Parokya ng San Jose Carmona, Cavite 4.1

St. Joseph, the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patron of the Universal Church and of Happy Death, has been one of the most popular patron saints in Cavite. This is attested by the fact that four parishes and numerous barangays of Cavite are dedicated to him.

Carmona was the first parish in Cavite to have been dedicated to St. Joseph. Originally, Carmona was a barrio of Silang. Its old name was Latag, a Tagalog word which means “plain.” The town (its barrios before) constituted a vast expanse of leveled land. This plain was cleared by settlers and became mostly rice fields. As a barrio, it was civilly and ecclesiastically under Silang.

Silang got into a conflict with the hacienda administrator of the Dominican Hacienda of Biñan. In this dispute, it seemed that the local leaders of Silang conducted themselves with great propriety and dignity. The Spanish government recognized this effort. So pleased was the King of Spain that when this honorable people sent a petition to the King, the latter did not hesitate to grant their request. On April 14, 1746, King Ferdinand VI issued a royal decree selling the land that was part of Silang comprising the barrio of Latag to the local principalia. Latag was acquired for the amount Two Thousand Mexican pesos. Don Pedro Calderon (the oidor) and Don Alejo Aviles (the escribano) signed the document of sale in the King’s behalf while Don Bernabe Javier Manalo and Don Gervacio dela Cruz signed on behalf of the people of Silang. From that time on, a big portion of Latag became a communal land where people could take turns in farming. It was a unique privilege given to them.

The Franciscans were the first to evangelize Silang and its neighboring towns like Indang and Maragondon. It is then safe to say that Latag may have been ministered by the Franciscans, as well. However, in 1599, the Jesuits took over the administration of the parish in Silang. They became ardent propagators of the Christian faith. They went to the different parts of upland Cavite building churches and teaching the faith. It was customary then that the Spanish religious priests concentrated their efforts in the poblacion. It was also customary practice to get Filipino secular clerics who would serve as assistants. They were usually sent to more difficult areas of the parish, usually far from where the center was. Although the road connecting Latag and Silang was too bad, they said masses for the natives and baptized these natives’ children. The Filipino priest B. D. Eulogio Fabian is believed to have ministered the people.

On February 20, 1857, the King of Spain through Governor General Don Fernando de Norzagaray created the new town of Carmona. Latag was renamed Carmona after the town in Seville, Spain.

By 1854, the administration of Silang was handed over to the Spanish Recollect friars. Imus and Dasmariñas were then haciendas owned by the Recollects and were under their spiritual care. From 1768 to 1857, the Filipino priest Eulogio Fabian took care of Latag. On December 15, 1857, the new town of Carmona became an independent parish with St. Joseph as its patron. Fr. Ramon Zueco de San Joaquin became its first Recollect parish priest. The Jesuits who were the former evangelizers must have been influential in choosing St. Joseph as patron of the new town and the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary became its second patroness. A church made of stone and a massive convent was built.

(article by Rev. Fr. Vir Mendoza)