PARISH OF ST. AUGUSTINE: Long time ago in Cuyo Island, the inhabitants worshiped their ancestors and the moon. They adored a deity who resembled Ceres to whom they commenced their fields. they also worshiped another deity resembled Mars from whom they asked protection in their battles. Obsequies for the dead were celebrated during the full moon. The natives were also animist wherein their belief was sprinkled with superstitions.
His excellency Senior don Pedro de Arce, Bishop of Cebu, in a decree dated August 27, 1622, requested the Augustinian recollect fathers to take care of the evangilization of Palawan. This parish of st. Augustine of Cuyo is founded by the Spanish recollect Brother Francisco de la Madre de dios in 1622 who after serving 16 years in Palawan died as martyr in el Nido during the 1638 attack by the Muslim commander Datu Acheh.
At those were difficult times, the tropical diseases were prevalent and the means of transportation hazardous. The most pressing problem of the place was peace and order. Muslim Malays known as ,moros from maguindanao, Jalo and Borneo intermittently came to Palawan to plunder during the harvest season. They usually brought back with them the Cuyonons, Agutaynons and Cagayanons as prisoners to be sold as slaves. sultan Kudarat of Maguindanao commander his brother tagal to attack Cuyo on june 20,1636.
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