By Kirsty Louise Balansag
Being in Negros, Philippines —constitutes visiting a variety of vintage churches that are built and survived throughout the test of time.According to Carol Aurea, St. Augustine of Hippo church receptionist, the church are facing some problems, some were inevitable, most especially for St. Augustine of Hippo’s structure since the structure is slowly deteriorating due to the passage of time.The church is currently 177 years old.
Most of the people living in the city are Roman Catholics. One of the oldest churches is the St. Augustine of Hippo Church located in Bacong, Negros Oriental.
Bacong got separated from Dumaguete City and later was made into a town in the year 1837.
History of the Church
St. Augustine of Hippo church was established in 1849 in honor of the Augustine of Hippo. St. Augustine of Hippo derived his name from the place where he established a religious community and had become consecrated Bishop and was a co-adjutor to Valerius and eventually become the bishop of Hippo.
Aside from that, he became the dominant figure of African church affairs and the leader in fighting the Manichaeism, Donatism, Pelagianism, and other heresies. St. Augustine of Hippo was born on November 13, 354 at Tagaste, Numidia, North Africa. His real name is Aurelisu Augustinus and he died on August 28, 430 at Hippo, the day which declared as his feast day and Bacong celebrates his feast day.
In today’s time, he is being considered as one of the greatest fathers of the church.
The construction of the church was headed by Father Joaquin Soriano, who was the first recollect parish priest, who was assigned in Bacong. However, Father Joaquin was not able to continue in handling the church establishment since he was transferred to another church in Ilo-Ilo.
The departure of Fr. Soraino did not stop the establishment but was continued by the succeeding priest who replaced Fr. Soriano, Father Miguel Alvarez, and later on there were several other priests who were part of the establishment of the church.
During the Revolution in 1989, the recollect priests left Bacong for the mean time and entrusted the care of the church to the secular priests. They resumed their missionary activities in the year 1904, headed by Fr. Manuel Mateo until 1907.
The last recollect priest to serve the church was Fr. Amado Lopez and Fr. Ricardo Hinojal in 1960 until 1965. After that, the church was finally turned over to the secular priest.
The Pipe Organ
The famous pipe organ was placed in the St. Augustine of Hippo church at around 1894 by the Rogues Hermanos Consructores in Zaragosa, Spain. The organ is composed of 581 pieces of pipes and 39 of that is made of wood and the remaining 542 are made up of all metals pieces with the manual keyboard of 56 keys and a neo-gothic case made out of oak wood. The said pipe instrument is very useful in the church since it would provide and enlighten the mass that are being held inside the church.
According to Carol Aurea, church receptionist, the church faced some problems, some were inevitable, most especially for St. Augustine of Hippo’s structure since the structure is slowly deteriorating due to the passage of time.The church is currently 177 years old.
But they don’t need to worry anymore because the church was selected to become a National Cultural Treasure. The government would be funding the repairs of the parts that needs to be fixed for the preservation of the heritage.
As of now, the church is currently being renovated under the supervision of the new assigned priest for the next six years. These are Rev. Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela, Rev. Fr. Abel Dalaguit, and Rev. Fr. Clefford Buhian.
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