The Jesuit Bukidnon Mission District

Bukidnon is a landlocked province in the north central region of Mindanao island. The land consists of wide plateaus punctuated with rugged hills and mountains as well as rolling highlands cut deep by canyons and rivers. Blessed with rich soil and favorable weather conditions, it is a major producer of rice, corn, coffee, sugar, fruits, vegetables and livestock. Major agricultural plantations and food manufacturing companies operate in the area. Many forestal areas are sites of former logging operations.  

The mission communities are located in the rural areas along Mt. Kalatungan, Mt. Kitanglad and the Mt. Pantaron range that straddle the border of Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur and are inhabited by indigenous people (also known as Lumad, in the regional dialect), whose tribal ethnicities are mostly Talaandig, Higaonon, Manobo, Umajamnon, Matigsalug, Pulangiyen and Tigwahanon. (Photo shows Fr. Jereme Asunto, SJ at Nstra. Senora de Guadalupe in Sitio Kaluyanan, Lirongan, Talakag.)

Our mission stations consist of parishes (with outreach chapels and literacy centers), schools and ministries located in Bendum, Miarayon, Pangantucan, Tikalaan, and Malaybalay (see map). The Cabanglasan and Zamboanguita parishes and schools, formerly with the BMD, are now being administered by the diocese of Malaybalay.  St. Francis Xavier Chapel in Tikalaan, established by the Jesuits during their 1940s mission in Talakag, was elevated to a mission station on May 25, 2025, by Bishop Noel Pedregosa and entrusted once again to the Jesuits. 

The Jesuits Missionaries played a significant role in the modern development of Bukidnon as a province.  From the intrepid explorations of the river valleys and mountains by early Spanish Jesuits, to the tireless spread of the Gospels to the native tribes and migrant settlers by countless others, the Jesuits continue to empower many rural communities and make possible a brighter future for their children - through education and Ignatian formation.

We have journeyed with our Bukidnon IP brothers and sisters since we came to Sumilao more than 144 years ago and since we started our Cabanglasan mission more than 40 years ago. We have established Fr. Leoni Mission Foundation Inc. (FLMFI) as the legal entity of our Bukidnon IP Ministry. 

Our FLMFI team undertakes trainings in leadership, self-governance and cultural preservation for the IP communities. The participants include IP elders, women, youth, and scholars.  The photo shows the traditional ritual called Patagostos done by the IP elders during the blessing of Balay hu Basbasunon at the Jesuit Retreat House in Malaybalay. The new house built with the support of benefactors will serve as the dormitory for the Kapawa hu Paglaum college scholars who attend schools in Bukidnon.

With seed money provided by the Philippine Jesuit Foundation in 2017, the Jesuits in Bukidnon have consolidated their efforts to establish a college scholarship program under the Fr. Leoni Memorial Foundation, Inc. Bearing the name Kapawa hu Paglaum (meaning Light of Hope), the program aims to attain its goal of 100 scholars in 10 years. It includes a comprehensive holistic formation program. (Shown in the photo are KHP scholars, with their sponsors as well as Fr. Bong Tajon, SJ and Fr. Bros Flores, SJ of FLMFI.)

Funding is also needed to support deserving high students to pay for tuition, allowances for uniform, supplies, transportation, meals and dorm expenses. Providing housing for the students enable those who live far from the school a comfortable place to stay while away from home.