CONCEPCION, Tarlac (March 25, 2026) – In a powerful testament to resilience and faith, the newly rebuilt San Roque Chapel in Barangay Telabanca was officially blessed and dedicated on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 22, 2026.
The solemn ceremony, which drew parishioners from near and far, marked a significant chapter for a community that was once nearly erased from the map by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Pinatubo.
The Most Rev. Roberto C. Mallari, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Tarlac, presided over the blessing. In his homily, he drew a profound connection between the Gospel on the raising of Lazarus and the community’s own history. He reflected on the 1991 disaster that buried their old church under meters of lahar, likening it to a tomb.
“Kung paanong sinabi ni Hesus kay Lazaro, sabi niya ‘Lazaro, come out! Lumabas ka diyan sa libingan’, at lumabas po siya. Ngayong araw ding ito, ang mga Salitang ito ay ipinapahayag Niya sa atin, at salamat po sa Diyos kasi nagsilabasan kayo sa libingan at andito na po yung lugar [chapel] na kung saan nabuhay na mag-uli ang komunidad dito sa Telabanca,” Bishop Mallari shared, emphasizing that no suffering or trial is insurmountable.
He called on the faithful to let God revive hope in their hearts, believing in the plans He has for their community.
The chapel’s history is deeply intertwined with the town’s tragic past. Originally a parish under the late Rev. Fr. Ador Castroverde, it once served as the spiritual center for most of the southern barangays of Concepcion, including what are now the parishes of San Nicolas Balas and Balutu.
When Mount Pinatubo erupted, lahar flows buried Telabanca, entombing the original structure under nearly three meters of volcanic debris. The parish was subsequently relocated to Barangay San Nicolas Balas, becoming the San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish, while many residents were resettled in Barangay Cristo Rey in Capas.
Decades later, the vision to rebuild the chapel on its original sacred ground emerged from Mr. Alberto “Boy” Sacramento and his wife, Mrs. Jovita Sacramento. Now based in Canada, Mr. Sacramento recalled how the plan began during a conversation with the current parish priest of San Nicolas de Tolentino, Rev. Fr. Joselito Nidea.
Mr. Sacramento shared in his speech how the idea came to him unexpectedly. “Eku balu nung nanu po ing tinulak kanaku na sinabi ku kang Father Jay na king tutuking banwa, pagawa taya po ing pisamban a yan” (I don’t know what prompted me to tell Father Jay that next year, we will finally rebuild the church).
He later posted a photo of the lahar-buried church on Facebook, and the response was immediate, with fellow residents offering donations to support the cause.
With the support of their neighbors, sponsors, and local leaders including Tarlac 3rd District Representative Noel “Bong” Rivera and Concepcion Mayor Noel Villanueva, the new chapel now stands on the very site of the old one. For Mr. Sacramento, the completion of the chapel is a dream realized, one that he hopes will restore the vibrancy of their barangay to what it was before the eruption.
Mayor Villanueva, who shared a deep personal connection to the area—his parents and relatives once lived there and recounted his own experience during the Pinatubo eruption when, as a then-SB member, he was tasked with evacuating Telabanca’s residents. He also recalled fighting to keep the barangay from being dissolved.
“Malalam ya ing amut ku king Brgy. Telabanca, siguro nung nanu mang development pa na pwedeng pisawup-sopan keti… kayabe i Cong. Bong Rivera at Vice Mayor Evelyn Rivera, makasadya kaming sumawup,” (My roots run deep in Barangay Telabanca. Whatever development we achieve through our collective effort here… Cong. Bong Rivera, Vice Mayor Evelyn Rivera, and I stand ready to help.) he said.
He added that with the declaration of Telabanca as an industrial zone, investments like Steel Asia are set to bring progress. He emphasized that unity and faith are the true keys to development.
Vice Mayor Evelyn Rivera echoed the sentiment of collective effort. “Walang imposible sa Diyos… kung hindi po tayo magtulong-tulong ay hindi po maitatayo itong chapel na ito,” she said, praising the initiative of the Sacramento family and the community.
The blessing was attended by residents, parishioners, members of the Pastoral Council, youth ministers, and the Barangay Council led by Brgy. Captain Romeo Feliciano, all celebrating a shared victory of hope over despair.
As a testament to the community’s renewed spirit, regular masses will now be held at the San Roque Chapel every first Saturday of the month at 10:00 AM, ensuring that the faith that was buried in lahar continues to live and flourish.
From the ashes of disaster, faith has found its home once more. In Telabanca, what was buried has been resurrected, a proof that even the darkest chapter can give way to a new beginning.
