St. Jerome's Parish and Convent

Bagabag Church and Convent built in 1777. In 1594, the Dominicans came and started evangelization work in the valley. In 1743, Bagabag was accepted as a Mission under the patronage of St. Jerome which remains up to this day. In the earliest survey in 1746 Padron de Almas or List of baptized inhabitants in the Spanish controlled towns, Bagabag registered 130 souls. In 1777, Fr. Alejandro Vidal, O.P., began the construction of a church and convent of stone and bricks which Fr. Juan del Rey O.P. finished in 1794. In 1839 the church and convent got burned together with the parochial books. They were re-established by Fathers Raimundo Gonzalo O.P., and Remigio del Alamo O.P. They also built the tower which to this day remain unfinished.

Source: https://collections.peabody.harvard.edu/objects/details/563131?fbclid=IwAR3IeLuZvOGpoI4e3ZBKMawmmtvlIUmRL0JvEs33M3cs1zvlurkkkHZrn-o

St. Jerome's Parish, Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya

It was so difficult for the missionaries to pacify and evangelized the town of Bagabag because of the ferocity of the early inhabitants, the early inhabitants, the Gaddangs,. With help of the military troops, the missionaries penetrated Bagabag. In 1743, it was accepted as an ecclestical mission by the Dominican Order and its first missionary is Fr. Louis Sierra, OP. Bagabag had a church which was made of stones and bricks. Its patron was St. Jerome, which remains to this day. It was Fr. Alejandro Vidal, Op, who started the construction of the church and convent in 1777 and was later finished by Fr. Juan del Rey, OP. However, this church was destroyed during the Second World War. Like in all other parishes

in the diocese, the administration of the parish in Bagabg was also given to the CICM (Congregatio Imaculati Cordis Mariae) missionaries by the year 1908. Fr. Achilles Degryse became the first CICM to be assigned in this parish. With him and the other CICM missionaries, they managed the parish by constructing great edifices, employing livelihood programs and looking after the needs of the people. Rev. Fr. Norbert Lietaert, CICM established the parochial school to provide the basic education of the faithful. By the year 1962, the modern church was constructed through the initiative of Fr. Marcelo Vantomme, CICM. Truly, with the help of their benefactors from Belgium and other foreign countries, these missionaries gathered the people of Bagabag to their fold.

WEARING THE BAKWAT, THE JEROMIAN WAY

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my distinct honor to present to you, our new graduation decorum of Saint Jerome’s Academy which he had just launched this morning during the Elementary Department’s Graduation Program. This graduation decorum which I am referring to is worn by the SJA faculty right now. May I ask the SJA teachers and members of the administration to stand? Thank you, sirs and mesdames. With our desire of putting a more Filipino touch on our school’s graduation, we, particularly the faculty of the elementary department had come to a point of recreating our graduation, to make it more unique and more memorable; or oftenly we call this , a more Jeromian in nature. With our great aspirations, we planned to replace the traditional toga next year with what we are wearing now; accompanied with a Filipiniana dress for girls and barong for boys or the school uniform as well. The Toga, which was believed to be European in origin was worn by the graduates all over the world when they receive their diplomas. The dress was characterized to be long, which is usually under the knees and oftenly with a cap. The usual graduation decorum of every school: Black for the college and white for high school and elementary level . The toga was believed to be customized to adopt the cold graduation climate of Europe; which is not applicable to the Philippines due to its hot climate and oftenly a lot of graduates collapse using the toga because of the lack of ventilation of the dress. With our idea in mind of replacing the toga, we planned to replace it with a sash just like the – University of the Philippines-“ the SABLAY.” The sablay is worn by UP graduates during their graduation rites. The sablay is worn on the left shoulder of the graduate and later on transferred on the right shoulder when they are p[proclaimed “graduate” by the University President. Thus, we also also dream of having such, but we said we want it as unique and as Jeromian as possible. With our careful study and extreme research about the history of our school and of our beloved town-Bagabag, we found out that Bagabag was first inhabited by the Gaddangs from Cagayan and Kalingga. The Gaddangs which was one of the great ethnic minorities here at Luzon was known for their rich culture, great dances, unique language, valuable literature, priceless songs and intriquet detailed beaded dresses. With our further research we came to encounter the word “Bakwat”. The word “Bakwat” is a term used by the Gaddangs for a beaded hand woven cotton sash usually worn on the waist of a Gaddang woman whenever they wear their traditional dress- the Billing. The Billing is comprised of a beaded hand woven long sleeved blouse called baruwasi. A beaded hand woven cotton wrap around the skirt call aken A beaded forehead ensemble called galantia. A pair of Mother of Pearl butterfly like earring called baruway. A false hair tresser called “Talibok”. A carabao horn comb called Laggud. And last but not the least the Bakwat which join the baruwasi and the aken. Furthermore the billing is usually worn during special occasions such as marriage, burials and canaos and other forms of special gathering of the Gaddangs to thank their Supreme God, “Nanolay”. With such information that we have, we decided to call our sash the bakwat. The SJA bakwat comprises the special logo of the school; White and navy blue, the true color of A Jeromian. The navy blue symbolizes our love to Mary, the Mother of God and the Church. It also symbolizes our great aspirations in life, Higher than the skies above. The white lining of the bakwat stands for purity and quality education, that SJA offers to every Jeromian which equip them to be true hope of our Mother land. The Maroon lining that join the bakwat stands for Saint Jerome, the patron saint of our school and Bagabag; the binder of all Bagabagenos and every Jeromian’s heart. The yellow lining of the bakwat symbolizes the rich culture of the Gaddangs who are our great forefathers in this town. The school logo which is found on top of the bakwat stands for the seal of excellence to every Jeromian’s that reminds them to be true sons and daughters of our school. The acronym SJA stand for the name of our school Saint Jerome’s Academy, a premier school of our beloved town and the Diocese of Bayombong as true molder of the nation’s youth. Ladies and gentlemen, our new graduation decorum, the SJA Bakwat, first in SJA and first in Bagabag. Thank you and Mabuhay tayong lahat.

PALACE IN THE SKY

I am awaken with the dew Who tickles my face, that’s true. The sunshine brighten its might in me, Who smiles at me and makes me glee. I looked at my environment Asked where I am in the moment. Is it my home, nor in the school Place of fantasies, that’s full. I saw dryads that so gaily They are all beauteous, fairly The nymphs of all beauty and bloom Sphinx and great Medusa who doom An eagle flown in the sky Leads into the Olympian skies With zephyr gods and ruby eyed Heart’s filled with joy and almost cried I saw the mighty Zeus enthroned The lovely Hera, shined with gold Athena, fountain of wisdom And Venus that reign in the kingdom Ares is dressed with all his might And Phoebus Apollo that bright Glitz the palace, O Olympus Greece and Rome exalt tremendous With all the marvels I see It delighten’s my soul and me Grandiose palace and chandeliers Who lightens me and take my fear This feeling must come to an end When I feel my feet descend Slowly but surely I returned From where I start to dream and learned I am awaken with the dew Who tickles my face, that’s true. The sunshine brighten its might in me, Who smiles at me and makes me glee. I looked at my environment Asked where I am in the moment. Is it my home, nor in the school Place of fantasies, that’s full. I saw dryads that so gaily They are all beauteous, fairly The nymphs of all beauty and bloom Sphinx and great Medusa who doom An eagle flown in the sky Leads into the Olympian skies With zephyr gods and ruby eyed Heart’s filled with joy and almost cried I saw the mighty Zeus enthroned The lovely Hera, shined with gold Athena, fountain of wisdom And Venus that reign in the kingdom Ares is dressed with all his might And Phoebus Apollo that bright Glitz the palace, O Olympus Greece and Rome exalt tremendous With all the marvels I see It delighten’s my soul and me Grandiose palace and chandeliers Who lightens me and take my fear This feeling must come to an end When I feel my feet descend Slowly but surely I returned From where I start to dream and learned

PALACE IN THE SKY

I am awaken with the dew Who tickles my face, that’s true. The sunshine brighten its might in me, Who smiles at me and makes me glee. I looked at my environment Asked where I am in the moment. Is it my home, nor in the school Place of fantasies, that’s full. I saw dryads that so gaily They are all beauteous, fairly The nymphs of all beauty and bloom Sphinx and great Medusa who doom An eagle flown in the sky Leads into the Olympian skies With zephyr gods and ruby eyed Heart’s filled with joy and almost cried I saw the mighty Zeus enthroned The lovely Hera, shined with gold Athena, fountain of wisdom And Venus that reign in the kingdom Ares is dressed with all his might And Phoebus Apollo that bright Glitz the palace, O Olympus Greece and Rome exalt tremendous With all the marvels I see It delighten’s my soul and me Grandiose palace and chandeliers Who lightens me and take my fear This feeling must come to an end When I feel my feet descend Slowly but surely I returned From where I start to dream and learned I am awaken with the dew Who tickles my face, that’s true. The sunshine brighten its might in me, Who smiles at me and makes me glee. I looked at my environment Asked where I am in the moment. Is it my home, nor in the school Place of fantasies, that’s full. I saw dryads that so gaily They are all beauteous, fairly The nymphs of all beauty and bloom Sphinx and great Medusa who doom An eagle flown in the sky Leads into the Olympian skies With zephyr gods and ruby eyed Heart’s filled with joy and almost cried I saw the mighty Zeus enthroned The lovely Hera, shined with gold Athena, fountain of wisdom And Venus that reign in the kingdom Ares is dressed with all his might And Phoebus Apollo that bright Glitz the palace, O Olympus Greece and Rome exalt tremendous With all the marvels I see It delighten’s my soul and me Grandiose palace and chandeliers Who lightens me and take my fear This feeling must come to an end When I feel my feet descend Slowly but surely I returned From where I start to dream and learned

THE ONE I LOVED

In the midst I was there before. Stumbling in the dark and feel so small. Hoping and praying God hears my call; To find and taste love, and also to fall. A strange day had broke this spell That in my hearth I cannot tell. A shinning armor had crossed my way And struck me to my sweetest day. Speak me thy cupid and angels above; That my prayers had finally came to life. I ask myself if it’s for real, In all the marvels and melodies that I hear. Show me thy smile that I can’t resist. Thy tine eyes that I don’t want to miss. Baby, I love you and I love you so dear, And I loved to be drawn to your near. I pray to all gods of heaven’s above, That they will protect the one I loved. Give him energy and guide him, oh God! That it’s You, I’m counting and trusting the one that I loved. I fear that this feeling will depart from me Like days and nights, o’ heaves near. That a You will take away from the one I loved; For it’s only for my beloved who keeps my life be alive.