St. Polycarp's, Sangbay

Episcopal Diocese of Santiago Episcopal Diocese of Nevada

The Episcopal Diocese of Santiago, Philippines

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Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, USA

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ST. POLYCARP’S MISSION

Sangbay, Nagtipunan, Quirino Province

By: Rev. Historiographer Fr. Gabino Mamilig

Background:

Sometimes In l974, Sister Dolores of the Carmelite Order in Baguio City accompanied two truck loads of men from Talubin, Bontoc, Mountain Province in search for “Greener Pasture” to Nagtipunan, Quirino, which was then a popular prospect settlement area. The group settled in barrio Dipantan under the care of a certain Mr. Andres Blando who was then the Bureau of Forestry chief forester. In succeeding years, Mr. Andres Blando became mayor of Nagtipunan and continued on for three consecutive terms. The group of people from Talubin or “iTubengs” as they are called in their home province must have gained the favor of the mayor who retained them and gave them jobs as stone cutters and “kabiteros” stone wall builders. The good mayor likewise apportioned “three (3) hectares” of land to the iTubeng settlers along the thick forested rolling mountain of Ramay Manok. The families of the iTubeng settlers eventually followed. Ramay Manok abounds with rich natural resources, such as wildlife and forest products. Sometimes in 1985, people from other towns flocked to Nagtipunan when the road was improved connecting most of the towns of Quirino to the municipality of Cordon, Isabela.

The Start of Episcopal Mission.

Sometimes in 1989 through the initiative of Mr. and Mrs. Lazaro Wakkas, Ramay Manok was included as a Preaching Station of St. Cyril’s Mission, Diduyon, Maddela during the Vicarship of Fr. Gabino Mamilig. Regular pastoral visitation since then was undertaken. The relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Lazaro Wakkas were among the regular worshippers and the house of Mrs. And Mrs. Chalcogen served as the chapel.

In January of l990, The Mission Council was organized with Bernard Chalcogen as the Sen. Warden; Jerry Codod as the Junior Warden, Lazaro Wakkas as Secretary, Francisca Sib-aten as treasurer and Lakay Chalcogen the auditor. On March 15, 1995 St. Polycarp’s Mission was admitted as an Organized Mission on the occasion of the 24^th Annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines with Mr. Lazaro Wakkas and Mr. Tammy Tuweg as first delegates. St. Polycarp is Bishop and Martyr of Smyrna. Feast day is February 22.

On 1993 a Cadastral Survey of a thriving Barrio Site at Sangbay was undertaken by the Bureau of Lands and a lot with an area of One Thousand Two hundred Square Meters was designated as a proposed chapel site. Most of the iTubeng residents of Ramay Manok moved down to the Sangbay Barrio Site. On 1994 the congregation of St. Polycarp’s started the building of a chapel which was completed a year later. The chapel was blessed and dedicated on April 23, 1996 by the Rt. Reverend Miguel Yamoyam. On 1996 a land with an area of Twenty Eight Thousand Square Meters (2.8 has.) was purchase for the purpose of a banana plantation and for the Self Support Program of the local church.

The Tribal Council

Almost parallel with the organization of St. Polycarp’s Mission was the organization of the Tribal Council consisting of majority of the iTubengs. The founding Tribal Council included Lakay Catalino Catamen as the Tribal Chieftain, Jerry Codod as Vice chieftain, Lazaro as secretary, Bernard Chalcogen as Treasurer, Sib-aten as Auditor while Lakay Aiwag and Lakay Chalcogen as advisers. The Tribal Council worked for the provision of potable waterworks with the assistance of the Office of the Northern Cultural Communities (ONCC) and the provincial government of Quirino. The chapel was the center of activities even for the tribal council concerns.

Civic and Church Development projects.

The tribal council and the mission council are practically one in development aspiration which opened Sangbay for development projects. The Cagayan Valley Rural Area Program (CVRAP) came which resulted in the organization of the Sangbay Upper Basin Ecological Farmers Organization (SUBEFO) a farmer’s cooperative. The Community based Development Project (CBDP) of the Episcopal Church with the St. Polycarp’s Mission Council organized a parallel cooperative to provide credit services primarily to members and banana growers. In 2002-2003 the Anglican Board of Mission (ABM) and Australian Assistance for International Development (AUS-AID) became partners of the diocese in developmental works which led to the identification of Sangbay as an Integrated Development Community. As a result of the partnership a potable waterworks for the whole Barangay of Sangbay, Cooperative building with provisions for a warehouse, consumer store, Community Pharmacy were, undertaken. Impressed with the undertakings of the Local Church and the Church CBDP, Barangay Dicimungal requested for a waterworks project and eventually was favored on 2004.

Ministers who served St. Polycarp’s Mission

1989 - May 1999 – Fr. Gabino Mamilig.

1992 - Deacon Feliciano Balangui for six months before being transferred to the National Office.

1999 – 2003 – Fr. Timothy Dalingay and Padi Nancy Guinayen alternately served Sangbay.

2003 - 2005 – Padi Nancy Guinayen while stationed at St. Joseph Mission, Pagui. regularly visited Sangbay.

2006 – Fr. Timothy Dalingay took residence at Sangbay.

Sources: Interview with the late Lazaro Wakkas

Interview with the Itubeng elders notably Atiwag, Chalcogen and Sib-aten.

Diocesan Convention Journals, 24^th. Annual Convention Journal of EDNP

Canonical Records

Personal Recollection

Bishop Dan Edwards, Bishop of Nevada