BRIDGING THE GAP
The old Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer
The Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer was established in 1869 to serve the Diocese of Jaro, one of the oldest dioceses in the Philippines, being created on May 27, 1865 by Pope Pius IX. The jurisdiction of the Diocese was a vast territory that comprised the islands of Panay, Mindanao (except Misamis and Surigao which were under the bisphoric of Cebu), Calamianes, Negros and Romblon. (Souvenir Program, Jaro Fiesta, 1969). The increase in the pastoral needs of the people in these places required the presence of a seminario that would train priests for the different parishes.
The Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer was the fifth and the last seminary founded during the Spanish regime in the Philippines. It was considered as one of the best institutions of learning in Western Visayas during that time. It was established by the Rev. Fr. Mariano Cuartero, the first bishop of the Diocese of Jaro. He promptly invited the Apostolic Sons of St. Vincent de Paul of the Province of Madrid, Spain to organize and direct the seminario in Jaro. The invitation was accepted by the Vincentian Fathers and the pioneer group of four priests and a lay brother arrived in 1869.
During the first two years, the seminario was temporarily housed at the Bishop's Palace. Realizing the need for a separate structure, Bishop Cuartero appealed to the generous people of Iloilo for financial support to pursue the construction of a seminario. With substantial contributions coming form well-to-do families and individuals, the good Bishop was able to purchase a 22,000 square meters lot near Jaro Cathedral and his residence.
The construction of the seminario began on March 11, 1871 under the direction of Fr. Aniceto Gonzales, one of the pioneer Vincentian priests, who served as foreman. It was observed that the pace of the construction was fast due to the enthusiasm of the Fathers and the seminarians who joined the workers during their free time. They carried by hand bricks from the river bank where the banka unloaded them to the construction site. It was even said that Bishop Cuartero himself was seen many times carrying bricks to the place of work (Commemorative Book, Archdiocese of Jaro, 1951). the seminary building was finally completed in November 1874.
The seminary building was in form of a square, each side of seventy meters. The building was made of stone and wood. It had galvanized iron roof supported by 160 large beams. It was surrounded by a large piece of land 235 meters long and 110 meters wide, enclosed by a masonry wall with a wrought iron door in front supported by pillars of brick (University of San Agustin Diamond Jubilee Souvenir Program, 1979).
When the seminario was occupied by American soldiers in February 1899, the Vincentian Fathers were ordered to leave it. They took refuge in the municipality of Pototan. After the Filipino-American War, the seminario resumed its operation. In 1903, the Fathers numbered six and two lay brothers, assisted by three native clerics who were graduates of the same seminario.
In 1906, an unfortunate incident happened when the entire building was reduced to ashes by a sudden fire. The seminario was housed temporarily in a spacious building owned by Don Teodoro Benedicto. Meanwhile, the seminary building was rebuilt and in less than a year, it was almost complete, its rooms sufficient enough to house 100 interns. The seminario returned to its own place on September 17, 1907 but it was not until 1912 that the building was completed. But yet, another unfortunate thing happened to the seminario on February 20, 1942 when it was burned by the Japanese and was completely razed to the ground.
The present Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer was constructed in the 1950s on the ruins of the bombed structure and was finished in June 1954.