372. VEGA COLLECTION OF SANTOS, by Rosario M. Querol

 Originally published in The Weekly Nation, 29 May 1967, Art & Literature page

FULGENCIO "Fulgie" VEGA JR.

According to history, the first religious image found in the Philippines was that of the Santo Niño which was discovered on April 28, 1565 by Juan de Camus, a sailor in Miguel Lopez de Legazpi’s ship. Camus came upon it I one of the village homes; it was kept in a small pine box. This image is venerated as the Miraculous Santo Niño de Cebu, the 300^th anniversary of whose discovery coincided with the celebration of the 300^th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines in 1965.

Definitely of Chinese craftsmanship is the sleeping Niño. He is made of gleaming ivory, has a gold cap and matching sandals. Nine inches long, it lies in a miniature bed in the Vega bedroom. It was acquired in Cebu.

While the Santo Niño of Cebu is believed to be Dutch in origin, the other early santos found in the country must have been carved in Spain and in the Latin-American countries. As Christianity spread in the islands, local craftsmen—Chinese and Filipinos—wrought their own peculiar characteristics in their carvings.

A close-up of San Miguel Arcangel 

Most sought after is the St. Michael atop the devil. It is so rare that it commands a steep price. Some of the St. Michaels in the Vega Collection depict different interpretations of the saint.

Aside from the professional craftsmen’s santos, there were those crude primitive statues carved by amateurs for their own little altars at home. Hundreds of years later, these primitive santos proved to be more interesting to antique art collectors than the commercial ones.

Considered  rare items are images of the Holy Trinity, the carvings of which were finally prohibited by the Catholic Church in 1928. These were crude interpretations ; the one at left stands 13 inches; the bigger one is 20 inches. Both are from Panay island.

The development of the santos in the Philippines followed closely the path of the Christianization of the country. The Santo Niño of Cebu was the precursor of other images brought to the islands by other Spanish expeditionary groups and copied by local artisans. The island of Panay is believed to be where the design patterns originated.

Standouts in the Vega collection are this unknown santo (L) from Molo, Iloilo, best known as the Parian of the South; and a Juan Bautista ( R ). The unidentified santo is dressed in the Chinese style , featuring a Mandarin collar, traditional tunic and cap. San Juan Bautista has clothes designed with intricate lattice pattern and is painted green. Both images are 15 inches tall.

The santos may not be considered strictly as works of art, but their value lies in their being relic of Philippine cultural and religious heritage. One of the most avid colectors of santos is Fulgencio Vega Jr. of Bacolod City, who has a B.S. in Foreign Service and is completing his MA in English at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo. The Vega home is a veritable museum of antique santos. On this page are some of the rare santos in the Vega collection.

Rare images of God the Father and Son sitting in judgment, from the Negros Occidental area. Next to them is an intricately carved Virgin Mary with its front apronlike panel done in silver, its pedestal carved with angels’ heads—from Aklan. At left, Our Lady of Salvation wears a sleek hat.

371. SAN MIGUEL ARCANGEL of Angeles City, Pampanga

SAN MIGUEL of the Evangelista Family, Photo: "Pisamban Maragul" book.

This 110 year-old image of St. Michael Archangel was commissioned in 1910 for the family of the prominent businessman Roman Bernardo Evangelista of old Culiat. The santo is depicted bearing a sword and helmet on his head, in the act of battle with Satan who is fallen and tampled underneath by the heavenly warrior. The San Miguel was intended for the La Naval celebration of Angeles.

Don Roman  Evangelista with wife Dona Francisca Dizon Dela
Resma , and their 2 older sons: David and Marcos  Ca. 1899 

The Evangelistas, known for their pioneering telecom business in the city, also owned the Sta.  Misericordia, a Holy Week tableau.The San Miguel image was bequeathed to Francisco and Domingo Evangelista upon the death of Don Roman, and successively passed on to their descendants.

The city of Angels also is home to other antique angel santos: El Santo Angel Custodio (Holy Guardian Angel, 1830, with Holy Angel University), San Gabriel Arcangel ( Jose Sanchez Family, 1916), and San Rafael Arcangel (Mariano V. Henson Family,1915).

As most of the Evangelista descendants have moved abroad, the carro and the image of San Miguel are both under the custodianship of the family of the late Jess Panlilio.

SOURCES:

Dr. Raymundo Feliciano Albums

Additional infor: Josel Evangelista Suarez

Pisamban Maragul: The Living Chrch of Angeles City, Nina Tomen in collabration with Bishop Virgilio David. Angeles City 2014

370. THE 7 ARCHANGELS OF INDANG, CAVITE

In the Parish of Indang, Cavite (est. 1625)  dedicated to San Gregorio Magno (St. Gregory the Great), there not only flourishes a profound devotion to its great patron, but also to the 7 Archangels: Baraquiel, Gabriel, Judiel, Miguel, Rafael,  Sealtiel, and Uriel.

Town lore has it that a painting of the 7 angels was found rolled up in a trash heap behind the church. The unsigned Archangels painting was a local painted version of an 16^th century print made by Flemish engraver Hieronymus Wierix (1553’d. 1 Nov.1619) who did many religious prints.

The ancient painting, in a shadowbox frame,  was enshrined on one side of the altar, and it was in this manner that the people’s devotion came to include the 7 archangels.  Indang’s town fiesta, celebrated on the 2^nd Sunday of May and the following Tuesday, honors their joint patrons– the pope-saint, San Gregorio Magno, and the Seven Archangels. Their actual feast days are marked separately: Sep. 3 and Sep. 29, respectively.

Show here are the old statue carvings of the Seven Archangels which were meant to be used for processions.

SAN BARAQUIEL. Chief of the guardian angels,  a patron of family and married life. He is also invoked as the special guardian of those born on Saturday. Symbols: include a wreath of white roses or a book, representing marital and family guidance. Traditions associate him with  power over lightning and storms, as his name can also be interpreted as "lightning of God.

SAN GABRIEL. Messenger of God; known for delivering significant messages, such as the announcement to the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to Jesus. Patron saint: Gabriel is considered the patron saint of messengers, communication workers, and postal workers. Symbolic attributes include a white lily, representing purity, and a trumpet.

SAN JUDIEL. His name—from “Jehudiel”--means "Praise of God". Patron saint of all those in positions of responsibility and encourages those in their work. Often shown holding a crown (reward for spiritual labor) and a whip or a three-thonged whip (punishment for sinners).

SAN MIGUEL. Prominent warrior archangel, leader of God's armies, specially for his role in vanquishing Satan. Venerated as a champion of justice, a healer, and the guardian of the Church. Depicted with a sword, a banner, or scales, and sometimes shown stepping on a dragon.

SAN RAFAEL. His name means "God has healed," and he is invoked for divine healing. He served as a guide for Tobit, hence, also patron of  travelers and pilgrims. Often shown holding a staff or a fish, the latter symbolizing the healing powers he used from a fish's gall to cure Tobit's father's blindness.

SAN SEALTIEL. San Sealtiel. The angel of prayer and worship,  believed to help people with their prayers, guide them in worshiping God, and present their petitions to God. Often depicted holding a censer (thurible), with arms crossed in prayer.

SAN URIEL. San Uriel. The angel of wisdom, prophecy, truth, and light. His name means "God is my light" or "fire of God". Often depicted with a book or scroll and sometimes with a solar orb. In some traditions, he is the one who wields the fiery sword at the gate of Eden.

CREDITS:

All photos, Dr. Raymundo Feliciano Albums, 1994.

Phtoto of the 7 Archangels of Indang: wikimedia commons

369. VIVA! EL SERAFICO PADRE DOCTOR SAN BUENAVENTURA! A Restoration Story, by Mr. Francis Ong

SAN JUAN BUENAVENTURA of Mr. Francis Ong

Years in conception but merely months in the making, my own image of our town's Patron Saint is finally done.

Mauban is the only old town in the Philippines that was dedicated to San Buenaventura. Though the year when the Franciscans officially arrived in Mauban has not yet been established, Huerta notes that the town has already been in existence at least by 1583 but Fray Gaspar de San Agustin in his work 'Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas' mentions that after reaching Lucban in 1571, Juan de Salcedo traveled to the Port of Mauban in a place called Alitas where he found boats that took him to the gold mines of Paracale.

The earliest mention of Mauban and San Buenaventura together, I found in a letter from 1599 sent by the Ecclesiastical Council in Intramuros complaining about the Religious Orders' non-compliance with establishing parishes and that these Churches mentioned did not have the license to operate-- one of them is for San Buenaventura de Mauban.

The antique head and paragua (payong) came from one of those very rare occurrences when Alex Del Rosario Castro chose to part with one of his collections. 

His blog, andalltheangelsandsaints, has probably been one of the biggest influences with the way I view collecting -- as an adventure and a treasure hunt worth stories to tell. Was it a decade of random panliligaw that eventually ended with a 'YES' late last year?

It then underwent the careful encarna conservation by Elbert Mateo who did a very fine job in keeping true to the original. The hands came from Kevini-Tzi Hanunaneh, the body made by reliable Louie Frederic de Jesus. 

The metal accoutrements were made by Jass Monteroso of Kalayaan, Laguna -- the church atop the book is a faithful replica to the one carried by our Festejada image that could've been the image of Mauban's stone church and belfry that fell during the earthquake of 1880. His sandals (not visible in the photo) have also been copied from the pair wore by the Santo Patron.

His vestments were beautifully made by Makoy Basco Celestino of Linea and it was based on old photos of the wooden image enshrined in the Church (This image was said to have miraculously survived the destruction of the last Spanish era church in Mauban that was a casualty of a december typhoon that hit our town in 1947), the image on the fachada of the Church and the silhouette of the mozetta (shoulder cape) of the Festejada.

Much thanks to everyone that has been a part of the image, may San Buenaventura pray for you and your loved ones as well.

Maligayang Kapistahan San Buenaventura - Patron ng Bayan ng Mauban! Viva! Viva! Viva!

(Mr. FRANCIS ONG is a corporate executive and an ardent collector of santos and antiques, especially those originating from Mauban, where he traces its roots. Thank your for sharing your photos and santo restoration story.)

368. NTRA. SRA. DEL CARMEN of Brgy. Valdes, Floridablanca, Pampanga

Virgen del Carmen, in 1957 and the replica of the original today.

The story of the altar image, Ntra. Sra. Del Carmen, is inextricably linked with the founding of barrio Valdes, where the chapel in which the revered image is enshrined. Barangay Valdes was carved out from a portion of Floridablanca wildlands called “Masulput” (full of amorseco weeds) that was thought to be unproductive. The vast forested land was used as hunting grounds by outsiders.

The Valdes Family—who are of Cuban-Spanish and Filipino stock—were mainly responsible for clearing the land and turning it into viable agricultural estate known as Hacienda Valdes, possibly ca. 1840s-early 1850s.

It had live-in tenants who worked the sugar fields with their families. It gained a barrio status under its first head, Vicente Climaco S. Valdes, son of Capt. Basilio Bayot Valdes of the Spanish Navy and Manileña mestiza, Francisca Salvador, who managed the hacienda with help from his brother, Lubao-born Dr. Benito S. Valdes.

Original Virgen del Carmen, courtesy of Jcob Bacani

The new barrio of Valdes, one of the largest in Floridablanca,  was put under the patronage of Ntra. Sra. Del Carmen, to whom Vicente had a special devotion. It is said that he bought the image in Spain and installed it in a makeshift wooden visita, that would be modernized in the years to come.

The classically carved wooden image depicts Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, cradling Baby Jesus in one arm, and holding a scapular on the other hand. It is a mannequin figure of medium size,  dressed in richly-embroidered vestments in traditional Carmelite colors of yellow and brown.

Barrio Valdes became quite developed, drawing people to buy property in the area, which were converted into sugarfields, that proved profitable in the world market.

In time, more houses and buildings were built, and the population grew that warranted the creation of a new barrio, Del Carmen, as a tribute to the patroness of the Valdes pioneers. It was formed with the condition that no chapel must be built there, in deference to Barrio Valdes, which already has one.

American businessmen who saw a promising future for the burgeoning sugar industry put up a sugar central within the area called PASUMIL Del Carmen, not knowing it was technically in barrio Valdes. So as not to confuse its clients with regards to its exact address, the location of the mill was referred to as Del Carmen-Valdes.

Vicente’s nephew, Gen. Basilio J. Pica Valdes, the son of his patriot brother, Dr. Benito with first wife Filomena Pica, took over the reins of the Hacienda. He was a national figure as he was Pres. Quezon’s Chief of Staff and defense secretary.

Source: Replica Image, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel FB Page

The care of the image of the Ntra. Sra. del Carmen was assigned to the Valdes-Rodriguez descendants. Findly called “Apung Calmen”, the age-old image of the Virgen del Carmen is kept by the Rodriguezes, while a well-made replica reposes in the chapel, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Chapel, enshrined in a baldachin.  The patron’s feast day, observed every July 16, is marked with big fiesta celebrations in the barangay. The “pyestang barrio” on the other hand, used to be celebrated every May 18-19.

SOURCES:

Valdes Barrio Fiesta Souvenir Program, May18-19, 1957

Photos: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel FB Page, Media & Social Communications, Jcob Bacani

Basilio Pica Valdes, geni.com

Floridablanca, Historical Data Papers

“Fortune Helps the Brave: Gen, Basilio J. Valdes”, viewsfromthepampang.blogspot.com

367. LA PURISIMA CONCEPCION de TABUÑGAO of Minalin

In the oldest barrio of Minalin, Pampanga, known today as Sta. Maria, one can find the revered and ancient image of La Purisima Concepcion de Tabuñgao, whose origin is wrought in a miraculous legend still told in this Kapampangan town. The barrio’s old name –“Tabuñgao”—refers to the 1609 discovery of the image, where people found floundering on the flooded river, a large, dried gourd (upo), or “tabuñgao/tabungo”.

The local folks fished out the floating gourd from the river which was near the ‘visita’ (chapel) they were building, and to their utter surprise—the tabuñgao, when opened, yielded an image of the Blessed Virgin.

Carved of wood, the small image depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary standing on a globe base with a snake coiled at her feet. She has a steady gaze, with the palms of her hands together in an act of prayer. Devotion spread from Tabuñgao, as the pueblo was established with the expansion of its frontiers.

Today, the present barangay known as Sta. Maria still has the visita or chapel that has been named after her. In the central niche of the altar, La Purisima Concepcion reposes, standing watch over Her people whom she has showered with an abundance of blessings.

In gratitude, the community have embraced her with love and lavish attention. Her designated camareros are the Intal Family and Nevil Pineda, a longtime devotee in charge of her vestments. 

In 2008, the “La Purisima Concepcion Festival” was organized to honor her on her feast day, Dec. 8. Replica images (festejada) of La Purisima have also been made for other devotional events including Marian processions, novenas and rosary crusades. She has also been gifted with rich vestments made by Borda de Oro, under the auspices of benefactor PJ Nepomuceno (+). 

Indeed, today, there is only one Queen who reigns in the hearts of Minaleños—La Purisima Concepcion de Tabuñgao.

 SOURCES:

Sta. Maria Archive Minalin (Nomer Pangilinan) FB page: https://www.facebook.com/stamariaarchive.minalin

Visitas ning Sta. Maria FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/visitasning.stamaria

La Purisima de Tabungao FBPage: https://www.facebook.com/lapurisima.concepcion.de.tabungao

Minalin Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minalin

Many thanks to Romel Zapata Tubig Jr, Tourism Officer of Mianlin, for the additional info.