ST. ISIDORE THE FARMER PARISH

BURGOS

2410 Pangasinan 
F-1876

Tel. (075) 555-5081

Titular: St. Isidore the Farmer, May 15

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Burgos is a mountainous land of hard-working Ilocanos, descendants of God-fearing men and women from the town of Paoay, Ilocos Norte, who came in their sailboats to found a settlement in the eastern part of the present town proper. These folks, who were mostly farmers, were already steeped in Christian ways and they longed for a church where they can worship God. They realized their wish when the Spanish missionaries came and founded the Parish of St. Isidore the Farmer in the year 1876. An old bell atop the church façade, where the belfry is, dated 1876and inscribed with the name: San Isidore Labrador, attests to the date of establishment of this century-old Parish. The church edifice, made mostly of quarried stones and rough-hewn lumber, was painstakingly built through many years. It is tribute to the Spanish missionaries and our forefathers that the present façade which they had built a century ago has withstood the ravages of time and the elements, although it leans a little now, like a man in his dotage. The main building, roofed at times with grass that had time again been blown down by the typhoons and then repaired by the faithful.
It was the Recollect Fathers who undertook the evangelization of Western Pangasinan and they must have been the ones who laid the cornerstone of the new found Parish church. The Dominican missionaries also had a hand in spreading the Faith in the new frontier settlement, which the Ilocano settlers irreverently called San Isidro Potot.
The first known Parish Priest to be assigned in Burgos was a Father Hipolito, a Spaniard. There are no records of his evangelical works and those who came after him. After the American occupation, these missioners transferred to other dioceses and the first Filipino priest to be assigned in Burgos was father Bernardo Braganza of Alaminos, Pangasinan. This was in the early nineteen hundreds. While here, he organized the “ Apostoladas de Oracion”. After father Braganza came Father Jacinto Vergara of Capas, tarlac. This was on 1920’s. Then Father Vergara transferred and this time Burgos did not have a resident priest. Father Torres, a Spanish priest came Sundays and holy days of obligation as a visiting priest. This was during the outbreak of World War I. (Due to lack of records, there is a gap in the succession of priests in the parish up to 1930).
On March 15, 1930, Padre Esteban Camilon of Batangas was assigned to Burgos and Dasol. It was during his incumbency that the old Rectory was burned and many records of the church were lost in the fire. He then transferred to a private house, and the house, made of strong materials, was burned down again, prompting the people dub him Padre Po-or or burning Padre.
Father Camillon was succeeded by Father Emeterio Domagas of Calasiao, Pangasinan, who served faithfully from November 18, 1934 to May 3, 1936. We have no records of his pastoral works but we knew that he was a dedicated Pastor.
Due to lack of priests in the Diocese at that time, Fr. Agustin Caballero came only as a visiting priest. On May 10, 1936, Father Casimiro Castillo was assigned to Burgos until he was transferred to Dasol on July 10, 1939. He was succeeded by father Pastor Mayugba, an active priest who stayed until May 25, 1941. After the departure of Father Mayugba, only visiting priests came on Sundays and Holy days of obligation.
During the Japanese occupation, Father Lazaro de Guzman, a native of Urdaneta, Pangasinan, was assigned to Burgos. He stayed from March, 1942 to May 1944. To show the reader the conditions obtaining in the Parish during the Occupation, we are reprinting his story, “MY FIRST PARISH- BURGOS” elsewhere in the Souvenier Program. His poignant account of his travails as a country priest is a part of the history of the parish of St. Isidore – the human inside.
Father Andres Gonzales, of Binmaley , Pangasinan, came to take the place of Father de Guzman and he stayed in a private house because the battered Rectory had already gone with the wind. He was faithful to his duties, humble and unassuming. He stayed until May 17, 1945. With no Parish Priest assigned, Burgos became a visita, with Father Jose O. Valerio of Mabini town coming on Sundays and Holy days of obligation.
It was during the incumbency of Father Ciriaco Billote (he is now a domestic Prelate) that the spiritual fervor of the Parish reached a high peak. Almost all the religious organizations were activated by him. He constructed a livable Rectory and changed the walling of the church from bamboo to wood slats. He said Masses also in Dasol and in the big barrios of Burgos, riding cowboy style in going there. He also repaired the church at Dasol which was walled with coconut leaves. He served from June 20, 1952.
Father Lucio Ortiz, a native of Gerona, Tarlac, came after Father Billote and he stayed until September 18, 1960. He had the same dedication to duly as his predecessor.
After Father Ortiz, father Emilio Abalos (who called his close acquaintances “abalayan”) became the Parish Priest and stayed until June 5, 1966. Although he was advanced in years, he had the will to work for the improvement of the Parish, especially in the long overdue reconstruction of the church building. It was who started the ball rolling to make a more durable and presentable house of Worship. He organized the Catholic Women’s League., Burgos unit. The first President of this organization, Sister Leonor R. Baraan was a very dedicated helper of Church activities and an indefatigable solicitor of funds for the construction of the church. Although she is now abroad, she keeps on remitting money obtained from friends and townmates abroad.
On June 5, 1966, a youthful Father Antonio Aldana (he is now a domestic Prelate) of Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, became the parish priest of Burgos. He continued the improvement of the church building and repaired the Rectory. He revitalized the Catholic Women’s League and other lay organizations. When he was here, Father Aldana was a great disciple of our Patron saint, St. Isidore, for he filled the church grounds with plants of all kinds. He work the soil himself and, minus his soutane, one would not recognize him as a man of God. He stayed in Burgos until July 13, 1971.
After staying in Dasol for almost seven years and after a brief stint in Urbiztondo, Father Santiago C. Frias came to Burgos to succeed Father Aldana. The loss of Dasol and Urbiztondo was the gain of St. Isidore Parish because the fervor which he ministered to the spiritual and temporal needs of his former parishioners was unleashed with unrelenting vigor in his new assignment. He has been instrumental in bringing hundreds back to the fold and to the Sacraments by his tireless crusade to send candidates to seminars like the Catholic Youth Movement., Cursillo in Cristianidad, and Bayanihan ni Cristo. He developed in his parishioners a sense of belonging and this has manifested itself in the outpouring of their generosity when their House of Worship needed it most. Because of his winning ways., he won their spirit de corps and, together they brought into fruition the completion of the often renovated Temple of God. Again, his penchant for improving things was shown by his initiating the construction of a new Rectory to replace the old repair worn one with funds coming from many quarters and with voluntary “bayanihan” labor of loyal parishioners. Even without ready funds, he keeps on building , doing his thing, perhaps with the belief that God will eventually provide.
Last May 2, 1976, the Rev. Father Ernesto Escaño of Labrador, Pangasinan was assigned as assistant Parish Priest of St. Isidore Parish. He has been ably assisting Father Frias in the different church activities and in pastoral work.
The holding of the Archdiocesan CHRIST THE KING Celebration on November 21, 1976 will be sort of climax to the history of this century old Parish. For the heavy burden of hosting this gigantic affair will be crucible to and resolve to meet a great challenge. The parishioners of St. Isidore Parish fervently hope and pray that with God’s blessings, everything will come out right come November 21.