1566

Beginnings of the Christianization

of the Island of Negros
Binalbagan (1575-78),
Tanjay (1580-83) and
Ilog (1584-86)
by the Augustinian missionaries.

abandon these missions due to lack of priests. The Augustinian Fathers:

Geronimo Marin
Francisco Manrique
Were the first resident missionaries
to serve the island.
BACOLOD PLAZA 1923
 1622
At the request of

Bishop Pedro de Arce of Cebu,

the Recollects came to Negros.

Famous among the first Recollect missionaries who came to Negros was

Blessed Martin de San Nicolás (1627-30).

He became later a martyr of the Faith in Japan (1632).

 1638
At the order of the
Recollect Provincial Fr. Jose de la
Anunciacion,
the Recollect missionaries left Negros in
exchange of Romblon.
The convent of Binalbagan was
entrusted to the Jesuits
who came earlier in 1630 with
Frs. Esteban Jayme, Francisco Angel and
Francisco Luzon as first Jesuit missionaries
of the island.
 1848
June 26: The Recollects willingly accepted the
spiritual administration of Negros with sustained
joy.
The parishes of Amlan and Siaton in the
eastern coast and
Kabankalan and Himamaylan
in the western were the first four parishes in
Negros turned over to the Recollects between
August 28 and October 28, 1848.
Among the pioneering Recollect missionaries who
came to Negros were:

1. Fr. Ramón Cabas in Amlan,

2. Fr. Agustín Olmedillas in Siaton,
3. Fr. Tómas Mezquita in Himamaylan,
4. Fr. Andrés Cobos in Kabankalan and
5. Fr. Fernando Cuenca in Talisay.
FR. FERNANDO CUENCA
 1876
Fr. Mauricio Ferrero, OAR
(1844-1916), the parish priest of
Bacolod began the construction of the
new church.

In the afternoon of 27 April, the

Dominican Bishop Mariano Cuartero
(1813-1884) laid the cornerstone of the
present church.
FR. MAURICIO FERRERO
 1882
The inauguration of the new church of Bacolod took place on
Bishop Mariano Cuartero of Jaro
on October 19 of that same year.
 1898
November 21: During the outbreak of the
Philippine Revolution, thirty-five Recollects were
arrested and jailed in
Puerto San Juan (Ferrero-made prison).
There were only five curates in Negros who were
unharmed by the revolutionists: Frs. Fernando
Cuenca of Talisay, Mauricio Ferrero of Bacolod,
Miguel Alvarez of Murcia, Pedro Bengoa of
Vallehermoso and Tomas Preciado, curate of
Talisay, Negros.
 1909
May 16:
Fr. Victor Baltanas,
the Recollect parish priest of
Escalante (1907-09),
was treacherously murdered by
schismatic followers of Gregorio
Aglipay.
FR. VICTOR BALTANAS
 1933
Bishop Casimiro M. Lladoc
was installed as the
first Bishop of the Diocese of
Bacolod.
He served the diocese for 18 years (1933-51).
His episcopacy focused on the construction
of schools, strengthening the apostolate and
other pastoral works.
He firmly fought against secularization and
Protestantism. He died on September 21,
1951 at the age of 58.
BISHOP CASIMIRO M. LLADOC
 1951
May 29:
Bishop Manuel Yap
second Bishop of the Diocese of Bacolod.
He lovingly shepherded the people of Negros for
14 years (1951-66).

He promoted the devotion to the Bible and

encouraged and strengthened the presence and
activities of the Lay Organizations, Movements
and Associations (LOMAS) in the diocese. He
died on October 16, 1966.
BISHOP MANUEL YAP
 1955
April 5:
Dumaguete became a Diocese.
Bishop Epifanio Surban
first bishop of Dumaguete.

The new diocese comprises the civil

provinces of Siquijor and Negros Oriental,
from Dumaguete City up to Escalante in the
north of Negros Occidental, and from
Bacong to Kalumboyan and Basay in the
south.
 1967
February 24:
Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich
third Bishop of the Diocese of Bacolod.
Faithful to the call of renewal of the Second Ecumenical Vatican
Council (1962-65), he courageously fought against social problems
that confronted the diocese and created developmental projects
that would help the plight of the sugar workers and other
marginalized sectors in Negros.

At the age of 75, he tendered his resignation as Bishop of the

Diocese of Bacolod, ending his 22-year old episcopacy (1967-88).
BISHOP ANTONIO Y. FORTICH
 1981
February 20:
His Holiness Pope John Paul II
officially visited the Diocese of Bacolod
as part of his religious and pastoral visit to the
Philippines (February 17-22)
and his first historical journey to Asia.

From the Bacolod City Airport, the Pope proceeded to

the Cathedral and Bishop’s residence.
Then, he moved in a
motorcade to the Reclamation Area
to deliver his message to the people of Negros,
especially to the people of the sugarcane plantations in
Bacolod.
1981- POPE JOHN PAUL II
 1987
The Diocese of Bacolod
was split into three dioceses,
namely
1.Bacolod,
2. Kabankalan
3. San Carlos.
Bishop Vicente M. Navarra
was installed as the first Bishop of
Kabankalan

Bishop Nicolás Modejar

as first Bishop of San Carlos.
 1989
Bishop Camilo Gregorio
fourth Bishop of the Diocese of
Bacolod.
He remained serving the diocese for 11
years until his transfer to Cebu in the
year 2000.
His episcopacy responded to the
challenges of the Second Plenary
Council of the Philippines (1991).
BISHOP CAMILO GREGORIO
 2001
May 24:
Bishop Vicente M. Navarra
fifth Bishop of Bacolod.

Prior to his installation as Bishop,

he served as Apostolic
Administrator of the Diocese.
BISHOP VICENTE NAVARRA
 2001
May 24:
Bishop Vicente M. Navarra
fifth Bishop of Bacolod.

Prior to his installation as Bishop,

he served as Apostolic
Administrator of the Diocese.
BISHOP VICENTE NAVARRA