Cordillera town church given historical marker

BAGUIO CITY — The municipality of Besao in Mountain Province received its first historical marker recognizing the heritage significance of St. Benedict Episcopal Church.

The marker recognizes the church’s role in the growth of the Episcopal Church in the Cordillera and its contribution to community life in Besao.

St. Benedict Episcopal Church traces its origins to an outstation of the St. Mary the Virgin Mission in Sagada town in 1910. It became a full mission station in 1912 and eventually served as a central place of worship and community activity.

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READ: Digitally mapping the Philippines’ historical markersThe church’s stone structure was designed by Italian architect John Van Wei Bergamini Sr. and was completed in 1940.

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Regalado Trota Jose Jr., chair of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), led the unveiling ceremony on Wednesday, joined by local government officials and church leaders.

Besao Mayor Bryne O. Bacwaden was represented at the ceremony by Executive Assistant Elsie S. Lomong-oy, and Rev. Fr. Princel Balitog represented the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines, Bishop Benny P. Lang-akan.

Members of the Sangguniang Bayan led by Vice Mayor Elizabeth A. Buyagan attended the event, along with municipal employees, church vestry members, and parishioners.

Aljon I. Concillado, NHCP History Researcher II, and Dallay N. Annawi, a church vestry member and Besao municipal culture and arts officer, coordinated the marker’s installation. /coa