THE PARISH OF SAN FABIAN

A  Short Historical Profile                  

                   I:  1716-1898 

coastal town, San Fabián is located in northern Pangasinán.  Its población lies on a flat and sandy terrain near the mouth of the Añgalacán River, locally known as Cayañga.  The town of Santo Tomás (La Unión) bound it on the north; Sison on the northeast; Pozorrubio on the east; San Jacinto and Mañgaldán on the south and the Lingayén Gulf on the west. 

The original settlement of what is now the town of San Fabián was in barangay Anguio situated some three kilometers from the town's población, on the road leading to San Jacinto.  (The word "anguio" means "a tree of most bitter fruit").   

In a letter dated January 9, 1716, the Provincial of the Dominican Fathers petitioned the royal government for the foundation of San Fabián "for the better administration of the natives, comfort of travelers and to stave off the assaults of the pagan Igorots who dwell in its vicinity."  There is another reason, however.  Due to its excellent climate, the Dominicans would like to make it a place of an infirmary and house of convalescence where they could rest or regain their strength when they are sick.   

On March 21, 1717, the petition was granted.  The permit was issued by acting Governor General José Torralba, pending the arrival of the proprietary Governor, Fernando Bustamante who came in August of that year.  To make the permit effective, the settlement in Anguio moved to the present site.  The town was named after its patron, Saint Fabian, Pope and Martyr.  And Anguio remained just a barangay. 

San Fabián appears for the first time in the Acts of the Dominican Provincial Chapter held in Manila in 1718.  It is therefore very probable that San Fabián became a vicariate (or parish) on this year.  The Chapter appointed Fr. Andrés Caballero (1718-1720) as its first vicar (parish priest).  The succeeding Chapter of 1720 assigned as vicar Fr. Manuel del Río (1720-1721, 1729-1732) who afterwards became Provincial of the Dominican Order and later as bishop-elect of Nueva Segovia. 

Soon after the town's foundation, the first church was built.  The construction of the present church was completed shortly after the British invasion (1762-1765).  Fr. Valentín Marín, O.P. says: "The church, all of brick, including the main altar was built by Fray Francisco Ferrer, a Dominican lay brother, who was an excellent carpenter, after the British invasion.  The convent and belfry were also of brick."  Fr. Raymundo Suárez, O.P. adds that this Brother is reputed to have also directed the construction of the imposing bell tower of the church in Lingayén. 

Fr. Manuel Mora, Secretary of the Provincial during the latter's visitation in 1804, reports that in front of the convent there was a brick building where Bishop Bernardo Ustáriz could stay.  The Bishop donated funds for the construction of this building, which also served as the casa de comunidad. 

In 1856, the church and the convent were burned.  Giving the reason, Fr. Suárez writes:  "For this the sacristan was held responsible because, having gone up to the tower to ring the bell for the curfew at 10 o'clock in the evening, he carelessly threw the cigarette-end on the nipa roofing which, as a result, caught fire at once."  As a consequence of the fire, it could clearly be appreciated that the walls of the church were built all at once rather than by stages as was often the case in the building of churches during the colonial times.  One could also see that its construction was directed and supervised by a single man who must have been well acquainted with architectural rules.   

Fr. Juan Gutiérrez (1859-1862) supervised the rebuilding of the church between 1857 and 1860.  In so doing, the sanctuary was lengthened.  The outcome was that the cruciform falls almost at the middle making it a narrow and disproportionately long church.  The reconstructed church measures 59.85 meters long and 11.40 meters wide; at the cruciform it is 20 meters. 

Around l863, under the guidance of Fr. Ramón Fernández (1863-1866) the convent was repaired.  Proficient in medicine, he had been for many years the parish priest in Mañgaldán where he accomplished so many projects.  In rebuilding the convent, he spent much money and exerted great efforts and even so was unable to produce a solid and lasting structure.  He gained an enviable reputation as a physician and parish priest, but failed in San Fabián both as an architect and as economist. 

The strong earthquake of March 16, 1892 wrought considerable damage on the church and convent but this was eventually fixed.  The mortar and stone tribunal (municipal building) constructed in 1822 was also badly shaken and almost ruined by the tremors. 

In 1830, Fr. Domingo de la Peña built the cemetery fenced with solid brick walls, located south of the town.  Having administered the parish from 1802 to 1835, he was the longest serving parish priest of San Fabián. 

In its November 16, 1899 issue, the periodical Libertas related that numerous children attended the schools of the población.  Moreover, the parish priest who solicitously watched over the instruction of the youth supported some students in the barrio schools. 

As can be read in the statistics submitted annually by the missionaries to their superiors, the Catholic population of San Fabián grew steadily through the years.  This is excepting the years following 1868 when a big part of its territory having been separated to form the new town of Alava, now, Sison, San Fabián lost almost half of its populace.  In 1751, the town had a population of 1,331; in 1758: 2,163; in 1800: 2,044; in 1848: 10,390; in 1875: 6,088; and in 1897: 10,180.  There were 99 Baptisms in 1804 and 480 in 1888.

The following were the parish priests assigned in San Fabián from 1718 to 1898 together with the places in the Acta Capitulorum Provincialium, Provinciae Sanctissimi Rosarii Philippinarum, Ordinis Praedicatorum where their appointments  can be located. 

After the discovery of the Katipunan, the Philippine Revolution against Spain started in 1896.  Eventually, Emilio Aguinaldo was proclaimed president of the new republic.  With the signing of the Pact of Biak-na Bato in 1897, there was momentary peace. But this was shattered when the United States declared war on Spain in that year. 

During the Hispano-American war in 1898 the shelling did not spare the San Fabián church and the convent causing 2,200 pesos in damage, quite an amount at that time! 

II:  1899-2003 

With the end of the Spanish era came the departure of the missionaries from the country, including the last Spanish parish priest of San Fabián, Fr. Juan Terrés (1890-1898); Filipino priests took their place.  The American regime then began. 

As far as ecclesiastical history is concerned, this period is characterized by the spread of Aglipayanism inspired by the nationalist movement.   Gregorio Aglipay, a Filipino priest from Ilocos Norte who led the schism attracted many followers, including those from some Pangasinán towns.

The parish priests of San Fabián during this time were: Fr. Domingo de Vera, purportedly a former chaplain of the Katipunan, the first Filipino pastor of the parish who stayed from 1899 to 1920; Fr. Agripino Bañez (1920-1926); Fr. Alejandro Ignacio (1926-1927) and Fr. Benigno Jiménez (1927-1935) who later built his own independent church but then retracted and returned to the Catholic fold. 

In the latter part of the American regime, the Diocese saw the flourishing of the organizations of Catholic Action.  At this time, these were the parish priests of San Fabián:   Msgr. Licerio Barnachea (1935-1937) who did not reside in the parish which was managed by his assistant; Fr. José Valerio (1937-1939), Msgr. Barnachea’s assistant who eventually succeeded him and during whose time the Apostleship of Prayer was organized in San Fabián  and Fr. Juan Bello (1939-1940). 

In 1940, Fr. Miguel Busque was appointed pastor.  In December of the following year World War II erupted and the Japanese occupation began, interrupting religious services.  The naval bombardments during the American-Japanese war for liberation in the early days of January 1945 significantly damaged the church and practically destroyed the convent; the bell tower crumbled in ruins.  For a time, Fr. Resurreción Parica assisted Fr. Busque. 

Like their predecessors, the succeeding parish priests gave priority to the performance of their more important pastoral duties -- the celebration of the Eucharist, preaching, religious instruction, administration of the sacraments, directing the different organizations of Catholic Action, initiating and leading the various works of the apostolate, in short, of building up the Christian community in the parish. 

But since the church and convent are old and need not only maintenance but also constant repair and improvements, these concerns continuously occupied the coming pastors, just as they did their predecessors.  And because World War II caused such destruction on these buildings, the following pastors had much more to do in these concerns. 

In the arduous task of rebuilding and improving the church, the parishioners under the leadership of their pastors were always ready with their generous assistance.  They provided the funds and even offered their expertise.  Since 1955, Engr. Santiago Alhambra, one of the parish lay leaders, does much of the planning and the supervision work. 

During the term of Fr. Francisco Posadas (1944-1952) who took over Fr. Busque, the church and portion of the convent were repaired out of the people's contributions and the War Damage Rehabilitation Funds.  For the first time, San Fabián was host for the Diocesan celebrations of the Feast of Christ the King in 1951.  Fr. Emeterio Domagas assisted Fr. Posadas.  It was while Fr. Posadas was pastor when the Legion of Mary was organized in the parish.  

After Fr. Posadas came Fr. Domingo Montano (1952-1955) who afterwards joined the Capuchin Order.  His assistant was Fr. José Velasco.  The Adoracion Nocturna Filipina in San Fabián traces its origin to Fr. Montano's time.  Next to him was Fr. Francisco Gago (1955-1968).  During his time the church tower was renovated.  It was also at this time that the Cursillo Movement became in vogue in the Archdiocese.  Many San Fabián parishioners will remember having taken part in this movement.  For some months Fr. Eugenio de Vera assisted him until the coming of Fr. Rufino López.  In the parish, the Catholic Women's League, the Knights of Columbus and the Holy Name Society were established at this period. 

The Second Vatican Council opened in 1962, marking the dawn of a new age for the Church.  It instituted needed reforms to keep the Church abreast with the developments of the modern world.  It caused the emergence of many and varied apostolates and movements to meet the demands of the times.  It awakened the laity to the consciousness of their identity and thus became more and more involved in the life and activity of the Church.  This is true with the parishioners in San Fabián. 

Fr. Rufino López, (1968-1970) eventually became the pastor.  It was during his incumbency in 1969 that the Catholic School of the parish, the Archdiocesan School of San Fabián, was established.  Msgr. Oscar Aquino, who together with the parishioners worked for the school's government recognition, was the first Director and Mr. Floro Torres the first principal.  Part of the convent was converted into classrooms.  It was also during Fr. Lopéz's tenure that partial renovation of the front part of the convent, initiated by Fr. Gago, was made.  His assistant was Fr. Peter Aquino whose appointment extended to the next pastor. 

Msgr. Antonio Palma was appointed parish priest in 1970.  Among his projects was the improvement of the church altar.  He did not stay long.  Fr. Benigno Serafica, assisted by Fr. José Tapia, replaced him in 1972.  After a two-year stint in the parish Fr. Serafica was succeeded by Msgr. Oscar Aquino who was pastor from 1974 to 1977.  His assistants were Msgr. Emilio Abalos and Fr. Pedro Quirós, both natives of the town.  As an offshoot of the Cursillo Movement, other similar movements, like the Bayanihan Movement, came into existence in the Archdiocese during this time.

From 1977 to 1981, Msgr. Pedro Sison was designated pastor.  He carried on the work of improvements on the church on time for the Christ the King celebrations, which took place in San Fabián in 1977.  During his term, the Mt. Carmel Chapel and bone repository was constructed.  After Msgr. Sison, came a native of the town, Fr. Abraham Esquig  (1981-1987).  He will be remembered for having introduced the Shalom Movement in the parish.  One of the church projects during his time was the installation of the canopy on the church façade.  

In 1987, Msgr. Rafael Magno took over as parish priest and served the parish for the next sixteen years.  In the course of this period restorations and improvements in the church and convent continued.  The construction of the parish center dates back to his time.  It was during his term that the town became the venue of the Christ the King Vicariate celebration in 1996.  Near the end of the millennium, the San Fabian Couples for Christ and the Mother Butler's Guild came into being. Also during his tenure the Charismatic Renewal Movement in the parish flourished for a time but gradually weakened with the eventual organization in the different barangays of the Basic Ecclesial Communities whose formation is the thrust of the Archdiocese's present evangelization program.

During Msgr. Magno’s tenure, several priests came to help out in the parish during weekends.  It was only Msgr. Segundo Gotoc though who had a formal appointment as a guest priest of the parish.  

Fr. Oliver Mendoza succeeded Msgr. Magno in 2003 upon the latter’s transfer to Dagupan.  At present, Fr. Mendoza is preparing the people and making further improvements on the church, including the restoration of the bell tower, for the Vicariate III Christ the King celebrations in the town in November 2003.

Msgr. Rafael S. Magno, Jr.

In collaboration with Mr. Firmo G. Gagute Mr. Jose R. Gagute and Ms. Lourdes L. Patungan.

Sources:

González, J. Ma. O.P., Labor Evangélica y Civilizadora de los Padres Dominicos en Pangasinán (1587-1898), University of Santo Tomás Press, Manila: 1946,  pp. 80-81.

Acta Capitulorum Provincialium Provinciae Sanctissimi Rosarii Philippinarum Ordinis Praedicatorum Ab anno 1700 ad 1906. (In 3 volumes). Typis Collegii Sancti Thomae, Manilae: 1878-1906 (respectively).

     Fernández, P., O.P., "The Dominican Towns In Pangasinán," in the Boletín Eclesiástico de Filipinas, May-June 1985, pp. 199-203.