Tagbilaran Diocese Website

In the early 1900’s the residents of Ubujan were already devout Catholic. Yet at that time the
nearest church with which they can attend church services was only at the St. Joseph Cathedral in this in this city. In fact two devotees of San Antonio de Padua, Paula Bantugan and Juana Brunidor had to walk more or less 10 kilometers back and forth daily to attend church activities.
Paula and Juana with their strong desire to seek the kingdom of God requested the high officials in the Diocese through the representation of Tinong Gallares to construct a little chapel in their barangay with San Antonio de Padua as patron saint and the request was approved. They also sought the generosity of Valentin Gabo to donate a portion of land where the chapel stood from then to the present.
It was in the year 1917 when the donation of the lot was formally acknowledged and the construction of the Chapel started. It was made of light materials such as nipa and bamboo (sigkat) with ground soil as flooring. Realized with the support of barangay officials led by Teniente Alejandro Pingay and brothers Nicolas and Viano Ighot the carpenters.
The couple Julio and Demetria Miog-ao voluntarily agreed to place their statue of San Antonio de Padua in the chapel. The devotees recited novena prayers every 13th of the month. Valentin Gabo allowed the donation of additional space where a procession could be offered as part of the devotion rites.
In 1927 considerable improvement could be observed. Its roof had been improved with the replacement of galvanized iron sheets into its roof, and the reconstructing of its walls and windows. They once it to concerned leaders in the chapel headed by Fausto Budlong, Leoncio Redondo, and Francisco Celada.
In 1930 the first holy mass was celebrated and was officiated by the late rev. Fr.Arturo Tecson. The ancestral house of Paula Bantugan hosted as the temporary convent and not long after a set of pews was donated by the Bagong Sidlak Organization.
In the dark years of the World War II church activities were temporarily suspended until church functions after the Liberation period. Barrio Fiesta celebration observed every 13th of June was made possible through the active efforts of missionary priest in the IHM seminary in Taloto. Later chapel structure had undergone other improvements. The roughly cemented floor had already been smoothed of a few simple designed floor tiles in the center aisle. Thus Marcelo Sapong, Epifania Aguaviva, had initiated the move to seek for donors and sponsors among Boholano.
From 1960’s to 1970’s parishioners here and abroad, had come home to pay homage and offer thanksgiving to further the chapel improvements until 1990’s. The people are profoundly grateful to the presence of reverend parish priests and bishops like Msgr. Cirilo Darunday, Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos and Bishop Zacarias Jimenez.
In the middle of 1990’s the right wing of the chapel had been constructed through the efforts of Timoteo Maglajos, and parishioners headed by Rodulfo Sandolan. In the early years of 21st century the chapel had now become more spacious and blessings continually had outpoured such as the acquisition of RANZA and YAMAHA organ. The commitment and dedication of parishioners had been greatly manifested through the commitment efforts of each one. In order to strengthen the faith of the people, the Diocese of St. Joesph had assigned Rev. Fr. Faustino M. Bisol as a resident priest care taker.
On June 13, 2005 the most Rev Bishop Leopoldo S. Tumulak the Bishop of Tagbilaran had proclaimed the San Antonio de Padua as a Chaplaincy. After the proclamation of the chaplaincy, approval of the Diocese to grant the character loan in the amount of Five Hundred Thousand to acquire the frontal area as an inclusive property of the church.
Following the Chaplaincy proclamation, the pastoral council headed by Jovencio Taer and finance Council Rodulfo Sandulan were duly designated. Another blessings awaits the chaplaincy of Saint Antonio de Padua, the expectant parishioners gladly prepare for the PRE-QUASI Declarartion on June 13, 2007. Parishioners keep their fingers crossed to another great historical events in the lives of the devotees of San Antonio de Padua.