Tuguegarao is a river delta city that became center of the archdiocese in the province of Cagayan, on the island of Luzon.

They brought not only the tenets of Christian faith but also western technologies, infrastructures and ideas that helped in the livelihood and welfare of the Cagayanos.

[2] The Diocese of Tuguegarao was created April 10, 1910[3] with decree of the Congregation of the Sacred Consistory "Nova Diocesum Circumscriptio In Insulis Philippinis".

The auxiliary bishop of Nueva Segovia, Juan C. Sison, served as apostolic administrator.

On June 20, 1954, the image of Our Lady of Piat was canonically crowned by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi at the patio of the St. Peter's Cathedral.

He took part in the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines in 1991 and later convoked the first Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly of Tuguegarao also that same year.

On March 10, 1997, the Sanctuary of the Our Lady of Piat was elevated to a Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II.

Utleg is renowned of his advocacies promoting social justice and the protection of the integrity of creation.