Website by:
Leo Mamicpic

Photos by:
Faisal Alih
Leo Mamicpic

IN THE NEWS

August 8, 2007 - 150^th Anniversary
San Isidro Labrador Parish
Happy 150^th Birthday!
Take a look at the color version of our Souvenir Program.

On August 7th, Lazi was treated to its first ever Fireworks Display, thanks to Fr. Leonardo Tan who personally raised funds to defray the cost. The show was installed in the northeast corner of the San Isidro Convent grounds. The display was seen from almost all parts of Lazi with the bay-bay and bukid areas affording the best views. Those who were in the convent grounds had to endure some neck pain from looking up so much. Click on Photo Gallery for a glimpse of the fireworks display.

Folks started arriving by 7:30AM on August 8th and started assembling in the convent grounds for the parade. By 8:30AM, the parade started led by the PNP and followed by the Lazi Central School marching band. The day turned out to be really good - not too hot - a bit overcast - and it was not raining. There were many spectators along the parade route. Click on Photo Gallery for a glimpse of the parade.


 

The concelebrated high mass started around 10:30AM led by Most Rev. Bishop John F. Du along with several priests from the Vicariate of St. Paul and other visiting priests. It was very well attended and was Standing Room Only. Bishop Du's sermon focused on the 150 years of a rich cultural heritage of the San Isidro Parish and the 2 historical treasures, the church and convent. He urged the congregation to learn from such history and use it to foster the theme: "JOURNEYING IN STRENGTHENED FAITH THROUGH ESTABLISHED BASIC ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES WORKING TOWARDS SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION". About our cultural treasures, Bishop Du said, "ampingan gyud nato kini" ("we must take care of it"). Another important message the Bishop gave was “busa, kinahanglan nga atong tudluan ang atong mga kabataan haron sila makapadayon sa pagpalambo ni-ining atong parokya” (therefore, we must teach our youth so they can sustain the progress of our parish). Click on Photo Gallery for a glimpse of the concelebrated high mass.

The cultural presentations started around 1:30PM. The performances began right after the rendition of the Pambansang Awit by Lazi Municipality teachers and a welcome address by Fletcher Gumahad, PPC president. The audience was treated to folk dances with the performers wearing such colorful costumes. The great performances were an indication of good leadership and lots of practice. Kudos to the choreographers. Click on Photo Gallery for a glimpse of the cultural presentations.

New Comfort Room  for the San Isidro Labrador Parish. . .

Thanks to Fr. Tan, the PPC and the SHFI, we now have a decent comfort room near the southeast corner of the church. Photo on the right shows the local craftsmen under the leadership of Charlie Malhin and Edgar Paghasian (sitting down). The CR was finished in time for our parish day and was blessed by Bishop Du after the concelebrated high mass.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed by Rev. Msgr. Candelario Catubig, Siquijor parish priest and Ms. Verna M. Alih, SHFI treasurer/BOD.

The comfort rooms will be opened during mass and special parochial events. The use of the facilities is free but we will have a donation box for you to help us defray the maintenance costs.

August 11, 2006
DES (Detailed Engineering Studies) Presented to the Parish and SHFI.
A NCCA team (Conservation architects and Mgmt. Planners) presented the DES to the parish community and the SHFI. On hand were the parish priest, Fr. Leonard Tan, municipal officials and BOD/members of SHFI. The NCCA team gave a presentation on the DES aided with a powerpoint presentation.

Lazi Parish receiving the DES from NCCA with parish priest, Fr. Leonard Tan (rightmost)..
 

Prior to Lazi, the NCCA team first gave a presentation to Bishop John Du and members of the Dumaguete Archdiocese.

Bishop John Du signing for the receipt of delivery for the DES.

As recommended by the NCCA, with the DES, SHFI and all stakeholders will have to sit down and brainstorm on piorities and "what's needed" to come up with a Conservation Management Plan (CMP). Also, with the DES, SHFI will now be able to focus on fundraising for specific components of the conservation/restoration project.

August 8, 2005
Siquijor Heritage Museum Inauguration

On this day, the Siquijor Heritage Museum was formally inaugurated and opened to the public. Admission on opening day was free. Msgr. Roberto Bongoyan (pictured above) was on hand to formally bless our museum. Also on hand was NCCA Architect German Torrero who delivered a message from Mr. Ambeth Ocampo, NCCA/NHI Chair. Architect Faisal M. Alih also read a message from Ms. Cecile Guidote Alvarez, NCCA Executive Director. Designed by Mr. Alih, the museum holds church related relics and artifacts and reprinted archival photographs (ca. 1900-1950) of the various churches and convents in Siquijor. This museum is made possible with the help of our SHFI members, BODs, donors, local craftsmen, volunteers with a lot of love and guidance from above. The ribbon was cut by Cong. Orlando Fua, Jr. and Verna Mamicpic-Alih. Click here to view our Museum Workers , the Inauguration Day and a brief digital tour of our museum. Museum entrance fee in Philippine Peso (PhP): PhP20.00 per person / Students (with recent school photo-id): Php10.00 per student.

August 8, 2005
Lazi Parish Day - 148 Years!

The San Isidro Labrador parish celebrated its 148th Anniversary on August 8, 2005. The Barangay GSKs put up their respective booths and displayed/sold their food and produce. The day started with a 10am mass after which a 'prosesyon' was held around the parish. This was followed by the Siquijor Heritage Museum inauguration. After lunch, a PPC sponsored program of folk dances and speeches was held in the convent grounds. Nindot kaayo.
View our Parish Day Photogallery.

20 October 2004
Pakighinabi: A Heritage Clinic

The clinic was held on October 20th inside the Lazi San Isidro Church. Attendees were local citizens, members of various LGUs & PPCs, government officials, the clergy, and officers/members of SHFI. Also in attendance were Governor Orlando Fua, Sr. and Congressman Orlando Fua, Jr.

Click here for a photo documentary.

Some feedback from Faisal Alih:
Deriong Aljas asked what to do with the school building in the convent grounds. Atty. Trixie Angeles answered that what's done is done but said there should be no addition yet until the DES (Detailed Engineering Study) is out. Kinahanglan pod na-ay plano for the expansion of the school that will be inevitable in the future. Such plan must specify where to locate the new buildings without being intrusive to the integrity and view of the convent.

Fr. Ted Torralba was the first speaker. Being a Boholano, baling laluma sa iyang binisaya. Didto ra ko kabalo nga ang cebuano term for cultural heritage is KAPANOLONGDANAN.

This Heritage Clinic proponents (sponsors) were:

23 September 2004
Heritage Clinic planned by the NCCA Committee on Monuments and Sites
On October 20th, about 20 people from the Committee on Monuments and Sites (CMS) and the NCCA will be at the Lazi San Isidro Convent for a Heritage Conservation/Restoration Clinic. This meeting will also be attended by SHFI officers and members and the Lazi PPC. Parish priests from other towns and their respective PPCs, government officials and LGUs are also invited.

The CMS contingent will consist of archbishops from the CBCP, conservation architects/engineers and NCCA officials. The foundation will be the host for this Lazi clinic.

The group will be visiting several heritage sites: Oct. 18th -morning, Heritage clinic in Boljoon church in Boljoon, Cebu; Oct.. 18th -late afternoon, Bacong church in Bacong, Neg. Or.; Oct. 19th, Heritage clinic in Bacong; Oct. 19th -late afternoon, fast craft to Siquijor and proceed to lodging accommodations; Oct 20th -Heritage clinic at Lazi Convent. After the clinic, the NCCA contingent will then proceed to Plaridel via fast craft from Larena.

9 August 2004
By Verna Mamicpic-Alih

Photos of R.S. Jardin Construction team conducting sub-surface soil investigation at the church and convent sites. See related article below.

9 August 2004

Siquijor church marks 147th year
By Verna Mamicpic-Alih

Parishioners of the San Isidro Labrador Parish in Lazi, Siquijor are marking its 147th year as an independent parish this week.

The celebration actually started with a nine-day Novena on July 30 sponsored by the Gagmayang Simbahang Katilingban of Lazi.

A 10 a.m. mass, co-sponsored by the Lazi Parish Pastoral Council, Siquijor Heritage Foundation,Inc., the municipal government, Lazi Sangguniang Bayan members and municipal employees was held Sunday.

The Lazi Knights of Columbus choir performed in yesterday's mass that was followed by a potluck lunch with a cultural presentation at the Lazi Social Center. Fr. Victor Fontejon led the celebration with the assistance of the Lazi Parish Pastoral Council headed by Fletcher Gumahad, vice-president Marcelino Oro, secretary Castora Dag-uman, treasurer Salvacion Jumawan, auditor Lyndon Duhaylungsod, and PRO Adela Ligutom.

The Board of Directors of the PPC, chaired by Myrna Ondo, is comprised of Galileo Lee Jumawan, Pura Jumadla, Quirino Omictin, Marcelino Oro, Lydio Ligutom and Alvin Roel Baroro with Gumahad as ex-oficio member.

The Lazi Church was established as an independent parish on Aug. 8, 1857, three months after it was formally separated from the mother Parish of Siquijor in May 28 of the same year.

The first parish priest, M.R.P. Fray Victor Garcia built the Lazi convent and school using light materials.

M.R.P. Fray Patricio Adell de S. Macario established the limestone cemetery and made a few repairs to the convent, and proceeded with the construction of the church made of strong posts and tabique pampango.

M.R.P. Fray Hilario Eraso, who served as Lazi's third priest from December 1874 to July 1880 built a "convento de tabla".

It was M.R.P. Ex-Definidor Fray Toribio Sanchez, the parish priest from Aug. 1882 to Aug. 1894, who initiated renovation of the church and the convent to be what they are today with strong materials of limestone walls and thick wooden floors.

The structure was completed in 1884 after which construction work on the convent followed in 1887.

Fray Toribio Sanchez envisioned the convent to be a "vacation" home for priests coming from the Visayas and Mindanao hence its grandiose size.

Sanchez also had the Casa Tribunal or municipal hall constructed on the site where the present Lazi Post Office is located. Only a marker remains of the Casa Tribunal.

In 1974, the National Historical Institute declared the Lazi church and convent as historical landmark of the Philippines.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts declared both structures as one of the Most Outstanding Heritage Churches in the Philippines in 2000.

The National Museum on the other hand, declared both the church and convent as national cultural treasures.

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23 July 2004 - email from Architect Robles

Hi Ms Verna,

Please be informed that the team from R.S. Jardin Construction shall arrive at Lazi on 28 July 2004 to conduct sub-surface soil investigation at the church and convent sites.  Team Leader is Mr. James Dominguez.  The soil boring and pit excavation to be conducted could last for two weeks.

Ms. Mary Jane Luis Bolonia of the National Museum shall monitor the soil boring and excavation.  She will arrive on 29 July 2004.

Kindly extend assistance to the group.  Please relay the information and our best regards to Fr. Vic Fontejon.  We have fondest memories of your beloved Siquijor.

Very truly yours,
Arch. Paeng Robles

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April 17, 2004 - Siquijor Folk Restore Old Church, Philippine Daily Inquirer-Visayas Across The Nation section.

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April 4, 2004 - Detailed Engineering Studies (DES)

The DES is the detailed description of the current state of the buildings. This is a requirement before any restoration work is done on an heritage structure (or any old buildings for that matter). This involves the following:

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts sent notices throughout the country about the DES of the San Isidro Labrador Church and Convent in Lazi, Siquijor. There were no responses from construction firms in the Visayas area, probably because there are no conservation architects/construction firms in the region. Responses came from the Metro Manila area. The NCCA then awarded the DES to the Angel Lazaro & Associates (ALA) Consulting Engineers and Architects. This firm has a good record in conservation architecture, a requirement of the NCCA for awarding the DES.

To quote from the first email from ALA received by SHFI Treasurer Verna Alih...... "Please allow me to respond to your letter in behalf of Engr. Antonio Kaimo. I am Arch Rafael B. Robles, the team leader of the ALA group that will conduct the site inspection and documentation of the San Isidro Labrador Church and Convent in Lazi, Siquijor as part of our Detailed Engineering Study. Engr. Kaimo conducted the inspection of the church (in May 2003) for the proposal we submitted to the NCCA and I am taking over in the project implementation."

In a 2nd email Architect Robles wrote..... "Thank you for writing us again. We were not able to push through our site inspection, which we informed you we tentatively set near the end of March. We have submitted to NCCA-subject to their approval-our site inspection and documentation schedule of the San Isidro Labrador Church and Convent in Lazi, Siquijor from 14 to 29 April 2004.

We truly appreciate the arrangements you are doing for our accommodation in the convent. With the permission of the parish priest, we prefer to stay in the convent. The regular members of the inspection team are ten persons (architects and civil engineers). Three additional persons (electrical engineers) will arrive a few days after the arrival of the first group. The second group would stay for two to three days only."

Normally, the DES is to be completed in 3 months time. After their site inspection, the ALA team will return to Manila to work on the details and costing of the restoration work.

The team will stay in the Lazi convent. The SHFI will assist Rev. Fr. Fontejon in securing cots, beddings, and other ways that will make the ALA team work efficiently. It is our hope that restoration will commence in 2005.

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