64. SAN BARTOLOME PARISH CHURCH OF MAGALANG

 

San Bartolome Parish Church, 1963

If you are going to the town proper of Magalang, this structure is one of the revered heritage structures that you aren't must be missed. San Bartolome Parish Church or locally known as pisamban maragul is one of the heritage churches has the Baroque design and architecture. Before this magnificent church was built, the parish itself was established in April 30, 1605 by the Augustinian friars in Macapsa. The town proper was eventually transferred to San Bartolome (now part of Concepcion, Tarlac) in 1734. Due to difficult conditions of the parish brought by natural calamities and underdevelopment, in 1740, the priors of Bacolor and Mexico were asked to pay 20 pesos each while the priors of Candaba and Guagua were also asked to pay 10 pesos for the support of the convent of Magalang. This support was lasted until 1762. 

The new church was built during the administrations of Fr. Martin Mendiguren, OSA (1735), Fr. Manuel Obregon, OSA (1744) and Fr. Agustin Galceran, OSA (1745). In a report by the pastoral visit of  Archbishop Jose Segui, OSA to Magalang in 1831, the structure of the church was made up of wood with a roofing made up of anahaw leaves. In 1858, a large flood swept the whole town due to overflowing of Parua River which brought by the continuous torrential rain. In 1860, a Royal Decree was promulgated, creating the new town of Concepcion composed of barrios of Magalang located on the northern bank of Parua River. Until 1863, the forced evacuation was enforced and Magalang was transferred to the present site. The new town of Concepcion was still spiritually dependent to Magalang until 1866. 

In 1866, Fr. Ramon Sarrionandia, OSA laid the foundations of the new church on the land donated by Don Cristobal Lacson. In 1875, Fr. Baltasar Gamarra, OSA finished the facade and the bell tower. Fr. Fernando Vasquez, OSA laid the finishing touches and installed two large bells casted by Hilario Sunico which they have beautiful tones. In 1892, Fr. Toribio Fanjul, OSA renovated the flooring and the church sacristy. During the revolutionary years, the church particularly the convent was converted into a prison by the revolutionaries. It was there that Spanish prisoners including Fr. Antonio Redondo, OSA the last Augustinian parish priest of San Fernando were incarcerated. In November 5, 1899, the Americans led by Major General Arthur MacArthur (father of Gen. Douglas MacArthur) and Col. Jacob H. Smith (who later implicated in the infamous Balangiga Massacre) captured the town. A brief battle was held within the vicinity of the church which led to its eventual occupation. The 25th Infantry and 41st Infantry of US Army established quarters in the convent until 1901. During Japanese period, the bell tower was made into an observational post by the Japanese and later by the Americans. 

In 1950, the retablo menores were renovated and large images of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, donated by Dr. Andres J. Luciano were installed. In 1952, major renovations of the church were implemented during the administration of Rev. Fr. Pedro N. Magtoto. In 1978, the old convent and the bell tower were renovated during the administration of Rev. Fr. Odon T. Santos. He also installed wooden stations of the cross within the church premises. In 1998, the parish with the generous assistance from Tancungco family initiated the installation of galvanized iron dome on the bell tower. In 2002, Rev. Fr. Raul de los Santos reconstructed the old altar and he initiated renovations on the convent, sacristy and baptistery. In 2007, Rev. Fr. Venancio D. Viray constructed a new covered court and repainted the church. During the incumbency of Rev. Fr. Mario Sol M. Gabriel, he initiated the reconstruction of the old retablo in 2014. He also constructed steel fences around the church, mechanized the old church bells constructed a columbarium and renovated the existing gazebo. He also renovated the Old Catholic Cemetery after decades of neglect and damage. He also initiated the enshrinement of a first class relic of San Bartolome Apostol, the first parish in the Philippines under the patronage of the apostle who received its sacred relic. In 2015, the National Museum of the Philippines bestowed the church as one of the Important Cultural Properties in the Philippines. In 2019, an earthquake struck in Central Luzon resulted in major damages. The bell tower had cracks and the parish decided to suspend indefinitely the ringing of the bells to preserve its structural integrity. 

Photo Credits:

Capagmausuian Qng Aldo Pangasilang ning Magalang, Diciembre 28-29, 1963.  

Sources:

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

Dizon Lino L., 2008, Alaya, Kapampangan Research Journal; Juan D. Nepomuceno Center of Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, Angeles City

49. PLAZA DE LA LIBERTAD OF MAGALANG

Plaza de la Libertad during Commonwealth Government Inauguration c. 1935

In this town, Plaza de la Libertad or Freedom Park is one of the famous landmarks located on the center of the town proper. It is sandwiched between by two famous landmarks, the San Bartolome Church on the west side and the Casa Tribunal known today as municipio on the east side. We are fortunate that Magalang has the only one of this kind of plaza in the whole Pampanga. According to the Luther Parker collections, the plaza was constructed around 1864. It was mentioned that the plaza was planted with beautiful Dapdap trees which marked the its demarcation. Spanish authorities in those times patterned the new town proper to other town proper models in Spain. Plaza de la Libertad witnessed some of the important historical events that happened in Magalang. In this plaza, where Fr. Ignacio Manzanares, OSA celebrated its first mass after the transfer of Magalang from barrio San Bartolome. It is the same person also who led the transfer of Magalang together with some prominent families. In 1868, it was attacked and burned by the bandits led by the notorious bandit leader, Isidoro Guinto. After they burned the plaza, they proceed to the church convent where they ambushed Fr. Ramon Sarrionandia, OSA, who started the construction of the present church edifice. Fortunately, Fr. Sarrionandia survived the ambush. During the revolutionary period, the plaza was made into brief battleground, the forces of the rebel officer, Pedro Pedroche positioned in the plaza and they attacked the positions of Colonel Lorenzo D. Camaya who was holed up inside the church convent, together with his Spanish prisoners. And when the Americans captured Magalang in November 5, 1899, Major General Arthur MacArthur personally ordered the burning of plaza and the rest of the town proper. 

Plaza de la Libertad during Bonifacio Day c. 1925

During American period, the plaza was become a place for every social occasions. In this period, when the beautiful gloriettas were added. Political rallies and campaigns were held in this plaza; lavish balls of social elite groups like Mountain Side club, were also held in this plaza. Some prominent politicians and businessman attended the annual ball of the club like presidents Sergio Osmeña and Manuel A. Roxas; Senator Benigno Aquino Sr., Jose Abad Santos and other handful of prominent persons in different fields. In this plaza, where the town's oldest statue of Dr. Jose P. Rizal was constructed; through the efforts of local civic organization, Katipunan Mipanampun in 1923. During the socialist uproar in 1937, numerous peasants marched also in this plaza to air their discontent regarding to their conditions as tillers. During Japanese occupation, Japanese officers and local officials of Magalang held their political rallies here in this plaza to encourage the Magaleños to support the cause of Japanese sponsored government. During the liberation, American tanks were positioned in the plaza to contain the remaining Japanese forces in the town. 

Plaza de la Libertad c. 1963

After the war, the plaza was still used for different social gatherings of the town. In this plaza where the one of the darkest episodes of Magalang happened. On the night of December 28, 1963, the alleged hit men of Faustino del Mundo popularly known as Commander Sumulong assassinated the Magalang's beloved mayor, Benedicto T. Dayrit. Shortly, after his death, the local officials decided to rename the plaza into Benedicto T. Dayrit Plaza. It was reverted back to the original name later years. In this year also when the Mountain Side Club ceased to exist due to the trauma of the assassination. In 1979, the plaza was initially cited through the help of cinema. The classic movie, Ina, Kapatid, Anak held their some movie scenes in the plaza. In the same period were the well known mushroom edifices were added and native pine trees were planted replacing the old Dapdap trees. Recently, some scenes of the television drama show, The Good Son were also shot here in this plaza  

Plaza de la Libertad c. 2011. Shot from the church belfry

Today, the plaza was popularly known to the present generation as patio. The last renovation of the plaza was taken place in 1994. The huge salakot shaped covered court was later added. The plaza was still known today for the venue of campaign sorties of local officials during election period, religious gatherings, and other social events. Recently, it was again utilized for the celebration of town fiesta particularly for colorful festivals and events. The plaza was also venue for students from different schools in Magalang for conducting their practices for their school activities, plus, a dating place for couples! The sides of the plaza was known for baratillo later known as tiangge during town fiesta and Christmas season. This year, the municipal government initiated the major renovation project of the plaza. I wished that this project will become successful, and we must not forget the reminders and contributions of the Plaza de la Libertad not only to our local history, but also to us, as Magaleños. 

Photo Credits:

Plaza de la Libertad during Commonwealth Government Inauguration c. 1935, provided by Mrs. Josefina M. Castro. Note that another identical photo is in the possession of Mr. Alex R. Castro. 

Plaza de la Libertad during Bonifacio day c. 1925, provided by Mrs. Josefina M. Castro. 

Plaza de la Libertad c. 1963 taken from Capagmasusian Qng Aldo Pangasilang ning Magalang, Diciembre 28-29, 1963. 

Plaza de la Libertad c. 2011 from the possession of the author. 

Sources:

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

Documentos Historicos del Municipio de Magalang, Pampanga, Islas Filipinas, 1909, 1911, Luther Parker Collections, Box No. 3, Folder No. 56, Document No. 320, University of the Philippines Library, Diliman, Quezon City.

Magaleño Social Elite Clubs, www.amlatmagaleno.blogspot.com.  

  

    

26. MAGALANG WAS ROBBED BY THE BANDITS

Five years after the transfer of Magalang from San Bartolome, presently known as balen melacuan; Magaleños are still in their painful phase of recovery due to destruction of the town caused by large floods swept by Parua River. In 1866, the Augustinian cura parroco of Magalang, Fr. Ramon Sarrionandia started the construction of the present edifice of San Bartolome Church. However, on August 12, 1868, Friday, a band of robbers or tulisanes robbed the town. Fr. Ramon Sarrionandia attempted to save the town by offering the demands of the bandits. However, he was shot by the bandits, and due to the incident, the Magaleños were united together to fight the bandits. This incident was published on the Spanish daily periodical, based in Madrid, known as La España. And this is how started:

About four o'clock in the afternoon, ten armed men forcibly entered the tribunal (municipal building) and they took one prisoner. These men are wearing chaquetas, while their leader, a certain Isidoro Guintu known as "Doro" was armed with a stick. The lieutenant, constables and the guards were taken by surprise and they are subsequently tied up. Another twenty men followed, and they are armed with rifles, midgets, revolvers, pistols and kampilans (bolos). This group sacked the houses at the right of the plaza up to the front of the church convent. Most Reverend Fr. Ramon Sarrionandia, who directed the construction of the new church alerted his people on the attack. He ordered the doors of the convent will be closed and to ring the bells to give warning for the attack of the tulisanes (bandits). When the tulisanes came, Fr. Ramon, known for his strong character and energy, opened the windows and asked them of what they need. The bandits subsequently demanded money. Fr. Ramon offered them two hundred pesos in exchange for not sacking the town again. The bandits demanded more money even the funds for the construction of the new church. When Fr. Ramon refused to their new demand, the bandits lost patience and surrounded the convent. They shoot the parish priest three times. Fortunately, Fr. Ramon was only injured and he was slightly maimed. He limped down on the stairs and he quickly escaped by riding on his carriage.

The tulisanes continued their looting around the town. They sacked the Chinese merchants and they took Don Carlos Vega, a Spanish sergeant as their prisoner. He was tied up and his two horses are taken away by the bandits. In meantime, the bantayanes rang the bells who peals reach the barrios; alerting the residents to the attack. One man took a horse and he ran to neighboring town of Mabalacat to report the incident. The commander of guardia civil quickly marched in Magalang to repel the bandits. The parishioners formed a rear guard to protect the parish priest's escape; they are equipped with bow and arrows, and spears. 

The bandits soon abandoned the town. But they are pursued by the alerted residents of the town led by Captains Eduardo and Felipe and the members of town principalia; who volunteered to pursue the bandits. The townspeople engaged with the bandits, and they rescued Don Carlos. The people of barrio Buensuceso joined the Magaleños to pursue the bandits on the thick forest of Mt. Arayat. The Magaleños managed to kill a bandit, and they recovered a midget, pistol, bolo and knives from the fleeing wounded bandits. Later, the cavalry arrived in the town in six o'clock in the evening to pursue the bandits. After the attack, the parish priest was given medical assistance. No one of the townspeople were reported killed or wounded. 

Photo Credit:

Magalang Church during construction; Juan D. Nepomuceno Center of Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, Angeles City. 

Sources:

Bartolo, Louie Aldrin L. and Dizon, Lino L., The Magalang Book: The Historical Life and Culture of a Kapampangan Town (1605-2015), Manila, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 2016, pages 82-84.  

From the Spanish periodical, La España, Madrid, España, August 13, 1868