’s and Diego
families. From Buenavista were Cecilio Jacinto, Matias Dela Cruz, Aurelio Eugenio, Damasco Lucas
and Marcelino Pascual. Rev. Monico Faralan was the then pastor assigned.
From 1920 to 1927, Rev. Monico Farlan took charge of Santiago and Echague circuits with
Rosalinda Faralan as deaconess for Echague and Maria Lucas for Santiago. It was on these years
that extension areas were opened; in barangay Salinungan with the help of Lorenzo Barangan in
1920, Marasat Grande(now San Mateo, Isabela) where services was held at the house of Luis
Gervacio and Oscariz. During this period that Santiago was struck with malaria and chicken pox
epidemic causing some deaths and sickness. Although ministering to the sick and deaths,
evangelizing people was never hampered in fact, more converts increased which included
Marcelino Dela Cruz and Ex – Mayor Juan Dela Cruz who were influenced by Cecilio Jacinto.
1927 – 1946. MEMBERSHIP EXPANSION
Rev. Fulgencio Jacinto was appointed minister. As there were new settlers coming from
Nueva Vizcaya and Pangasinan in the South because of better trail roads, and from Ilocos Norte
because of the opening of the Patapat trail road in the North, new members were added like the
families of Benitez, Geronilla, Bascos, Olay and Sable. Rev. Jacinto served Santiago until he was
replaced by Rev. Domingo Jose in 1932-1934, later on succeeded by Rev.Felix Telan with
Honorata Rebullido as deaconess from 1936 to 1937. In 1937, Felipe Padua, the then Municipal
President of Santiago, awarded half hectare(5,000 sq/m) ownership of land in Dubinan to the
church.
Rev. Monico Faralan returned to Santiago in 1938 assisted by the deaconess, Adriana G.
Pascual . The total membership of Santiago Community reported to the district was 1, 104
members and mission work has expanded into 20 mission areas. This time, Santiago has replaced
Aparri as the largest center in Cagayan Valley. In 1939, Epworth League was changed to Methodist
Youth Fellowship and Methodist Episcopal Church became The Methodist Church as a result of the
Uniting Conference held in Kansas City, Missouri, in USA in May 1939. In the following year,
Deaconess Elnora Andres extended the Outreach Ministry to Bugallon(now town of Ramon) with
Rev. Faralan administering worship services in homes of members but more frequently at the home
of Segundo Ruiz. It was in this year that the parsonage was built beside the church. In 1941 262
new converts were added and 487 children were baptized, a result of a successful evangelistic
campaign by the Evangelist Rev. Felix Grospe. One active members of the church in the person of
Aniceto Ibarra donated complete materials for the construction of a bigger permanent church
building but these were destroyed during the World War II in December 1941. The war totally
destroyed the church building and partly the parsonage.
Despite the World War II, worship continued. The members evacuated to safer place, many
went alongside Diadi River in places like Ambalatungan, Amulungan and Gunot. Rev. Simeon
Andres continued to hold worship services under the shades of bamboo trees alongside Diadi River
in spite of the conditions of war.
After the Liberation in 1945, the members returned to their respective places of abode and
made necessary repairs to their houses. Because they saw themselves helpless without a church,
they found the need of putting up once again a church building for their worship. The Methodist
Americans assisted the members in erecting a temporary chapel made of army canvass at the same
site of the old church. Rev. Monico Faralan then continued his work as resident minister from 1944
to 1948.
1947- 1966. INFRA-STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH.
1947 was a very memorable year of Santiago because of a strong typhoon that hit the city
and the temporary church building was destroyed. However, through the dedicated efforts of the
members like the families of Enriquez, Valin and Parchamento, another semi concrete building with
metal roofing was put up together with the repairs of the parsonage built before the WW II.
When DS Ciriaco Inis was again assigned in Santiago with Deaconess Mercedes Santiago
in 1950, the church building was renovated and improved including the concrete fencing.
Expansion of the parsonage has been accomplished which was dedicated by the then Bishop Jose
Valencia in March 4, 1951. Weekend Work Camps have been hosted by Santiago in 1953 and in
1954, the Educational Building annex was completed. It was in 1957 that the United Methodist
Young Adult Fellowship has been organized with 23 initial members. At this time, membership both
preparatory and full members grew into 1, 914.
The following years have been historical because of many changes, fruits of labors of the
pioneers of faith in the life of the church reaped; Rev. Simeon Andres became the District
Superintendent in 1958, Worshipping Congregation started in Buenavista holding services at
Agustin Pascual residence and eventually became a separate church in 1961 with Rev. Aniceto
Jerusalem as the visiting minister while serving Santiago at the same time.
Renovations of the altar took place which was led by the chairman of the Administrative
Board, Mr. Roman Enriquez and Rizal was organized as a Worshipping Congregation in 1963 by
the United Methodist Fellowship and the Commission on Evangelism headed by Dominador Lina.
It was in 1965 that Salvador became a separate church, the time of Rev. Jose Velasco Jr.
Felix Guiang donated the church lot. Lucena Guiang and Fe Paulina Roque-Villaluz contributed a
lot in the works and ministry of Salvador church, Pastor Agustin Arellano and Erlinda Pagbilao
were the first workers assigned to Salvador.
1967 – 1976. MORE CHURCH ESTABLISHED.
In order to accommodate the growing membership of Santiago Methodist Church, Rev.
Velasco divided the Sunday Worship Service into three services, Ilocano Service and English Service
in the morning and Tagalog Service in the evening. It was then that a bigger and more durable
church building was constructed, it has been completed in 1971 under the leadership of the late
Atty. Pablo Baguioen, the Chairman of the Board of that time.
The three(3) Worship Services required additional pastor when the Rev. Ernesto Soriano
served as the resident minister after taking over Rev. Rolando Sepnio in 1973 to 1975 in order to
assist the resident minister in its pastoral work which was getting heavier because of the growing
membership. The first Associate Pastor was Rev. Lorenzo Miguel in 1975, he was succeeded by
the Rev. Francisco Visaya the following years. It was during these years that the Rev. Visaya
founded the Royal Diadem Chorale with him as the conductor. Sunday Worship has been enhanced
and became alive through anthems sung by the choir. From then on, the Royal Diadem Chorale has
been singing regularly during Sunday worships.
1977 – 1986. THE MISSION CONTINUES.
It was in the time of the Judge Marcelino Cabucana as Chairman of the Administrative
Board in 1977 that new improvements of the church building was introduced while the mission of
the church continued by the Rev. Isidro Domingo in 1978 and was replaced by Rev. Pedro Tasipit
who served from 1979-1982 without an associate pastor but was assisted by his wife Naty who was
energetic and very active. The spiritual zeal of the members was tempered by the consistent
interest and desire of the couple to serve the Lord through their dedicated work. Eventually, Rev.
Francisco Visaya was reassigned as Associate Pastor in 1982.
Rev. Wilson Sagadraca took over Santiago Methodist Church in 1983 assisted by Pastor
Luzon Guillermo then replaced by Pastor Samuel Martinez on 1984. The deaconess assigned was
Delicia Dela Cruz who took charge of the Kindergarten school. The members remained steadfast in
their faith and continued the mission of the church. Then came Rev. Hilario Tabangin, a young
minister with bright ideas. He was the helm of the demolition of the dilapidated parsonage and
putting up of new two-door-two-storey-concrete parsonage in 1985. He was assisted by Rev.
Samuel Martinez as the Associate Pastor.
1986 -1996. CHURCH MINISTRIES EXPANDED.
The church decided at this time to request for only one pastor because of past experiences
of conflicts related to the working relationship between the Administrative and Associate Pastor.
Thus, Rev. Juan R. Benitez was assigned from 1989 to 1992 assisted by two deaconesses, Marie
Bisquerra and Imelda Wangawang, it was then that the Junior Worship was introduced as a
regular service of the Sunday Schoolers simultaneous with the Divine Services while the Royal
Diadem Chorale continued to inspire and touched the hearts of the worshippers through their
heart-warming anthems every Sunday.
In 1990, a lot was awarded to Santiago for Sagana Outreach and subsequently a church
building was erected out of the materials from the demolished parsonage building. It was built
through the joint efforts of the Methodist Men and some Young Adults who contributed free labor
and with the leadership of the Administrative Chairman, Engr. Rodolfo Sumaling. Noraida Silverio
was the Outreach pastor assigned in Sagana that time. Two years after, the construction of the
Methodist School started with the Laying of the Cornerstone in 1992 with the presence of Bishop
Paul Locke Granadosin who graced the event.
The church continued its school building project under the charge of Rev. Paul Cabotaje
with his Associate, Rev. Balligi Lorenzana together with Rosalyn Tadeo and Bonimar Afalla as
CE Deaconesses, Nixon Agaser and Mary Jane Ramos as Outreach Pastors. Rev. Cabotaje
spearheaded the campaign for the building construction which e eventually pushed through with
the completion of the first floor in 1995. Outreach work was extended to Patul when Pepito and
Aida Bustamante donated their lot, the Patul United Methodist Church was erected utilizing the
materials from the Educational Annex Building.
1995 was another milestone in the mission of the church because it was this year that the
Rang-ay ti Amianan, a child-care project was established through the initiative of Ms. Juliana
Macaraeg who formulated the Project Proposal and Nora Calderon was appointed as the Project
Administrator. Rev. Artemio Villaluz with his Associate Pastor, Rev. Jonathan Razon and Delicia
Dela Cruz as deaconess was then assigned as the church workers. Outreach in Sagana was
strengthened. And in 1996, the second and third floor of the school building has been completed
and the same year, the Administrative Board was changed to Administrative Council set up with Dr.
Luzviminda Roque as the first Chairperson.
1997 – 2006. A NEW VISION.
The Rev. Villaluz served as Administrative pastor from 1995 to 2001 and his Associates,
Rev. Jonathan Razon served from 1995-1997 and 2000. Rev. Dionie Yarcia served as outreach
pastor in 1996 and Rev. Zenaida Bisis in 1997 to 1998 while Rev. Conchita Martinez served
from 1999 to 2001 and Rev. Jovidio Miguel in 2000-2003. The School’s extension building was
completed in 1997 with a newly renovated restroom. Outreach work was expanded to the barrios
of Nagassican, Mabini and San Andres. The Founding Anniversary of the church was first celebrated
on March 4, 1999, her 93rd year. The church building was improved with a left wing to
accommodate a conference room and offices. This year was the first time that the church
administered a Mass Wedding of unwed couples.
In the year 2002, Santiago visions to be the “Biggest in membership in the Northeast
Philippines Annual Conference” which was inspired by the Rev. Ismael A. Damasco who hails from
Ilagan, Isabela with Rev. Jovidio Miguel as his Associate and Pastor Virgie Ilay as Outreach Pastor
and Estrelita Lucas as KE Deaconess. Worshipping Congregations were expanded to Sinili, Malasin
and Bannawag Norte and extension classes to Baluarte, Rota Village, Batal, Sinsayon, Dubinan,
Calaocan and Bagong Silang. The parsonage was repaired, renovated and improved, the left wing
was face-lifted with a bigger Faralan Hall, and membership expansion reached 2,734.
