User:Terriethomas/Sandbox/phil3

3. Writing to Request Church Records

NOTE: All lines of the international delivery address should appear in all capital letters. If possible, the address should have no more than five lines. For more information see USPS International Mail Manual.

• Unless you know your ancestor was of another religion, begin by searching Catholic Church records. The Province of Abra in the Cordillera Administrative Region is in the Diocese of Bangued. Write, telephone, or email to inquire whether the diocese holds the parish records:

BISHOP OF BANGUED

BISHOP'S HOUSE

2800 BANGUED

ABRA

PHILIPPINES

Tel.: (63 74) 752-8040

Fax: (63 74) 752-8028

Email: rcbbabra@hotmail.com

• Or you may want to write directly to the parish using the Abra, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) city list to search for parish addresses. Use the address shown in the first column of the table below as a template, filling in the parentheses with the specific information for the parish. An example of a parish address is shown in the second column. Please use the third column for detailed instruction using the parish table and map on the Diocese of Bangued page:

Address Format for Parish	Example of Parish Address	Instructions for Parish Table and Map
REVEREND FATHER (NAME OF PARISH) (POSTAL CODE)(CITY) ABRA PHILIPPINES	REVEREND FATHER CHRIST THE KING PARISH 2815 BOLINEY ABRA PHILIPPINES	Follow the steps below for using the parish table and map on the bottom of the Parish list for the Diocese of Banguedpage: Find the city you are researching in the left column of the parish table. Straight across in the right column will be the name of the parish. Click on the location symbol placed after the name of the parish. Copy the parish name and address which will appear on the map above the table. Click Zip Codes of Abra Province to find the postal code for the city.

• Write a brief request to the parish or church and send the following:
  • Full name and the gender of the person sought.
  • Names of the parents, if known.
  • Approximate date and place of the event.
  • Your relationship to the person.
  • Reason for the request (family history, medical, etc.).
  • Request for a photocopy of the complete original record.
  • Check or cash for the search fee (usually about $10.00).
    

English is the official language of the Philippines. The Letter Writing Guide will help you with organizing your letter and phrasing your requests.

For other religions, Google the denomination and the location. Many churches maintain websites. Write or personally visit the parish or church. Ask for permission to study their records or make arrangements for them to search for you. It is usual to pay for their help in the form of a donation to the church.