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A HERITAGE-RICH province in the northern part of the Philippines, Ilocos Sur is home to various historical sites and landmarks. Its capital city, the historic Vigan, is recognized as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site and was also named as one of “The Seven Wonder Cities Of The World” (worldatlas.com) for its well-preserved Spanish Colonial architecture that dates back to the 16th century when the Spaniards first came to the Philippines. In the province, you can also find Pasong Tirad (Tirad Pass) where General Gregorio del Pilar led a 60-man rearguard to protect President Emilio Aguinaldo during the occupation of the Philippines and the revolution. There is also the Bessang Pass which served as a stronghold for the Japanese Army in 1945 after they occupied the northern part of Luzon during the Second World War.
Amid the ongoing war then and despite the province being a bastion of Catholicism in the northern part of the country, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) was able to set foot in Ilocos Sur in 1945.
Ilocos Sur is bordered by the provinces of Ilocos Norte to the north, Abra and Mountain Province to the east, and La Union and Benguet to the south.
In May 1945, Brothers Felimon Sanidad, Juan Aromin, Paulino Membrere, and Teofilo Tucay, ministers of the gospel who were then assigned in La Union, conducted evangelical missions in the town of Tagudin, the southernmost town of Ilocos Sur. Their growing number of listeners caught the attention of the Catholic Church. So, the Catholic priests and nuns dissuaded people from listening to the teachings of the Church Of Christ. Nonetheless, many continued to listen to the pristine teachings of God upheld by the Church Of Christ and eventually decided to join the true Church.
Later that year, Brother Andres Sadorra, a ministerial worker then who was assigned in Ilocos Norte, started to propagate the gospel in Barangay Zapat in the town of Sinait, the northernmost town of Ilocos Sur. The Local Congregation of Zapat was established in February of the following year under the Ecclesiastical District of Ilocos Norte. Later that year, the Local Congregation of Sapilang (became Magsaysay later on), also from the same town, was established.
In Tagudin, Church Of Christ members went through severe persecutions from Catholic defenders. In 1947, the brethren there were forced to move to the town of Sta. Cruz, which is north of Tagudin. An extension in Barangay Gabor was formed in March 1947, which quickly became the Local Congregation of Sta. Cruz the following month under the Ecclesiastical District of La Union. The Local Congregation of Villagarcia, also in the town of Sta. Cruz, was also established in the same year.
The Church membership in the northern and southern part of the province grew rapidly. The propagation of God’s words reached the towns of Cabugao, Candon (now a city), Santiago, Sta. Lucia, and Sta. Maria. With more local congregations being established, the Church Administration approved that the Ecclesiastical District of Ilocos Sur to be formed in May 1948, appointing Brother Felimon Sanidad as its first district supervising minister.
In 1950, the Church’s propagational work reached the capital of Ilocos Sur—the City of Vigan. Upon establishing the Local Congregation of Vigan in April 1950, the district office of the Ilocos Sur Ecclesiastical District was transferred there. On November 1978, Church members were blessed to attend at the worship service officiated by the then Executive Minister, Brother Eraño G. Manalo. In the sacred occasion, the 750-seater house of worship of the Vigan Local Congregation located at 51 Rizal Street in Barangay 4 was dedicated to the Almighty God.
Despite the hardships, persecutions, and other hindrances, Church members in Ilocos Sur remain zealous in sharing the true faith. On July 27, 2022, when the brethren were handing out Pasugo: God’s Message magazines and pamphlets, a magnitude 7.0-earthquake struck the northern part of Luzon. Although many houses and structures in the province were destroyed, the brethren remained unshaken in their faith.
The Ecclesiastical District of Ilocos Sur also continues being committed to building houses of worship. As the Church Of Christ continues to thrive in Ilocos Sur, the Church Administration also continues to build more houses of worship in the district. Among these is the house of worship of the Local Congregation of Narvacan, which was dedicated to God on September 15, 2018, a day after Super Typhoon Mangkhut (local name: Ompong) made its landfall in northern Luzon. Despite the strong winds, heavy rains, and power outage, the Church members from Narvacan and other local congregations in Ilocos Sur were not hindered from gathering in the house of worship for the momentous occasion.
Through the help of the Almighty and the unceasing participation of the Church members in the Church’s endeavors, the Ecclesiastical District of Ilocos Sur continues growing. Church members and officers promise to the Almighty God that they will continue being united with the Church Administration in the vast works of the Church.
