Pisamban XI

Santiago de Galacia Church (Betis Pampanga)

The most preserved church among the churches of Pampanga. Named as one of the heritage churches in the Philippines. Betis is a former town, now one of the baranggays of Guagua. Betis name was derived from a tree (betis tree) which was abundant then at the place. The outside appearance of the old church doesn't foretell what's inside. Paintings of renowned painter Simon Flores at the interiors, awes one who enters this old church. Rich in paintings from the walls cielings including the dome all were painted in good taste. The retablo mayor of which was formerly featured at a postcard. Betis also has the oldest artesian well at the front vicinity of the church. Recently the artesian well was restored to function the same way it functioned years ago. Betis home of the artists, famous makers of furnitures and ecclesiastical items.

The photos featured where from the collection of the bellow links, visit their site for more photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/takoy/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yayenz/

Pisamban X

Santa Catalina de Alexandria Church (Arayat Pampanga)

Dayat was the origin of the name of the town, a local dialect meaning farmlands. The church was that old, it was several times repainted and appeared new to all. The added portico (same as the other churches) has an Image of the titular patron. There seems to be a similarity to the retablos of this church to the original retablos of Santa Ana. This church has undergone several renovations, the latest was the stainglass windows and landscaping of the front lawn. During the town's fiesta the processional Images of all of each baranggays were displayed come and be posted at the side retablos (a tradition which up to present still in existence).

Pisamban IX

Santa Monica Church (Minalin Pampanga)

There are several accounts about the town's original name. Minalis was one, a local dialect meaning move to another place. Minalis has a basis when the original church was moved to it's present location. The other was "Minalinda delos Mujeres" meaning the place of beautiful ladies. There was quite a resemblance from this name to their quiant folklore. Every new year afternoon when most of the people resting from the new year's eve, the town feast whatthey call "Aguman Sanduc" (fellowship of the Laddle". Aguman Sanduc was over seventy years now and still surviving. The men of the town gather together in groups and fundly dress up to feminine, and parade themselves to the townproper at the townspeople's grace. The church was one of the finest from it's retablo like facade with two towers, to the interiors. The annex building was also a good one with an ancient mural painting on one of it's walls that up to now remains uninterpreted. At present one of the rooms of the annex building was used for their town museum. One of those few preserved retablo mayor was to be found inside, with several Agustinian saints on it's niches, including a basrelief of Santa Monica praying to Nuestra Senora dela Correa. The church patio is another unique one, havin four of it's corner fence with rare Capilla de posas (brick layered niche with saint images inside.

There was a recent discovery during the renovation of the church. The group visit of Kamaru found on the logs of the church trusses an ancient inscription. This item is one of those in display at the museum.

Pisamban VIII

San Luis Gonzaga Church (San Luis Pampanga)

Cabagsac was the former name of the town. Cabag is a local dialect for fruit bat. Inside this old church at the dome area several fruit bats were to be found. The reason why the church furnitures were covered with cloth after each mass to protect them from the dirt of cabag. There was a written account that Pinpin tried to claim the land as part of the town Santa Ana, but failed to. The church facade features a twin tower where the bells are. Only one of the bell tower has a bell at present. The Images at the foot of the towers were still in existence. Inside, the retablo mayor remains untouch, only repainted. Those Images who originally were at the four niches of the retablo were kept unharmed. The painting at the top of the retablo was a great rendition of God the Father.

Also visit the site of the owner of the featured photo at flickr follow this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexrcastro/

The cieling painting courtesy of Center for Kapampangan Studies

Pisamban VII

Nuestra Senora Divina Gracia Church (Mabalacat Pampanga)

I was in first year high school when I first and last saw the church. The event then was the First Federation of the Knights of the Blessed Sacrament and there we stayed 2 days and one night. I can still remember the Marian Image at the main altar which is relatively big in size and a different one. According to Mr Alex Castro's "View's from Pampang", The feast of the town was celebrated every February two, which is the Solemnity of Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. He states that probably the townspeople's decision for the titular patron's feast was a rainy season. Mabalacat had a folksy story 'bout the curst that the town will never progress due to the curst of the alleged assasined fray. When I was still in the process of researching for my thesis, a historian told me that most of the lnd occupied by CLARK is owned by the town. Mr. Alex Castro also had published an old photo of a military station at dau.

The above photo were from the collection of francis_of_xavier. It was the first time I noticed among these photos the inclusion of the parents of Virgin Mary. Also visit the flickr account of him at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8227673@N06/

Kampana

Santa Ana Church Bells

There are five still existing church bells of the old church. The central bell is the biggest, one of it's distinctive feature is the embossed San Andres curved at the bell. Old bells were dedicated to patron saints. Puzzling was that San Andres was not the patron saint of the town. This bell is hung from the bellfry cieling at the old wood trusses. Next to the central bell was the medium size, connecting the large one to the other small seen from the outside. This bell is no longer in used, sat flat at the floor. The other two bells were the smallest relatively same in size. The one connected to the central bell thru the medium size bell is seen from the church facade. Rope connects the small bell and the central as this rope ends at the lower floor for the so as to be rung. The other small bell was at the opposide side as the former. Both of the small bells cannot turn 360 degrees as they work originally. The other bell at the opposite side lies diagonally due to the deformation of the wood holding the bell attached to the bellfry. One bellhead was there, probably the rumored bell as they say was lost. There seems quite a relative evidence about the story. The other openings of the eight sided bellfry had an indication that there was formerly a bell existing. The rumor stays a slip of a tongue.

(First of series of post featuring Santa Ana Church)

Malealdo

These are the processional Images of Santa Ana Pampanga during Holy Week. Three Images aren't included file lost or corrupt, the following are the Images of San Juan, the Nazarene and the Sto. Entierro.

(Phot courtesy of Dianne Patawaran and Jonathan Musngi)