60. HERITAGE TOMBSTONES OF MAGALANG

Old Stone Arc of Cementerio Catolico de Magalang 

This coming November 1, we will celebrate the lives of our love ones. By offering them fresh flowers, candles and off course, prayers for their souls. In Magalang, its first Catholic Cemetery was established in 1866 along with the San Bartolome Parish Church. The said first cemetery was located in the present Acejo property in barrio San Pedro I. In 1895, Fray Faustino Diez, OSA obtained permission from the Archdiocese of Manila to transfer the cemetery to the present site in barrio San Pedro II. He utilized parish funds for the construction of the wall enclosure measuring one meter and fifty centimeters. The stones used in the construction of the walls was quarried inside the new site. In 1896, the new cemetery was finished and the new parish priest Fray Jose Rodriguez Prada, OSA requested Archbishop Bernardino Nozaleda, OP to bless the new cemetery. 

In 1904,  the Municipal Cemetery was established next to the Catholic Cemetery. Interestingly, the Catholic Cemetery had so many tombstones, that the members of the Magalang elite owned and maintained in those times. However, due to overcrowding, the remains of their departed are transferred to more spacious Magalang Memorial Park or in other cemeteries. Recently, the Catholic Cemetery is rehabilitated, and some of the heritage tombstones are already demolished, to give way for the construction of modern columbarium. However, there are some heritage tombstones are retained, to give us the glimpse of the rich past not only of the cemetery, but also to the town itself. In my recent visit to the Catholic Cemetery, there are some remaining tombstones that have been retained or probably, waiting for their demolition anytime:

Mausoleum of Baluyut-Magdangal Family 

This chapel type mausoleum, where the spouses Atanacio M. Baluyut, a schoolteacher and municipal president of Magalang (1928-1931) and Esperanza Magdangal de Baluyut, also a schoolteacher buried. 

Tombstone of Bondoc-Indiongco Family

This tombstone where the remains of Teodora B. Vda de Indiongco are located. Alongside with her Guevarra family relatives. Teodora is one of the children of Prudencio Paras Bondoc, a former landowner and later, first station manager of pre-war, Dau-Magalang railway line. 

Tombstone of Cruz Spouses

This Black Nazarene inspired tombstone, was formerly owned by the Gueco-Liwanag family. It was Don Paulino Gueco, former gobernadorcillo (mayor) of Magalang and his wife, Doña Miguela Paras Liwanag initially buried in this tomb. Their daughter Angela and a niece, Angela Gueco Mercado also buried here before. When the Guecos transferred the remains of their forefathers, the tombstone was transferred to Cruz family; where the spouses, Venancio and Bonifacia Cruz are buried up to this day. 

Tombstone of Feliciano-Lansangan
family

This abandoned tombstone where the remains of spouses, Jose P. Feliciano and his first wife, Rosa Lansangan formerly located. Their remains are transferred to their family owned, Magalang Memorial Park. 

Tombstone of Punzalan family. 

This tombstone which I located behind of the cemetery was probably abandoned and full of trash. It  is owned by the Punzalan family. 

Tombstone of Don Andres Yutuc

This beautiful tombstone, is where the remains of Don Andres Yutuc, and his wife are located, on the eastern part of the Catholic Cemetery. 

Tombstone of Rosa Dalusung Luciano

This tombstone with a inscription of "Oseng", is where the remains of Rosa Dalusung de Luciano are formerly located. Oseng is the second wife of Don Antonio Y. Luciano, municipal president of Magalang (1923-1925). One of their granddaughter, Elizabeth Ann Jolene Luciano Winsett, better known as Liza Lorena, is one of the veteran actresses of Philippine cinema. Liza's son, Tonton Gutierrez is a well known matinee idol, and one of the prime actors of Philippine cinema.  

Tombstone of Doña Miguela Y. Luciano

This tombstone besides the tombstone of Rosa Dalusung Luciano, is where the remains of Doña Miguela Y. Luciano are located. Doña Miguela is a sister of Don Antonio Y. Luciano, husband of Rosa. She remained unmarried until she died in 1951. 

Tombstone of Agustin family

This tombstone is where the remains of certain Claudia Florentino and Juan M. Agustin are located. Interestingly, the inscription of Claudia Florentino is written in Kapampangan. Meanwhile, Juan M. Agustin is a known baker hailed from Angeles. He settled in Magalang, and he established one of the first bakeries in Magalang. 

Tombstone of Ordonez family

This tall tombstone is where the remains of Maria Ordonez is located. The Ordonezes are also well known in baking and pastries in Magalang. They also established one of the first bakeries in Magalang during pre-war. 

Tombstone of Lacson-Laxamana family

This pillar inspired tombstone is where the remains of Don Leopoldo Pamintuan Lacson are formerly located. In this tomb also, where the remains of his two wives named Regina Laxamana de Lacson and Ana Tumang Vda. de Lacson are also formerly located. In 1970, my late grandfather, Bartolome Miranda Lacson was also buried here; until their remains are transferred to Magalang Memorial Park in 2015. 

Tombstone of Don Feliciano Calaguas

This old tombstone, located in the eastern part of the Catholic Cemetery is where the remains of Don Feliciano Calaguas and his wife are buried. 

Tombstone of Dayrit family

This tombstone is where the remains of the members of the illustrious Dayrit family of Magalang are located.

Source:

Bartolo, Louie Aldrin L. (2016) The Magalang Book: The Historical Life and Culture of a Kapampangan Town (1605-2015), National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Manila. 

Cementerios, (1805-1945) Magalang, Pampanga (Box34.B.4, Folder 3), Archdiocese of Manila Archives.