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

212. ANGELS OF LIGHT

ANGELS OF LIGHT, MY GUARDIANS DEAR. Two midcentury angels holding pole lamps, now restored. ca. mid-50s, early 60s.

 Another great find from the antique strip near the Sta. Rita NLEX exit is this pair of small wooden angels, offered by a Japan-surplus shop owner. On occasions, vintage and antique religious pieces would surface in his store, and these—along with several santos acquired from a Manila family---and these light-bearing angels were part of his loot, now up for sale.

 The early bird catches the worm—so they say—and I proved that when I arrived first at his shop when he called to tell me of his just-arrived inventory of santos; I had the first and best picks of the day, and I went home with a hoard of stuff—including these circa 1950s angels.

 Though not really old, and scruffy, the 16" carved angels show a lot of potential. For one, it’s hard to find a pair—most are sold separately. The angels are naked, saved for a draping of cloth to cover them, and painted with regular house paint.

 The wings, saved for one, has broken off, and the squarish bases have lost some of their moldings. The necks and hands are threatening to fall off. All other parts remained intact, including the glass eyes.

 This pair may have been used in home altars, perhaps a chapel—the pole lamps that they hold are electrified, and there are no holes to indicate they were ever put on carrozas.

 The pole lamps were customized from regular metal tubes and small thistle-shaped, frosted virinas. Unfortunately, one glass virina has broken, the broken parts badly glued back together
.

 In this state of disrepair, the angels went straight to my santero, who recommended a full restoration—which included reglueing and securing broken wooden parts, repainting, outfitting of new wings and replacing missing pieces.

 It took less than a month to finish the project. When the angels were returned to me, they sported a new, rosy pink complexion, and looked fresh as the day they were made.

 The only minor kink was that, I could not put back the lamp poles through their grasping hands, as in the process of stabilizing and restoring them, they have been slightly repositioned and no longer aligned. A thinner pole would be needed—and that would be a future project for these angels…my new Angels of Light!