366. Found Identities: THE CHAPEL SANTOS OF UBIHAN

Old photos of 3 Santos on their andas, 1922.

Stashed among my collection of religious photos are these 2 snapshots taken over a hundred years ago in 1922. On the back were short lines written by a Mother to his Son, David, updating him of the goings-on of some religious events happening in their place, which unfortunately, was not named. For over a decade, I have not been successful in identifying where these santos came from, as the real photo postcards have no postmarks.

The first photo shows a trio of images: St. Joseph with the Child Jesus, a Crucified Christ, and an Immaculate Conception, on top of individual andas (shoulder-borne platforms). The mother writes:

David:

Ang Retrato ng Señor ay hindi nakunan sa prosesion pagkat nĝ dumating ang kukuha ay tapos na ang prosesion, bukod sa rito, ng tang(g)apin ni Jacin ang sulat mo ay sa 11 nĝ Enero sa kaniang kasera. Yto na lamang at kahi(t) ma na wari pagpalain ka ng P. (oong) D. (iyos) at nĝ mahal na Virgen.   Ang iyong Yna

 (David, The picture of the Lord was not taken during the procession because by the time photographer came, the procession had already ended. Also Jacin received your letter on Januray 11 from his landlady.  This is all for now, and may you be blessed by the Lord God and our beloved Virgin.---Your Mother).

The second photo shows a picture of the Crucified Christ nailed on his Cross, outfitted with an opulent metal burst and paper flowers. The back has this handwritten notation:

David:

Pinagpilitan na ming pakuhanan ng retrato ang poon sapagkat bagong lubog na lahat ang kaniang kasangkapan na iyong makikita rito; sa pecha 27 ng Deciembre ng 1922.   Ang iyong Yna.

(David: We made an effort to have the picture of the Lord taken because all His metal  accessories that you see here have been newly re-plated; on this date 27 December 1922.)

Just last month, Robby de la Vega, a friend from Intramuros Administration, alerted me about the photos, informing me that they are those of the still-extant chapel santos of brgy. Ubihan of Meycauayan, Bulacan. The key was the date written by the mother—December 27---which is the date of the fiesta of the barangay patron—Sto. Cristo.

Checking online, I found the FB page of the “Sto Cristo de Ubihan”, which has posted pictures of the Crucified Christ in my old photo—and indeed, they are one and the same image. There were also fiesta photos of their images of  San Jose con Niño Jesus, and the Inmaculada Concepcion on new carrozas, as the andas in the old photos are long gone.

I also learned the Ubihan was one of the most remote barrios of Meycauayan which thrived on fishing and aquaculture as it was surrounded by rivers and fishponds. It was so named because ube plants used to be planted in abundance in the barrio. In 1882, Ubihan was plagued by cholera that decimated the population. So distant was the barrio, that revolucionarios used Ubihan as their hiding place. As such, it was constantly raided by Spaniards. The Americans burned the barrio in 1900 at the onset  of the Philippine -American War and once gain razed by the Japanese in the last world war.

Inspite of all these tragic calamities, both natural and man-made, Ubihan survived, and continues to thrive--certainly protected by their 3 Patrons who, after over a century are still very much around, cared for and revered by  the local faithful in gratitude for the blessings received and the salvation of their humble barangay in the most trying years of its existence. 

CREDITS:

MANY THANKS to Mr. Robby dela Vega of the Intramuros Administration

Photos from the "Sto. Cristo de Ubihan" FB Page

City Government of Meycauayan website:https://meycauayan.gov.ph/ubihan/

293. BARRIO SALUYSOY’S SANTO CRISTO AND SAN PEDRO: Then & Now

THE TWO SACRED IMAGES OF SALUYSOY, MEYCAUAYAN

In the ancient barrio of Saluysoy, in Meycauayan, Bulacan, there kept in the visita of the barangay, two old images revered since one can remember: the image of Santo Cristo (Crucified Christ) and San Pedro (Saint Peter).

Saluysoy, located adjacent to the heart of the town, takes its name from a slow-flowing gurgling brook which cut northwards at the eastern side of the original location of the barrio. “Saluysoy” means the sound of a brook’s steady water flow.  But when the water dried out, residents relocated to the west of the barrio where  a faster-flowing river was found. People dug up wells to ensure that they do not run of water anymore in their new place, which retained the name “Saluysoy”. The former abandoned site was named “Palanas”.

VISITA OF SALUYSOY

The barrio played a small, but significant part in the second world war. In 1941, when the Japanese Army broke through the USAFFE lines en route to conquering Manila, the barrio folks put on a gallant resistance that delayed the march of the invaders to the capital city by 11 days.

In the 1950s, it was said that indolence was unknown to the hard-working people of Saluysoy. Though small in size, the barangay thrived on many industries—shoemaking, wood carving, blacksmithing, goldsmithing, farming, fishing, and making of religious images.

It would seem that the two processional images were carved locally for the chapel, as the people were also known for being devout and religious. The chapel itself was rebuilt after the war, and at one time was considered to be the most beautiful in the whole province of Bulacan. It was fully funded through the efforts of “Samahang San Pedro”, a leading religious organization.

Today, Saluysoy is one of the more prosperous barangays of the city of Meycauayan, its prosperity driven by its jewelcraft and goldsmithing industries. Every year, the images of the barrio patrons—Santo Cristo and San Pedro—are brought out for processions during the May 4 barangay fiesta. San Pedro’s feast day is also observed separately by Saluysoy folks every June 29.

CREDITS:
Many thanks to Mr. Robby de la Vega for the photos and for the background on brgy. Saluysoy from the Historical Data Papers of Meycauayan