Immaculate Conception Cathedral & the Feast

Here in Cotabato City a place in the island of Mindanao under the ARMM where the foundation of Christianity and Christian faith flourished long time ago. Many catholics here gather at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral  every year to celebrate  honor  the feast of Immaculate Conception.

The  Cathedral became the city’s landmark and attests the Christian faith  in the region has been a strong foundation of many Cotabateños.  Build over a decade the cathedral is tested by time and still most catholics here bonds its strong faith with God.

On December 8,  is the 61st year that the city  is  honoring Mary, our Mother on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (a Holy Day of Obligation).   The doctrine states, that "the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race." 

This years theme Maria Kasama sa Pagbabago at Pagkakaisa ng Mumunting Katolikong Kapitbahayan and here is the schedule of activities prepared for this years gathering.

General Theme:  MARIA: KASAMA SA PAGBABAGO AT PAGKAKAISA NG MKK.

DATE	SUB-THEME	PRESIDER	FIRST READING	SALMO/PSALMIST	GOSPEL
NOVEMBER 29	MARIA: KASAMA SA  PAGMAMAHALAN	FR. EDWIN DEGRACIA, DCC	ROM. 2:7-11 G. BAUS and  L. SUPE	SALMO 128 MENCHIE MAKILANG	LUKE 2:41-52
NOVEMBER 30	MARIA: KASAMA SA KAPAYAPAAN	FR. BENJUN LAFORTEZA, DCC	ACTS 1:14-15 E. LU and  JULIANO	SALMO 27 BERNARD CARMELO	LUKE 2:8-20
DECEMBER 01	MARIA: KASAMA SA PAGLILINGKOD SA KAPWA	FR. FR. IRVIN MORASTIL, OMI	ACTS 18:1-8 R. NAVARRO and A. ESPERAT	SALMO 89 JESIE CABALES	LUKE 1:39-45
DECEMBER 02	MARIA: KASAMA SA PAGSASABUHAY SA SALITA                  NG DIYOS	FR. JOREMIL GUMBAN, DCC	IS. 7:10-14 D. ESTOMATA and N. RUBIO	SALMO 118 ROBERT ESPINA	LUKE 11:27-28
DECEMBER 03	MARIA: KASAMA SA PAGGAWA NG KABUTIHAN	FR. JOHN PALOMAR, OMI	Eph. 1:3-6,11-12 I. SISON and E. ALBARACIN	SALMO 51 VERNALYN PAGENTE	JOHN 2:1-11
DECEMBER 04	MARIA: KASAMA SA PAGKALINGA SA KAPWA	FR. GERARD FORNAN, DCC	ROM. 6:15-23 D. CADELEÑA and E. CADELEÑA	SALMO 67 MARIEL FERNANDEZ	JOHN 19:25-27
DECEMBER 05        (Sunday)	MARIA: KASAMA SA PANANAMPALATAYA	FR. ED SANTOYO, OMI	IS 11:1-10       - M. ATINEN ROM. 15:4-9  - F. MAGUATE                         - I. SISON	SALMO 72  AMY GAPOL	MATTHEW      3:1-12
DECEMBER 06	MARIA: KASAMA SA PAGPAPAKUMBABA	FR. SIMEON SAMSON , DCC	1 TIMOTHY 1:12-17 ESSEX G. and MARUNDAN	SALMO 63 MAY OCAY	JOHN 2:1-11
DECEMBER 07	MARIA: KASAMA SA KAGALAKAN	BISHOP JOSE COLIN BAGAFORO,DD	IS. 9:1-6 J. OMALZA and A. MALCAMPO	SALMO 40 REY FLORIDO	LUKE 1:46-56
DECEMBER 08	MARIA: KASAMA SA PAGBABAGO AT                 PAGKAKAISA NG MKK.	ARCHBISHOP ORLANDO B. QUEVEDO, OMI, DD	GEN. 3:9-15,20    - E. LAVIÑA EPH. 1:3-6,11-12 – K. LAVIÑA                                - A. UNDAR	SALMO 98 RICKY PIODENA	LUKE 1:26-38

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHEDRAL

FIESTA SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

DATE                          SPONSORS AND OFFERERS                                                   CHOIR                    NIGHTLY PRESENTATION

NOV. 29	BUCANA CHAPELS (SAN ROQUE, STO. NINO, SAN ANDRES), SALVACION, CATECHISTS, VILO, CAS, ETD, D’MAX, MY, 552 SURPLUS, COT. GOLDTOP, METROBANK, COT. ROSE PHARMACY, SHIELDS HABERDASHERY SHOP	ICC CHOIR	BEC NITE
NOV. 30	SAN ROQUE (MANDAY), SAN VICENTE 6A, FATIMA 6B, SAN ANTONIO 6D, CWL, SMART, GREAT EASTERN, COT. WATER DIST, RODRAK, JOLLIBEE/GREENWICH/CHOWKING, MARDONEYS/MAMI KING, YU KIAN GUAN, GOOD MART COMMERCIAL, LCT, RANIS	NDCFC	DANCE SHOWDOWN     (OPEN TO ALL)
DEC. 01	STO. NINO AND SAN MIGUEL (PC HILL), SAN PEDRO (MABINI) NDU, PREX, KOA, NDU, DELA VIDA, CCI, CONNIES BAKESHOP, ELENA V. CO, SAMSON FURNITURE, CRISANEL PAWNSHOP, RCBC, COT MERCURY DRUG, KC BAKESHOP AND CASA BLANCA	ICC CHILDREN CHOIR AND ND CATHEDRAL CHOIR	LIVE BAND CONCERT
DEC. 02	PARAISO, SAMPALOK, DAPDAP, JASMIN, NDC, LECTORS, CENTRAL SCHOOL, AMA, PC HILL SCHOOL, R& B PHOTOART, SMILEY, SUPERAMA, VISION INN, LAS HERMANAS, DALMACIOS	NOTRE DAME OF COTABATO	CHORAL AND SOLO CONTEST
DEC. 03	PINAGSAMAHAN, STO. NINO (ANTE), STO. NINO (BORMAHECO), YOUTH, FAMILY & LIFE, ROJAS ELEM SCH, ROJAS HS, PACHECO SCH, HOTEL FILIPINO, COT FISH TRADING, COT UNION HARDWARE, AGENCIA DE ORO, TESSIE DUMLAO DRESS SHOP, WILLIAN LAPAZ BATCHOY	ICC YOUTH CHOIR	PRIVATE SCHOOLS
DEC. 04 Kasalan sa    Parokya	ST. EUGENE, STO. NINO (SESAME), SAN AGUSTIN, DIVINE MERCY (BONIFACIO), PADRE PIO, COT. CABLE TV, ND RVM SCHOOL, STI, SNOW QUEEN, MAPING HARDWARE, FARMACIA VICTORIA, CONCHA PRINTING PRESS, COT MONTE MART, CIRILO APPLIANCES, MICHAEL’S FOOD HAUS	PADRE PIO CHOIR	PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DEC. 05	SAN VICENTE FERRER 1A, SAN HERMENEGILDO, ST. JOSEPH 1D, PERPETUAL HELP, ESTOSAN, CHARLEY BAKERY, CRYSTAL CLEAR, AIRA/AV/3ACE PAWNSHOP, COT NOODLES, ALING PRECY, COT LIGHT, COT ICE PLANT, GENMERCEN	ICC MALE CHOIR	MCDONALD AND SUPERAMA NITE
DEC. 06 Confirmation      Day	FATIMA (SUPER), SAN ISIDRO 8A, SAN VICENTE 8B, ND RVM, PEDRO CALUNGSOD, SVA, ALBERT EINSTEIN, ND HOS SCH OF MIDWIFERY, MARIAN HILLS, MANG GORIO, EL MANUEL, SARDONYX, OJ WHOLESALE & RETAIL	BLESSED PEDRO CALUNGSOD CHOIR	BASKETBALL “EXHIBITION GAME”
DEC. 07 “Lugawan sa   Parokya”	ST. CLARE, KATAHIMIKAN, MALIGAYA, JOSE LIM, CHARISMATIC, NDCES, ST. BENEDICT, ND PRESS, PHIL TRADE CENTER, KP COMMERCIAL, BPI, COMPACT, NEW CITY HARDWARE, ORIENTAL, DEAL PAWNSHOP/ALANDIA  TRADING GENERAL & MERCHANDISE	CHARISMATIC CHOIR	NIGHT OF MUSIC AND MAGIC
DEC. 08 Fiesta Day	PPC 4 MAJOR OFFICERS, MINISTRIES AND MANDATED ORGANIZATIONS PARISH FINANCE COUNCIL	ICC OFFICIAL CHOIR	MORNING: CHEER DANCE EVENING:  “COTABATO  GOT  TALENT”

TakUMi BUtaI's SHriNe . . a JApaNEse HeRo

Being born here in Cotabato City I never expected to still have discovered new sites relevant to the historical aspect. Many might have known about what my feature is but I am sure many more is eager to know Takumi Butai.

The Provincial Commander of the Japanese force assigned here in Cotabato, Takumi died during the World War II and requested before he died that some of his ashes be buried in the city.  He considered the city as his second home.

Years later a shrine commissioned by the Cotabato government and the Lion's Club of Kyoto was erected, memorializing Butai and the many deceased Japanese Soldiers.  Japanese nationals visit in homage to a local hero and relieve the memories of war during the Japanese All Soul's Month in August.

Now Takumi Butai Memorial Shrine might be one of the places we have forgotten.  It was a discovery in my part since I haven’t really thought nor read about it. I just happen to bump Mr. Boy Dimaandal after taking photos of a famous and took me to the place. 

The shrine is located at Varga  Compound along San Sebastian Street, at the Cotabato Regional Hospital, it is sad to note that just recently no more Japanese visitors came to visit the shire unlike in the previous years.