To Alangalang

Picture of the church caption: Leyte Island, Philippines. 19 November 1944. Church of the patron saint, Alangalang. It was erected in 1917 by Reverend Father Madeo Abila (Mateo Avila?) 75 years old priest

Fr. Cosme de Flores visited the village of Alangalang from Carigara on October 23, 1596. He knew the situation of its people and how they made a living in scattered clan settlements. It was very much like Carigara and the other missions, only that it was located in the interior part of the island and was accessible only on foot.

Of these hardships, Fr. Francisco Vaez wrote: ‘They go afoot through the rivers, the pools, the marshes, the water often reaching to their navels and the sun burning above them.’[i] Much work had to be done to put these settlements together into bigger compact villages. He was chosen because of his knowledge of the language and the ‘esteem and affection in which he was held by the Indians.’ Accompanying him was Brother Pedro Diaz.[ii]

He probably assumed that if he had a church built first, he would be able to gather the scattered settlements into a compact town or village. So one of the first things Flores did was to invite the natives, the Spaniards living in the place and the encomendero to a conference of sorts to discuss his idea of building a church. When they agreed, they set about building it and on a Sunday, June 15, 1597, it was finally finished and dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity. Vespers were sung and 18 persons were baptized. Only this number was deemed ready for baptism, although many others were eager to be accepted into the faith and constantly badgered Flores to teach them the tenets.[iii]

A Spaniard, Lucas de Rivas, who was in Alangalang at the time, witnessed the labors of this exceptional missionary. Writing a a letter to the Jesuit superior in Cebu dated September 10, 1597, he said: ‘Father Flores would leave Alangalang on Monday, say Mass in Tinga (Tunga) on Tuesday and return. On Wednesday he would go to Ugiao, say Mass on Thursday and spend the night at Salog (Jaro). Having said Mass there on Friday, he would return to Alangalang. On Saturday he would say Mass in Tambo and return to Alangalang in the evening. On the following Monday, he would go to Lingayon and so on through all the barrios, preaching in each and never resting.’[iv]

Flores followed an exacting schedule, visiting five or six of the villages of the mission, but his health was not up to it. He died on September 8, 1597 at the age of 28. But before he did, he brought together the people of two villages into the town – one 300 households and the other 500 households - the ‘first notable success’ in the Jesuit plan of success of bringing the dispersed population of Leyte. [v]

Fr. Tomas de Montoya who took over from Flores wrote of the liturgical services in Alangalang: ‘As a result of the good music that we have in the church, the divine services are celebrated with much solemnity, and to the great satisfaction of the natives. Many solemn baptisms and marriages have been celebrated which were attended with great fervor, especially by the inhabitants of one village, who in this respect had the advantage of the others.’[vi]
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[i] “Annual Letters by Vaez, 1599-1602,” Blair and Robertson, The Philippine Islands, Volume XI, p. 220

[ii] Op cit, “Chirino’s…”, Volume XII, p. 289

[iii] “Alanglang: The Cross in the Interior,” Leyte 400 years of Evangelization, A souvenir program published by the Archdiocese of Palo in July 1995

[iv] Ibid

[v] Op cit, de la Costa, p.62

[vi] Op cit, “Chirino’s Relation…”  Vol umeXIII,  p. 50