HISTORY of the PARISH of ST.

LUKE the EVANGELIST

Valderrama, Antique

Valderrama, formerly known Kabiri-an, was once a barangay of

the town of Bugasong. It became a separate parish on March 5, 1868
with St. Luke the Evangelist as its patron saint. It was the last parish
established by the Augustinian Missionaries in Antique. The first parish
priest assigned to the Parish of Valderrama was Rev. Fr. Tomas Villaruz,
OSA. In the unwinding of years, he was succeeded by other
Augustinian friars. One of them was Rev. Fr. Wenceslao Romero, OSA.
These missionaries were instrumental in civilizing and Christianizing
the inhabitants.

The first batch of Mill Hill Missionaries set foot in Antique in 1906.
Rev. Fr. John Foller, MHM, was assigned in Patnongon, Sibalom, San
Pedro, San Remegio and Valderrama. However, in 1908, Rev. Fr. Joseph
Daly, MHM was assigned as the first resident Parish Priest of
Valderrama. He stayed in the parish for 7 years until 1915. In 1912, a
typhoon destroyed the church of Valderrama constructed by the
Augustinian friars, thus, Fr. Daly dismantled the old church and took
the initiative of constructing a church made of wood. He was replaced
by Rev. Fr. Philip Pieck, MHM, who had the longest term in Valderrama.
He was assigned as the Parish Priest of Valderrama for 19 years from
1915-1934. Fr. Pieck was a painter. However, very little is known about
his activities in the parish. In 1934, a new Parish Priest was assigned in
Valderrama in the person of Rev. Fr. Cornelio Koelman, MHM He was a
hardworking missionary. The wooden church constructed by Fr. Daly
was destroyed so Fr. Koelman built a new concrete church, a rare one
at that time, through the help of Amadeo, a Japanese mason. Fr.
Koelman served in Valderrama from 1934-1939. Then he was followed
by Rev. Fr. Adrian Aarts, MHM. Not much was heard about Fr. Aarts
because his stay in Valderrama was very short.

On the last day of March 1940, Rev. Fr. Peter Kooter, MHM, arrived
in Valderrama to take over the parish from his classmate Fr. Aarts. Very
soon, the war broke out and its calamities affected people and
communities. In April 1942, the convent of Valderrama was burnt to
the ground and also the wooden parts of the church were reduced to
ashes. Fr. Kooter went into hiding in a place called Iglinab but he could
not stay there because the [people stole his belongings. So he
transferred to Tigmamale which was very accessible for it is near
Cangaranan River and the road that connects Bugasong and
Valderrama Here, the people made a small bamboo house for him and
next to it a chapel, also of bamboo. Fr. Kooter stayed and took care of
the religious needs of the people while in residence there.

In the morning of February 14, 1943, a group of Japanese soldiers

stationed in Mangarang, Patnongon made a punitive expedition in
Valderrama and arrived at the riverside near the village. When the bell
of the chapel was ringing for a marriage to take place in it, the
Japanese took this as a sign for guerillas to start shooting and made a
straight run to the chapel. They caught the priest there and together
with the other prisoners taken in the neighborhood brought them to
the house of the captain village. Fr. Kooters hands were bound at once
and he was kept there the whole day while the other prisoners were
questioned and then dismissed. In the late afternoon, the Japanese
brought the priest to the school grounds and made him dig a grave.
After he had dug about one foot deep, they ordered him to lie down in
it and one of the soldiers shot him straight in the face and hit him in
one of the eyes that Fr. Kooter died instantly.

It was only four days later that the people dared to look for him
and they found him there partly covered with soil. The people buried
him in the chapel of the village. After his death, Valderrama was left of
unattended by a permanent priest. Through the dedication and
concern of Rev. Fr. Aloysius Spaeth, MHM, Assigned in Bugasong, the
Eucharist and other sacraments were held and administered in
Valderrama from time to time. It lasted until the assignment of Rev. Fr.
Herman Zomerdijk, MHM in 1948.

Since there was no church or convent in town, Rev Fr. Herman

Zomerdijk, MHM, temporarily boarded at the residence of Mrs. Leonora
medina until the time he was able to build a church. The nine long
years of his stay from 1958-1957 witnessed his indefatigable zest in
evangelizing the townsfolks. In the course of such endeavor, he was
assaulted by Hukbalahaps who took his watch and other valuables.
Discounting event, he remained faithful and zealous to his mission that
won him the love and appreciation of the people. When he was
transferred to another parish, Rev. Fr. Gerard Pijnappel, MHM, was
reinstated in his lieu from 1957-1960. Within his term, he organized the
Children of Mary, comprising of young women who vowed to enliven
the virtues of the Blessed Mother. He also selected a group of
catechists who devotedly assigned him in the mission of bringing
Christ to the people. The year 1962 was a landmark in the history of
the Church in Antique. It was when Most Rev. Msgr. Cornelio de Wit,
DD, was installed into office as the first bishop of Antique.

Parish Priest Assigned in Valderrama:

1968 Rev. Fr. Tomas Villaruz, Augustinian Friar

Rev. Fr. Wenceslau Romero, Augustinian Friar

1908 Rev. Fr. Joseph Daly, MHM

1915 Rev. Fr. Philip Pieck, MHM

1934 Rev. Fr. Cornelio Koelman, MHM

Rev. Fr. Adrian Aarts, MHM

1940 Rev. Fr. Peter Kooter, MHM

1943 Rev. Fr. Aloysius Spaeth, MHM

1948 Rev. Fr. Herman Zomerdijk, MHM

1957 Rev. Fr. Gerard Pijnappel, MHM

1960 Rev. Fr. Peter Hornman, MHM

1967 Rev. Fr. John Stampfer, MHM

1968 Rev. Fr. Henry Van Tilborg, MHM

 Rev. Fr. Lambert Van Hout, MHM

1969 Rev. Fr. John Ambrose, MHM

1974 Rev. Fr. Patrick James MC Donagh, MHM

1977 Rev. Fr. Augustin Fernademez, MHM

1988 Rev. Fr. Eulogio Estaris

1993 Rev. Fr. Victor Baguna

1996 Rev. Fr. Peregrino Alar

2003 Rev. Fr. Segundino Laude

Rev. Fr. Gerald Lacson

2004 Rev. Fr. Ireneo Abong

2010 Rev. Fr. Segundo Auxilian Jr.

2015 Rev. Fr. Servillano Carro Jr.

The Parish of St. Luke the Evangelist

Organizational Chart
 HISTORY of ST. LUKES ACADEMY Inc.
Valderrama, Antique

When we remember, we leave the present for the past. Better

still we bring the past into the present. Better still we bring the past
into the present. History requires a memory for the past and freedom
for the future. Only man remembers or hopes. Hence, the history of ST.
LUKES ACADEMY is the story of men, of LUKEANS. It is as young as the
school itself. As replete with memories as St. Lukes Academy alone
could make memories to endure and to preserve.

The establishment of a secondary school in Valderrama was first

conceived in 1966 by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Peter Hornman, MHM.
Fr. Hornman discussed the possibility of opening a high school in
Valderrama with the priests of the deanery and with Msgr. Cornelio de
Wit, Bishop of Antique. Not long after, Fr. Hornman has acquired a site
for the proposed school adjacent to the Catholic rectory. The lot came
as donation from Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Tuting Sr.

Unfortunately, Fr. Hornman left for a home vacation following

year. His successor, Rev. Fr. John Stampfer, MHM took unto himself the
task and privilege of bringing into reality the idea conceived by his
predecessor: providing a Catholic high school for the children of
Valderrama.

In February 1967, Valderrama saw the beginnings of an

institution, which little did the people know was to play a significant
role in shaping the future of many of their children. It bore the name
ST. LUKES ACADEMY. The Diocese shouldered to the utmost the
financial burden with the help from Fr. John and some charitable
institutions as well as some kind-hearted people from the other side of
the world.

The second director of the school, Rev. Fr. John Ambrose was its
guiding hand in its infancy until it was given government recognition in
the year 1971. St. Lukes Academy was registered in the Securities and
Exchange Commission on November 3, 1977. The first principal was
Miss Lourdes Tuting.

The school building was originally made of concrete consisting of

five classrooms, a laboratory and a three-in-one room for Principals
Office, faculty room and a Library.

The director and the teachers came and went but St. Lukes
Academy remained steadfast in its mission of giving Christian
education to the young people of Valderrama.

School Year 1991-1992 was SLAs 25 th year of service to our

beloved town, province and country. The Silver Jubilee Year found
expression in a memorial celebration held on December 27, 28, and
29, 1991 complete with holy masses, exhibits, games and
amusements, cultural shows and alumni homecoming.
 However, on November 29, 1993 the original building was razed
by fire to the ground turning everything to ashes. Classes were held in
a bamboo structure for one year and in January 1995 the new SLA
building was started thru the urgings of Fr. John Ambrose, former
director and done under the management of the Diocesan Commission
on Education represented by Bro. Claude Beauchesne, FIC.

After seven months the new building was ready for classes. On
the 18th of October the same year, SLA rejoiced at the grand blessing
and inauguration of the new SLA building.

Now, three new buildings stand in the campus of St. Lukes

Academy, a five classroom building, an administration building and a
library. The two-story building for the library is a joint project of DKA
Austria and the SLA Administration, faculty, parents and students.
Another two-story building was constructed through the help of Sr.
Concordia Villaram, SSJW and Sr. Timothy Villaram, DSP. Miss Lourdes
Valenzuela was the principal that time and is doing her best to
continue the mission of the school.

The school joyfully celebrated its Ruby Jubilee last February 8-10,
2007 which marked its 40th year of service to the youth of Valderrama.
On July 17, 2014, Mrs. Chona Jorilla took over as the OIC-Principal up to
the present. This 2017, SLA celebrates its 50 years in service and
launched its Golden Jubilee Year last July 30, 2016.

St. Lukes Academy, Inc. is one of the secondary schools in the

Diocese of San Jose de Antique. It was named after the patron saint of
the parish, St. Luke the Evangelist. Its motto is Fides et Scientia
which means Faith and Science.

What makes St. Lukes Academy different from other schools is its
zeal for academic excellence and holistic formation of students guided
by the LUKEAN SPIRIT (an acronym) which every Lukean strives to
learn by heart and to practice in daily life.