354. CRISTONG MACAGAPUS: Passing on the Tradition from Generation to Generation, by Guest Writer, Allen Luis Galang Dizon Jr.

APUNG MACAGAPUS, 1855, Holy Wednesday 2023

The heirloom image of Apung Macagapus (Scourging at the Pillar) is among the very first Holy Week processional images of the town of Sta. Ana, Pampanga.

THE ANCESTRAL STA. ANA  HOUSE

This 19th century holy image was owned by Maria Dolores Pangan. She passed down Apung Macagapus to her niece Angela Pangan, who eventually married Domingo P. Dizon. His family owned the statue of Sta. Ana, making them the first camareros of the original processional image of the town’s patron saint.

Domingo and Angela had two children, Dr Antonio and Dr. Nilo. Due to old age, Angelina passed on Apung Macagapus to her son Dr. Nilo Pangan Dizon and daughter- in- law Amelia "Lily" Tiosejo Dizon. Although Dr. Antonio is the eldest, he and his wife Corazon and family lived mostly in the United States and Manila. Angela died at the age of 91.

DRESSING UP THE CRISTO

THEN, AS NOW, Dressing up the santo is a family affair.

When the Dizons decided to transfer to Manila, the holy image was entrusted to Grace Dizon Medina, niece of Domingo and first cousin of Dr. Antonio and Dr. Nilo. Grace is also the daughter of the ex-mayor of Santa. Ana, Pampanga - Hon. Roque Dizon Sr.

Domingo & Angela considered Grace as their real daughter since they only have two sons (Dr. Tony & Dr. Nilo) and were not able to have a daughter of their own. Apung Macagapus stayed with the Medina family for more than a decade.

ANTIQUE LOINCLOTH AND RIBBON

In 2002, Allen T. Dizon (son of Dr. Nilo & Lily Dizon) together with his wife Dra. Mayette G. Dizon and their kids decided to stay for good in Sta. Ana. So, on April, 2009 the holy image went back to the care of the Dizons.

 When Allen died in 2010 and Dr. Nilo in 2015, the family heirloom image and the pious tradition of the Dizons were passed down to the 5th generation of the family, the grandchildren of Dr. Nilo most specially Marvin, Jayr and Keith (Allen & Mayette’s children).

KEEPING A FAMILY TRADITION ALIVE

The tradition of the family still continues to this day, made possible through the love and profound dedication of the family and the many devotees of Apung Macagapus. From the time of Maria Dolores, the succeeding generations have vowed and continually kept the tradition alive and strong.

MANY THANKS TO MR. ALLEN LUIS DIZON GALANG JR., for the use of his article here.

 SOURCES/ REFERENCES: Dr. Antonio “Tony” P. Dizon (+), Edited By: Gertrudes "Ditas" Dizon

From the Photo Archives of Dr. Nilo P. Dizon (+), Photo Taken: March 26, 1986 at San Joaquin Santa. Santa Ana Pampanga

 

351. On Exhibit: CRISTO A LA COLUMNA (Scourging at the Pillar)

This small, but incredible piece of religious folk art, came by  way of an antique dealer from Bulacan, who kept popping in at odd days in my Makati office, bearing all kinds of “antique finds”.

 One time,  without any advance warning, he went to show me an antique processional santo—in my office building, of all places. He wanted to go up my 23^rd flr. Office, but I told him to wait at the Starbucks Café on the groundfloor. 

Simple carving characterized this Cristo

When I went down to meet him, he was casually seated outdoor, with a coffee at hand---and an almost lifesize statue of a bare Sta. Magdalena on his side. He was oblivious to the stares of people around him, so I asked him to put the image back into his van!

Silver potencias shaped like sun's rays

So the next time he called to say that he had an antique to show again, I told him to quit it! But he kept on waxing praises about how rare it was—Scourging at the Pillar carving—with silver  tapiz and potencias incised with ysot design, human hair wig, folksy carving that fits my taste—--which began to intrigued me. This time, I asked him to meet me at my Makati place, where our wheeling and dealing would be more discreet. 

The figure is painted in ashen white

When he did show me the piece, I was stunned at the powerful simplicity of the small carving, barely 32 inches tall, painted ashen white. 

This Cristo has an expressionless gaze

The face of Christ itself bore no trace of agony nor tension, what with his big, downcast but staring eyes and expressionless lips. He actually has carved short hair, but was meant to wear a human hair wig over it. He has large protuding ears, carved without much details.

Note the child-like fingers

In contrast to the plain-ness of the carving which is characterized by it folk art quality, its silver metal accessories are outstanding. The 3 potencias mimic the rays of the sun, very similar to the sun’s rays on the Philippine flag. They are decorated in ysot (etched) style.

 The silver tapiz, on the other hand, is made of hammered metal, decorated with trefoil flowers and leaves on a vine. The edges are serrated. A separate silver  bow with long tails  keeps the tapiz in place. It is also decorated in repousse technique.

Trefoil foliage on the pukpok tapiz

The antique Cristo a la Columna came in its own glass case over a newer wooden base of narra, that probably dates from the 50s.

Imagine, I had meant to dismiss this dealer because of his obstructive ways, and if I had done that today, I would have missed this fabulous piece of ancient Philippine sacred art. Smitten with this rare find, I lost no time in haggling with the dealer about its price, and we arrive successfully and painlessly with the final price tag. 

Since then, I have been offered much more by other antique dealers who recognize the quality of this Cristo at the pillar. I have no plans of letting it go. The only time this Cristo gets  out of my sight is when he is borrowed for a traditional Lenten Exhibit of the Carmelite brothers every March. At least, he gets to be seen and enjoyed by santo aficionados who truly appreciate the antiquity and naïve beauty of ancient Philippine santo art. 

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(This article is dedicated in memory of Bro. Anthony “Onie” Domingo (+), Carmelite brother, and curator at Carmelite Brown Scapular, who first chose this piece from my collection for his Lenten exhibit called Misericordes Sicut Pater in 2016. For the next 4 years, the Lenten Exhibit was held annually  at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Broadway, New Manila, Quezon City, until Bro. Onie’s untimely demise in August 2020. He is lovingly missed.) 

SOURCES:

All photos from Buenviaje PH, FB page

Anthony Doming FB page

235. CARU-CARUHAN DE BINANGONAN: Santos in Miniature

MINIATURE TERCERA CAIDA (third fall of Christ). 

In Binanongan, Rizal, miniature statues of saints take center stage instead of the usual life size ones. This recalls the religious tradition in Colombia, where children process their own child-size santos.

AGONY IN THE GARDEN (Nanlumo)

This relatively-new Binanongan tradition is called "caru-caruhan" (play carrozas), and it is held during the Lenten season. It began sometime in the 1980s, when children began imitating the Holy Week tradition of bringing out images for the annual Lenten ritual.

JESUS AND STA, VERONICA

Along Regidor St., the children would parade their homemade santos made of sticks, cloth and other available materials. Over the years, the image became more sophisticated, well-made and life-like,

SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR

The wooden tabletop  images are small, no more than 20 inches tall, and are outfitted and arrayed in embroidered vestments and metalworks. There are single representations of Lenten characters as well as tableaus.

JESUS  MEETS HER MOTHER MARY

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The little santos have their own mini "andas" on which they are borne during the procession. The event is highly organized, and there is even a cofradia dedicated to propagating the devotion and practice in the hope of instilling religiosity among the youths.

ECCE HOMO

The group plans the program, including the Wednesday procession that culminates in the gathering of the santos depicting scenes from the passion of Christ in an exhibit hosted by the St. Ursula Church.

CHRIST RECEIVING HIS CROSS

This unusual tradition lives on in Binanongan where it is also known as the Caro-carohan de Regidor to honor its place of origin.

STA, VERONICA

It has become a popular tradition, regularly covered by the media, and visited by local tourists and devotees, who delight in watching the miniature santos as well as the spirited display of devotion of Binangonan youths.

STA. POTINA

Featured here are representative images from the 2008 procession, taken by Holy Week photo documentarian Dr.Raymund Feliciano.

STA. SALOME

62. HEIRLOOM SANTOS FROM ZAMBOANGA

Featured on this page are heirloom images of prominent families from the city of Zamboanga, many of which are still being processioned during the annual Semana Santa rites, following age-old colonial traditions.

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(PHOTO CREDITS: All photos from "ZAMBOANGA HERMOSA: Memories of the Old Town" by Antonio E. Orendain II ed., Manila: Vera Reyes, 1984. Edited for this blog)