Amigonian Religious in Barangay Cabug, Bacolod City
Barangay Cabug is situated 10 kilometers away from the south of Bacolod City. It is surrounded by different barangays such as Brgy. Pahanocoy in the southwest, Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City in the north, Brgy. Felisa in the northeast and Brgy. Sum-ag in the west. It has a total land area of 897 hectares which is mostly sugarcane plantations. The barangay is classified as partly residential and agricultural and is composed of 25 scattered puroks. As of 2015 census, the population of the barangay is 9,555. It was once a sitio of Brgy. Sum-ag but was later renamed Sitio Cubay meaning ‘cluster’. The people however noticed that there were plenty of fruit bats, locally known as Cabug in the area so they decided to rename the place again from Cubay to Cabug. The barangay has a temporary school building, the Cubay Primary School built from nipa leaves and bamboo grooves. At the same time, a Chapel in honor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal was built from the same materials. In 1961, the Sitio was chartered as a barangay of Bacolod City by virtue of a Republic Act enacted by the Philippine Congress. From then on, the barangay progressed slowly and developed. Concrete roads were built.
Every 2nd week of January, the barangay commemorates its charter anniversary with the holding of the “Lechon Festival” being one of the city’s frontrunners of tourism development. The festival made the barangay famous all over the world. In 1989, the arrival of the Tertiary Capuchin Sisters of the Holy Family in the barangay was a big help for the people. The sisters put up the Fray Luis Amigó Health Center, a clinic that charges minimal donation so that everybody can afford to give. Today, the barangay has a Day Care Center, an elementary school that caters a thousand elementary students, and about 500 high school students. It also has a basketball covered court, a children’s park, and a health center.
In 2012, Fr. Francisco Javier Cabezas, TC., a visiting priest of the religious congregation of the Amigonian Religious arrived in Cabug. Since then, he has made a lot of difference in the lives of the people. Upon his arrival, he facilitated the renovation of the chapel and the establishment of the Chapel’s office and feeding center. It took him almost a year before he was able to settle in Cabug. As visiting priest, he helps the poor children of the barangay by feeding them. So far, almost 100 elementary and high school students have their meal at the Center during school days. He also helps some students who are in college and his scholars are not only those who are living within the barangay but also those from other parts of Bacolod City. The spiritual growth of the people also flourished with Fr. Javier’s guidance. He celebrates Mass every day and two masses every Sunday including Children’s Mass. He ministers the sacrament of matrimony and funeral masses for free. He also conducts catechesis for the children.
With Fr. Javier are other religious who share the pastoral work. Bro. Rafael Hontanar arrived in Bacolod on August 26, 2015 and again, on January 2020, Fr. Mark Orven Batingal joined Fr. Javier and Bro. Raffy. Fr. Mark is tasked to be responsible for the Chapel and pastoral activities. Until now, the community continues to help the people of Cabug through different pastoral activities, feeding programs, and other religious and spiritual activities for children.
From left: Fr. Javier Cabezas,Fr. Jens Anno Muller, Fr. Frank Perez (General Superior), Most Rev. Patricio Buzon, S.D.B., D.D.(Bishop of Bacolod), Fr. Roy Jenkins Albuen (Delegate)
