History of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Gamu

Gamu or gamu-t in the old text means “roots” of tall grasses like that of cogon which are deeply embedded in the soil.  Gamu was originally a part of Cagayan Valley.  It was later on annexed to Nueva Vizcaya when the province of Nueva Vizcaya was created on May 24, 1856.  Gamu then became part of Isabela on March 31, 1859, when Cagayan Valley was further subdivided with the establishment of the Province of Isabela.

San Gabriel de Batauag, which was the first mission to Christianized the place was established by the Dominican missionaries in 1612.  It was led by Father Luis Flores and his assistant, Fr. Juan de Sta Ana. The mission was originally located in Batauag, now a Lulutan, a barrio in Ilagan.  However, because of greed, injustices and maltreatment by the Spaniards,  the natives of Batauag revolted.  Consequently, the friars were forced to abandon their work.

     

When the mission was restored by Fr. Pedro Sanchez and Fr. Geronimo Ullos in 1673, many natives who revolted and sought refuge in the mountains still refused to come down to the plain where the mission was located.  Father Pedro Jimenez was then appointed as Ambassador of Peace on behalf of the King of Spain as emissary to the people of Batauag. Thereafter, amnesty and general pardon was granted to the natives who rebelled.    Fr. Jimenez was able to gather about 300 native followers, who later settled in Cabagan and Itugod, while others stayed in Batauag. As a result, 4 towns disappeared from the original 7 towns the mission envisions to establish.  Because of the Fr. Jimenez’ success, Fr. Jose Thomas Martin who later joined Fr. Jimenez established a settlement in Itugod with converts and non-Christian natives.

Santa Rosa de Gamu-t was founded as a mission most probably on the same place where “San Gabud de Batauag” was established, the Nuestra Senora de los Victorias de Itugod (now, Lenzon, a barrio of Gamu) became a separate mission with Fr. Domingo Muta, who took over Fr. Jimenez.  Fr. Muta was later transferred to Ilagan in 1704 without fully establishing a Parish in Itugod.  Because Itugod was so small, it was later on annexed to Gamu-t.

Santa Rosa de Gamu-t and Our Lady of Victories of Itugod were merged on December 5, 1741 by petitions of both towns because they could not afford pay the taxes due as independent towns. They, however, refused to be merged with Batauag because the settlers of Itugod refuse to go to Batauag and those in Batauag refused to go to Itugod.  Thus, the converts decided to settle at Gamu.  The Church then was constructed by Fr. Martin Fernandez, who also made the planning of the town, which was annexed to Gamu-t in 1774 and continued as an independent mission until 1779 when the two were merged through the efforts of Fr. Sanin with Gamu as the central seat of the mission.  

The first missionaries who took charge of the Parish were members of the Dominican Order belonging to the Province of the Holy Rosary in Spain.  Up to 1922, the Dominican Fathers took care of Gamu.  During the American Regime, when the separation of the Church and the state was implemented, Fr. Felix Domingo, a Filipino secular priest was assigned in Gamu.  He stayed in Gamu until 1962.  During that time in December, 1949, the church and the convent was devastated by an earthquake.  A wooden Church was constructed in 1950-1951, next to the ruins of the Spanish Church.

The La Salette missionaries took over Gamu in 1962 until 1977.  Upon the request of the parishioners, La Salette missionary, Fr. Maurice Cardenal, started the restoration of the Spanish Church. A new roof was constructed together with the flooring in 1968. Later on, trained cathechist taught cathethism in the public elementary schools.  More men were later involved in the church through the Cursillo Movement and the Holy Name Society.  Masses were celebrated every Sunday in Barangay Caliguan (now Burgos), and Cullababo.  Masses are also celebrated in Barangay Mabini, Pintor and Lenzon.

In 1977, a diocesan priest was assigned in the parish but died after ten months.  CICM missionaries were asked by Msgr. Purogganan to take over Gamu. In March 1978 Fr. John Couvreur became the 75^th parish priest.  He completely renovated the interior of the church.  The ruins of the sacristy have been restored and transformed into a week day chapel in March 1979.  A new brick bell tower in Spanish style which was built in 1950 – 1951 has been dismantled and the recovered materials were used to build chapels in several barrios.  From the ruins of the convent, a multi-purpose hall and dormitory were put up for seminars and meetings.

In January 1982, a community of Medical Mission Sisters came to join the parish for the pastoral care of the people.  Cathethicsm continued in public elementary and secondary school started.  First communicant were handled by trained and volunteer cathethist.

Fr. John Couvreur then organized the PPC and started the formation of Barangay lay leaders and the WEST Commissions.  “Communio” a call to friendship and solidarity between the diocese of Ilagan and the Diocese of Groningen in Netherlands was established.  It was a mutual growth process in which life experience and faith experiences are shared.  It is a mutual involvement towards social transformation and deepening of faith.

After fifteen years, the parish was turned over to the Diocese of Ilagan with Fr. Dante L. Mazo as parish priest from April 1993 to December 1994.  On June 24, 1993, the roof and ceiling of the church was destroyed by typhoon Goring.  It was restored in a short time and a beautiful ceiling was built, which is still visible at present.

Father Marcelino Ugadan took over Fr. Mazo from January 1995 to April 1999.  Major improvements were made.  Among others, he also installed big electric fans, placed marble flooring, and iron gates.  Fr. Ugadan started the PREX in September 1995.  Fr. Ugadan was then succeeded by Fr. Amadeo Vinasoy from May 1999 to April 2005.  He continued the work of his predecessors to make the parish grow in faith.  He was responsible for the cementing of the patio, construction of the kitchen, stairs and garage.

From April 2005 to August 2007, Fr. Ingeno Rapadas was the shepherd of the parish.  He was responsible for the construction of the sanctuary and raised fund for the construction of the fence and the back of the church.  Rev. Jeoffrey Escorpezo cared for the parish from mid-September until October while the Consultors were deliberating for a new administrator for the parish until  Fr. Saturnino P. Talosig, Jr. was named administrator and stayed in the parish from October 2007 to October 2008.  He constructed the concrete fence at the back of the church.

After Fr. Talisog, Jr., Fr. Antonio Ancheta became the parish priest from November 2008 – April 2011.  He advocated the building of Basic Ecclesial Community ((BEC) as a pastoral thrust and a new way of being church, in redirecting and revitalizing SPECSES (Spiritual, Political, Economic, Cultural, Social, Environment) and formation the of PILAW (Pudno, Linteg, Ayat, Wayaway) as a collective way of life.  His projects were the construction of restroom, repair of the multi-purpose hall and repairs of part of the church which was destroyed by typhoon Juan in October 2011.

The 81^st priest of Gamu from May 2011 to May 7, 2017 is Fr. Vener Ceperez, who continued the work of his predecessors in strengthening the faith of the faithful.  He repaired the weekday chapel destroyed by typhoon Juan in October 2011 and continued the repair of the church.  His projects were the placement of an artesian well, repairs of the adoration chapel and the putting up of Santa Rosa de Lima Pavilion, which was not finished.

On May 1, 2011, Fr. Angel B. Luga, an experience priest who served the different parishes in Isabela for 40 years, was assigned as the parish priest of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Gamu.  Through its Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) incumbent president, who happened to be his namesake, Bro. Angel B. Luga, series of seminars and trainings were immediately conducted to deepen the knowledge and strengthen the faith of church leaders and followers in Catholicism.  Members of El Shaddai and other Catholic movements were invited to share their experience with the Lay Ministers and the Extra-ordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion.  The parish supported the rehabilitation of the different Barangay Chapels in Gamu by providing subsidy for the rehabilitation and construction projects of the different chapels in the Barangay.  Celebration of masses and constant interaction by the parish priest with the faithful in the Barangays are regularly held including mass weddings and baptism. Various construction and reconstruction projects was likewise undertaken in the Parish.