The visionary and wonder worker San Nicolas de Tolentino
(b. c. 1246/d. 10 Sep. 1305, canonized in 1446) played such an important part
in the religious history of the Philippines.
The mission province of the Augustinian congregation was created in
Madrid in November 1621. When the last
wave of missionaries arrived in the country in 1606—the Augustinian Recollects ---they
also named their “provincia” after the good saint. The ‘Recoletos’ ministered
in the uncharted regions of Zambales and Upper Pampanga
SAN NICOLAS 1. Height: 18"
Originally thought to be a San Antonio, this heft santo wears the trademark Augustinian cincture, which certainly identifies it as San Nicolas. The well-carved santo sits on an 8-sided ochovado base with traces of floral painting on the front panel. races of gilding on the hems and edges of the santo's habit.
For some two hundred years, the Philippines was a primary
“misión viva” of the province, which made possible the opening of seminaries in
the country. By the nineteenth century, the Recollects gained greater
socio-religious significance in the country, and the conversion and
evangelization of Negros was the zenith of their achievements.
It is no wonder that so many San Nicolas images were made
in the country, thousands carved by untrained Filipino artisans, to be enshrined
on humble home altars for veneration and adoration. Four different San Nicolas antique
carvings from my collection are shown on this page, to illustrate the varied
styles and visual interpretations of Filipino santeros of long ago.
SAN NICOLAS 2: Height: 17 1/2"
A very folksy santo with not much carving details. But the charm lies in its folksy character. Nonetheless, the overextended sleeves of the Augustinian habit are accurately captured in this santo.
His life story struck a chord with Filipinos who prayed
for him to work miracles—in the same way that the vegetarian saint, who, upon
being served a roasted partridge on a plate, brought the bird back to life by
making the sign of the cross. This gave rise to his popular iconography that shed
on the rim, shows him in his black Augustinian habit, holding a plate with a
bird perched on the rim, and a cross in his other hand.
SAN NICOLAS 3, Height: 14"
This slimmed-down version of San Nicolas is handsomely carved and stands on an ochivado base. He has a downcast gaze, and his rigid pose is broken by his one foot that steps forward, Traces of gilt, including the outline of a star on his chest, which is one of his attribute--in reference to the guiding star that led him to Tolentino.
The ‘saniculas” cookie tradition that remains to be
popular in Pampanga can be traced to an episode in the saint’s life when San
Nicolas became emaciated after a long fast. The Virgin Mary and San Agustin
came to him in a vision, and they told him to eat a cross-marked bread. He did
so and he recovered. He then distributed these ‘St. Nicholas’ bread among the
sick, who were miraculously cured of their illness. Instead of crosses, the ‘saniculas’
is imprinted with the figure of the saint.
In Banton, Romblon, a church built in the 16th
century is dedicated to him, and his feast day during the annual Biniray
festival. In Pampanga, a 440-year-old Augustinian church, was founded in his
honor in 1575. The massive, heritage church houses a second-class relic of San
Nicolas that is venerated after the Tuesday mass.
SAN NICOLAS 4: Height: 11"
This is the smallest among the Santos Nicolas in my possession, and also one of my first santos. This small folk santo has a long, narrow head that sits on a small, short body. It bears traces of paint, and is remarkably complete, save for a missing hand and a plate. Bought in Baguio in the early 80s, it comes from Ilocos.
A San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church, built in 1584,
can also be found in Cebu City, one of the oldest in the country. San Nicolas
is also recognized as the titular patron of the cathedral of Cabanatuan in
Nueva Ecija—the site of Gen. Antonio Luna’s assassination. He is also the ‘pintakasi’
of Lambunao and Guimbal (Iloilo), Surigao City, Capas (Tarlac), Buli and Cupang
(Muntinlupa), San Nicolas (Ilocos Norte) and La Huerta (Parañaque).
His patronage also extends to animals and babies,
mariners, sailors and watermen (he saved 9 passengers on a ship that was about
to go down), dying people and holy
souls.
