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. 

55. YNG CANACUNG BIAHI

Yng Canacung Biahi

Nang Louie Aldrin L. Bartolo

Menagcat la reng canacung cuyug

Magbiahi qng maculeng ciudad ning Menila

Cabang lilibutan miya yting masanting a ciudad

Mengutang la rening canacung cuyug

Ninu yng ysipan mu caca?

Cacaluguran, eya buo yng cacung aldo

Uling paninapan cu, acayabe que sana 

Yting taung mamyeng tula canacu

Mipa ysip la rening canacung cuyug

 Quitang ra pa, mipacananu na cayu?

Sinabi cu carela, malambat cu neng pantunan

Uling mibating ya pauli na canacu

E cu ynisip qng metung mu culisac

Cabud nemu mibating qng lele cu

Ecu a ysip murin canita 

Pagmasabalan na nacu pala

Ecu na abalic ytang panaun 

Para a ustu cu yning camalian cu

Madalang mu yng taung dumalan qng bie cu

Para magmasabal ampo lugud queca

Manari qng metu a masanting a cristal

Na eme peca yngatan angga qng abalbal me

Rening pirasu na emu na bitasang abalic

Ampo milaco neng santing ampo ulaga

Metu cu taimic ampo e bubulad

Pero, qng pilub luban ning pusu cu 

Yng lagyu na, ya pa ing mimiral

Ampo mamye ganaca qng pamibie bie cu

Nung marinan cu pang pasibaiung cristal

Ecu mangacung gawan cu ngan 

Nune, gawan cu para adinan qng tula ampo santing

Ampo paca yngatan que qng canacung biahi. 

Photo Credits:

www.momondo.com 

54. REMEMBERING THE SOULS OF THE BELOVED DEATH

In Magalang, there are different customs and traditions pertaining to their love ones, who are departed. In this post, it will show some photographs and print ups that reminisce and remember the death of our love ones; and even the lost traditions in regards to the departed. 

Obituario

When the departed is rich, an obituario will publish in either local or national newspapers. A very good example of an obituario is the announcement of the death of Doña Concepcion M. Luciano, first wife of historian, Don Mariano A. Henson of Angeles, Pampanga. It was published in the Spanish daily, La Vanguardia dated April 10, 1935. When the dead is poor, their relatives and friends will eventually informed and they immediately go to the wake, to pay last respects for the dead. 

Recuerdo de Patay of dead old woman from Magalang

After the announcement of the departed, if the dead is poor, his/her remains will be put on their death bed or in a mat, and it will stay their for a day until his/her burial. If the dead is rich, the family will contracted the best funeral service, and the wake will last two or three days. A lost tradition, the corpse will be pictured and they will serve as their souvenirs for their relatives and friends. These pictures called recuerdo de patay will also used during the death anniversaries of the dead. They will put the dead pictures in front of the altar and they will lit two candles in each side; and the relatives will offer prayers for the soul of the dead. During the wake, relatives of the departed are often pray pasiyam or nine days of praying for the departed soul. Young boys and girls during the wake, will play bulaklakan and talubangan, which they will ask questions using riddles and their answers have double meanings. 

Funeral of Dr. Andres J. Luciano, 1959

When the remains of the departed is set to be buried, if the dead is poor, his/her remains will put to the  wooden coffin, which his/her relatives prepared it overnight. While the rich, are prefer to pay the services of funeral parlors to make the funeral more solemn and lavish.

Necrological Service at San Bartolome Church

The remains of the departed will eventually bring to the church for a requiem mass and blessing of the corpse. A plegaria will be took place, which they announce the departed. Unfortunately, this precious tradition of the Magaleños eventually stopped; and the last plegaria took place way back 2002! The plegaria is a sign expressed sorrow and grief over the loss of the loved ones through the tolls of church bells. If the departed is man, a low but powerful toll of the largest or stationary bell you will heard; while a thin and high pitched toll is for the female. The plegaria will eventually stop, as soon as the funeral procession is out of sight. The plegaria, by rule are only reserved for the adults. If the deceased is a child, the small bell is struck three times followed by one stroke of the big bell. This is repeated three times then followed by the alternate ringing of the small and big bell. The peal is remarkably joyous, signifying the innocence of the departed and his/her sure entry into heaven.

Tombstone of Agustin family

After the mass and blessing of the corpse, the funeral procession will continue all the way to the cemetery. A solemn and lavish procession will be happen, if the dead is rich. If the dead is poor, the priest will be called, and the blessing of the corpse will took place on his house, before the burial. And their remains will brought either to cementerio catolico or in the cementerio municipal for the burial of the dead. Sometimes, the dead, especially if he/she is a rich, will also buried inside the church; thus during earlier times, the thick walls and even the base of the retablo of San Bartolome Church also filled with lapidas, written in Spanish. During the major renovation of the church in 1960s, the remains of the dead were eventually transferred to the columbarium, in the backyard of the belfry. 

Invitation for the Death Anniversary of Doña Raymunda S. Lacson

And finally, when the death anniversary of the departed came; the rich will offer mass and they will prepare a banquet for their family members and friends. The poor likewise i said, they will put the dead pictures or recuerdos de patay in front of the altar and they will lit two candles in each side; and the relatives will offer prayers for the soul of the dead. A week before the daun, mangaladua or gosu will put place; when old folks are going to every household to ask alms for the dead; and all of the proceeds will be brought to the church, as offering for the mass to the dead. During daun or All Saints' Day, the relatives of the departed will be go to the cemetery, they will clear and repaint the tombstones and mausoleums, and they will lit candles, offer flowers and prayers for the souls of their beloved death. 

Photo Credits:

The funeral photo of the dead woman, Dr. Andres J. Luciano, and the invitation of the couple Andres P. Feliciano and Maria L. Paras, courtesy of Mrs. Josefina M. Castro.

The funeral of the unidentified person in front of San Bartolome Church, courtesy of Dr. Ignacio P. Morales. 

Obituario of Doña Concepcion Luciano de Henson, La Vanguardia, April 10, 1935.

Source:

Tantingco, Robby P., Caragatan: Love in Time of Death; https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156393794963204&set=a.10152148866553204&type=3&theater, Retrieved: October 18, 2019.

Lingad-Mayrina, Kaye and Lingat, Arwin Paul A.;Tigtig Campana: For Whom the Bells Tolled, Flores para Los Frailes: The Augustinians in Pampanga, Singsing, Juan D. Nepomuceno Center of Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, Sto. Rosario St., Angeles City. 

53. QNG YELLOW PAD

Qng Yellow Pad

Nang: Louie Aldrin Lacson Bartolo


Malambat cu nang pagunaman yting malyayari
Caniting milabas a maculeng panaun
Megumpisa ngan yng canacung tuneng bie
Qng metung a pirasung yellow pad

Qng yellow pad meniuala cu pasibaiu
Qng tuneng tula ampo yumu ning bie
Pinupus mu ngan yng dalumdum
Pepaquit mu cacu yng masalang abac

Qng yellow pad iquit cu quecang cabiasnan
Cabiasnang ala nang macalagpus queca
Cabiasanang paituru qng ustu ampo mayap
Salamat, tiru mu cacu yng matulid

Qng yellow pad, biclat mu pasibaiu
Yng canacung pusu ampo isipan
Qng banglung babie ning tuneng lugud
Lugud a casing niyaman ning tiup a marimlang angin

Nung madinan cu pang pasibaiung panaun
Na sumulat cu pa quening yellow pad
Ecu na mipabureng milucut ampo mipirat
Yting baiung amlat, na ingatan ampo dinan ulaga

Photo Credits:

hiveminer.com/Tags/notepad%2Cwallpaper

52. MAGALANG AND THE AQUINOS

Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino (center) during his Court Martial Trial
with his wife, Cory (right) 

Aquinos are not only actors and actresses on the historical and political scene of the Philippines; but also, they also heavily influenced the local historical, political and revolutionary scenes of Magalang; starting from their forefather, Hilario Aquino up to his descendant Noynoy. How they molded the local scene of Magalang? And this was started from:

HILARIO AQUINO- a native of then undivided Magalang. He was also a landowner, owned parcels of land in barrios Sta Rita and San Antonio, now part of Concepcion, Tarlac. He married a local lass, Isabela Lacsamana. He served as cabeza de barangay and later, he was elected as gobernadorcillo (now mayor) of Magalang in 1854. 

BRAULIO AQUINO- son of Hilario Aquino and Isabela Lacsamana. He was born in Magalang and baptized in Angeles. He finished his secondary education in Colegio de Primaria y Latinidad in Bacolor (now Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University), where it was happened that his mother, Isabela was one of the big donors for the foundation of the new school. He started his career as teacher in Angeles. During his stay in Angeles, he married Maria Antonina Petrona Aguilar, scion of prominent Henson clan of Angeles and of Aguilars of Sta. Ana, Pampanga. They later settled in Concepcion, where he was elected gobernadorcillo of Concepcion in 1885-1887.  After Antonina's death, he married Paula Cristobal and one of his daughter, Elena married Lorenzo Gueco of Magalang. 

SERVILLANO AQUINO- son of Braulio Aquino and Maria Antonina Petrona Aguilar. He was born and baptized in Angeles. He rose his prominence during the revolution. He was initiated as member of Katipunan in Camansi in Mt. Arayat. He was promoted as major and together with General Francisco Macabulos, they helped to organize the Magalang revolutionary committee. He later fought in the famous battle of Camansi in 1897; but he escaped after they lose the battle. When the Americans pursued Emilio Aguinaldo, he was promoted to major general and he was tasked to defend Magalang against the Americans. He fought the huge force of the Americans led by Major General Arthur MacArthur and Colonel Jacob H. Smith (who later was implicated in the infamous Balangiga massacre). After his defeat in Magalang, he waged guerrilla warfare against the Americans and he was stationed in Camansi. In 1901, he was captured by the Americans and he was briefly imprisoned in Manila. In 1904, he was granted pardon by US President Theodore Roosevelt. His sisters Brigida and Maria married the half brothers,Andres and Alfredo Ganzon respectively. Andres and Alfredo are sons of Teofisto Ganzon, capitan municipal of Magalang in 1894-1895; while his son Alfredo served as muncipal president of Magalang in 1916-1918. 

BENIGNO AQUINO, SR.-son of Servillano Aquino and Guadalupe Quiambao; he was elected as representative and senator representing Tarlac. During the apex of his political career, he and his wife Aurora Aquino attended several grand balls in different towns particularly in Magalang. During annual balls of Mountain Side Club of Magalang, they are the one of the prominent guests together with other high profiled politicians such as Jose Abad Santos, future presidents Sergio Osmeña and Manuel Roxas and others. 

BENIGNO "NINOY" AQUINO, JR.-son of Benigno Aquino Sr. and Aurora Aquino. He was known in his late teenage years where he courted the young Imelda Romualdez during her brief stay with the Guecos in Magalang. Imelda is a cousin of Speaker Daniel Z. Romualdez and husband of Paz A. Gueco; an aunt of Ninoy. Imelda was eventually the arch rival of Ninoy during the martial law years. When martial law was imposed, Imelda's husband President Ferdinand E. Marcos ordered the arrests of his political enemies such as Ninoy and others including his Magaleño friend, the future governor Bren Z. Guiao.  He was later freed due to health problems and he went to exile in the United States. On August 21, 1983, he returned to the Philippines but unfortunately, he was assassinated; created a public uproar which led to the downfall of Marcos and installing his wife, Corazon "Cory" Aquino as the new president in 1986.

BENIGNO SIMEON "NOYNOY" AQUINO, III- initially reluctant to run in presidential race, he later joined the race brought by public clamor in reaction to the death of Cory in 2009. He eventually won and sworn as 15th president of the Philippines in 2010. Under his administration, he signed two local laws including Republic Act No. 10605 converting Pampanga Agricultural College into Pampanga State Agricultural University and Republic Act No. 10694 providing for reestablishing Municipal Trial Court of Magalang. He died peacefully in June 24, 2021 due to renal failure secondary to diabetes. 

PLUS:

EUSEBIO AQUINO- a son of Felipe Aquino of Concepcion and Emiteria Dayrit Camaya of Magalang and sister of revolutionary Colonel Lorenzo D. Camaya; who has blacksmith shop nearby Pasudeco station in barrio San Nicolas I, Magalang. He is also a distant cousin of the revolutionary general Servillano Aquino. He rose to prominence when he organized the Magalang chapter of Aguman ning Maldang Talapagobra or AMT, a socialist party founded by Pedro Abad Santos. He later ran for mayoralty post of Magalang in 1937 and 1940 elections under AMT but he lost due to influence of the landlords in Magalang politics. During Japanese occupation, he was one of the founders of Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon in 1942. He organized several squadrons led by his sons Pablo, Felix and Aquilino who they became commanders. Tatang Bio, as he is fondly known; recruited Remedios Gomez who later known as Commander Liwayway. Tatang Bio and Commander Liwayway led the so called "battle of Camansi" where they managed to kill several Japanese soldiers. Tatang Bio took care also escaping American soldiers from Death March. On of them is Major Donald Blackburn and Capt. Russell Volckmann. After their brief stay with Tatang Bio, Blackburn and Volckmann continued their journey up to the north, where they organized the largest guerilla force in Northern Luzon; the United States Army Forces in the Philippines-Northern Luzon known as USAFIP-NL. This group led the attack to the forces of General Tomoyuki Yamashita, which they also managed the eventual capture of Yamashita himself. Tatang Bio had four sons with Ciriaca Gabriel of Mexico; Segundo, Pablo, known as Commander Paul married Brigida Toledano Manaloto, Felix, known as Commander Flax married Remedios Candelaria del Mundo, daughter of notorious mafia-like leader, Faustino del Mundo, known as Commander Sumulong, and Aquilino, known as Commander Kinung married Irene Paras who ran for mayoralty post in Magalang in late 1950s but he lost due to dominance of the landlords in local politics. Tatang Bio's daughter, Gloria married Peregrino Taruc, brother of Huk supremo, Luis Taruc.

Photo Credits:

www.philstar.com.ph

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.

51. YNG QUECAMING SAPNI

Yng Quecaming Sapni

Nang: Louie Aldrin Lacson Bartolo

Metu caming simpling miyasaua

Atin caming aduang anac a lalaqui

Atin nalang sariling familia

Ampo mangasanting a anac

Yca pangane, dadalan me yng laguiu tamu

Ycaming pengari mu pagmaragulan da ca

Mipmu ca qng cabiasnan ampo sicanan

Biasa ca sana manupaya ampo mamiye

Yca bunsu, pagmaragul da ca rin

Mipmu ca qng casipagan ampo capanatindian

Tune cang ayasahan nucarin man bage 

Biasa ca sana maquiramdam quecaming mangatua

Ycong aduang mangalagung manuiang cu 

Masuelu cayung sinalagpi quecaming sapni

Tinggap da ca yu, balamung tune ming anac

Yturu yu sana careng anac yu yng cayapan

Ycaung apu mi, tune cayung mamiye tula ampo sicanan

Ala caming pinili nung ninu quecayu yng luguran mi

E cami maglele uling pante mu yng lugud mi quecayu

Luguran yu la sana reng quecayung pengari

Nung miras yng oras ning pamaglaco mi quening yatu

Micacalugud cayu, ampo mipapanitindi cayu

Uling, miras yng aldo na malasac ya yng yatu

Muli cayu murin qng quecayung sapni

Photo Credit:

Tree Roots Tattoo

www.pinterest.com

50. BARRIO LA PAZ, LINO NING SAPANG QUITANGIL

Image of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buenviaje,
patroness of barrio La Paz

La Paz is one of the agricultural barrios of Magalang. It is also one of the peaceful barrios in this town.  The beginnings of La Paz traced to the first settlement of barrio since Spanish period. According to some accounts, La Paz was a former part of nearby barrio San Isidro. This area in that time is called Lino; means clear. That term is got from the clear water which flows into Quitangil river. During that time, the whole place was devoted to the cultivation of sugarcane and rice. The prominent landowners of this place are mostly came from the town of Angeles. The spouses, Don Natalio Bondoc y Canlas; a former cabeza de barangay from Angeles chose to clear and settle in this place; together with his wife, Doña Agueda Paras. Another couple from Angeles, Don Fernando Tayag y Nunag, a native of Minalin and also served as cabeza de barangay in Angeles together with his wife, Doña Elena Paras y Castro settled in this place too. Another couple from Mabalacat, Don Santiago Muñoz and his wife, Doña Cornelia Gomez also settled in this place. Doña Agueda Paras introduced the devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buenviaje, popularly known as Virgen de Antipolo to her tenants; where they conducting nightly prayers. Doña Agueda also distributed rice and other stuff to her tenants. Few years later, the Tayag and Bondoc couples mortgaged their lands to Don Isidoro Santos of San Fernando; while the Munoz couple sell some of their land to Don Isidoro also. The Bondoc couple recovered their land, but due to failure of their sons to manage the land, they sold it to Don Tomas Dizon. The Tayag couple went back to Angeles when their land was taken over by Don Isidoro Santos. Interestingly, a son of Don Tomas Dizon, Arsenio married Bartola Santos, a daughter of Don Isidoro Santos. Thus their children are become the large landowners of La Paz until present. Barrio La Paz had five sitios and the origins of their name are  mentioned below:

Calamunding- derived from the word, calamunding, a citrus plant used in different native dishes. The scientific name of the plant is Fortunella japonica.

Cangatba or Lipat Sapa- means, across the riverbank; crossing Quitangil river.

Dilain- derived from word Lain means, a stems or leaves of taro, popularly known as gandus. 

Mabiabas- derived from the word, biabas, popularly known as Guava. This plant is very popular due to various traditional medical uses.

Mauli- means, southern part; opposite to pangulo, known as northern part.

Photo Credits:

Virgen de la Paz by 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 (2016), National Commission for Culture and the Arts, pages 95, 125, 126, 127, 129.