Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Samar

Samar is divided into three parts – Northern Samar, Western Samar and Eastern Samar. For purposes of clarity, Western Samar is simply referred to or called SAMAR.

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL
CATHEDRAL

Samar Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral Photo from: http://lexicalcrown.blogspot.com/2015/05/saints-peter-and-paul-cathedral.html

The Roman Catholic Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral of Calbayog City is the seat of the Diocese of Calbayog under the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical province of Palo which has then became an archdiocese and finally on November 15, 1982 Palo was promoted to be a metropolitan archdiocese. This cathedral was established in 1910 where its ecclesiastical foundation was laid on April 10, 1910 by Pope Pius X. It was in May 2010, that a Vatican’s Philippine Representative was sent to attend for its first Centennial Celebration. As of this posting, it is already 105 years old. The Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral is the most important landmark in Calbayog City where its tell-tale dome, spire, and thick walls reveal the blending of Spanish and modern architectural designs. It is located in the corners of Acedillo (a part of the Pan-Philippine Highway), Bugallon and Rueda Streets. It is a block away from the city hall and opposite to Cardinal Julio Rosales Plaza. Since it is along the Pan-Philippine Highway, buses with routes to Catbalogan, Tacloban, Ormoc, Maasin, Baybay, Surigao, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and some other parts of Southern Philippines would normally pass along this symbolic figure of Calbayog City. Read More: http://lexicalcrown.blogspot.com/2015/05/saints-peter-and-paul-cathedral.html

Photo from: http://dennisvillegas.blogspot.com/2006/09/cathedral-of-sts-peter-and-paul_25.html

In 1700s, Calbayog appears as a visita of Capul Island in the documents of this century. The Jesuits did not build a stone church in Calbayog., Ceded to the Franciscans with the rest of western Samar in 1768, Calbayog was attended to by Franciscans who resided in the neighboring towns. In 1785, it was raised to parish status almost two decades after the Jesuits had left but still it had no resident priest until 1788 when Calbayog had its first Franciscan pastor, Fray Benito del Carmen.

The oldest canonical books, as of 1884, was dated to 1808. An irony of history: Calbayog once a lowly visita is now the seat of a diocese. By decree of Saint Pope Pius X the island provinces of Samar and Leyted were erected as the Diocese of Calbayog, separated from Cebu on April 10, 1910, Then in 1914 the Franciscans ceded parish administration to the secular clergy. Read More: https://heritageconservation.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/calbayog-cathedral/

Photo from: https://heritageconservation.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/calbayog-cathedral/