| 1563 |
Arrival in October 1563 of two Jesuit Fathers, Francisco de Encinas and Cristobal Jimenez.
|
| 1565 |
First mission in Palo commences initiated by the Augustinian friars.
|
| 1595 |
The Parish was founded by the Jesuits while the Augustinian friars first spread Catholicism in the
place. Shortly after their arrival, the Cathedral was built by the Jesuits, Fathers Alonso de Humanes
and Juan del Campo, who converted and baptized many pagans to Catholicism. Later, on October 15 of the
same year, Fr. Cristobal Jimenez became the permanent Parish Priest, instrumental in bringing together
as a community the baptized natives of Father Humanes. He became successful in this work that he was
able to convert more pagans to the catholic faith.
|
| 1596 |
A Historical landmark of Palo is the Cathedral which was built by Fr. Alonso de Humanes.
|
| 1598 |
The first church was inaugurated in August 1598, the forerunner of the present Palo Cathedral of the
Transfiguration. The church of Palo was completed Dec. 8, 1598 which coincided with the feast of the
Immaculate Concepcion and the baptism of Kananga of Malirong, appointed petty governor by Spanish government.
|
| 1600 |
By 1600, Palo had become a central missionary station with jurisdiction over the missions of Dagami,
Malaguicay, Malirong and Banayon. At the time Palo was only a barrio of Dagami.
|
| 1768 |
In 1768, when the Jesuits were ordered to leave the country, the Augustinian friars took over the Parish.
|
| 1843 |
The Franciscans took over the parish up to the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1898.
|
| 1850 |
Among the early Franciscans who came to Palo was Father Agustin de Consuegra, who built the twin towers in 1850.
|
| 1880 |
The church and the convent were repaired and re-constructed by Fr. Augustine de Consuegra; he also built the two symmetrical towers during this year.
|
| 1892 |
Father Pantaleon de Ia Fuente was instrumental in installing the big clock made by Jose de Altonaga of Intramuros in 1892.
|
| 1896 |
Father Pantaleon de Ia Fuente finished the twin towers and installed the work on the façade.
|
| 1898 |
Father Pantaleon de Ia Fuente, a Spanish noble left the town at the outbreak of the war in 1898
but was instrumental in refurbishing the church with hanging glass chandeliers, candelabras, gold
chalices, vestments of braided gold and sacramentals which added to the magnificence of an otherwise
ordinary looking church. Out of gratitude to his efforts, a Street has been named after him.
It was also during this year that the church was converted into a Provincial Capitol by Col.
Ambrocio Mojica, the provincial governor from February 1898 up to March 1900.
|