91. VISITA IGLESIA 2019 AND MY 45TH

VISITA IGLESIA 2019 AND MY 45^TH

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano

19 April 2019

Today is a very special day. I turned 45. Some superstitions of long ago would prohibit me from leaving the house for untoward incidents or even death may come my way. But my natal day would never be a hindrance in keeping my decades old tradition during the Lenten season – our annual Visita Iglesia. I made Lenten routes in Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Rizal province, Malolos (Bulacan) and the metropolis area for the past Maunday Thurdays and Good Fridays. This year, I came up with a 7-Churches route in Pampanga province. With the help of Wikipedia, I combined a short description of the religious edifices with my experiences.

Together with my wife, my brother-in-law and his wife, we travelled from Quezon City by North Luzon Expressway and our first stop was Lubao, Pampanga. My first step in this church was during the birthday celebration of President (2001-2010) Maria Gloria M. Macapagal-Arroyo on April 5, 2002. The president’s father, President (1961-1965) Diosdado P. Macapagal hails from Lubao. A historical marker of Diosdado is permanently displayed at the facade of the church. The Lubao Church, officially registered  as San Agustin Parish Church, is a 17th-century Neo-classic, Spanish stone and brick church located at Brgy. San Nicolas I. In 1952, a historical marker bearing a brief history of the structure was installed on the facade of the church by the Historical Committee of the Philippines, precursor of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). In 2013, the church has been declared by the National Museum of the Philippines as an Important Cultural Property.

Our second stop was the Santa Lucia Parish Church in Sasmuan, the first church in the province built by Augustinian missionaries in 1590. It stands right beside the Río Grande, the ancient waterway that connected Pampanga to Manila Bay. The structure is said to have been built by Jose Duque in the 17^th century. It was rebuilt in early 1800 and was reinforced by Toribio Fanjul in 1884. The edifice has an interesting and unique façade. It has decorative floral carvings on its main entrance. The old town church is one of the few, if not the only church in the country where the single belfry is situated between the church and the convento. The church, which measures 45 meters (148 ft) long, 11 metres (36 ft) wide, and 6 meters (20 ft) high, also features a grotto of Our Lady of Fatima. Devotees from all over the province flock here to honor Saint Lucy, believed to be a miraculous saint. It was here where we witnessed local residents flagellate themselves using bamboo sticks tied on a rope re-enacting the passion of Christ. This Holy Friday tradition of a number of towns in Pampanga particularly in Barangay San Pedro Cutud, City of San Fernando has been registered in the Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory of the Philippines called “Pinagmulan” initiated by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Our third church was the Immaculate Conception Parish Church, also known as the Guagua Church, a 17^th century Baroque church located at Brgy. Plaza Burgos. This was my first time to visit the church. In 1982, a historical marker bearing the brief history of the church was installed on the facade by the church by the National Historical Committee, now the NHCP.

Our next stop was the St. James the Apostle Parish Church, commonly known as Betis Church. Also known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Philippines”, the Baroque style church located in the Betis District in Guagua town was established in 1607 and dedicated to Saint James, the Apostle. I have always wanted to document and write something about this church which is filled with murals, wood carvings and intricate paintings on the ceiling. Although the original church was built in the 17^th century, it was in 1770 when a structure using concrete materials was built. With wooden floor, the murals at the ceiling were repainted by Victor Ramos and his team, based on the originals made by his mentor and uncle, Macario Ligon. The Spanish period edifice was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum and the NCCA.

Our fifth church was located in the municipality of Santa Rita and is dedicated to Santa Rita de Casia, a 15th century Augustinian saint invoked by desperate people beset with seemingly hopeless problems like troubled marriages and domestic violence. The actual construction of the church was deferred until the late 19^th century. An 1835 document asserts that a certain Don Alejandro Rodriguez, member of the town principalia, was accepted as a brother of the Augustinian Order for having been a benefactor of the church. It may be that Don Alejandro donated either land or money to initiate the building of the church. Credit for the construction of the church of Sta. Rita as we know it today goes to the town prior, Fr. Francisco Royo who started the masonry in 1839. It was completed by Fr. Juan Merino in 1869 (one of the church’s 5 bells is inscribed with his name). Both priests were also responsible for opening roads linking Sta. Rita with Guagua and Porac. The original church measured 55 meters long by 13 meters wide. Its height was around 10 meters. The church has marked baroque influences as seen from its triangular windows, despite its solidity.

Our visita’s second to the last church was San Guillermo Parish Church, named after San Guillermo, the patron saint of Bacolor town. This is my second time to enter the church and have seen numerous time the facade everytime I pass thorugh the area either going home to Isabela via SCTEx or heading to Subic. The church was originally constructed by the Augustinian Friars when the town was founded in 1576 with Fr. Diego De Ochoa, OSA, as the town's first parish priest. In 1880, the church was destroyed by an earthquake only to be rebuilt by Fr. Eugenio Alvarez in 1886. On September 3, 1995, lahar flowed from the slopes of Mount Pinatubo and buried the church at half its 12-m height. Near the façade of the parish church is a museum which contains the history of the church. It also contains paintings of the Pinatubo eruption in 1991.

The seventh and last stop of our 2019 Visita Iglesia was the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando. Formerly Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, the neo-classical church in the City of San Fernando, in Pampanga Province is the seat of the Archdiocese of San Fernando. More scenes of flagellations greeted our eyes with blood staining the front yard of the cathedral. It was here where I had a picture in front of the monument dedicated to King Ferdinand III (1199-1252) of Castille and Leon (Spain) located at the parking space in front of the church. The king was canonized a saint in 1671 and was one of the most successful kings of Castile, securing not only the permanent union of the crowns of Castile and León, but also masterminding the most expansive campaign of Reconquista.

This route reminds me of my maternal ancestors who dwelled in Pampanga a couple of centuries ago. The Gozums were from Macabebe, Masantol and Apalit and are relatives with the Suñgas, Lobos, Maniego and Cortez’. This year’s religious tour gave me more appreciation in the arts and the intangible culture of the Lenten rites in this part of the country.  This visita iglesia tradition pioneered by the Augustinian missionaries based on the Biblical account of the first sorrowful mystery. This practice is commendable because it makes the vigil of the reserved Blessed Sacrament inviting and it deepens the prayer and contemplation on the passion of Christ. It is not only a way for family members to bond but also to cultivate in each member the spirit of prayer and penance. A number of times, we had a fourteen churches route, however due to health reasons, I chose a seven church visit this year. The number of churches does not matter because what’s important is that the faithful prays intently and fervently from the heart. This is one of my best celebration of my birthday. Happy 45^th.