252. THE SANTO COLLECTION OF DOM MARTIN OSB

SANTO BAMBINO OF ARACOELI,

Edgardo Ramon Gomez comes from the prominent Hizon Family of San Fernando, Pampanga who made a name for himself in the Philippine fashion world as "Gang Gomez". The New York-trained Gomez was known for his classic, hand embroidered creations that made him the toast of high society misses and matrons.

No wonder, he was acclaimed as one of the country's top young designers in the 70s,  along with Inno Sotto, Ernest Santiago and Auggie Cordero. But at the peak of his career, Gomez surprised everyone when he closed his Manila atelier to join the Monastery of the Transfiguration in faraway Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Today, as Dom Martin de Jesus Gomez, OSB, he remains true to his calling as a monk--teaching classes, helping run the affairs of the school. he has also channeled his designing talents to creating vestments using indigenous materials. His religious calling has also prompted him to look again at his sacred art collections, precious reminders of his unwavering relationship with God, now kept at the family's ancestral home in Pampanga.

NINO DE LA NAVIDAD in a basket.

AGNUS DEI on top of a book, perhaps from St. John.

THE HOLY CROSS, used in Good Friday processions.

MATER DOLOROSA, antique ivory in virina.

HOLY CHILD JESUS, carved wood.

CRUCIFIED CHRIST.

SAINT JOSEPH WITH CHILD JESUS, in virina.

THE VIRGIN, STANDING ON A HORNED BASE.

OUR LADY, IN A PRIVATE ORATORY.

IVORY ANGEL, with silver wings

251. A Shared History: APO LAKAY of SINAIT and VIRGEN MILAGROSA of BADOC

Two of the most important religious images from Ilocoslandia are the Virgen Milagrosa of Badoc and the miraculous Apo Lakay, the black crucified Christ of Sinait, two of the oldest towns of Ilocos Region. Their stories are intertwined, in that they arrived in the Philippines together in a box, on the 3rd of May in 1620—coinciding with the date of finding of the True Cross by Empress Helena.

It is believed that they came from Nagasaki, Japan where missionaries brought images for evangelization purposes. It is supposed to have been found on Ilocos shores at about the same time that a persecution was being waged against the Christian in Japan.

 Like the biblical story of Moses, the boxes containing the images was found adrift in the sea by fisherfolks in Dadalaquiten, Sinait. An argument ensued between the Sinait and Badoc fishermen who found the boxes, but they matter was soon settled peacefully:  The Virgen Milagrosa was sent to Badoc, but the crucified black Christ was too heavy to be transported so it remained in Sinait.

The cross is about three meters long and two meters wide, and the Christ is about the size of an average Filipino. It is enthroned in the sanctuary of the church which has become one of the most popular pilgrim sites of Ilocoslandia. The crucifix is credited with stopping the 1656 epidemic in the Ilocos and for helping repel the attacks of Moro pirates.

 Apo Lakay also attracts devotees looking for healing, from all parts of the country, most especially during theHoly Week and during Apo Lakay’s feast day, May 3.

On the other hand, the image of the Blessed Virgin is revered in Badoc for her countless miracles that she had been heaping on her people. Proclaimed as La Virgen Milagrosa during the 1980 Eucharistic Celebration on 20, May 1980, she is considered the Patroness of Ilocos Norte. That same year, she was canonically crowned in December.

Photos: Dr. Raymund Feliciano

250. 50 Years After: VIRGEN DE LOURDES of BARRIO TALANG, CANDABA

VIRGEN DE LOURDES, patroness of Brgy. Talang, Candaba,
as she appear today, and in 1966.

In 1966, the barrio of Talang, in Candaba, Pampanga was featured on the December 25 issue of Sunday Times Magazine, then the country’s most popular weekend magazine, in an article entitled “Christmas in Huklandia”.

THE OLD VISITA OR CHAPEL, in 1966.

 Back then, Talang was a remote and impoverished barrio of Candaba, where Huk dissidence marred the quest for peace and progress of this rural place. But though mired in poverty, the faith of the barrio people remained unshaken. All because of their devotion to their patroness that they kept in a ramshackle “visita” or chapel that stood in the middle of the small clearing: Virgen de Lourdes or Our Lady of Lourdes.

VIRGEN DE LOURDES and Lourdesenian Youth Group.

 The Virgen de Lourdes in 1966 was described thus, by the writer of the article: “It is not a well-sculptured, richly-garbed, bejeweled icon that lords it over the rough-hewn archaic facsimile of an altar here. Instead, the four-foot image of our Lady of Lourdes, seemingly embarassed by the provincial touches of imitation,gaudy adornment, hides within the principal niche above the altar. There are no tall candles on gleaming candlesticks, to light up her sad-eyed, benign features with, and the flowers,still to be picked from some garden plot by her devotees, are conspicuous by their absence on the two-tiered facade flanking her post.” 

The people of Talang have their own pressing needs, but during the Christmas season, they put priority to the needs of their patroness first. In the days leading to Christmas day, the barrio folks unite to go on fund-raising initiatives; for 1966, the objective was to raise money for the Virgen’s carroza. 

DANCING FOR ALMS, Talang barrio folks go from town
to town, to raise funds by dancing.

 The Lourdesenian youth groups would organize themselves into carolers and venture out of their barrio, carrying the image of the Virgen with them as they sing for alms. Adults, on the other hand, become itinerant dancers, going from town to town to dance for alms for their church’s patron. For them all, the days are rich in love and goodness and goodwill, even as violence rage menacingly along the periphery of their private lives.

THE CHAPEL, then and now.

There is a happy postscript to the story of the Lourdes Virgin and the barangay Talang, after fifty long years.

VIRGEN DE LOURDES CHAPEL INTERIOR.

The once-decrepit wooden visita is now a modern concrete structure—now known as Virgen de Lourdes Parish Chapel-- with a floor area, many times bigger than the old chapel, carved pews and stained glass windows. It was established in 1983 through the efforts of Fr. Nolasco Fernandez.

VIRGEN DE LOURDES, in the chapel that was built
in 1983. Photo: Dr. Raymund Feliciano.

Bright and well-lit, it features main retablo and lateral altars, the right side of which houses the original Lourdes image, the same revered icon that was featured in a magazine over five decades ago.

VIRGEN DE LOURDES, Photo: Dr. Raymund
Feliciano

Virgen de Lourdes even sports a new globe base, and a kneeling figure of the visionary St. Bernadette has also been added.

 As for Barrio Talang, it has indeed, moved forward. Thankfully, the Huk unrest that plagued Candaba and the barrio in the 60s has abated. Today, the barangay has its own own barangay hall, elementary and high schools and is dotted with many leisure farms that attract visitors from Pampanga and beyond, especially during their February fiesta days (Feb. 10-11).

OUR LADY OF LOURDES, pray for us.

 Resident devotees will always attribute their changing fortunes to the workings of Virgen de Lourdes; but undeniably, it is also the people’s resilience and unwavering faith in a time of hate and discord that has served them well, as the once-lowly barrio continues its strive for lasting peace and enduring progress.

 SOURCE: “Christmas in Huklandia”, Sunday Times Magazine, by Gloria Garchitorena Goloy, Photographed by Dominador Suba, 25 December 1966

PHOTO CREDITS: 
Virgen de Lourdes: Taken by Dr. Raymund Feliciano
Virgen de Lourdes Parish / https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Virgen_de_Lourdes_Parish_Church_(Talang,_Candaba,_Pampanga)

249. The Seraphic Doctor: SAN BUENAVENTURA of Mauban, Quezon

SAINT OF GOOD FORTUNE. San Buenaventura

These photos were sent to me by a santo aficionado who chanced upon a group of devotees preparing this antique ivory santo for procession in a church and in a place that he could not even recall. He hastily snapped these pictures then only remembered being told that the santo’s name was San Buenaventura, a saint that is rarely heard of or even seen in the Philippines. It turned out that the place was in Mauban, Quezon, with San Buenaventura as the town's patron saint. 

San Buenaventura (St. Bonaventure), born in Tuscany in 1221, was a Franciscan cardinal, theologian and Doctor of the Church. He got his name when, as a sickly boy, he was cured of his illness through the prayers  of St. Francis of Assisi, who exclaimed “O Buona Ventura!” (Oh, good fortune!) upon seeing him recover.

Inspired by St. Francis, he became a Franciscan at age 22 and taught theology. He became a Minister General of the order in 1257 and in the course of his life, he was known for his spiritual writings that earned him the name “the Seraphic Doctor”.  He received the degree of Doctor, together with his friend St. Thomas Aquinas, in Paris.

Named as Cardinal by Pope Gregory X one year before his death, he was also appointed as Bishop of Albano.  He died while he was assisting at the Second Council of Lyons, on 15 July 1274.

ICONOGRAPHY:

 St. Bonaventure is often depicted in statues and drawings wearing a Cardinal's hat and the bishop's crosier (shepherd's staff), a miter, and sometimes a crucifix. In some, he wears a mezclado—his cardinal’s red pellegrina worn over his Franciscan habit. His other attributes include the Church, in reference to his being a Doctor, and a quill—for his writings. His feast day is July 15th.

The image is currently enshrined at the Parish of San Buenaventura in Mauban, Quezon. A similar church dedicated to San Buenaventura is located in Balangkayan, Eastern Samar. If any of you, dear readers, know more information about this particular San Buenaventura, please send me a message through this blog.

PICTURES COURTESY OF MR. BONIE MERCADO.