AHP Invades TARLAC

 AHP was at it again when we "invaded" Tarlac to do a heritage tour of the proviince. Our first stop was at the San Sebastian Church where we admired the composite architecture which was built in 1686. It was converted into a stone church in 1872.. This was where the national assembly was reconvened after the capital was transferred to Tarlac in 1899. It was here where Apolinario Mabiini was appointed as chief magistrate of the Supreme Court of the Philippines on the 23rd of August 1899. This was where Leon Ma. Guerrero also opened the Literary University of the {hilippines on 8 August, 1899. The curch was renovated in 1959 and was declared a cathedral on 6 February, 1963. 

Next stop was the Diwa ng Tarlak museum featuring a historical diorama of the founding of Tarlac and it's role in the various upheavals in history up to the present. Renovation on the structure was made possible by Gov. Susan Yap with support from the vice governor and the city council and funding from Amb. Eduardo Cojuangco. The current exhibits feature a photo exhibit on the Abelen aetas process of creating bows and arrows for hunting. Across this section is a photo exhibit on endemic birds of Tarlac. On the ground floor is a permanent exhibit of artifacts granted to the museum by Nayong Pilipino which features textiles, indigenous clothing, accessories and funerary artifacts. We visited a souvenir shop that had everything but the kitchen sink. I didn't purchase anything since i didn't want o lug stuff home to add to my already busting house. 

We then motored to the ancestral home of the Aquino's in Concepcion, Tarlac. The expansive grounds and magnificent ancestral home is now a museum. It features the home created by Don Benigno and Doña Aurora Aquino for their brood of five. The home was designed and created by a certain Toti Ramos from Biñan, Laguna and skilled local craftsmen from Tarlac. It was directly supervised by the Don himself. The home is impressive with the use of red narra from it's wooden panels to it's coromandel screens and solihiya beds and mariposa sofas. The home is simple but exudes an old-world charm. 

After lunch of tinola, chopsuey, bangus with tausi and a meat dish at Ves Resort. The next stop was at Capas War Memorial. A short historical brief was given and short prayer to honor the 30,000 Filipinos and 11,000 American soldiers who died during the Death March. We saw an actual caboose where 160 men were packed for a 60 pax capacity and then a tree planting to honor each and every soul that was quashed during the Japanese Occupation. 

Finally, we visited the Bamban WWII Museum. We were feted with a prayer from the local Aeta community and a short entertaining program. And the ribbon cutting ceremony to re-open the museum by curator, historian and WWII artifacts collector Rhonie dela Cruz. It is interesting to note that Aetas fought alongside Americans in our fight for liberation without hesitation or fear. Also interesting is a black and white photo of a female, Benita Perez who contributed to the war effort as a guerilla fighter. 

Our thanks also go to Tourism Officer of Capas Maita Claire on FB and Shrine curator Darwin Campo for a heart-rending explanation of the raison d'etre of the Capas Shrine. Credits also to Tourism staff Michael Paolo Avila for guiding us through different locations in our quest for knowledge and understanding our history and heritage. Job well done!

Hala Bira!!! 2012

Exactly a week after the Traslacion of the Black Nazarene, we have another religious celebration that is unique in  the Catholic calendar... the feast of the Sto. Nino!

This comes as a sort of redundant celebration since two weeks ago, the Philippines just ended the longest Christmas celebration the world over. Epiphany is celebrated on the 6th of January in Spain, while here, we hold the feast on the first Sunday of January. In the west, gift-giving is not during Christmas day but on the feast of the Three Kings. This is in recollection of the Magi who gifted the Holy Child with gold, frankincense and myrrh.

So after Christmas, we honor the Black Nazarene (every 9th of January), then we have the feast honoring the Sto. Nino. No, no, no! It's not Christmas all over again... Unlike Christmas, we do not honor the birth of Christ. What we honor is the historical act when the first Spanish explorers arrived in our shores and gifted Rajah Humabon's wife an image of the Holy Infant Jesus. The chief's wife was supposedly so taken by the beauty and vulnerability of the image, she allowed herself to be converted into Catholicism.

Since then, she took on the name Dona Juana. She also convinced the local folk to be converted as well. Thus started the long tradition of venerating the Christ child in Cebu. From there, the practice took on a life of its own. The veneration of the Holy Infant Jesus caught on in other areas like Aklan, Tondo and Pandacan. This is the reason why Pinoys paint their faces with soot and don loincloths and huge headdresses... drink themselves silly... and scream "Pit Senyor!" (Cebu) or "Hala Bira!" (Manila)  and "Viva, Senyor!!! (Aklan).  It's a re-enactment of their mass conversion, no less!

Those who can afford it fly off to Cebu and Aklan... I was stuck here (does that tell you something?) so I went to Tondo. Of course, I heard Mass in Quiapo first then after a zesty brunch in New Toho Restaurant in Dasmarinas Street. Mother June REcto and I then proceeded to Divisoria where we walked to the Basilica in Tondo. Incidentally, on our way back from Church, we passed the Plaza La Liga Filipina which has a monument to commemorate the loose aggrupation of Filipino learned elite who were fighting for representation in the Spanish Cortez.

It was packed with people! Men, women and children were in and outside of the church brandishing all sorts of Nino images of all sizes and accoutrements. Some priests find it offensive to dress the Child Jesus in less than royal clothing. Some do get out of hand, really and I see their point. Who wants to venerate a Sto. Nino de Karaoke? Anyone? and what petition do they ask for? To win a karaoke sing-along contest? Ridiculous!!!

Nonetheless, the church was packed with devotees... The interiors of the church were refurbished with flat-screen monitors. More for the congregation to actively take part in the Mass. As we stepped out, the congregation with images had them blessed with Holy Water from lay ministers who were randomly sprinkling it at the brandished images.... 

By the time we got back to June's house, it was already two o'clock p.m.