Cirila Uy Sy Memorial Church

Our History...

The existence of anything in any place anytime has always its beginning and a piece of history. This is true with Cirila Uy Sy Memorial Church, Inc. here in Tabunok, Talisay City, Cebu.

This Church in its formation stage happened in the early 60s. It started with a certain Matea Ababa who was hospitalized at Chong Hua Hospital. She got acquainted with two doctors: Dr. Nestor Canoy and a certain Dr. Hill. When Mrs. Matea Ababa got discharged from the hospital and prepared for Lagtang to go Home, the two doctors suggested a free clinic, making her house the venue and whether a Bible Study is possible in the afternoon of every Sunday. The free Clinic and the Bible Study were gladly welcome. The first Bible Study was attended by Mrs. Matea Ababa, Mr. & Mrs. Federico Cabuenas, Mr. & Mrs. Eusebio Nacor and Mrs. Lourdes Adlawan who were Roman Catholic then.

After a couple of months the above people were baptized in Bradford Church by Dr. Santiago Iyoy. From that time they became active worshippers of Bradford Church. With the newly baptized members from Lagtang they agreed to attend worship in the morning during Sunday in Bradford Church and a Bible Study, this time in Cadicay, Tabunok, Talisay in the afternoon, in the house of Mr. & Mrs. Eusebio Nacor not far from Lagtang. Added to the original attendance were Casiano Abaquita, a certain Vising Echavez and Mr. Lolo Bacus.

Dr. Santiago Iyoy, then the Pastor of Bradford Church got in contact with Mrs. Cirila Uy Sy at Mananga, Tabunok, Talisay, Cebu who was planning to buy a piece of land at this same place and plan to donate a portion of it for a Church Building or place of worship. Mrs. Sy's plan was realized and the Church was constructed in God's own time. The laying of the Corner Stone was made led by Moderator Marcos Berame, with some Pastors attending like: Rev. Fred Baliad, Rev. Solomon Codillo surrounded by the original members of Mrs. Cirila Uy Sy. This group of believers was so determined and enthusiastic anticipating that very soon they will have a place of worship every Sunday and thereafter. Through their cooperation and pooling together of their time, money and energy, plus the help coming from Bradford Church, Christian Center Church, and some contributions from the Chinese community through the influence of Mrs. Cirila Uy Sy, the Church was in its proper shape, ready for use. It has to be mentioned here that even during the laying of the foundation and cornerstone there were about 20 from the UNIDA led by Mrs. Dominga Belleza who were joining. And about this time the Trazona were added to this pioneer congregation.

In 1962, the pioneer congregation held worship services and Sunday School in the Church just newly completed which was then name: Riverside Church of Christ in the Philippines. The elders from Bradford taking turns during Sunday were: Mr. Jesus Villamor, Mr. Vidal, Mr. Gabato, Mr. Militon Baladjay, Miss Rachel Baclayon, Miss Aurora Ybañez, Mrs. Dinah Chiong. The visiting Pastors were: Bible Woman Letty Alhat, Pastor Canata, Rev. Agustine Bacon, Rev. Nues, Rev. Donato Galia and Rev. Nathaniel Lumain. In the 1970s the Conference assigned part time Pastors like: Fernando Binglan, Zacarias Perocillo, Zosimo Jadloc, Prudencio Plaza, Jr. until such time when the now Cirila Uy sy Memorial Church employed full time Church Workers. But before the Church plan to employ a full time pastor an intern Pastor was accommodated in the person of Pastor Napoleon Lumapguid.

At this time of the Church were three CWA members who were know to be the live-wire of the growing congregation. Mrs. Cirila Uy Sy, Mrs. Nieves Cabuenas and Mrs. Dominga Belleza. With Mrs. Sy as the inspirer, the three forming as a team of callers maintains visitation works among weak and sickly members of CWA and UCM members alike. On February 27, 1967, an annual conference in Masbate, a sub-province of Cebu then was to start that very day. As CWA President of the whole conference she was among the delegates from the Cebu Churches mainland and Masbate that all the delegates with her got shock due to the sudden and unexpected death of Mrs. Sy of cardiac arrest. They were all at the Mercy of God, in that the attack was meant to be her passing away. The whole delegation from Cebu did not realize that for Mrs. Sy that trip of Masbate aboard the ship was her last trip back home to the Heavenly Father.

From the later part of the 1970s the Church started calling full time Church workers - Pastor Fred Balo, Rev. & Mrs. Constancio Abaquita, Rev. & Mrs. Larry Baldonado and Pastor Sharon Abaquita.

The Cirila Uy Sy Memorial Church, since its founding has been tested and shakened a lot of times. But with God's sustaining grace, through our prayers and spiritual sensitivity and receptivity, with His guidance and empowering, this Church will surely stand to continue the MISSION of God in this WORLD.