59. SACRED FRANCISCAN RELICS OF MAGALANG

Original Image of San Francisco
Padre Pio Chapel

When I launched this blog in November 5, 2016, the articles in this blog are merely focused on historical events, places and persons of Magalang. However, due to the objectives of this blog, it is not only the historical background of Magalang will feature and posted, it will also includes the rich culture and interesting spots located in this agricultural town. 

In Magalang, there are several religious spots that have been frequently visited by the pilgrims. During Holy Week, pilgrims who are seeking serenity, they are climbing the foothills of Mt. Arayat to pray and visit large life statues of stations of the cross of Banal a Bunduk, Dalan ning Krus located in Orchard Village in barrio Ayala. During Fridays, Magaleños and outsiders are flocking to a small chapel of miraculous San Agustin. San Bartolome Parish Church is frequently visited not only on being a heritage church, but also to the relic of town's patron saint. And lastly, the devotees also visiting the Malugud farm, located in barrio San Nicolas; where the replicas of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and Divino Rostro are enshrined. 

In barrio San Francisco, located also in Magalang, we are not aware, that are also several miraculous relics are enshrined on its barrio chapels. Due to the efforts of former parish priest, Rev. Fr. Jowel Jomarsus P. Gatus, several relics of famous Franciscan saints are enshrined on its barrio chapels, and the devotees are starting flocking on its chapels to offer prayers and seeking their intercession. These are the lists of church and chapels where the Franciscan relics are located: 

RELIC OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Lord's Epiphany Parish, Angeles-Magalang Road, San Francisco, Magalang, Pampanga

The relic of barrio's patron saint, San Francisco de Assisi was formally enshrined in September 25, 2016 by Archbishop Florentino G. Lavarias, D.D. The sacred relic is a first class relic, containing pieces of bone and staff of San Francisco de Assisi. The visitation of the relic is open every Tuesday. A holy mass is also held on the same day every 6pm. The veneration of the relic is held every Tuesdays, after 6pm mass, tridum masses and the feast day of the saint every October 4. 

RELIC OF ST CLAIRE OF ASSISI 

Sta Clara ning Assisi Chapel, Sitio Tambacan, San Francisco, Magalang, Pampanga

This second class relic of St. Claire of Assisi is containing a small fragment of her veil. St. Claire is well known companion of St. Francis of Assisi and foundress of religious order, the Poor Clares. Alongside with the relic of St. Padre Pio, it was formally enshrined in July 21, 2017. Visitation of the relic is open every Thursday; and its veneration is held during its feast day, on August 11. 

RELIC OF ST. PADRE PIO OF PIETRELCINA

St. Padre Pio Chapel, Sitio Mabato Bato, San Francisco, Magalang, Pampanga

The first class relic of St. Padre Pio, alongside with the relic of St. Claire of Assisi was installed in July 21, 2017. The relic of well known stigmatist saint is containing of his hair fragments. Visitation of the relic is open during Thursday, 8:00am to 7:00pm. A holy mass and veneration of the relic is held during 3rd Thursday of every month in 6pm,; and during its tridum masses and feast day in September 23. 

Photo Credits:

Altar of Sta Clara ning Assisi chapel; Lord's Epiphany Parish Facebook page.

Altar of St. Padre Pio chapel; provided by Mr. Jener C. Lacson  

16.MAGALANG TOPONYMS LIST NO. 1

Toponymy is the study of the place names (toponyms) their origins, meanings and use. Before, the study of toponymy is exclusively to language and literature. According to Dizon, toponymy is appreciated only in fictional realms of literature and folkore. However, he pointed out that toponymy can provide the historians or historian archaeologists with valuable insights, leads, and hypothesis. He particularized the role of toponymy among these functions:

1. Dating settlements, especially old settlements where founding dates are unrecorded.

2. Assessing the ethnicity or origins of the occupants of a settlement, and

3. Recognizing past geographical features that may no longer be extant.

In this post, i will show the different toponyms of different sitios, barrios and other geographical features in Magalang together with their meanings and names of origins. The posts are divided into different series depends on place names of barrios or other geographical features located in Magalang presently and historically. 

In my first series, regarding toponyms of different places of Magalang; this post will initially devoted to the different toponyms of sitios and places located in my home barrio San Francisco. This barrio is one of the oldest barrios of Magalang, thus it has old sitios with their names whom their meanings are listed below:

Batiawan- an old name of barrio center of San Francisco. It was derived from Kapampangan word batiao or batio which means, to observe from the distance, or by craning the neck or to observe from a watchtower; like a sentinel. Batiawan also a term for watchtower. According to old folks in this place, a concrete watchtower was built formerly in the present Feliciano rice mill, whom the Spanish army was used to track down the insurgents hiding in Mt. Arayat. 

Calubsuban- a place between barrios San Francisco and Camias whom the name was derived from a tree which is scientific name is Jambosa vulgaris. It was called yambo in Filipino and calubcub in Kapampangan. Another meaning is a kind of tree has a hollow trunk. 

Camachiles- a sitio between in barrios San Francisco and San Jose whom its name was derived from word, camatsilis, known as Manila tamarind. Its scientific name is Pithecolobium dulce, and its fruit is used in cooking sigang or panaslam in other dishes. 

Libutad- a sitio between barrios San Francisco and San Jose; its meaning was the center of the field.

Mabatu-bato- a large sitio in San Francisco derived from the word batu, a common name for stone. Mabatu means a place full of stones or large rocks.  Another word, bato-bato, derived from a bird species related to turtle dove or ring dove.

Mapaco- a small sitio in barrio San Francisco whom its name was derived from a plant called pacu or ferns. Its scientific name is Asplenium esculentum; this plant was one of the favorite ingredients in some Kapampangan dishes. Another meaning is pecauan which is means, the edge or approach of one or other part of river or canal. 

Pulu- a small sitio in barrio San Francisco going to barrio Sta Lucia whom its name was derived from the word pulu or island; an island in the river. 

Tambacan- once the largest sitio of barrio San Francisco, its name was derived from the word tambac, which is means, a dump or heap. 

Tinabi- a sitio in barrio San Francisco whom its name was derived from Kapampangan word, tabi, which is means, to forced him/her to go outside. In this case, this sitio was located near of the stream or sapa or outside of the riverbanks. 

Photo Credits:

Ferns: https://www.pinterest.com/schwabby/digital/tattoo/direction, retrieved: December 1, 2016

Jambosa vulgaris: https://br.pinterest.com.pin/525021269033986136, retrieved: December 1, 2016

References: 

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, pages 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 130 and 131; 2016

Dizon, Lino L. Kapampangan Research Journal, Angeles City: Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, December, 2007-2008, pages 124-125. 

4.BARANGAY SAN FRANCISCO....MY HOME GROWN BARRIO

First Class Picture of Grade One Class at San Francisco Primary School
under Ms. Melania S. Mamangun. Taken in 1964

Image of San Francisco ning Assisi
and its first class relic

Barangay San Francisco was probably founded by Don Cristobal Lacson. It was cleared and become part of his vast landholdings covering all over the barrio and nearby barrios. After he died, it was inherited and divided among his sons, Doroteo, Aniceto and Manuel Lacson. San Francisco had seven sitios; Tambacan, Camachilles. Mapacu, Mabato-Bato, Batiawan, Calubsuban and Tinabi. The large Camachilles was inherited by Don Doroteo Lacson while Tambacan was inherited by Don Aniceto Lacson and Don Manuel Lacson, with Don Manuel had the lion's share. Later, the property of Don Manuel composed of present sitio Batiawan was sold to the couple, Don Fernando Tayag and Doña Elena Paras; founders of barrio La Paz. In 1892, the couple mortgaged the land to Don Isidoro Santos. In 1916, the land was taken over by Don Isidoro and it was inherited by his son Amado Santos. San Francisco witnessed the one of the fiercest battles in Magalang. In 1899, Major General Arthur Mac Arthur together with Col. Jacob H. Smith (who ordered the Balangiga Massacre in 1901) attacked the insurgents' position in Magalang led by Major General Servillano Aquino. Their combined forces killed 100 defenders and 50 men captured. In 1960s, San Francisco was the one of the hotbeds of insurgency in Magalang. Faustino del Mundo, known as Commander Sumulong established his quarters briefly in this barrio together with his men. San Francisco nowadays is one of the progressive barrios in Magalang. It was placed under the protection of St. Francis of Assisi. It had an independent parish carved out from San Bartolome Parish in 1996; The Lord's Epiphany Parish. San Francisco is known for its several first and second class relics enshrined in different chapels in the barrio. One of them is the first class relic of St. Francis of Assisi enshrined in the parish church last 2016. Recently, two relics was enshrined in sitios Tambacan and Mabatu Bato respectively. One of them is the second class relic of St. Claire of Assisi located in Tambacan and the first class relic of St. Padre Pio Pietrelcina located in sitio Mabatu Bato.