San Isidro Labrador Parish History: The Tinubdan

In 1970, St, Francis Xavier Village, a newly opened a subdivision by Francisco and Dalisay Soriano,. Thirty-three family-residents pioneered the first subdivision Barangay Catalunan Grande, which later the residents themselves named it as a Skyline Village.

Judge Vicente E. Calanog, one of the first settlers, organized the Skyline Village Residents Association and planned the construction of a chapel where residents need to go far to worship and celebrate the Holy Eucharist.

Skyline Village residents would walk on either muddy or dusty roads to St. Francis Xavier Seminary or had to go downtown to hear the Mass.

While materials and other resources are being solicited, Eucharist celebrations were held ta the carport of Judge Calanog. Fiesta and other celebration were held on the streets of the Village.

Reynaldo Montilla, Raymundo Enriquez, Agripino Torres, Leopoldo Veroy, Migdonio Clamor, Amable Datur , Frank Librea, George Palma Gil, Adolfo Canete, Samuel Libron were among those who helped in the resourcing for the chapel construction and for the preparation of the celebration of the Mass.

Doña Carmen Soriano provided 1,200 square meter land for the building if the chapel. It was actually the preferred place of Judge Calanog and his group as it was located along the highway of Catalunan Grande. He was foreseeing of building a “Church” not just a chapel; it will be opened for everyone and placing the chapel along the highway was the best. The place chosen is the same place where the San Isidro Labrador Parish now stands.

In return of her generosity, the group agreed to the request of Doña Carmen to continue the devotion and keep San Isidro Labrador as the patron saint that her farmers had started way back 1950s.

The first haul construction materials was on July 4, 1974. Francisco M. Soriano Sr. provided the snad and gravel; Isaac Robillo Sr. supplied the lumber requirement; Cinderella Homes, developer of Skyline Village shouldered the labor cost; Judge Vicente and Rosita Calanog donated 200 bags of cement; Mr. & Mrs. Opeña shared 50 bags of cement; Melicio & Rosila Antipuesto gave 100 hollow blocks, George and Raque Palma Gil gave 10 hollow blocks; Atty. Leopoldo and Marlou Veroy gave 10 bags of cement, Davao City Counselor Vicente Sr. and Zosima Albay contributed 200 hollow blocks. The money raised from other anonymous donors was used to buy 200 bags of cement. Engr. Raymundo Enriquez volunteered to supervise the construction.

Doña Carmen’s role di not end on land donation, she made representation to the three pioneering Society of Divine Vocation (SDV) priests assigned at Regional Major Seminary (REMASE) namely Fr. Jose Vicente Braganza – Rector; Fr. Anselmo Bustos and Fr. Willy Villegas who agreed to take turns for the Sunday Eucharistic Celebration. When REMASE was administered by the Diocesan Clergy of Davao, two of its former rectors became Priest-in-Charge of San Isidro Labrador Parish, who are now Bishops, namely Bishop Juluis Tonel and Archbishop Romullo Valles.

On May 15, 1976, the first fiesta celebration in this bigger chapel was a big success which was followed by the first Misa de Gallo in December of the same year.

The San Isidro Chapel was then under the jurisdiction of Immaculate Conception Parish (ICP) in Mintal =. Affairs were handled by Beatriz C. Libron, daughter of Judge Calanog, who endorsed collections and reported updates to ICP, he turned over tha San Isidro Chapel to San Pedro Parish in downtown Davao City for easier coordination.

The spirit of unity became more vibrant in 1981, when Fr. Restituto Lumanlan, the Rector of REMASE solicited the laity. The completion of chapel was undertaken, this time with Corazon Maria “Sonia” Soriano-Gempesaw as chairperson for the committee of chapel construction with the help of the residents on Monte Maria Subdivision. The list of Good Samaritans increased with families of Dr. Jose Quimpo; Paul Ko, Marge Conde and Bobby Quizon spearheading various fund-raising activities. The first pews were through the initiative of the Maharlika Fundation, Alma B. Gonzales was then leader of the foundation.

On May 15, 1994, the San Isidro Labrador Pastoral Council (SILPC), headed by Reynaldo G. Montilla, launched the Pledges of Expansion and Additional Church Essentials (PEACE) campaign with desire to realize a dream of transforming San Isidro Labrador Chapel into a parish. The growing faith community with Pag IBIG Homes and Heights Subdivisions, Monte Marie II had helped acquire the house right at the back of the chapel which served as the covenant and office. The vision of making San Isidro a parish had been expressed long ago by the late Davao Archbishop Antonio LI. Mabutas who wanted to build the church and other structures of the parish housed in one area about 5,000 square meter lot. However, the then chapel was not able to meet this requirement.

Liturgical Teams from each subdivision was established and Worship Ministries were organized to facilitate the celebrations of the Holy Mass. Formations were conducted through the supervision and help of San Pedro Parish. Fr. Mike Murphy, SVD, was then actively shepherding the SIL Chapel and its faithful.

May 11, 2000, despite the inadequacy of the land area, Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla, after consulting the Presbyteral Council, issued a Decree of Canonical Erection designing a part of San Pedro Parish and a part of the Immaculate Conception Parish constitute the San Isidro Labrador Parish Catalunan Grande. This was after the construction of a bigger church through the initiative of Nicetas Millete, Agripino Torres, and Migdonio Clamor to request for an architectural design from Architect Manuel Chiu.

Furthermore, the Decree announced the new parish was given its first parish priest with the appointment of Fr. Paul A. Cuison, JCD. He was also appointed as Assistant Vicar of San Pablo Parish in Juna Subdivision in Matina, Davao City. During his time, major physical improvements within the parish were noticed. In 2002, there were 21 active Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) in the parish. His six years in SILP were noted to be full of challenges and achievements as well.

The Lay people has strongly worked persevered in the establishment of the SIL Parish through the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC). The leaders of the PPC over the years were Rey G. Montilla, Adolfo Canete, Agripino Torres, Lumanlan, Vicente Santos. Likewise, the Parish Finance Council stood by the challenges of the growing church. Among those who led were Migdonio Clamor, Delia Ladao, who still leads the Finance Council up to the present.

Fr. Paul Cuison was succeeded by another formator from the seminary, Fr. Pepe Retorca. His mission in San Isidro Labrador Parish started in the year 2006 until 2012. Fr. Pepe continued the spiritual and formation programs instituted by his predecessors. He was able to acquire the house and lot which is now the convent of the parish priest of SILP, and the adjacent lots where the parish stands. There were 27 BECs in 2012.

On the year 2012, the third parish priest of SILP was welcomed by the parishioners, in the person of Fr. Joel Caasi, SLL. Being his first parish assignment, Fr. Joel was keen in making improvements and changes in the parish. Along with the Parish Pastoral Team, headed by Parish Pastoral and Formation Building, Multi-Purpose Covered Court, Chapel of Saints, Baptismal Font, and improved the Lady’s Grotto, Adoration Chapel, Prayer Garden, Sacristy, and the church’s sound system and ventilation. It was during his time when an increase in the number of BECs were noticed which now counts up to 38 communities. Its has remained strong as a parish which continue to espouse the motto “that we may be one.” (Ms. Leah Ibanez & Mr. Jimmy Jesuro)