68. FR. JUAN SEVERINO MALLARI...A CRIME MASTERMIND OR VICTIM OF INJUSTICE?

 

Details of Calligraphic Works of Fr. Juan Severino Mallari
(Archdiocese of Manila Archives)

Questions lingering on your mind regarding Fr. Juan Severino Mallari? Or curiosities arose regarding to the celebrated priest of Magalang, Pampanga? In my last post in this blog entitled, "The Serial Killer Priest of Magalang", you already read about the life of Fr. Mallari based on the initial documentation done by the late Dr. Luciano P.R. Santiago and later by Mr. Robby P. Tantingco. This post will provide perspectives to the different circumstances surrounding the life of Fr. Mallari especially during the killings that occurred in Magalang and his execution using different historiographical materials culled from archives and libraries in the Philippines. 

1. When Fr. Mallari was born?

Fr. Mallari was born on January 8, 1785, in Macabebe, Pampanga and he belonged to the ancient Kapampangan family from Macabebe and Guagua. His family is said to be religious and major benefactors of the church. 

2. Where Fr. Mallari took his education?

He obtained his philosophy degree from the University of Santo Tomas around 1800 and his theology degree from San Carlos Seminary in 1805. He was the classmate of another accomplished Kapampangan priest, Fr. Anselmo Fajardo. He was ordained in 1809 by Archbishop Juan Antonio Zulaybar. 

3. Where he was assigned?

Based on the records culled from the Archdiocese of Manila Archives, Fr. Mallari was assigned as coadjutor (assistant parish priest) in the towns of Gapang, Lubao, and Bacolor. He initially competed for Port of Cavite but the position went to Fr. Thomas Aquino Suares. He later competed for the curacy of Mariveles, Bataan however, the position was granted to Fr. Gregorio de Aragon. Finally, on March 26, 1813, Fr. Mallari was finally granted to him the curacy of Magalang, Pampanga beating two other candidates in terna, Fr. Leoncio Tionson and Fr. Julian Francisco Gavino. He succeeded Fr. Atanacio Mariano. 

4. What is the description of Magalang in 1813?

Magalang in those times was larger in terms of land area including the present town of Concepcion, Tarlac. The town center was located in barrio San Bartolome with lush and green scenery due to the presence of several trees and in addition to the irrigated rice lands. It was surrounded by several small creeks and it was approximately nearer to the larger Parua River. Mt. Arayat or Bunduc Alaya as mentioned by Fr. Mallari on his planes de almas is visible from the midst. There are no available records pertaining to the structure of the church but a pastoral visit report in 1827, a year after the arrest of Fr. Mallari provided some details pertaining to the church structure. The church was made up of tabique pampango bamboo and sawali. Its roof was made up of anahao leaves. It has one retablo mayor and retablo menor located in the baptistry. The church was later renovated by the successive priests until its abandonment in 1863 when the colonial government ordered the eventual transfer of Magalang to the present site and the formal creation of the new town of Concepcion (Tarlac). The former site was later known as balen melacuan (forsaken town) and it was reestablished as barrio San Bartolome, now part of Concepcion, Tarlac.  

5. What are the activities of Fr. Mallari in Magalang?

Aside from serving his parishioners, Fr. Mallari is also a talented calligrapher. His calligraphic works in annual planes de almas show his artistry through his sketches of different objects such as flowers, birds, angels, and other reliefs. Fr. Mallari is very close to his mother and he allowed his immediate family members to stay in Magalang. In those times, the immediate family of the cura are also considered members of the local elite. Later, his brother was elected as gobernadorcillo (mayor) of Magalang. 

6. What really happened on the bloodiest day of 1825? 

On December 4, 1825, the mother of Fr. Mallari died. However, prior to the death of Fr. Mallari's mother, there are already reported mysterious cases of murders in the town. In a report dated December 20, 1825, the families of the five victims pinpointed the crime to the Mallari brothers and their accomplices because the victims were accused by the alleged perpetrators of cursing their ailing mother. As result of this bloodbath, the alcalde mayor ordered the arrest of two brothers and their accomplices. It also ordered the relieving of his gobernadorcillo brother from the post and will conduct new elections for the gobernadorcillo post. The report also mentioned that the authorities further implicated Fr. Mallari in different crimes such as theft and concealment of other criminals. In 1826, Fr. Mallari, his brother, and other accomplices were arrested and they brought to carcel or jail in Bacolor. In 1840, Fr. Mallari was executed by hanging in Manila. 

Conclusion

In 1771, the Augustinian friars were expelled from their parishes in Pampanga and they were replaced by the secular Kapampangan priests. As mentioned by Santiago in his other works there are already native priests specifically from Pampanga are competent enough to assume church responsibilities. When the native clergy assumed the vacant parishes, they also realized not only wider responsibilities but also expanded power and influence over the pueblos. In the case of Fr. Mallari, wherein he wields power and influence over the town of Magalang, it also extended to his immediate family wherein they are had a say in terms of church and political affairs. In an article written by the Spanish chronicler Sinibaldo de Mas he made the case of Fr. Mallari sensational as he exaggeratedly claimed that he murdered 57 of his parishioners. In the reports of the vicar forane and alcalde mayor of Pampanga didn't specify of what method of killings was done to the five victims. It is possible that the crime wasn't directly done by Fr. Mallari or his brother, but probably they employed henchmen from their accomplices to execute the killings.  However, the standing issue of secularization is still lingering in those times. The regulars particularly the Augustinians wanted their parishes back from the native priests and possibly the case of Fr. Mallari was sensationalized because they wanted to show that the native priests were incompetent to run the parishes. It is possible that the killings were intentionally done by Fr. Mallari and his family to become richer and powerful? Or the cases filed against him and his family are politically motivated to give chance to the Augustinians to bring back their lost parishes? 

Primary Sources:

Asuntos del Cabildo Eclesiastico, Ternas (1806-1824), Archdiocese of Manila Archives. 

Pampanga, (1826) Sobre las violentas muertes de cinco individuos ocurridas en el pueblo de Magalang. Philippine National Archives. 

Sta Visita de las Iglesias y Casas Parroquales, (1812, 1816, 1827-1828), Archdiocese of Manila Archives. 

Secondary Sources:

Santiago, Luciano P.R. (2022) The Ascent of Mount Arayat, P. Anselmo Jorge Faxardo, The Father of Kapampangan Literature and Trailblazer of the Filipino Theater, Angeles City, Holy Angel University Press, pages  75-77. 

Santiago, Luciano P.R. (2002) The Kapampangan Pioneers, Angeles City, Holy Angel University Press. 

56. SERIAL KILLER PRIEST OF MAGALANG

In 1812, when the parish of Magalang was still under secular control, a young but ambitious secular priest was installed. Fr. Juan Severino Mallari took the helm until he was relieved in 1826. His brief biography was initially written by the psychiatrist turned-historian, Dr. Luciano P.R. Santiago. According to his findings, Fr. Mallari was born in Macabebe, Pampanga. He took his solemn profession at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas. He was ordained in 1809, and he was appointed as a coadjutor (assistant parish priest) of Gapan, Lubao and Bacolor. He later competed for the position of a parish priest in parishes of Orani, Mariveles, Lubao, and as chaplain of Port of Cavite. After  several attempts, he was successfully included to the terna, but, he was never chosen by the higher authorities for those positions. Later, he finally attained his status as a full pledge parish in the sleepy and large town of Magalang. The town itself was still in the second town proper located in San Bartolome (later, it will be known as Balen Melacuan). During his tenure in Magalang, Fr. Mallari sought some relief from the stresses of his priestly life. However, a series of unexplained murders surfaced in Magalang on different occasions. A total of 57 residents of Magalang were killed over a period of ten years; without the perpetrator being arrested or even identified. No wonder, it was Fr. Mallari who was the perpetrator. In 1826, he was arrested and imprisoned like a common criminal. Even the Spanish chronicler Sinibaldo de Mas wrote that "the attorney on that case talked in pathetic terms of the indescribable and barbarous prodigality of blood shed by that monster". According to some accounts, Fr. Mallari claimed that he had murdered his parishioners "because he believed that he could by this means save his mother who, he persuaded himself, had been bewitched. After the verdict was served, in 1840, he was executed by hanging, making him the first Filipino priest executed by the Spanish colonial government. The execution of the triumvirate, Gomburza took place later in 1872. The case of Fr. Mallari is an example of the Indios' "natural tendency to believe all the ghost stories they were so fond of telling". Dr. Santiago added that Fr. Mallari was a "victim of injustice" because Spain had already pioneered the humane treatment of mental patients, having founded one of the first psychiatric institutions in Europe. In the Philippines, Hospicio de San Jose had already operating for 15 years, so the priest should have been taken there instead of the prison. Despite his tragic life, Fr. Mallari had exemplary skills, thus he was also the second Filipino priest who is a calligraphic artist. A contemporary of another Filipino calligraphic artist, Fr. Anselmo Fajardo; his surviving works (1816 and 1821) were done in the same period as his other older contemporary, Fr. Hipolito. In contrast to the latter, he limned vines of flowers and boy angels with short haircuts, perched on whorls of clouds, which are charming examples of folk art. 

Photo Credits:

Nemesis of Neglect, an image of social destitution manifested as Jack the Ripper. Punch cartoon of 1888 by John Tenniel. www.wikipedia.com 

Sources:

Santiago, Luciano P.R., The Kapampangan Pioneers, Angeles City, Juan D. Nepomuceno Center of Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, 2002. 

Tantingco, Robby P., The Serial Killer Priest of Magalang, Singsing Vol. 7. No. 1., Juan D. Nepomuceno Center of Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, Angeles City, 2017.