Lipa City: The Little Rome of the Philippines

Lipa Cathedral interior

I was born and grew up in a city where it is not uncommon to see nuns garbed in habits of various shades of blue, grey, brown and white and seminarians and religious brothers garbed in their cassocks, clerical shirts or religious habit, in any given day, attending church services in the different churches, shrines and monasteries in the city and its outskirts. On Sundays, all churches are full to capacity of people coming from all walks of life fulfilling their Sunday obligation. On a typical Wednesday, the Redemptorist shrine of Divino Amor welcomes throngs of devotees of Our Lady of Perpetual Help coming from different places. Every 12th of the month, there is a penitential procession from the Cathedral going to Carmel and there are also liturgical activities in Carmel every first Saturday of the month dedicated to the Blessed Mother. Welcome to the city of my birth, Lipa City, the "Little Rome of the Philippines."

With its elevation of 1,025 feet above sea level, giving it a climate that is close to that of Tagaytay’s, its strategic location which is at the heart of the CALABARZON Region, and its rich history, culture and tradition, the city of Lipa, in the province of Batangas is truly a center of tourism, commerce and religion in the region.

Its strategic location and its cool climate were primary considerations why the first bishop of Lipa, Monsignor Guiseppe Petrelli, upon the creation of the Lipa Diocese in 1910, chose the city as the seat of his See, which at that time comprises a very vast territory spanning through a big portion of the Southern Tagalog Region.  At the time of its erection, the Diocese of Lipa has jurisdiction over the civil provinces of Tayabas (which includes the whole provinces of Quezon, Marinduque and Aurora), parts of Camarines, Laguna, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro and Batangas.

Lipa's strategic location: At the heart of CALABARZON

Planting the Seed 

It was the Augustinians who introduced the Christian faith among the Lipenos by evangelizing the lake shore settlement of Tagbakin. On April 10, 1605, they established a mission center and called the church and the convent complex San Sebastian in the Kumintang.

The frequent eruption of Taal Volcano forced the people to move as if in exodus, to several safer places until their journey brought them to the city’s present site in 1756. Lipa got its name from the Lipa tree where the picture of St. Sebastian was found when it mysteriously disappeared. 

The religious piety and devotion of the Lipenos may be attributed to the untiring efforts of the Augustinian Padre Benito Baras, who ministered as pastor for almost three decades (1865 – 1894). He has become so endeared to the people for he considered Villa de Lipa as his very own. He was responsible for the construction of the parish church and the Catholic cemetery with its beautiful chapel, and with his own funds, he supervised the building of a bridge that connects the poblacion to the national highway going to Laguna and Manila.

St. Sebastian, Martyr - Lipa's Patron Saint

Nurturing the Seed

In its 110 years history as a diocese and 48 years as an Archdiocese, the Seat of the Ecclesiastical See of Lipa, which is in Lipa City, has been occupied by 8 local ordinaries and an apostolic administrator. While four auxiliary bishops have also been assigned to assist the Lipa Ordinaries. Two of the bishops are now candidates for beatification - Venerable Alfredo Ma. Aranda Obviar, first Auxiliary Bishop of Lipa and the Servant of God Alfredo F. Verzosa, first Filipino Bishop of the diocese. While three have moved on to become cardinals after their stint as Ordinaries of Lipa - Most Rev. Rufino J. Santos, Apostolic Administrator (1950 – 1953) who became first Cardinal Archbishop of Manila, Most Rev. Ricardo J. Vidal who became Cardinal Archbishop of Cebu, and Most Reverend Guadencio B. Rosales, who became Cardinal Archbishop of Manila.

Cradle of Religious Congregations in the Philippines 

The city of Lipa is also the cradle of several institutes of consecrated life in the Philippines. The missionary beginnings of these congregations were nurtured by Lipa’s fertile soil until they mature and branched out to the different parts of the country in pursuit of their mission. 

Ven. Alfredo A. Obviar

First to put up a foundation were the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, which began their mission in Lipa on November 12, 1912 by establishing St. Agnes Academy (closed down during the War and never re-opened), then the Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart, Lipa's native daughter which was founded in Bauan by Bishop Verzosa and Mother Laura Mendoza and later on transferred to Lipa City where they remained up to the present. The Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (Madres Adoratrices) more popularly known today as the Pink Sisters arrived from Steyl and founded the Divino Amor Monastery in 1923 but later on transferred to Baguio in 1936 because the sisters were getting sick and unable to adopt to the city's climate. The Society of St. Paul arrived in 1935 and operated a printing press in Lipa until 1941 while their female counterpart, the Daughters of St. Paul came in 1938. 

Blessed James Alberione and Venerable Thecla Merlo, founders of the Daughters of St. Paul, wrote the sisters in Lipa to give them encouragement. In one of their letters they wrote: “Your cradle that is Lipa should be another Bethlehem. It should be like Alba characterized by poverty, faith, prayer and apostolic zeal.”

The Capuchin Clares of the Blessed Sacrament, the Missionary Sisters of the Catechism and the Benedictine Sisters of the Incarnate Word all came in 1981. The Minim Nuns of St. Francis of Paola arrived in 1999 and are now settled in their monastery in Lumbang, Lipa City and also the Missionary Sisters of the Incarnation. Just recently, the Minim Friars also started a community in the city. 

They too ministered in Lipa 

There were also some religious institutes who, although did not originate in Lipa, settled in the city for a while, then left their missions for various reasons. Still, their contribution in shepherding the faithful of Lipa and forming their piety and religious consciousness can never be ignored. The Order of St. Augustine, who pioneered in evangelizing not only Lipa but the rest of the province of Batangas, the Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing which run a hospital in the poblacion during World War II, the Maryknoll Sisters who founded the Holy Rosary Academy (the forerunner of the present day De La Salle Lipa and Canossa Academy), the Vincentians (Padres Paules) who were responsible for establishing the Conciliar Seminary of St. Francis de Sales, and the pre-war St. Alphonsus School of Theology in the vicinity of the Lipa Cathedral, the CICM Fathers who took charge of the Lipa Seminary during the stewardship of Rufino Cardinal Santos and the Medical Mission Sisters who had their novitiate house in what is now the Oblates of St. Joseph Major Seminary. Other congregations which ministered in Lipa and do not have houses in the city anymore include the Alagad ni Maria, Missionary Catechists of St. Therese, Putri Karmel, Missionary Sisters of St. Joseph and the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.   

Our Lady Mary Mediatrix of All Grace

Miracle City

Dr. Francisco Villanueva in his book “The Wonders of Lipa” had the following observations: “The first time that the Blessed Virgin had ever appeared in the Far East was in that place of the Philippines called Lipa City. This is a very special and great privilege granted by God and His Holy Mother to the Filipino people.” 

It was in 1948, when the Blessed Mother who introduced herself as “Mary Mediatrix of All Grace”, allegedly appeared to Teresita Castillo, a postulant in the Carmelite Monastery of Lipa. Amazing stories of cures and spiritual conversions attributed to the alleged apparitions and miraculous shower of roses were reported. 

For fifteen consecutive days, Our Lady allegedly appeared to Teresing giving her messages. The Lady requested the nuns to consecrate themselves to her in the spirit of St. Louis Grignon de Montfort, that they pray for priests and that what she asks for in Lipa is exactly what she has asked in Fatima. Bishop Alfredo Verzosa, Ordinary of Lipa, who was initially skeptical and wanted to put an end to the devotions that have developed around the apparitions, and his Auxiliary, Bishop Alfredo Obviar, personally believed in the authenticity of the apparitions. 

But an investigative commission created by the Philippine Episcopal Hierarchy of that time declared the absence of any supernatural intervention in the reported extra-ordinary events and subsequently issued a quite unfavorable pronouncement on the apparitions. The image of the Virgin was soon ordered withdrawn from public veneration and the beautiful story of Mary’s apparition was soon forgotten. 

But in spite of the prohibitions about the apparition, devotion to Our Lady Mary Mediatrix of All Grace continued to flourish and the devotion continued to stand the test of time. 

Recently, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith affirmed the negative pronouncement of the 1951 commission, stressing its definitive character but there remains to be no prohibition on the private devotion to the Blessed Mother, Mary Mediatrix of All Grace. There also exists a group of lay people who launched an initiative for the re-consideration of the apparition by the Vatican. 

The seed grows into a Sturdy Tree

Founders of Religious Congregations and Seminaries

Lipa City holds not only the distinction of being the cradle of some of the major religious congregations in the Philippines but also, the birth place or the place of origin of founders of religious congregations and institutes. Foremost among them is the Venerable Alfredo Maria A. Obviar who founded the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the St. Alphonsus Regional Theological Seminary in Lucena City; the Servant of God Alfredo F. Verzosa (Bishop of Lipa) who, together with Madre Laura Mendoza (a Lipena) founded the diocesan congregation of Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart; Mother Rosario Villanueva, OP, foundress of the Daughters of St. Dominic and Bishop Cirilo R. Almario (clergy of Lipa before his appointment as Bishop of Malolos Diocese), who founded the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary and three religious congregations – Sisters of the Divine Shepherd, Religious of the Divine Word and the Religious Catechists of Mary, all in the Diocese of Malolos.

Madre Laura (5th from left) and her sisters c. 1947

Saintly People from Lipa

Among the prized contribution of the city of Lipa to the Universal Church, are the witnessing of holy men and women who took active roles in the evangelization of the city especially in the local Church’s infancy stage. 

Two of the city’s former bishops are now candidates for official recognition by the Universal Church as Saints – the Venerable Alfredo Maria Aranda Obviar and the Servant of God Alfredo F. Verzosa. There is also the lay person – Vicenta “Ka Tikang” Bautista who became popular and influential in the town of Lipa in the late 19th to early 20th century because of the retreats and conferences she would give to women and her being a mystic. In 1965, Bishop Olalia attempted to open the cause of her beatification but for some reasons, it did not progressed. There is also Madre Laura Mendoza, the catechist par excellence of her time who collaborated with Bishop Alfredo Verzosa and Bishop Alfredo Obviar in the catechetical ministry. She later on co-founded with Bishop Verzosa the Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart whose purpose is to catechize and to provide formative education to young girls. There is also an initiative going on in the Archdiocese to gather information and documents about the life of Monsignor Valente Daigdigan, who was spiritual director at the St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary and the Carmelite Monastery of Lipa before he succumbed to a rare kind of cancer in the face, for possible opening of the Cause of his beatification. 

The Tree Bears Much Fruit

Many First

Mo. Presentacion de San Jose, AR 

The city and her sons and daughters are first in many respects. The city’s seminary, the St. Francis de Sales Seminary was the first Philippine Seminary to be run by an all-Filipino formators. Lipa City’s Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart holds the distinction of being the first Congregation of sisters to be founded by a Filipino Bishop and, the first congregation to be founded in the 20th century. Venerable Alfredo Maria Obviar, first bishop of Lucena, is the first Filipino cleric to be accorded such recognition of holiness by the Church. Mo. Presentacion de San Jose, the first Superior General of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters was a Lipena as well as the first Filipino Maryknoll sister, Sr. Maria Concepcion Kalaw. Sr. Emigdia Aranda became the first Filipino Provincial of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary while her blood sister, Sr. Felicitas was one of the first Filipino Medical Mission Sisters. Their cousin Sr. Brigida Katigbak was first Filipina Superior, first Filipina Provincial Superior in a Foreign Country (Korea) and Counselor General of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. Fr. Eduardo Africa, first Filipino Abbot of the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat in San Beda College, Manila, Fr. Pedro Dimaano, first Filipino Jesuit candidate coming from a public school and the current, and first Filipino Superior General of the Adorno Fathers, Fr. Teodoro Kalaw are also Lipenos.

Sr. Concepcion Kalaw, First Filipina 
Maryknoll Sister

The Tree's Fruits are Ripe for Harvest 

Today, seminaries and formation houses, monasteries, retreat houses, schools, parishes and shrines run by different religious congregations of men and women and secular priests dot the favored city that is Lipa. At the core of these religious centers is the Lipa Cathedral that serves as a hub of Archdiocesan celebrations. It resembled, although imperfectly , the grand St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. During Church services in the Cathedral or in any of the nearby monasteries and shrines, many sisters, garbed in different religious habits of brown, white, blue and grey can be seen. Their presence is a sight to behold and somehow, adds to the atmosphere of solemnity that pervades in those houses of worship. 

Lipa City is home to thirteen religious congregations of women – nine of which are active congregations – Canossian Daughters of Charity, Daughters of St. Dominic, Missionary Sisters of the Catechism, Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara, Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart, Daughters of St. Paul, Missionary Sisters of the Incarnation, and Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate; and four are contemplative orders – Order of Discalced Carmelites, Capuchin Clares, Minim Nuns, and the Benedictine Sisters.

There are also eight institutes of consecrated life for men namely, the La Salle Brothers, the Capuchin Friars, the Oblates of St. Joseph, the Redemptorists, the Institute of the Incarnate Word, Adorno Fathers, Little Brothers of Jesus and the Minim Friars. 

Sr. Teresita Burias, FSP (right) EDSA Revolution

Presently, 11 parishes may be found in the city. From San Sebastian (1605) the mother parish, 13 other parishes had been born – 3 are in nearby towns namely, Immaculate Conception Parish in Malvar (1919) and Mataas na Kahoy (1932), and Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish in Balete (1955).

 

The remaining ten parishes are in Lipa City – the Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer in Banay banay (1944), Sto. Nino Parish in Pinagtong-ulan (1944), Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish in Lodlod (1944), St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Bolbok (1954), San Isidro Parish in San Isidro (1955), Sto. Nino Parish in Marawoy (1999), Divina Pastora in Tambo (2008), St. Theres of the Child Jesus in Talisay (2009), Mary Mediatrix of All Grace in Antipolo del Norte, and St. Joseph Parish in Inosluban. 

There are seven seminaries – three run by the diocesan clergy which include all levels of formation – St. Francis de Sales Minor Seminary, St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary and the St. Francis de Sales Theological Seminary, and four seminaries run by religious – Our Lady of Lourdes Seminary (Capuchins), Oblates of St. Joseph Major Seminary, Institute of the Incarnate Word and the Adorno Fathers. 

Divino Amor Monastery of the Madres Adoratrices

Many institutes of consecrated life also maintain their novitiate houses in the city, among them, the De La Salle Brothers with their international novitiate – the Lasallian Asia Pacific Novitiate, the Redemptorists, the Missionary Sisters of the Catechism, Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart, Daughters of St. Paul, the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara, and the Oblates of St. Joseph. The novitiate house of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate is now being constructed. 

Catholic educational centers also dot the city. In the city are 4 Catholic schools run by the religious, De La Salle Lipa, Canossa Academy, Daughters of St. Dominic School, the Fr. Vicenzo Ida Kindergarten School and several others run by lay people. 

There are a number of retreat houses and houses of prayer and contemplation in the city as well - the Capuchin Retreat Center, Oblates of St. Joseph Retreat House, Redemptorist Retreat House, Good Shepherd Retreat House of the Religious of the Good Shepherd and the archdiocese's very own San Sebastian Retreat House. De La Salle Lipa also has its own retreat facilities for its students. 

St. Agnes Academy, founded 1912

There is also an existing chaplaincy of the Military Ordinariate, the Miraculous Medal chapel, a printing press (Pater Putativus) and two radio stations run by the Archdiocese, a center for street children (Sarnelli Center) operated by the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran, a residential facility for the elderly - the Tahanan ng Mahal na Birhen ng Guadalupe run by the Missionary Sisters of the Catechism, a center for Marian studies and prayer - the Marian Center for Peace, and a facility for retired and sick diocesan priests – the St. Joseph’s Seniorate for Priests. 

The Aranda Sisters: Sr. Egmidia, Sr. Consuelo, Sr. Leticia, 
Sr. Felicitas, Sr. Corazon, Sr. Teresita, Sr. Milagros
(Source: Katigbak-Aranda Collection c/o Renz Katigbak)

The presence of numerous houses of worship in the city and the many religious sisters and brothers, secular and religious priests, and lay religious leaders are very instrumental in shaping the religious consciousness and deep spirituality of the Lipenos. Their pastoral zeal and dedicated labor in the service of the Church could also have contributed towards the blossoming of many good Lipeno vocations. 

Lipa, that city in the heart of Southern Tagalog Region, has made history and has caught the attention and interest of the entire country and the rest of the world, earning for herself, in the process, the following distinctions – “Villa de Lipa”, “coffe capital of the world”, “Miracle City”, “Lourdes of Asia”, “Marian and Episcopal City”, “Metropolitan See of Lipa” and “Little Rome of the Philippines”. 

These distinctions are reflective of the city’s rich and glorious past, and more importantly, are concrete expressions of the favor that the city has found in the eyes of the Lord. With all humility, the city reciprocates these favors through the high religious fervor of the Lipenos which is made manifest in their active participation in the different Church services and religious activities held in the city all throughout the year and their willingness to take leadership positions in different Church based organizations. 

Lipa further returns the favor to the Universal Church through her sons and daughters who labor fervently for the coming of God’s Kingdom, as priests and men and women religious. These Lipenos – who came from various stations in life, literally left everything behind – family, wealth, career and prestige in order to follow Christ more closely and radically as workers in His vineyard – These noble sons and daughters of St. Sebastian.

Carmel of Our Lady Mary Mediatrix of All Grace

Pilgramage Churches and Shrines in Lipa City

Parishes

Cathedral Parish of St. Sebastian, Poblacion

Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer, Banaybanay

Sto. Nino Parish, Pinagtung-ulan

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Bolbok

Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish, Lodlod

Divina Pastora Parish, Tambo

San Isidro Labrador Parish, San Isidro

Sto. Nino Parish, Maraouy

St. Joseph Parish (proposed), Inosloban

Our Lady Mary Mediatrix of All Grace Parish, Antipolo del Norte

St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Dagatan

Shrines and Monasteries

Divino Amor Shrine (Redemptorist), MK Lina Street

Carmel of Our Lady Mary Mediatrix of All Grace, P. Torres Street

Clarisas Capuchinas Sacramentarias Monastery, Mabini Homes, Granja

Minim Nuns of St. Francis of Paola, Lumbang

St. Benedict Monastery, Pinagtung-ulan

Archdiocesan Shrine of the Sacred Heart (MCSH Chapel), City Park Subdivision

Chaplaincy (Military Ordinariate)

Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Chapel, Fernando Airbase

Listing of Lipeno Priests (Diocesan and Religious), Religious Brothers and Sisters (list not complete)

Bishops 

Maralit, Bishop Antonio Marcelino, Jr. , Obviar, Venerable Alfredo , Rosales, Cardinal Guadencio, Salazar, Bishop Jose , OP (?)

Diocesan Priests

(+)Adel, Fr. (X), (+)Altamirano, Fr. Andres, Andal, Fr. Oscar, Barrion, Fr. Romeo, Cantos, Fr. Glenn, Castillo, Fr. Mar Andreen, (+)Cordero, Fr. Aniceto, (+)Cuenca, Fr. Tomas, Cumagun, Fr. Jose Maria Loyola, Del Rio, Fr. Oscar, (+)De Villa, Msgr. Nicanor, Dimaculangan, Fr. Exequiel, (+)Dimaculangan, Fr. Jose, Dimaculangan, Msgr. Ruben, Dimaandal, Fr. Donaldo, Dimaano, Fr. Ildefonso, Gozos, Fr. Carmelo, (+)Kalaw, Msgr. Reynaldo, Lacaran, Fr. Julius, Lajara, Fr. Marco Paolo, (+)Latorre, Fr. Edilberto, (+)Laygo, Fr. Jose, Ledesma, Fr. Benjie, (+)Librea, Msgr. Domingo,(+) Librea, Fr. Rafael, Linatoc, Fr. Felixberto, Lingao, Fr. Apolinario, Lingao, Fr. Deogracias, Lipat, Fr. Gerardo Gil, (+)Lipat, Fr. Julio, (+)Litong, Msgr. Amador, Lucero, Fr. Luis Manuel, (+)Malabanan, Fr. Valerio, Malibiran, Fr. Pablito, Mendoza, Fr. Antonio, Mendoza, Fr. Godofredo, Mendoza, Fr. Joseph, Mendoza, Fr. Remigio, Mendoza, Fr. Riyyan, (+)Milan, Fr. (X), Mojares, Fr. Dexter, (+)Obviar, Msgr. Romulo, (+)Olaguievel, Fr. Eleno, (+)Olave, Fr. Leopoldo, Pagcaliuangan, Fr. Edgardo, Pena, Fr. Eldrick, Ramos, Fr. Rodem, (+)Roxas, Fr. Robert, (+)Rodelas, Fr. Ricardo, (+)Silva, Fr, Pedro, Tamayo, Fr. Jonathan, Titular, Fr. Sabas, Umali, Fr. Antonio, (+)Umali, Msgr. Zoilo, Sabularse, Fr. Rustam, (+)Villa, Fr. Leonardo, Villostas, Fr. Leo Edgardo, (+)Virrey, Fr. Alberto

Religious Priests 

Africa, Fr. Eduardo, OSB, Bolo, Fr. Florentino, Jr., OP, Briones, Fr. Rolando, OFM Cap, Briones, Fr. Froilan, SSS, Cueto, Fr. Victorino CsSR, De Villa, Fr. Gerardo, OSB, (+)Dimaano, Fr. Pedro, SJ, Diokno, Fr. Allen, OSJ, Espejo, Fr. Bryan, CsSR, Kalaw, Fr. Teodoro, CRM, (+)Katigbak, Fr. Asterio, SJ. (+)Katigbak, Fr. Ramon, SJ. Lubi, Fr. Ariel, CsSR, Luistro, Fr. Sebastian, SSS, Macasaet, Fr. Marty, SDB, Macasaet, Fr. Rufino, Jr, CsSR, Montealto, Fr. Arnold, OFM Cap, Palmares, Fr. Jonas, OCSO, Permentilla, Fr. Fredy, MSP, Pusikit, Fr. Angelo, SMM, Ramos, Fr. Raul, OFM, Sanchez, Fr. Raymond, SJ, Cap,Santos, Fr. Jasper, IVE, Silva, Fr. Martin, SJ

Religious Brothers

De Luna, Bro. Eugene, FSC, Erquiza, Bro. Narciso, FSC, Luistro, Bro. Armin, FSC, (+)Maralit, Bro. Pedro Victor, FSC, Oca, Bro. Bernie, FSC, Pajarillo, Bro. Manuel, FSC 

Religious Sisters 

Amante, Sr. Lina, FdCC, (+)Aranda, Sr. Consuelo, ICM, (+)Aranda, Sr. Corazon, FMM, (+)Aranda, Sr. Emigdia, FMM, (+)Aranda, Sr. Felicitas, MMS, (+)Aranda, Sr. Leticia, FMM, (+)Aranda, Sr. Mila, FMM, (+)Aranda, Sr. Teresita, ICM, (+)Baronia, Sr. Teodora, MCSH, Bautista, Sr. Edna, SMC, (+)Bautista, Sr. Lydia, OCD, Burias, Sr. Teresita, FSP, Calingasan, Sr. Violeta, FdCC, De Castro, Sr. Erlinda, OCD, Dimaano, Sr. Dinah, FdCC, (+)Dimaano, Sr. Maria, FMM, (+)Dimayuga, Mo. Gregoria, AR, (+)Dimayuga, Sr. Primitiva, RVM, Espinili, Sr. Mely Maria, DC, Flores, Sr. Rosita, FMA, Garcia, Sr. Rowena, FdCC, Guevarra, Sr. Normita, DC, Gutierrez, Sr. Ling, FSP, (+)Honrade, Sr. Gerarda, MCSH, Inciong, Sr. Cecilia, DC, Kalaw, Sr. Carmelita, FMM, (+)Kalaw, Sr. Concepcion, MM, (+)Kalaw, Sr. Lydia, RGS, (+)Katigbak, Sr. Brigida, FMM, (+)Katigbak, Sr. Concepcion, RVM, (+)Katigbak, Sr. Leonila, FMM, (+)Katigbak, Sr. Leonor, RVM, (+)Katigbak, Sr. Luz, RGS, (+)Katigbak, Sr. Paz, OSB, Katigbak, Sr. Pureza, Lacorte, Sr. Rosalie, MM, Landicho, Sr. Rachelle, MCST, (+)Laygo, Sr. Adelaida, FMM, (+)Laygo, Sr. Petra, FMM, Laylo, Sr. Ligaya, MCST, (+)Liabres, Sr. Leoncia, RVM, (+)Librea, Sr. Urbana, AR, Lipat, Sr. Lourdes, MCST, (+)Llanes, Sr. Remedios, AR, (+)Lumbera, Sr. Maria Remedios, MCSH, (+)Macasaet, Sr. Maria Claudia, OSA, Macasaet, Sr. Rosalina, MCSH, Madrigallos, Sr. Cristina, FSP, Magsino, Sr. Cynthia, FdCC, Malaluan, Sr. Felixberta, OCD, Malibiran, Sr. Jovita, OCD, Malibiran, Sr. Lorna, OCD, (+)Malicat, Sr. Jacinta, MCSH, (+)Maralit, Sr. Felicidad, MCSH, (+)Maralit, Sr. Mamerta, FMM, Mendoza, Sr. Gina, FdCC, (+)Mendoza, Mo. Laura, MCSH, Moren, Sr. Clariza, MSP, Ollano, Sr. Rosarie, SDP, (+)Padua, Sr. Maria Isabel, OSA, (+)Palacios, Sr. Maria Rufina, OSA, Pasahol, Sr. Fatima, SMC, Peralta, Sr. Josefina, FdCC, Rabago, Sr. Maria Lisette, MGES, (+)Recio, Sr. Consuelo, RVM, (+)Reyes, Sr. Carmen, AR, Saludo, Sr. Rosita, OCD, Silva, Sr. Elijah, OCD, (+)Silva, Sr. Teresa, SSpSAP, (+)Siscar, Sr. Maria Rosa, OSA, Tod, Sr. Fe, OCD, (+)Torre, Sr. Laurena, FMM, Valencia, Sr. Josefina, MCSH, Vargas, Sr. Assumption, MCSH, Villa, Sr. Paz, OCD, (+)Villanueva, Mo. Rosario, OP, (+)Sr. Juliana del Sacramento, OSA 

Sources:

Pena, Eldrick S.  Take and Receive: The Life and Legacy of Madre Laura Mendoza, Lipa's Gifft to the Church.  (2008) Lipa City: Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart

Photos: CTTO.