Gumaca, Quezon Etymology

Jack Maico
Apr 11
2 min read

Formerly known as Bumaka (meaning "the one who fought"), the town of Gumaca was a settlement founded on the southern bank of the Palanas River in the 14th century by a group of settlers from Borneo and the Malay Peninsula.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumaca

Special credits: https://www.facebook.com/groups/244736062346803/

https://www.thebackpackadventures.com/.../featured...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumaca_Cathedral

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Church in Town: 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐠𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐥

San Diego de Alcala Cathedral, commonly known as Gumaca Cathedral, is a Baroque-style Roman Catholic cathedral located at Barangay San Diego Poblacion in the town center of Gumaca, Quezon province, Calabarzon, Philippines. It is the seat and the mother church of the Diocese of Gumaca.

The cathedral was first established in 1582 by the Franciscans, who were the first missionaries who brought Christianity to Gumaca, on its present site. It was transferred to Silangan in Alabat island in 1638. It was burned by the Dutch forces in 1665, which subsequently resulted in them transferring back to its original site in Gumaca. The church was reconstructed in 1690 and completed in 1747. The edifice and the adjoining convent were beautified in 1846. When a strong earthquake hit Gumaca on August 20, 1937, the uppermost portion of the church belfry toppled down, leaving only three of the five-level belfries intact. During the term of Msgr. Jose Oliveros, the belfry and choir loft were reconstructed and was completed in 1999. Known as one of the biggest and oldest Catholic churches in the province of Quezon, the church is made out of coral stone blocks and bricks.

Though the design of the church is mainly Baroque, archival photos show that the interiors were mainly done in Gothic Revival architecture. Its retablos and arco toral design clearly reflects this style, possibly due to its popularity in the early 19th century. The church was renovated, and the retablos, together with the pulpit, were lost.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumaca_Cathedral

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

It is believed that the earliest settlers in Gumaca arrived from Borneo and the Malay Peninsula in the 14th Century. Lakan Bugtali was the earliest known ruler whose sovereignty extended over the present neighboring towns, including Alabat Island. He became famous for killing the pirate Lam Ong, from whom the name Lamon Bay came. The last known ruler was Lakan Gitingan.

In 1574, the first Spaniards arrived and established a settlement led by Fr. Diego de Oropesa, who belonged to the Franciscan Order. St. Diego de Alcala was then chosen as the Patron Saint of the area. In 1582, the settlement was elevated into a Visita, a Spanish unit visited by a Visitador.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐚: