Tagbilaran Diocese Website

By a Royal Decree in December of 1891, the town of Cortes was born and barangay Wazi was renamed De La Paz. At that time the first Parish Priest of Cortes was Padre Juan Pablo Ruiz, ORSA. He established a mission post or chapel in the barangay where he conducted his religious activities. The chapel was made of bamboo and nipa. In the course of his constant visits, he discovered that the people there were very much devoted to the Blessed Virgen. So he found it appropriate to choose Virgen De La Paz y Buen Viaje as their patron saint. Another reason for this choice was that many Lapazanons were traders or viajedors who went to different places in the Visayas, Mindanao and Manila using big bangcas.
It was in Manila that they learned about Our Lady of Antipolo who was venerated also as Virgen De La Paz y Buen Viaje. Without wasting time they went to Antipolo and brought a replica of Our Lady who was warmly welcomed by the Lapazanons. Inspired by the newly acquired image, a vigorous campaign was launched to raise funds in order to build a concrete church. It was Gregorio “Begoy” Miag-ao who laid down the ground work for the chapel on the lot donated by Damaso and Maria Villamor 1902. The building was completed in 1920.
Liturgical services were conducted by the priest from the mother parish who say masses on Sundays and Holy days. But in early 1950’s the curate of the mother parish requested the priest professors of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Taloto, Tagbilaran City to perform those services to De La Paz chapel. However, those services was stopped and the responsibility was again transferred to the priest in the parish of Poblacion Cortes.
The idea of becoming a parish was spearheaded by Rev. Fr. Justino Estoque who vouched the capability of the Lapazanons to support a priest and sustain a parish. With his recommendations to the Diocese of Tagbilaran, De La Paz chapel was proclaimed a chaplaincy on the feast of Virgen De La Paz y Buen Viaje on January 24, 2000. Monsignor Melquiades Agunod became the first chaplain. The new chaplaincy comprise of the barangays of De La Paz, Upper De La Paz and Lourdes.
A year after on January 24, 2001, the chaplaincy was elevated to a Quasi-Parish status with Rev.Fr. Ramon Darius Biliran as the parish priest followed by Rev. Fr. Vivencio Husain, Jr. When Fr. Husain transferred to his hometown in Tubigon, Rev. Fr. Jesus Labor took over as the parish priest. At this time, Fr. Labor and the officers of the Parish Pastoral Council and the Parish Finance Council have finally decided to push through for a full-pledged parish status.
It is noteworthy to mention that the high spirituality of the Lapazanons brought about sanctifying fruits whose sons and daughters have entered priesthood and religious orders. The first son called to serve Christ was Rev. Fr. Flordito Redulla, SVD in 1984 now in Mexico; Rev. Fr. James Darunday in 1985; Rev. Fr. Agerio Cosmod, OAD, September 12, 2002; and Rev. Fr. Alexander Bali-og, OAD, September 6, 2003. Joining the religious order of the Daughter of St. Mary of Leuca are Sister Alba (Adelfa Redulla) in Italy, Sister Cesira (Adeline Redulla) Italy, Sister Eunice (Gemma Cortidor) Spain, Sister Genecia (Milagros Hernando) Portugal, and a nun Sor Genara Peralta of the Canoneses Agustinas in Spain. These indeed are heavenly laurels earned from the great devotion of the pious and faithful Lapazanons to their beloved Patron Saint the most gracious Virgen De La Paz y Buen Viaje.