Bislig Command, Mindanao
The primary source of the history of the parishes of Visayas and Mindanao which was under the Diocese of Cebu is the book "A Brief Survey of What Was and What is the Diocese of Cebu in the Philippines." It was written by Fr. Felipe Sendino Redondo in 1886. It was translated into English by Azucena L. Pace of Barili, Cebu.
Mindanao was composed of parishes and among them is the Bislig Command, it was counted as among the first eight ministries that the Recollect Fathers founded. The others parishes that composed the Island of Mindanao are the towns of Butuan, Liunao, Jibon, Jingooc, Jabongan, Mainit, Ohot, Tubay, Tandag, Calagdan, Babuyo, Tago, Marihatag, Lianga, Bislig, Jinaroan, Catel, Baganga, Manalaga, Jigaquit, Pahuntungan, Surigao, Cagayan, Hiponon, Agustan, Manalaga, Gompot, Balinuam, Tagoloan, in the Island of Siargao, the towns of Caolo, Sapao, and Cabunto. In the Island of Dinagat and in the island of Camiguin, the towns of Guinsiliban and Catarman.
The Bislig Command was composed of Tandag, a parish under the patronage of St. Nicholas Tolentino that was erected in 1816. It had an annex town called Tago on the north, the barrio of Banoison, and the barrio of Caguait.
Lianga, it was erected as a parish by Diocesan decree under the patronage of the Holy Infant on August 12, 1869. It was separated from its mother parish, Tandag. It had the visitas (chapel) Oteiza, Marihatag, Los Arces de Dongoan, and San Juan.
Bislig was created in 1848 although the missionary priest who wrote report says that the oldest entries in its canonical books go back to the year 1833. The parish is under the patronage of St. Thomas Villanueva. It is composed of the towns of Bislig, Ginatuan, Catel, and Lingig, and the two settlements of Loyola and San Nicolas.
The report describes that the town of Bislig, which was the capital of the command, is situated in the inlet in the eastern coast of Mindanao, and its annex Ginatuan, which is to the north, is some eight hours away. It was two hours away from San Juan, an annex of Lianga.
Caraga, under the patronage of the Holy Redeemer, was erected on June 15, 1883. It has the annex towns of Quinablangan, Dapuan, Baganga, and the barrios of Baculin, Manurigao, Santa Maria, San Francisco, and Zaragoza.
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