After 101 years, Baguio church gets historical tag

BAGUIO CITY—What was then known as this city’s “Protestant Cathedral” in the 1930s stood prominent amid a skyline of structures not higher than two floors.

This 101-year-old Protestant church—then known as United Evangelical Brethren and renamed later as Baguio United Evangelical Church—is almost dwarfed now by high-rise commercial structures that have mushroomed in the city.

But this almost obscure religious landmark was officially recognized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) for its heritage, which includes how Christianity spread in northern Philippines.

NHCP officials and leaders of United Church of Christ in the Philippines-Baguio (UCCP-Baguio) unveiled a historical marker at the church’s grounds on Feb. 11, UCCP-Baguio’s 101st founding anniversary.

“This marker serves as a symbol of our people’s gratefulness and appreciation for the significant role of UCCP in the Christian formation of Filipinos,” said Ludovico Badoy, the NHCP executive director.

Badoy, NHCP Deputy Executive Director Carminda Arevalo and other NHCP officials were here on Saturday to turn over the historical marker to UCCP-Baguio leaders.

This landmark announced the advent of Protestantism, whose seeds were first sown by early Filipino converts evangelized by Dr. Howard W. Widdoes, an American missionary. Widdoes and his wife arrived in the country in 1904 and began their mission in La Union.

Some Ilocano converts moved to Baguio and, together with more converts, gathered on Feb. 11, 1911, to establish the United Evangelical Brethren.

The NHCP head recognized UCCP-Baguio as one of the oldest evangelical churches in northern Philippines. “UCCP-Baguio remains to be a leader in the ecumenical movement with its adherence to Christian values of love, justice, truth and compassion,” Badoy said.

As he and other church leaders accepted the marker, Bishop Marino Inong, UCCP-Baguio senior minister, said the marker “reminds us of our grave social responsibility and corporate commitment as spiritual leaders and socially responsible faith community.” Maurice Malanes, Inquirer Northern Luzon