Mountaineers Trace Spot of 1st Catholic Mass in CagVal

A scheduled trek of local mountaineers brought them to discover the historical and eco-tourism value of a mountain in Sta. Fe town.

The team of Nueva Vizcaya Mountaineering Society recently visited barangay Bantinan where a mountain, which has long been forgotten, offers historical significance on the first Catholic mass ever conducted by the Spaniards in Cagayan Valley.

Mt. ‘Kudoh’ as it was called by the Kalanguya tribe elders means a cross erected a hundred years ago.

“The cross was no longer there but local officials claimed the presence of the cross as passed by their grandparents,” said Genaro Basilio, Jr. chief of the provincial government’s public affairs and information assistance division.

Sharen Bonayon of the Provincial Tourism Office vowed to design a package to include Mt. Kudoh as a new hiking/trekking attraction in the province.

Governor Carlos Padilla, in one of his radio programs said, “the First Holy Mass was held on a high ground so that the Spaniards could see if there were natives that would attack.”

Reaching Mt. Kudoh’s summit offers an overview of Carranglan, Nueva Ecija and Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya. (ALM/BME/PIA 2-Nueva Vizcaya)