www.dioceseofalaminos.org
EGUIA, DASOL (F-1888)
2411 Pangasinan
Population: (included in Dasol)
Titular: St. Raphael the Archangel, Oct. 24
Co-Pastors: Fr. Wilson Ramirez
Fr. Cloyd Dennis V. Gomez
St. Raphael the Archangel Parish - Eguia, Dasol, Pangasinan
The name Eguia seems to originate from the fact, that the original Patron Saint of the people of the locality was “Nuestra Senora de Guia”. In the year 1972, an antique statue of the Patron was burned in the house of one Alejandro de Leon, where the statue used to be kept for safe-keeping, as the Church at that time was made of sawali.
Subsequently, San Rafael Archangel was adodpted as the patron, whose fiesta at that time was celebrated on October 24. The original statue of San Rafael is now placed in the niche over the door of the Church.
In the middle of the last century, the Cabeza de Barangay” (Brgy. Capt.) at the time, one Don Ciriaco Madarang, laid out streets and plaza, in preparation to the barrio to become both a Pueblo (town) and Parokya (Parish). For this purpose he wrote to Rome for a Church bell and an altar stone, both of which he donated and they subsequently arrived. The Church bell bears this inscription: Archangel San Rafael.” Donado por Don Ciriaco Madarang. Publo de Enguia. Ano de 1888.” The Altar Stone is inserted in the recently reconstructed altar of the Church. Eguia did not become a town or a Parish at that time: this honor was given instead to Infanta.
In the early years of this century, priests used to come from Zambales to celebrate Mass in Eguia. Fathers bartolome Tongson, Vicente dela Cruz, Bernardo Braganza, Julian Santiago, Arsenio Nicdao and Armando Eusebio.
In subsequent years, it was the priests from Infanta who served the people of the locality.
Fr. Jose Torres – 1924 Fr. Bernardo Braganza - 1933
Fr. Francisco Gago – 1936 Fr. Bernardo Imuan - 1939
Fr. Vicente Prado – 1952 Fr. Isidro Estrada – 1955It was Fr. Bernardo S. Imuan who began the construction of the present Church in the year 1948, with the help an under the supervision of Engr. Marciano Pulido from Mayantoc, Tarlac.
During the feast of San Rafael Archangel 1957, the people requested Most Reverend Mariano Madriaga, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, that Eguia would become a Parish and a resident Priest assigned here. The request was granted under three conditions: that the subsistence of the priest would be provided for by the Parishioners, through a donation to the Church of at least one hectare of riceland; that the Church be renovated; that a convento be provided for the priest.
The spouses Don Antonio and Jacoba Espiritu (whose bones are now interred in the Church tower) donated the riceland, which still provides some support for the priest. Don Alejandro del Leon, the President of the Parish Council, with the help of parishioners and benefactors renovated the Church. And a subsequent President of the Parish Council Don Pedro Abella constructed the convento, which remained in use until 1982.
On the 19th of March 1958, the barangays of Eguia, Macalang, Petal, Tambac and Viga constituted the new Parish of St. Raphael Archengel, and the following served as the Parish Priest:
Fr. Vicente Gabriel – 1958; Fr. Rufino Velasco – 1959;
Fr. Constantino Montero – 1960; Fr. Geronimo Marcelino – 1966;
Fr. Jose Casaclang – 1969; Fr. Abraham Esquig – 1969;
Fr. Jose Cariño – 1972; Fr. Cornelio Casanova – 1974;
Fr. Desiderio de Guzman – 1975; Fr. Marlo Peralta – 1977;
Fr. Rolando Fernandez – 1980; Fr. Roderick Long – 1981;
Fr. Patrick O’Donovan – 1987; Fr. Roderick Long – 1991;
Fr. Gerardo Frias – 1995; Fr. Jeremiah Ofo-ob – 1997;
Fr. Joseph Thonikuzhy – 1998; Fr. Jerremiah Ofo-ob – 1999.