In a land area of 2,243 square kilometers, the diocesan territory covers half of the civil province of Bohol, a small oval-shaped island situated between the south of Leyte on the east and the south of Leyte on the east and the south of Cebu on the west. It is part of the Central Visayas group of islands known as Region VII.
Talibon is a first class municipality with 25 barangays (17 mainland & 8 islands).
Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines. To the west of Bohol is Cebu, to the northeast is the island of Leyte and to the south, across the Bohol Sea is Mindanao.
Population
As of year end 2017 the total populationofTalibon diocese is 792,300 of which 92.40 percent are Catholics or 731,800.
The ethnic group of Eskaya lives in forest areas in central Bohol. They are found in the hinterlands of the towns of Duero, Sierra Bullones, Candijay, Pilar, and Guindulman. They are noted for their own system of writing, language, and literature although they look like the contemporary Boholanos and can speak Cebuano.
Language
The main language spoken in Bohol is Boholano which is a dialect of Cebuano. Tagalog, Chinese, and English are also spoken by many of the residents. The minority Eskayan language is also taught in community schools in Biabas (Guindulman), Taytay (Duero) and Lundag (Pilar) but has no mother-tongue speakers.
History
- Diocese of Talibon
Diocesis Talibonensis
Suffragan of Cebu
Created: Jan. 9, 1986
Erected: Dec. 3, 1986
Comprises: Half of the civil Province of Bohol
Titular: The Blessed Trinity
Talibon is a town on the northern coast of the island. The territory covered by the diocese extends from the town of Inabanga on the northwest, through Carmen in the interior, and down to Jagna on the southeast. Its inland boundary bisects the island northwestward, or southeastward, with the other half of the island falling under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Tagbilaran.
- Birth of the Mother-Diocese of Tagbilaran
It was only on Nov. 8, 1941 that the island-province of Bohol was established as the new Diocese of Tagbilaran, separate from Cebu, her mother-diocese, by virtue of a Papal Bull by Pope Pius XII. The new diocese, however, did not immediately have a bishop due to the outbreak of World War II, which left her to the apostolic administration of the Archbishop of Cebu, Most Rev. Gabriel Reyes, D.D.
In 1945, the Diocese of Tagbilaran, suffragan of the Archdiocese of Cebu, welcomed her first Bishop, Most Rev. Julio R. Rosales of Calbayog, Samar. When he was elevated as Archbishop of Cebu in 1950, at the same time the Apostolic Administrator of Tagbilaran until 1952, he left Bohol among others a living legacy, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary (IHMS), which has made Bohol the home of many priests and bishops.
In 1952, a Boholano Bishop, Most Rev. Manuel Mascariñas, D.D. of Antequera, took the reins of the diocese for more than twenty years. Hand in hand with him in the administration of the diocese was Most Rev. Juan Nilmar, D.D., his Auxiliary Bishop.
In 1976, Most Rev. Onesimo Gordoncillo, then Auxiliary Bishop of Dumaguete, succeeded in the episcopacy.
- Birth of the Diocese of Talibon
In the 10th year of Msgr. Gordoncillo's incumbency, the new Diocese of Talibon was created on Jan. 9, 1986 by a Papal Bull by Pope John Paul II, and canonically erected on Dec. 3, 1986, under the titular of the Most Holy Trinity, with Most Rev. Christian Vicente Fernandez Noel, D.D. of Sangi, Asturias, Cebu, as its first Bishop. Most Rev. Bruno Torpigliani, D.D., then Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, presided over the rites of the diocese's canonical erection as well as the new bishop's installation at the Most Holy Trinity Cathedral. The new diocese consisted of 23 parishes, namely, the seat-cathedral parish of Talibon (Most Holy Trinity), Alicia (St. Joachim and Ann), Anda (Holy Infant), Bien Unido (Holy Child), Buenavista (Our Lady of the Rosary), Candijay (St. Joseph), Carmen (St. Anthony the Abbot), Clarin (St. Michael the Archangel), Dagohoy (Our Lady of Lourdes), Danao (Holy Family), Duero (Immaculate Conception), Guindulman (Our Lady of Consolation), Inabanga (St. Paul), Jetafe (Holy Infant), Mabini (St. Monica), Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar), President Garcia (Holy Child), Sagbayan (St. Augustine), San Miguel (St. Michael the Archangel), San Pascual (St. Vincent Ferrer), Sierra-Bullones (Immaculate Conception), Trinidad (St. Isidore the Farmer) and Ubay (Holy Child).
However, on July 7, 1988, by a Decree issued by the Sacred Congregation for Bishops, acting by virtue of the faculties bestowed by Pope John Paul II, the parish of Jagna (St. Michael the Archangel) was annexed to the new Diocese of Talibon in exchange of Clarin and Sagbayan that were detached in favor of the Diocese of Tagbilaran.
- Origin of the Name
Bohol, derived from the word Bo-ho or Bo-ol, is the seat of the first international treaty of peace and unity between Datu Sikatuna, a native chieftain and Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, a Spanish conquistador on March 16, 1565 through a blood compact known today as Sandugo.
Transportation
- Seaports
The Talibon Seaport is located on the northern coast of Bohol 114.8 kilometers via Tagbilaran North Road, 149.55 kilometers via Tagbilaran East Road, and 108.83 kilometers via Loay Interior Road. Talibon is a progressive town composed of 25 barangays, 8 of which are island barangays.
Talibon Seaport is being serviced by two (2) shipping lines with a Talibon-Cebu City route and vice versa. It also plays host to countless outrigger boats coming from the 8 barangays namely: Busalian, Calituban, Cataban, Guindacpan, Mahanay, Nocnocan, Sag and Suba. Outrigger boats coming from neighboring towns of Getafe, Trinidad and Bien Unido also dock at the pier.
The other ports are located in Ubay, Getafe, Buenavista, and Clarin.
- Power Supply
The province is fully energized with the National Power Corporation being the sole supplier. The Leyte-Bohol interconnection now brings geothermal power of higher capacity base.
- Water Supply
Water supply is made available in Tagbilaran City and in the nearby municipalities on a 24 hour-basis with completion of the Tagbilaran Water Supply Project. Thirty-two (32) deep wells with submersible pumps operate at a daily capacity of 19,000 cubic meters.
Several water projects are in the pipeline to respond to water requirements for both domestic and industrial use. The Central Visayas Water and Sanitation Project and the construction of Level III water systems have made water available in 16 other municipalities. Likewise, the development of Ujan Spring in Cortes with a daily capacity of 3,500 cubic meters and Loboc River which will generate at least 100,000 cubic meters daily capacity are currently being pushed.
- Road System
The road network is well-developed facilitating access to all barangays. The Bohol Circumferential Road Project, cove
Economy
The annual per capita income (in Philippines Pesos) is 16,478 (as of September 2010 USD 368).
- Major industries
Farming, Fishing, Cottage Industries, Rice, Corn, Copra, Seaweeds, Root Crops, Fish Traps, Hats, Pottery, Silica, Gold, Copper, Clay, Diorites, Sand and Gravel
- Aqua Products
Fish, Prawns, Crabs, Seaweeds
Telecommunication
Bohol is wired with telephone facilities that provide domestic and international linkages, supplied by three service providers: PLDT, Cruztelco and Globelines. Mobile phone firms, Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, and Sun Cellular have also established entry in the province.
Access to telecommunications can also be made easily in the towns through the 138 public calling stations. Forty-three (43) payphone stations are conveniently located in strategic places and major commercial centers in the capital city.
There are 5 AM/FM Radio stations in the territory and 5 TV/Cable stations.
Education
Literacy rate (Simple literacy) 92.42 percent in the diocesan territory.
Culture
- Sandugo Festival
The annual spectacular festival featuring an agro-industrial fair, cultural and historical shows, sports events, pageants, balls and dances, entertainment shows and street-dancing which culminates in the re-enactment of the blood compact or Sandugo of Datu Sikatuna and Don Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. This month-long festival falls on July and even starts earlier and extends up to the month of August.
- Pandayan Festival
This festival celebrates the canonical erection or the parochial anniversary of St. Joseph the Worker Parish. Activities include a nine-day novena in honor of the patron saint, a procession of the image of St. Joseph the Worker, Carpentry and Handicrafts Fair, an inter-barangay basketball tournament and last but not least, the street dancing competition.
- Ubi Festival
The Ubi Festival is an annual event held every January to give honor to the lowly Ubi - a much revered root crop in Bohol. Various activities are lined up to highlight the affair including the display of different kinds of Ubi and their by-products.
- Bolibongkingking Festival
This is a music and dance festivity depicting the history, folklore and traditions of the Lobocanons. Bolibongkingking is a term applied to the drums and gongs and their rhythm used to accompany the supplication dance ritual in front of the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the second Patron of Loboc. The festival is celebrated by the Lobocanons every 23rd of May.
- Suroy Sa Musikero
This is revelry the Loboc town musicians cover daily the assigned areas to partake the food serve by the host and to play music to the tune of Kuradang, Dalaga sa Baybayon, etc. This is also the period that carollers render Christmas songs to the families of the host area. It is celebrated every December 25 to February 2 at the town of Loboc.
- Sambat Mascara Y Regatta Festival
Celebrated every 1st Saturday of December.
