How faith built a church in Taloto

EVER SINCE 1974 when we first relocated to Taloto from the city proper, the Taloto Church had formed part of my childhood. Not only because many, if not, almost all the pupils and teachers were Catholics, but because it’s located right across the public school where my mother transferred me for the rest of my elementary grades.

Its central presence simply arrests your attention even if during those days it was smaller because it’s simply there — situated in a strategic corner — and you can’t just miss it!

In“Significant Events in Tag bil ar an ,1798-1898” by Escolástico Enciso, OAR and Gregorio Gil, OAR as translated from Spanish to English by Emilio L. Larlar, Jr., OAR, and edited and annotated by Emmanuel Luis A. Romanillos, in his book, History of Bohol (15211937), he described the “Barrio of Taloto,” to be about four kilometers from the diocese, and interestingly, considered the “best part of the town of Tagbilaran” because it is the “most populated,” and “many of its population are regularly well-off.”

It said, “…in this barrio, the image of the Holy Cross has been venerated at a chapel made of bamboo and nipa and is being honored with an annual fiesta.”

Now, since Taloto is relatively far from the center of the town — this is the late 1800s, and to spare the children from going to town, residents “proposed to build a more decent chapel,” and requested the permission of Bishop Martin Garcia Alcocer, Franciscan Bishop of Cebu, “to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass there.”

Securing the permit from the bishop of the Diocese, the parish priest of Tagbilaran blessed the chapel erected in the barrio of Taloto and celebrated the mass on the day of the Feast of the Holy Cross. Moreover, the parish priest was instructed to celebrate the mass during Lent and in times of epidemic, and to ensure the upkeep of the place for divine worship.

It is enlightening to note that in this entry by Father Escolástico Enciso, on August 6, 1890, in Tagbilaran, he mentioned that “on August 4, of said year,” the parish priest “blest the chapel,” and the day after, “Mass with sermon was celebrated, followed by the procession that the inhabitants of Taloto dedicate annually to the Holy Cross.”

In the golden jubilee magazine celebrating the 50th year of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish published in 2016, and handed to me by Father Jose Cecil Lobrigas, incumbent parish priest, in a meeting Sunday night, the lengthy article that explained the history of the church (written in Bisaya that I translated to English) said, “It was in 1850, when residents of Taloto led by Andres Peñaflor, requested the parish priest of Tagbilaran, Father Valera de San Sebastian, the administrator for 1837-1855, to construct their own chapel. Father Valera agreed on the condition that a lot will be donated for the chapel, the priest’s residence, and the cemetery.

Seizing this opportunity, the prominent families from the different sitios of Taloto met and agreed to put up the chapel in the center of Taloto and identified the location of the cemetery.

Because of their solid devotion and love of God, the parents of Timotea Pusta, Ambrosio Pusta, Basilisa Pusta, Paulo Pusta, Miguela Pusta, and Fructoso Pusta, donated their property, Lot No. 3255-A and Lot No. 3255-B, for the chapel site, priest’s residence, and the cemetery.

With t hese donations, t he Talotoanon headed by the affluent f amilies contributed money, resources, and physical strength to realize their vision. The cemetery