Tagbilaran Diocese Website

The Jesuit Missionaries in the leadership of Rev. Fr. Pedro Lopez, S.J., founded the town which is composed of 67 barangays thru “Birhen sa Kasilak” when they landed Napo, the nucleus of the town in 1610 together with Butuananons who traveled from Butuan in their effort to save and rescue the statue of “Birhen sa Kasilak” against Muslim attacks and arson mechanisms from the time they established the church therein on September 8, 1597.
When the Jesuit Missionaries were expelled from the Philippines, Missionaries of the Recollect Order continued the pastoral guidance for Philippine Christianization, particularly in Loon. It was on June 22, 1753 that the “PAROQUIA NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA LUZ” was formally established when Fray Manuel de Elizalde assumed as the first parish priest of the parish at the site where the present edifice, the third biggest church in the Philippines, is located.
In the 18th century, “BIRHEN SA KASILAK” caused to withdraw the Muslim forces from their attempt of invading Loon when she appeared at the top of the 174 step Inang-angan, showing her most illustrious LIGHT that forced the enemies to retreat.
The Basilica of OUR LADY OF LIGHT which was built of stone tablets and hardwood with untarnished Roman Architecture, a combination of Ionic and Corinthian orders, is preserved by the Loonanons as a symbol of Christian leadership towards the Third Millennium.