History of Davao Carmel

A long and cherished dream of His Excellency, Bishop Luis Del Rosario, S.J., D.D. was about to be realized when, on December 3, 1946, his Vicar-General, Rev. Father Alfredo E.L. Paguia, SJ laid the corner stone of the Carmel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Bankerohan, Davao City.

The New Year dawned full of promises. On February 7, 1947, His Excellency went to the Carmel of Jaro, Iloilo, to bring with him three Nuns, Sr. Mary of the Assumption, Sr. Magdalen of the Precious Blood and Sr. Mary of the Incarnation, to begin the foundation. They landed in Davao City on February 10 and were welcomed by the P.M.E. Fathers and the only religious congregation then in Davao, the RVM Sisters, with the lay people who soon learned to love ‘these strange sisters who did nothing but pray’. Even if the vocation of Carmel was not too well understood, still a warm welcome surrounded the newly arrived nuns. Helping hands were extended, sharing whatever they had.

Of the Carmel on the hill, there was nothing but posts and roof, so for the first few weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Remigio Ponce sheltered and fed the Nuns with great kindness. God rewarded their charity by coming Himself to their humble dwelling, day after day, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

With a longing for home, the three pioneer nuns left the Ponce’s residence on the first Friday of March 1947 for their convent in the making. For their first supper, the sisters used a large wooden box as their table, three smaller boxes for chairs and a bottle of water for repast. Then good Mrs. Ponce came into view, full of maternal solicitude with a hot meal for her Carmelite Sisters. The nuns retired for the night on a mat on the floor under one mosquito net and got up the next morning exhausted after a valiant encounter with the mosquitoes. Since there was no wall, windows or doors, the gift of some pieces of canvas from the Philippines Constabulary was most welcome to serve as sidings. The men from Philippine Constabulary also offered to refill the nuns’ water container. At the sound of rain at night time, the nuns would get up and extend their basins to gather the shower for the next day’s water supply.

The first Mass in Carmel was celebrated on March 10, 1947, a day without any external solemnity but one of deep joy and thanksgiving. This day is ever kept as Foundation Day. On March 24, 1947 the second batch of six nuns arrived from, Jaro, Iloilo to complete the foundation led by Sr. Bernadette of our Lady and Sr. Mary of the Angels. They were welcomed by Fr. Alfredo Paguia, SJ, the Vicar General, and a crowd of friends who brought them around the city so that they could have a glimpse of it before heading for the monastery.

By the middle of June, the construction of the small monastery was completed and His Excellency, Bishop Del Rosario had joy of blessing this house of prayer and sealing the nuns’ enclosure. The nuns were happy to get back into their usual Carmelite life of prayer and sacrifice once again, placing all their cares upon the Lord, fully trusting in His Divine Providence. Soon, friends from all walks of life were inspired to help in their needs. In addition to this, they took up remunerative works such as baking of altar bread, sewing vestments and linens for the church use. His Excellency Bishop Luis Del Rosario moved to the Archdiocese of Zamboanga and Bishop Clovis Thibault, P.M.E replaced him as the new Administrator of Davao.

In 1953, a suitable site for the permanent location of the monastery was found in Bajada, Davao City. A few days before the feast of St. Joseph to whom the nuns had entrusted their needs, Dr. and Mrs. Juan Belisario Sr. offered them a piece of land, which was at that time categorized as marshland, at a very reasonable price. In addition, they gifted Carmel with half a hectare from the property adjacent to the piece of land that was bought by the nuns. Inspired with similar generosity, Dr. and Mrs. Santiago Dacudao, donated a great part of their frontage. Construction work began in late September that year and in spite of the shortage of materials, one wing was inaugurated on June 7, 1954 the following year.

The nuns transferred from Bankerohan to their new and permanent home in Bajada, accompanied by a few religious and friends on that same day, June 7, 1954. The party proceeded to Bajada with Rev. Father Vincent, OCD leading the group in the first car, carrying the Blessed Sacrament. The nuns and the other religious and friends followed behind. In the afternoon, in order to honor Our Lady during the Marian Year, the Statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was brought with solemnity. A motorcade procession was held and despite the unfavorable weather, it was well-attended by our benefactors and friends, reciting the Rosary and singing hymns. There was an Open House and the Solemn Blessing of the Monastery and the sealing of the enclosure by Bishop Clovis Thibault took place at around five o’clock in the afternoon.

Friends continued to help the nuns to raise funds in building the permanent Monastery. caroling on Christmas by a group of small girls, movie benefit show, Marimba and Piano Concerts. The nuns continued the baking of altar bread, making stuffed dolls and animal toys as well as Church linens and priest vestments. With the help of Divine Providence through the generosity of benefactors and the hard work of the nuns the four winged Monastery was completed and the Chapel renovated in time of the 25th Foundation Anniversary by the end of 1972. The chapel was dedicated on December 10, 1972 by His Excellency Carmine Rocco, the then Nuncio to the Philippines.

Many blessings have come to the Carmel of Davao which the nuns are grateful. Among them are the foundation of the daughter Carmel in Tua-tua, Mati City, the Carmelite Monastery of St. Teresa, headed by the late Mother Marie Susan of Jesus and Mother Mary of the Sacred Heart. The said monastery was made possible thru the request of the late Bishop Patricio Alo. Another significant blessing is the donated new altar bread baking machines, which the Carmelite nuns use in helping to serve the needs of the Archdiocese of Davao City and nearby Dioceses in terms of supply of altar bread.

All praise to God for His wondrous deeds in building the Carmelite Monastery of Davao for His greater glory and honor where His people find joy and consolation at all times. The Carmelite Nuns of Davao are inviting all to celebrate their 75th Foundation Anniversary on March 10, 2022.