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Fiestang Kuliat,
19
AN (ENDURING) AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
PAOLOFELICIANO WEBMASTER
BORJMENESES
PHOTO & GRAPHICS EDITOR
JAFPUNZALAN
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & EDITOR
PETERALAGOS
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
JEANMCTAVISH-MANDAP
MARKETING DIRECTOR
BINGSANGIL PRESIDENT & CEO
ALEXCAUGUIRAN
Published by PAMP PEP with business address at 372 McArthur Highway, Barangay Salapungan, Angeles City. For editorial and advertising concerns, please call or send SMS to 0917.510.6976 (BING) and 0920.951.2050 (JEAN). ©2011PAMPPEP. All rights reserved.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
editor’s note
I
19 YEARS AFTER N THOSE TRYING DAYS, we had nothing but ourselves and our faith with Cauguiran recalls “What was just a coincidence one another. Fiestang Kuliat was meant to harness that faith to fuel our city’s comeback.”So was quoted Alex Cauguiran— as chief of staff of a young mayor of two fiestas— the feasts of La Naval on the Edgardo Pamintuan 17 years ago— as the city reveled in the third Fiestang second Sunday and of the Holy Sepulcher on the last Friday— both held in October, the Fiestang Kuliat celebrations in 1994. As the city stages the 19th episode of the annual month-long fiesta this Kuliat has become a religious renewal, a cultural October, Cauguiran stressed that celebrating the Fiestang Kuliat is more than just revival, arts and sports festival, a musical carnival, and a host of other activities.” reliving tradition but rather a reanimation For 19 long years, Cauguiran said the of Angeles, its people, and their way of life. Fiestang Kuliat has proven its concern at Looking back, “What were merely preserving and proclaiming Kapampangan celebrations are now a source of culture. Also, the event has been designated inspiration,” said Cauguiran, who is this as a “month for the arts,” which is highlighted year’s Fiestang Kuliat organizing committee by exhibits from local painters, sculptors, Vice Chair for Government. and photographers; dance competitions; “Today, the festivities have gone beyond and an exciting battle of the bands. inspiration. Angeles City’s transformation Aside from arts and culture, Cauguiran into one of the country’s progressive cities added that the Fiestang Kuliat is also a sports is tangible proof of that inspiration,” said spectacle, a trade fair, and the venue for the Cauguiran, who, along with Vice Chair for much anticipated “Tigtigan, Terakan Ken Private Sector Dr. Mario Muñoz, assists the Dalan,” a two-night, dusk-till-dawn-street city mayor, who is the overall chair of this party along a 1.5-kilometer stretch of Mac year’s organizing committee. EARLY DAYS AS IT WAS THEN, SO IT IS TODAY. Arthur Highway in the Balibago central Cauguiran said 1992 saw the first Angeles City Mayor Ed Pamintuan (right) business district. PEOPLE’S FIESTA staging of Fiestang Kuliat, a year after Mt. and his long-time friend and Chief of Staff “More than anything else, the Fiestang Pinatubo devastated Pampanga and nearby Alex Cauguiran (left). Kuliat is a people’s fiesta,” Cauguiran said. provinces in the Central Luzon region. To He stressed: “Fiestang Kuliat has lived up to its make matters worse, the volcanic eruption forced the sudden pullout of U.S. military forces from Clark Air Base thus, exacerbating the dismal living and promise. It is a feast that celebrates the kind of life that has characterized and ought to characterize economic conditions in Angeles City. “To them,” said Cauguiran, referring to thousands of Angeleños, “this was the people of Angeles.” “All fiesta activities have one thing in the catastrophe that meant thousands without jobs, without homes, with common— reveal the pride of the Angelenos with businesses to speak no more about.” The unspeakable devastation Pinatubo had wrought onto the lives of many their heritage, their life, their aspirations, and their Angeleños had prompted some to question Pamintuan’s decision to hold a triumphs.” “It is this pride among the people that fiesta month-long fiesta celebration, revealed Cauguiran. But despite criticisms, he said Pamintuan convened officials from the city government and the private organizers bank on to sustain the economic sector, mostly from civic groups and business movers barely a month before recovery and progress that undeniably prevails in the city notwithstanding the setback that was Mt. the La Naval in 1992. Pinatubo’s eruption.” —PETER ALAGOS And the rest, they say, is history.
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kuliat’s festive october events WORDS & PHOTO: PETER C. ALAGOS
F ESTIVE MOOD LINGERS in the air as Angeles City celebrates Fiestang Kuliat this October. This year’s festivities are loaded with activities that put to fore culture, heritage, music, culinary feasts, dance, sports, and of course, beauty. You’re very much welcome to browse through our pages as we give you a rundown of this year’s month-long activities that soar high in amazement, fun, and excitement. 3-FOLD KICK OFF The celebration of Fiestang Kuliat officially kicked off on Friday, Sept. 23 at the posh Marquee Mall in grand fashion via an explosive threefold event: First, the Angeles City Government soared high into the sky with the official “Sulagpo Ta Na” Fiestang Kuliat Grand Kick-Off, under the concept, choreography and direction of world-class artist, Peter A. De Vera. Second was the Grand Angeleño welcome for American Idol Season 10 Finalist Thia Megia, who, at the height of the U.S. talent search,
was recognized by the Angeles City Council via a resolution sponsored by Councilor Edgardo “Edu” Pamintuan Jr. for her amazing feat. Megia, through her mother, who is originally from Barangay Sta. Teresita, is a certified Angeleña. And lastly, the press launch of the Ginoo at Mutya Ning Angeles 2011 candidates. For the first time, the young men and women vying for the coveted titles were presented to the public. CALENDAR OF EVENTS As promised, the succeeding pages will take you on a trip about the day-to-day fun-filled activities slated for the whole month of October. OCTOBER2011|PAMPANGAPEP|7
OCT
01
CAPTURING CULIAT NATIONAL PHOTO CONTEST
Saturday | 01 October | Pamintuan Mansion Point persons: Peter De Vera, Dr. Mario Muñoz and Lee Viray Cahili TO CHRONICLE LIFE in Angeles City… in pictures! This is the main essence of “Capturing Culiat,” a national photo contest which aims to challenge participating lensmen to tell their unique stories of Angeles City by way of their photograph entries.
OCT
01
MAYOR’S CUP 4 x 4 OFF-ROAD COMPETITION Saturday & Sunday | 01 & 02 October | Pulung Maragul Point Person: Rosever Pascua
SOME GUYS LIKE it rough. So rough, they will get monstrous vehicles to square it off in the Mayor’s Cup 4 x 4 Off-Road Competition where monster machines conquer mud and soil, which signifies the Angelenos’ strength, resilience, and recovery from the Mt. Pinatubo eruption by conquering nature. 8|PAMPANGAPEP|OCTOBER2011
PAMANGAN FIESTANG KAPAMPANGAN: FOOD BAZAAR & LUNCH BUFFET
OCT
02
Sunday | 02 October | Museo Ning Angeles Point Person: Joy Cruz
GIVE YOUR PALATES the treats they deserve. Aiming to fulfill your craving for a unique Kapampangan feast? Pamangan Fiestang Kuliat, the lunch buffet and food bazaar promises to be a fusion and explosion of huge gastronomic proportions, as it exhibits gustatory treats worth showcasing in a fiesta. Pamangan Fiestang Kuliat invites people to troop Museo Ning Angeles, to savor to-die-for entrees, exotic treats, and delicious desserts.
KADUA NE: TAGALAN AT PULAYAN KING DALAN ANTI- DRUG ABUSE AWARENESS FUN RUN
OCT
02
04
ANGELEÑOS ARE TALENTED. Proof of this is the feat of young Angeleña Thia Megia, who earned raves as a young American Idol contestant made it to the finals. The search for ultimate talent in Angeles City continues with Youth Got Talent, where the contestants will have the opportunity to showcase their flair for singing, dancing and other unique talents.
Sunday | 02 October SM City-Clark Main Entrance Point person: Rosever Pascua
RUNNING HAS NEVER been this much fun! Now on its 2nd year, this Anti-Drug Abuse Awareness Fun Run has 2k, 3k and 5k divisions.
KRISOTAN KETI KULIAT DING BAYUNG SULI NING AMANUNG SISUAN
YOUTH GOT TALENT
Tuesday | 04 October | Marquee Mall Point Person: Fides Miranda
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Tuesday | 04 October Museo Ning Angeles Point Person: Joy Cruz
POETRY IS AT its finest with “Krisotan Keti Kuliat ding Bayung Suli Ning Amanung Sisuan.” Through this contest, young students pay homage to their native Kapampangan tongue in a showdown of words, wisdom and poetic excellence.
KULIAT DARTS COMPETITION
Saturday | 08 October | SM City – Clark Point Person: Rosver Pascua
OCT
08
WHETHER THEIR DARTS of choice are brass, nickel or silver, darts enthusiasts will literally give it their best shot in the Kuliat Darts Competition, happening at SM City – Clark on Saturday, 08 October. OCTOBER2011|PAMPANGAPEP|9
KUNDIMAN NING ANGELES Saturday | 07 October Grand Palazzo Royale Point Person: Joy Cruz
OCT
PARADA DA RENG 08 MATENAKANG ANAK
NING KULIAT
Saturday | 08 October Nepo Quad (Start-Off Point) Point Person: Alex Cauguiran THE CITY ADMINISTRATION proudly brings back an age-old, exciting event with Parada Da Reng Matenakang Anak Ning Kuliat. This traditional, grand civic-military parade will be joined in by government, military, business and school sectors, and will traverse major roads of the city.
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LBC RONDA PILIPINAS
Saturday & Sunday | 08 & 09 October |Bayanihan Park Point Person: Rosver Pascua LBC RONDA PILIPINAS, the biggest national cycling stage race that covers key areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, flags off this year. The bicycle race, which will feature 96 Filipino cyclists, will run from 24 September to 09 October 2011. Angeles City has been chosen as the finish line for Stage 11 on Saturday, 08 October, and the start-off point of Stage 12 on Sunday, 09 October.
SUPER TSUPER
Wednesday | 12 October | SM City Clark Point Person: The PAMITASTIC 4 THE FIESTANG KULIAT Executive Committee scores another first with Super Tsuper: The Search for the Kings of the Road. Super Tsuper aims to crown the JODA and TODA Kings who will serve as an example to their fellow jeepney and tricycle drivers.
EXPECT TIME TO stop as Kundiman Ning Angeles holds its annual charity ball. With this year’s Filipiniana theme, get a chance to go back to an era reminiscent of conservative, intricate fashion, elegance plus unique music and dance. Kundiman Ning Angeles Foundation stages this gallant event for the benefit of Angeles City’s underprivileged children.
SERENATA
Saturday | 08 October Museo Ning Angeles Point Person: Joy Cruz THE SPIRIT OF COMPETITION lives on with Serenata, a showdown between two exciting bands who will try to outdo each other’s musical talents in an all-night rendition of alltime favorite folk and pop-songs.
KALESIN/TILBURY RACE Sunday | 09 October Jake Gonzales Blvd. Point person: Rosver Pascua
WITNESS THE EXHIBITION of a team-up between man and beast, with the Kalesin/ Tilbury Race, a battle of colorfully garbed up, horse-drawn carriages. This serves as a fitting opening salvo to the Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of La Naval, the first half of the city’s Twin Fiesta celebration.
INTER-BARANGAY WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT 11 to 13 October SM City Clark Bayanihan Park Point Person: Poyen David
IT’S A BATTLE of the fair ladies of local villages as they engage in friendly sports competition in the Inter-Barangay Women’s Volleyball Tourney.
BLOOD-LETTING PROGRAM
Wednesday | 12 October Robinson’s Place Angeles Point Person: The PAMITASTIC 4 DENGUE REMAINS TO be one of today’s dreaded diseases. Because of this, the need for blood donors continues to rise. Realizing this, the Angeles City Blood Bank partners with the Angeles City Local Government and the Fiestang Kuliat Executive Committee in the Blood Letting Program. Give blood, save lives! 10|PAMPANGAPEP|OCTOBER2011
1st MAYOR EDPAM SHOOTFEST
Saturday | 15 October Forest Park, Pampang Point Person: Rosver Pascua
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READY… AIM… SHOOT! Top shots fire their best in the 1st ever Mayor EdPam Shootfest. Keep your ammos up, and never let your guards down!
REMATIHAN
Sunday | 16 October SM City Clark Main Entrance Point Person: Averell Laquindanum
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16
IT’S A RACE for the win with Rematihan, the Fiestang Kuliat 2011 Bike Race. Bikers will speed it up to the finish line, which is at the CDC Parade Grounds.
SMB 9-BALL OCT REGIONAL 15 ELIMINATION ROUND Saturday & Sunday 15 & 16 October Marquee Mall Point Person: Rosver Pascua
WANT TO JOIN the ranks of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Djanggo Bustamante? The SMB 9-Ball Regional Elimination Round may well be your chance.
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BATTLE OF THE BANDS GRAND FINALS
OCT
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6PM | Friday | 21 October Robinson’s Place-Balibago
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WITNESS SOME OF the most promising, up and coming homegrown hard rock and show bands as they battle it out to snatch top honors in this year’s Battle of Bands!
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TIGTIGAN TERAKAN KENG DALAN FESTIVAL Friday & Saturday | 28 & 29 October Along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Balibago Point Person: Alex Cauguiran
All roads lead to Mac Arthur Highway in the stretch of Balibago, as Angeles City stages Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan Festival. The two-day song, dance and party fest gathers together thousands of people, who believe that every single day shall be a celebration of life. 14|PAMPANGAPEP|OCTOBER2011
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GINOO AT MUTYA NING ANGELES
6PM | Saturday | 22 October Holy Angel University (Gymnasium) Point Person: Mark Laurence Reyes
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OVER THE YEARS, Angeles City, through Fiestang Kuliat, has succeeded in seeking the fairest young ladies with Mutya Ning Angeles beauty pageant. And last year, Ms. Lara Isabelle Dizon (in photo) was crowned ‘fairest of them all.’ Now the search, beginning this year, takes a major turn as it becomes a “double-header.” Ginoo at Mutya Ning Angeles aims to select a young lady and a gentleman who shall serve as the City’s ambassadors of goodwill. Aside from being the image models of the young Angeleños, the Ginoo at Mutya Ning Angeles titlists shall assist in promoting tourism, fashion, beauty, and Over-all Social Responsibility, not only to their fellow youth, but also to all the Angeleños, in general.
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NICKNAME: ANGEL
ANGELICA A DIZON
AGE: 23 HEIGHT: 5’ 3” WEIGHT: 99 LBS VITAL STATS: 31.5 / 25 / 34 BARANGAY: ANUNAS DEGREE: BS TOURISM SCHOOL: HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY HOBBIES: SWIMMING, PLAYING POKER
PHOTOGRAPHY: BORJ MENESES & PAOLO FELICIANO
ANNIE MARIE Q CORONEL NICKNAME: ANNIE AGE: 19 HEIGHT: 5’ 7’’ WEIGHT: 125 LBS VITAL STATS: 35.5 / 27.5 / 38 BARANGAY: MALABANIAS
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NICKNAME: CAMILLE AGE: 20 HEIGHT: 5’ 9.5’’ WEIGHT: 149 LBS VITAL STATS: 36 / 27.5 / 38.5 BARANGAY: CUTCUT
CAMILLE CONCHITA S GALANG PHOTOGRAPHY: BORJ MENESES & PAOLO FELICIANO
CAMILLE L TAÑAÑA NICKNAME: MIK AGE: 20 HEIGHT: 5’ 4.5’’ WEIGHT: 120 LBS VITAL STATS: 33.5 / 25.5 / 36 BARANGAY: STA TERESITA
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NICKNAME: ANTON AGE: 17 HEIGHT: 5’ 9’’ WEIGHT: 150 LBS BARANGAY: STO DOMINGO
ANTON TANHUECO
PHOTOGRAPHY: PAOLO FELICIANO
CHRISTIAN ALBERT AGUAS NICKNAME: CHAN AGE: 19 HEIGHT: 5’ 6.5’’ WEIGHT: 152 LBS BARANGAY:
STA TRINIDAD
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JESS MARK CANLAS NICKNAME: JM AGE: 21 HEIGHT: 5’ 9’’ WEIGHT: 145 LBS BARANGAY:
SAPANG BATO
NICKNAME: JAS AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 5’ 7’’ WEIGHT: 145 LBS BARANGAY: CLARO M RECTO
JUSTIN BOLUS
PHOTOGRAPHY: PAOLO FELICIANO
JOESER SINFUEGO NICKNAME: JZEN AGE: 20 HEIGHT: 5’ 11 .5’’ WEIGHT: 160 LBS
JUSTIN LACSON NICKNAME: JUSTIN AGE: 19 HEIGHT: 5’ 9’’ WEIGHT: 145 LBS
BARANGAY:
BARANGAY:
BALIBAGO
STO CRISTO
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NICKNAME: ROX AGE: 19 HEIGHT: 5’ 6 .5’’ WEIGHT: 128 LBS VITAL STATS: 32.5 / 24.5 / 37 BARANGAY: LOURDES SUR
ENRICA ROXIEL S GUIEB PHOTOGRAPHY: BORJ MENESES & PAOLO FELICIANO
GINA JOY G HOWELL NICKNAME: GINA AGE: 20 HEIGHT: 5’ 9.5’’ WEIGHT: 130 LBS VITAL STATS:
33 / 26 / 38.5 BARANGAY:
MINING
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NICKNAME: GRACE AGE: 19 HEIGHT: 5’ 4.5’’ WEIGHT: 110 LBS VITAL STATS: 32 / 24 / 36 BARANGAY: STO CRISTO
GRACENICHOLLE C QUIZON PHOTOGRAPHY: BORJ MENESES & PAOLO FELICIANO
KATE LAURICE M GONZALES NICKNAME: KATE AGE: 20 HEIGHT: 5’ 4’’ WEIGHT: 128 LBS VITAL STATS: 34 / 27 / 38 BARANGAY: STO CRISTO STUDENT: BS TOURISM MGMT SCHOOL: ANGELES UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
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NICKNAME: MARLEX AGE: 20 HEIGHT: 5’ 8’’ WEIGHT: 160 LBS BARANGAY: MALABANIAS
KEVIN
MARLEX GARING
PHOTOGRAPHY: PAOLO FELICIANO
NELSON
JOHN CABIGTING
NICKNAME: ENZO AGE: 22 HEIGHT: 5’ 8’’ WEIGHT: 155 LBS BARANGAY:
CUTCUT
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RALPH KARLWIN GASPAR NICKNAME: KARLWIN AGE: 20 HEIGHT: 5’ 6 .5’’ WEIGHT: 133 LBS BARANGAY: PULUNG BULU
NICKNAME: BAGS AGE: 20 HEIGHT: 5’ 6.5’’ WEIGHT: 169 LBS BARANGAY:
PANDAN
RANDALL COMPIO
PHOTOGRAPHY: PAOLO FELICIANO
RALPH LUREN TAPNIO NICKNAME: RALPH AGE: 19 HEIGHT: 5’ 7.5’’ WEIGHT: 143 LBS BARANGAY:
WILLY QUINTO NICKNAME: WILLY AGE: 17 HEIGHT: 5’ 7’’ WEIGHT: 138 LBS BARANGAY:
CUTCUT
MALABANIAS
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NICKNAME: KHIM AGE: 23 HEIGHT: 5’ 5’’ WEIGHT: 100 LBS VITAL STATS: 32.5 / 25 / 35.5 BARANGAY: MALABANIAS
KIMBERLY R CANLAS PHOTOGRAPHY: BORJ MENESES & PAOLO FELICIANO
MARLA CAMILLE L YU NICKNAME: MARLA AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 5’ 4” WEIGHT: 100 LBS VITAL STATS: 32 / 25 / 35 BARANGAY: SAN JOSE STUDENT: BS TOURISM MGMT SCHOOL: HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY
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NICKNAME: SARRA AGE: 19 HEIGHT: 5’ 6 .5’’ WEIGHT: 110 LBS VITAL STATS: 32 / 26 / 36 BARANGAY: STO DOMINGO
SARAH CAMILLE T CARREON PHOTOGRAPHY: BORJ MENESES & PAOLO FELICIANO
VIRRA S RUBIO NICKNAME: VIRRA AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 5’ 7’’ WEIGHT: 125 LBS VITAL STATS: 34.5 / 27 / 37 BARANGAY: STA TRINIDAD
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FEATURE
D
ON ANGEL PANTALEON de Miranda together with his wife, Doña Rosalia de Jesus started in 1796 the first clearing of Culiat, then the remotest barrio of San Fernando, Pampanga. In 1795, Don Angel was Capitan (a position equivalent to Municipal Mayor) of San Fernando. After he had started the clearing of Culiat, some prominent residents of other towns of Pampanga at that time jestingly predicted, “Muti ne ing awak, tuling ne ing tagak, e ya maging balen ing Culiat.” (The crow will turn white, the heron will turn black, but Culiat will never be a town) Don Angel refused to listen to all these dire predictions and persisted in the great task, which he began. His main reason for developing Culiat was that it was situated on much higher ground than San Fernando where his rice lands were periodically underwater during the rainy season. Culiat was named after the coarse woody vine [Gnetum indicum (Lour.) Merr. (Gnetaceae)] that abounded in the place at that time. Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda accomplished the solemn inauguration of Culiat into a town on December 8, 1829 and it was given the beautiful name of “Pueblo de los Angeles” in honor of the Christian name the founder and the Holy Guardian Angels, the titular patrons of the town. In the early days, the real fiesta of Angeles was on October 2, the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels (Los Santos Angeles Custodios). The “Naval” was first celebrated in 1834 or 159 years ago, to commemorate the devotion of the early settlers, who with Doña Rosalia de Jesus to bring the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary in procession whenever there was a new clearing. It was also because of this belief that the founders of Angeles adopted the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary as the Patroness of Angeles. The devotion of the founders was the reason why the “La Naval” Fiesta has always been celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of October to venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On the last Friday of October, the Fiesta Nang Apung Mamacalulu (Feast of the Lord of the Holy Sepulchre) is also celebrated as a form of Thanksgiving. The belief of the people is that they would be protected from untoward incidents, calamities and disasters. The first celebration of the Feast of Apu was on October 29,1897 by the Augustinian Parish priest Father Rufino Santos Perez. This was preceded by the Quinario or fiveday Novena, in dedication to the Lord’s five wounds. This was done after a series of locust infestations, coupled with hostilities between Spanish Cazadores and Pampango Insurrectos and two successive fires that razed to the ground the public market in the latter part of 1897. Angeles has an area of 8,120 hectares and is 97 meters above sea level. By 1850 it had 742 houses and a population of 4,452. It was then producing mainly agricultural products like sugar cane, rice, bananas, ebus (buri), corn, cabo negro (sugar palm), tayum (indigo). Langis (sesame), gugu, and sasa (nipa).
RELEVANCE OF THE ROLE OF ANGELES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
from culiat to angeles WORDS: MRS. JOSIE DIZON HENSON PHOTOGRAPHY: RIC GONZALES
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FEATURE Angeles gradually evolved into a bustling community and business center mainly from its proximity to Fort Stotsenberg, which was established in 1894 and later renamed Clark Air Base during World War II. Being strategically located, Angeles also served as a distribution, trading and commercial center, all within a ten-kilometer radius. The greatest role that Angeles played in history was the celebration of the first and only anniversary of our true Philippine In dependence. On January 23, 1899, news was received in the town that General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the inauguration of the Republic of the Philippines. But peace was short-lived. On February 4 of that year Filipino-American hostilities began. The town folks started evacuating to the barrios and other towns. On May 8, 1899, Generalissimo Emilio Aguinaldo moved his seat of Government from San Isidro, Nueva Ecija to Angeles. He transformed the Pamintuan Residence (formerly the Central Bank) into the presidential palace and general headquarters. On that same fateful day in Angeles, General Aguinaldo assumed command of all Filipino forces. During this time the American Army invasion forces were poised at San Fernando, Pampanga. They were being prevented from attacking Angeles by a strong defense line established by General Antonio Luna two months earlier, starting from Guagua, Bacolor, Angeles, Magalang, and Concepcion. This defense line was being held by 15,000 soldiers of the First Filipino Army. On June 12, 1899, the first anniversary of the Philippine Independence was celebrated in Angeles. It started with a field mass at 7:00 a.m. for thousands of troops then stationed here. The Holy Mass was celebrated at the town square at barrio Talimunduc, which is now the area between the Railroad Station
and the Apu Chapel at Lourdes Sur. The celebrant was Fr. Vicente Lapuz of Candaba who was then the Filipino co-adjutor of the Angeles Parish Church, the Spanish curate having been rescued by the Spanish troops in 1898. After the Mass, a big military and civic parade was formed, participated in by many Angeleños. Several Filipino Regiments were led by their officers like General Gregorio Del Pilar, Gen. Manuel Tiñio, Gen. Urbano Lacuna, Gen. Urbano Morales, Gen. Servillano Aquino and his Tarlac regiment, Gen. Venancio Concepcion, Gen. Tomas Mascardo, Lt. Manuel Luis Quezon, and a Captain Jose Dizon y San Pedro, who was my paternal grandfather. According to my mother’s Aunt Doña Carlota Henson De Ganzon (who was then in her teens) she and several young ladies were dressed in typical kimona and saya and were made to ride on top of the beautifully decorated carosas (used during processions) and were part of the grand parade. This massive parade passed through Sto. Rosario St. then veered toward Sto. Entierro St. to pay tribute to and salute Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo who watched this historic event from the second floor window of the old Pamintuan Residence amid cheers from the town-people. After the parade, the citizens of Angeles opened the doors of their residences to the officers and troops who partook of the famous and delicious Pampango cuisine. According to eyewitness accounts, Gen. Servillano Aquino and some of his officers proceeded to the house of Don Teofisto Ganzon and his spouse Doña Engaracia Gonzales along Miranda Street on what is now the former Narciso Nursery School. At that time, Gen. Aquino left his two small children, Gonzalo and Benigno (the father
of Ninoy) under the care of the Ganzons in Angeles. The reason for this was that Gen. Aquino’s sister Brigida was the wife of Don Andres Ganzon, a son of Don Teofisto. The first Philippine Independence Day Anniversary celebration here in Angeles has no comparison in significance because when Gen. Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine Independence Day of Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898, it was under the protection of the American Forces. But when Gen. Aguinaldo celebrated the First Anniversary of our Independence here in Angeles on June 12, 1899, it was purely and entirely defended by Filipino blood, sweat, and tears. No other place in the entire Phillippines except Angeles can claim this singular and noble honor. During the stay of Aguinaldo in Angeles a member of his staff, Lt. Manuel L. Quezon, who became the first President of the Commonwealth, stayed in the house of Don Lorenzo Sanchez (in front of the Pamintuan residence). One Sunday morning after mass he happened to see from the window his collegemate in Letran, Don Emilio V. Moreno (the maternal grandfather of erstwhile DILG Secretary Rafael Alunan III) to whom he called out in Spanish: “Oye, Moreno, Moreno! Me gusta mucho el chocolate que hacen en este pueblo. No le tienes en casa?” “Hey Moreno, Moreno! I love the hot chocolate that they make in this town. Haven’t you got some at home?” President Quezon might have loved the lanzones fruit of this town too, if he had stayed here until October, because the Angeles lanzones are sweet, luscious, and have a different appeal to those with discriminating taste. Don Pio Rafael Nepomuceno brought the original seedlings here from Lukban, Tayabas (Quezon). Aguinaldo stayed in this town until July
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Josie Dizon Henson
MRS. JOSIE DIZON HENSON, B.F.A., was the Over-all Chairperson of the Fiestang Kuliat Committee in 1992 & 1993. Her article was first published in the Souvenir Program of Fiestang Kuliat in 1993.
where he transferred his Government to Tarlac. The Filipino revolutionary Army and the United States Infantry engaged in a threeday fiery and bloody battle and on August 16 the latter succeeded in penetrating the town. However, the brigades of Generals Servillano Aquino, Maximino Hizon, Pio Del Pilar, Venancio Concepcion, Tomas Mascardo with Col. Alberto San Miguel and later reinforced by the Brigade of Gen. Macabulos, numbering about 15,000 troopers, were still entrenched and defending the Mabalacat side of the Abacan River. On November 5, after three months of bloody and relentless fighting, the last and decisive flanking offensive movement of the American forces began with the use of cavalry. The fierce battle where both sides suffered heavy casualties, began from 9o’ clock in the evening until dawn. The American units were the 32nd Infantry U.S.V. under Provost Marshal G.A. Densmore; Headquarters 41st Infantry U.S.V. Colonel Richmond; 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 8th Army Corps under Major General Arthur MacArthur, the latter using the Pamintuan residence as headquarters. The Angeleños suffered greatly after the war. According to Father Vicente Lapuz, parish priest, there was irreparable loss to the church in destroyed properties and unpaid rentals, which were never recovered and valued at $24,638.00 U.S. dollars. On January 1, 1900, General Frederick D. Grant organized the first United States Civil Government in the town by appointing an Alcalde. Although General Grant organized in 1900 the first United Stated Civil Government in Angeles, by appointing an Alcalde, it was one year later, on July 4 that the Inauguration of the US Civil Government was held. By October of 1902, the United States Army in Angeles left the Church convent and moved to Talimunduc (now Lourdes Sur) near the Angeles Railroad Station. On the latter part of the following year they again moved further North to a place called Mangga and Sapangbato, which was later named Camp Stotsenburg. In 1904 the nearby U.S Military Reservation started putting up at will its boundaries around “by order of the President of the United States in 1903”. Annexed to the said reservation of Camp Stotsenburg was one among some
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private lands over which a Spanish title was granted (Composicon onerosa con el estado) on June 12, 1888 owned by the late Don Jose P. Henson for which he had been paying yearly taxes to the Government, namely, Lot. No. 727 at Barrio Palusapis, Angeles, Pampanga, containing 628 hectares more or less. The title referred to constituted a title of exclusive ownership, but the U.S. Government never returned the 628 hectares nor paid the corresponding rentals to this day. An American historian related a story as to why the Americans moved to the place, which later became known as Fort Stotsenburg. According to this American, the horses of the cavalry could not feed on the grass of the
surrounding fields near their bivouac as they got sick, so they had to import hay from the United States, which was sent by ship. One day of the horses was discovered missing and a search was conducted until finally the horse was found grazing on the pastures of Mangga. The horse did not get sick after eating the grass at that place so they tired grazing the other horses there to graze until they decided to move their bivouac there. Because the cavalry was there, a building for the blacksmith was constructed and other buildings followed this until it became a permanent camp and was expanded to become the second largest American Air Base
in the world—Clark Air Base. So, probably if it were not for the horse Angeles could have been a part of Clark Air Base. Although Fort Stotsenburg, (Clark Air Base) continued to expand, Angeles, even despite its proximity to the American camp, did not progress very much and was just like any other town in Pampanga. From 1900 to 1941, the main bulk of the livelihood in Angeles was agriculture, mostly palay and sugar-cane farming. Livelihood did not depend on the presence of the Base. Some of the earliest small-scale industries in Angeles were a woodworking and woodcarving industry, which was started by the late Don Teodoro Tinio (originally from Nueva Ecija who migrated to Angeles in 1919). In the early 1930’s Don Juan Nepomuceno established “Reyna” a soft drinks plant which produced several flavors like sarsaparilla, orange, strawberry, lemon, and soda. At around this time, the late Mayor Emiliano Valdes also established “La Providora” a rattan furniture factory (it was the fore-runner of the now famous Calfurn furniture factory and other rattan furniture companies in Angeles City). The first Hacendero to sell his lands in order to pioneer in industry was the late Don Jose Ma. Fermin Ganzon. In the mid 1920’s he self-studied auto mechanics from books which he ordered from Spain. He personally trained people from Angeles and brought them to Manila and established one of the first auto repair shops there. One of those he trained and who profited from that venture was Francisco Mallari owner of “Kiko Bateria” later situated at Rizal Avenue. Don Jose Ganzon also pioneered the first modern poultry farm in Angeles in the early 30’s. Called the “Twins’ Poultry Farm”, it was equipped with electronic incubators and electric hatcheries. He was the first to supply fresh eggs to Clark Field Air Base. Don Jose Ganzon also pioneered the first movie production in Angeles and it was silently film entitled “Prinsesa sa Bundok”, produced by Joaquin De Guzman and directed by Mr. Ganzon. The Lazatin Vinegar Plant was also established in the 30’s and still exists up to the present. During the war, a few cottage industries mushroomed in Angeles like carved wooden shoes made of white laniti wood. These were sold in Central Luzon including Manila.
FEATURE Mr. and Mrs. Armando Nepomuceno owned this wooden-shoe industry. Another small industry was cigarette making where homemade contraptions were used to hand-roll each cigarette. At this time, most of the backyards of the houses including those of the rich hacenderos were planted to all sorts of vegetables and these were sold in the market. One might say that the Americans depended on Angeles for their fresh produce. The US Army’s 145th Infantry liberated Angeles on January 27, 1945. Thousands of American troops poured into Angeles and resided on rented big residences and school buildings. The rest of them pitched tents around town. The American detachments deliberately overstocked their rations to give away or to barter with the townspeople. Angeleños exchanged fruits, chickens, vegetables and locally brewed liquor to the GI’s. From this time on the economy of Angles quadrupled a thousand fold. Hundreds of Angeleños and people from other provinces flocked to Angeles and struck it rich. This was the beginning of the PX goods business in Angeles and a lot of restaurants and entertainment places mushroomed. This was the start of Angeleños’ dependence on Clark. In 1947 an American construction company arrived from the USA. The Drake-Utah-Grove Co. or DUG undertook the rebuilding of Clark into a modern military air base. The majority of the male population of Angeles, its barrios, and the surrounding towns and provinces found lucrative employment during this reconstruction period of Clark (around 10,000 strong). After DUG finished the reconstruction of the base facilities, Clark absorbed more than 50 percent of the DUG employees. Livelihood dependency of Angeles to Clark started at this time and Angeles also became the melting pot of Pampanga. On January 1, 1964, Angeles was formally inaugurated as a city with the youthful Mayor Rafael del Rosario at its helm. It was also at this time that the housing boom commenced because of the Vietnam conflict. A lot of houses were needed for the US fighting men and they could not be accommodated at the limited housing facilities in Clark. These various subdivisions were established like Villasol, Josefaville, Plaridel Subdivision. Villa Angela, Villa Gloria, Villa Angelina, L & S, Villa Teresa, Hensonville, Carmenville, Timog Park, and others. In 1978, the former employees at Clark started applying for jobs in the Middle East and Europe and also to Hong Kong and
Singapore. It could be said that the turning point of Angeles City’s economy was the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo on June 12, 1991 and the subsequent withdrawal of the American Forces from Clark Air Base, reputedly the biggest single employer throughout the country after the Philippine Government. Last year, the former “Sin City” image of Angeles was drastically erased and together with it, the city administration headed my Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and its people were given ample opportunity to trek a new economic order and along with it, the city’s new image as the culinary capital of the Philippines. During last year’s month-long fiesta celebrations the emphasis was on the Food Fest, which proved to be very successful. This year, the thrust of the Fiesta Committee was geared towards the reawakening of the city’s historical and cultural heritage, which for a while went into slumber while the Americans were here. This Historical Photo Exhibit was held in “Bale Herencia” (the old Santos residence at the corner of Sto. Rosario and Lakandula Streets.) It was opened by no less than Senator Heherson Alvarez and Congressman Carmelo Lazatin. Vintage photos of Angeles and Angeleños circa 1890’s to the 1950’s were displayed. Prominently displayed were pictures of General Arthur MacArthur, President Manuel Quezon, President Osmeña, Claro. Recto, and others, Photos of native Angeleños like the Hensons, Nepomucenos, Pamintuans, Lazatins, Suarezes, Tayags, Dayrits, Paras, Lacsons, Santos, Gomez, Aysons, Dizons, Angeles, Davids, Samdicos…etc. were also featured. This month-long photo exhibit was a brainchild of three Youth Groups: “Aksyon” headed by Editha Estrada, “501” headed by Roden Biag and “Ramsee D. Henson Rotaract Club” headed by Eder Mutuc. There was a minimal entrance fee of Php2 for students and Php5 pesos for adults. A three-day Culinary Workshop was also a part of the Fiesta activities and there were more than thirty participants. It was partly sponsored by PRAGMA, the Private Sector Development Training Program of USAID (PRAGMA CORP.) STMS, ACCII, CFC, and Magnolia Corporation. This year’s “Tigtigan at Terakan Keng Dalan” was held for two days and was bigger and better than last year. There were two name bands: “The Dawn” and “Advent Call”. This culminating activity of Fiestang Kuliat has become so successful that it is now included in the DOT’s annual National Tourism Calendar. PEP
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THE LEGEND OF
La Naval WORDS: RAMIRO G. MERCADO
T
HE VENERATION WHICH believers invest in the Virgin of La Naval (now Lady of the Rosary), the unquestioning piety of her followers, and the mystic fanaticism of the Catholic unshod in Her great powers can be explained only by a religious concept and tradition central to the mystery of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to Her protection, and implored Her help and sought her intercession, was left unaided. Certainly it was in his quest for inner peace and resignation to a certain fate momentarily awaiting him that martyr Benigno Aquino, Jr. (Ninoy) clutching a rosary— ironically a gift from Imelda R. Marcos, first lady in the two-decade reign of dictator-President Ferdinand Marcos— prayed for the last time in his life, the Holy Rosary on a flight home after an exile from the U.S.A.... at the hour of our death, amen. That the Lady of the Holy Rosary has been ordained Patroness of barrio Kuliat, original name-place of Angeles was both the desire of the settlement founders, the spouses Pantaleon and Rosalia Miranda and the friars in Pampanga whose ecclesiastical ascendancy over encomenderos such as the Kuliat settlement founders included obeisance of the natives to religious authority. The Dominican friars at the time exercised strong and effective, albeit, temporary jurisdiction over native agents in charge of tributes and property matters. The Church, as spiritual guardian of the native “nobility,” must have the last word on religious sovereignty. So that when the Miranda couple searched for an official patron of their developing (Kuliat) settlement the church authorities sanctioned the Virgin of La Naval de Manila as Patrones of Kuliat, whose first procession and in whose homage the settlers rendered pious efforts, was done in 1834, 188 years after the historic Battle of La Naval. It was presumed that the faithful in Kuliat settlement used to venerate St. Ferdinand, a Spanish soldier-saint as their patron being the Church’s standard bearer of the capital town, San Fernando, which had territorial realm over barrio Kuliat. The first procession of the Lady of the Holy Rosary in 1834 was witnessed, among other settlers, by “hostile but bewildered Aetas,” according to historiographer Mariano Henson. Henson did not explain the cause of hostility. Actually it was resentment by the kinky-haired, dark-skinned diminutive aborigines (still extant in Porac and western Angeles area) who had original possession (by use) of the settlement until they were driven out (in physical conflict, the term is “boxed out”) of their clearing by superior nobility and their minions. Kuliat was an original clearing of the aborigines who used the slash-and-burn method of agriculture. Fray Diego de Aduarte aptly describes agricultural techniques which the aborigines were well versed in their time: “xxx they only burn over a part of the mountain and, without any further plowing or digging, they make holes with a stick in the soil, and drop some grains of rice in them. This was their manner of sowing; and after covering 38|PAMPANGAPEP|OCTOBER2011
the rice with some earth, they obtained very heavy crops.” The early Christian settlers envied this method which was labor cost effective. To rectify historian’s bias, citing incursion of Aetas or Negritos, who often terrorized inhabitants, “it was not the aborigines who initiated the intrusion, but it was the peons of the encomenderos who caused the invasion of aboriginal territory. The Negritos up to this day when they are called cultural minorities have never been known to be violent, landgrabbing and terrorists. In fact they are being pushed, upwards mountainous regions by lowlanders with ready TCT’s (Transfer Certificate of Titles.) Today, after some 165 years or so of annual quasi-religious celebration in honor of the Patroness, the genuine and genetically-proven descendants of the Kuliat founders bearing the names of, and proud of the lineage from, the Pamintuan-de Jesus spouses, have not been asserting their historic right and noblesse oblige over activities honoring, giving respect to, and commemorating in proper and fitting ways, the role of the Kuliat founders during the Twin Fiesta Festival of Angeles and the government-recognized holiday in December which is observed as Foundation Day of Angeles. The Founders’ descendants or clones by inter-marriage have been isolated so to speak by political upstarts, some carpetbaggers, pretenders, out-of-town bigwigs, the nouveau riche, and even local business moguls of foreign ancestry and do-gooders of dubious origins, in doing honor to the “Lungsod ng Angeles.” It used to be some decades ago that the genuine descendants of the Founders were actively and vigorously in the forefront, initiating, directing and programming the festival activities in a manner, style, and in the spirit of and substance required of a historic moment. But in the twist of ironies, the Snopeses, the newcomers and the lowlanders in search of their own recognition and aspirations have relegated the scions into cultural Aetas that retreated to sanctuaries because of incursion, timidity, and default.
THE BEGINNING During that “age of faith and glory,” Catholic Spain was the envy of equally sovereign power such as the Dutch and English countries that had known the Philippine archipelago as the rich pearl of the Orient seas. Not only was the Philippines coveted by English and Dutch adventures for her vast resources, but also the two privateers carried the Protestant Calvinist gospel in the high seas with the glorious mission of supplanting Catholicism with Protestantism in case of a successful invasion. Two old Spanish galleons were all the Spanish military could commission on March 15, 1646, the first battle for Manila. The invading Dutch fleet, veterans of many naval victories which had annexed many Southeast Asian countries to the Dutch Netherland empire, engaged the Spanish defenders in two vessels named Almiranta and Capitana (Later to be named Encarnacion and Nuestra Sra. del Rosario). The first of five running battles took the protagonist up to the coast of Bolinao (Pangasinan) when after a fierce fight from three to seven in the evening, the enemy fled, “its lights in the ships decks put off”. The Encarnacion suffered slight damage and a few casualties. Appeals to the Spanish government in Manila to put to use other galleons were in international waters in the service of the Acapulco-Manila Line. Knowing that the Dutch invaders would soon launch a fresh offensive and with more ferocity the next time, the Spanish war vessels patrolled the high seas to defend Manila, with the combined Spaniards and Filipino sailors ready to sacrifice themselves to the last man but “trusting more to win by spiritual weapons than by weapons of war.” Chronicles of the battles recalled that one Fr. Juan de Cuenca O.P., chaplain of Rosario encouraged generals Lorenzo Ugalde and Agustin de Cepeda of the two ships to make a sacred vow with soldiers. Shouting their vow, they promised to the Blessed Virgin to go barefooted on a pilgrimage to her shrine in the Dominican church in Intramuros and celebrate a special feast for Her in thanksgiving for the victory they were asking through Her intercession. The Admiral of the other galleon and his crew also made the same vow without knowing what their General did earlier. The Spanish soldiers, religious, and Filipino sailors fervently prayed the Rosary with loud voice “on their knees and in two found worthy to succeed against the enemy. “This they performed daily in front of an improvised altar in the ship’s quarterdeck. The second of the battles was fought in the waters off Marinduque, two rusting galleons against seven enemy frigates with superior artillery and manned by 800 soldiers. Amidst howling winds and tempestuous waves, they fought what was described as one of the fiercest and bloodiest battles, with the sky reddened by crisscrossing artillery fire and shouts of Ave Maria echoed into the wee hours at which time the invaders realized how madlymauled their ships were, with one perishing fast in fire, made a retreat and would not give battle even when taunted by the undermanned pursuers. In the calm waters the following morning, the crews of the two Spanish vessels continued their vow, the recitation of the Rosary as the highlight of the hour, and pledge to run after the invaders whom they encountered the next day near Maestra de Campo Island off Mindoro. From high noon till the Angelus hours of that date (July 31, 1646) defenders and invaders fought anew, each side with ferocious resolve to annihilate the foe. Once more the divinely-inspired Spanish forces emerged victorious after the smoke of battle cleared up as the Dutch fleet abandoned one crippled vessel and lost one of the six frigates assembled. The chronicled testimonies held that the victory was miraculous and attributed to the Virgin Mary, believing that she herself helped fight and guide the defenders in a manner that, like the soldier’s straight supplication to God, artillery fire and rockets from the Spanish ships reached their direct target. Surely the Almighty knew what the country’s defenders needed in those crucial battles. His omniscience encompassed what we need better than we know it ourselves. Perchance, the defenders’ annihilation and defeat could have caused more naval debacles that would then lead
THE FEAST OF THE
Holy Sepulchre I
N 1897, THE TOWN experienced a series of man-made and natural calamities. The first was a fierce encounter between Spanish cazadores and a band of Pampanga insurectos led by a captain from nearby Barangay Tibo, Mabalacat. Seven townsfolk who were taken into custody by the cazadores after the encounter were presumed missing after they never reached the provincial jail which was in Bacolor. Only two of them were identified as Cornelio Manalang and Crispulo Punsalan. In the two successive fires that broke out in the market, one originating from the stall of a certain Sun Suayeng, or “Suaya,” two civilians were murdered by cazadores for no apparent reason. A peace officer (alquacil) named Domingo serving under the Judge of Peace Don Galicano Valdes was shot and killed by a cazadore. The cazadore apparently mistook the officer as a looter while a victim was crossing the street in front of the market at night. Another cazadore in a separate incident stabbed dead a man driving a carabao in front of the house of the Judge of Peace. Nobody dared to venture out in the open after the Angelus. The situation became so tense that the town authorities and prominent citizens appealed to the parish priest, Fr. Rufino Santos to celebrate the Festivity of the Apung Mamacalulu, our Lord of the Holy Sepulchre, preceded by a quinario or a five-day novena. The quinario is a holy dedication to Christ’s five wounds in order to safeguard the town from “evil times and disasters.”Fr. Santos granted their petition and collections for the quinario began. The celebration began on the last Friday of October. A manacled prisoner, Roman Payumo about to be killed by the Spanish cazadore in a nearby cane field managed to escape on the second day of the quinario. Records have it that as he was being led to his death beside the church, he knelt down and prayed to Apung Mamacalulu. After praying, Payumo managed to loosen his bonds and sprinted towards the cane field. Only a slight graze from his captors’ Mauser rifle was the price of his escape to freedom. The daring escape of Payumo began the devotion of the town folk to the Apu on October 29, 1897. A misunderstanding between the parish priest of Angeles and the caretaker of the image, Edilberto Navarro, in April of 1928 led to the transfer of the image to another instead of the church. The source of the disagreement was allegedly the denial of the priest of Navarro’s request to collect a day’s work of contributed alms for the Apu Festival the following October which would be used “for the annual maintenance and other expenses of the image, floats and its drivers – the priest in compensation therewith, will have all the other alms throughout the year.” Possession for the image led to the filing of a case by the Catholic Church against Alvara Fajardo of Calamba, Laguna, the supposed legal owner Fernando Sanchez, Edilberto Navarro, and others. In the Feast of the Apu six months after, two masses in His honor were held: One in the church and the other at the chapel of Dr. Clemente Dayrit in Barrio Lourdes. Also, as a result of the misunderstanding, two processions, one organized by the church without the Apu’s image and the other with the Apu were held on His feast day. PEP
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to new colonizers and to the eventual triumph of Protestant Calvinism in the Philippines. The heavily-punished galleons, battle-scarred from violent skirmishes, then underwent repairs at Cavite where the best Filipino shipbuilders and woods craftsmen, mostly Kapampangan artisans serving under the Spanish Polo System (forced unpaid labor) did a labor of love. During the repair process the Cavite air was punctuated by the shouts of workers, inspired by the incredible victories of the galleons, “Viva la fe de Cristol Viva la Virgen del Rosario!” The Dutch fleet, with the fighting resolved of a determined pirate and the will of a proselytizing evangelist in a new territory, came back to engage its tormentors to change the tide of battle. For ten hours on September 24 in the same year, the two fought a forth battle near the Lubang Islands off the Batangas Coats. Once again before the onset of the fight, the SpanishFilipino crews summoned new courage and the magic of prayer, with more humility this time, as was recounted, despite unconscious surrender to, and dependence upon God, of man’s utter helplessness without Him, more so in fatal battles where the odds are overwhelming. This is reflective of the litany of the Rosary upon which ending the supplicator invokes the Holy Queen, our life, our saviour, and our hope. “O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.” For the fourth time, the enemy fled “as our ships pursued and gave fire still, though one, the Rosario, had been hit in the side and was feared for and yet it did not sink.” Seven defenders gave their lives. On October 3 having fed information that the Almirante was undergoing repairs in Cavite, the Dutch fleet sought revenge, and set on the Rosario and tried to demolish the single galleon in a grudge fight. It was three ships against one. Surrounded so close by the enemy ships that Rosario trembled from top to bottom when hit by simultaneously fire, the Rosario fought with equal fire. Imploring God’s providence once more, and the Virgin’s intercession, the lightning crew of Rosario out-steadied their foes in the sea brawl. It was at first an impossible triumph but the defenders in one vessel caused heavy damage to the Dutch ships and considerable casualties in their crews. One Dutch vessel was totally destroyed, the two others isolated and dispersed and while fleeing, were given additional fire-power and punishment by the ship Galeria sent to Rosario’s aid. In that last battle of La Naval only four crew members were lost. Never again did the Dutch adventurers threaten the Archipelago and possibly annex them to the Dutch East Indies then comprising the Malayan territories. Dominican priests Armando Broqueza and Jose Pinto summarized the significance of the La Naval victories. “On the success or failure of the alien venture depended in no small measure the future of the Filipino nation.” A defeat for the Spanish-Filipino forces would bring about the eventual extinction of the Catholic religion in the Philippines, and politically speaking, the placing of the Philippines under a different colonial master, they added. The Manila Ecclesiastical council on April 9, 1662, ordained that the five battles of La Naval be declared as miraculous, “granted by the Sovereign Lord through the intercession of the Most Holy Virgin and devotion to her Rosary, that the miracles be celebrated, preached and held in festivities and to be recounted among the miracles wrought by the Lady of the Rosary.” Now enshrined at the Sto. Domingo Church the Image of the La Naval de Manila is over 300 years old. The statue was ordered made by Luis Perez Dasmariñas, governor and captain-General of the Philippines at that time. The image was sculptured by a Chinese artist (a non-believer) under the
supervision of one Captain Hernando delos Rios. The sculptured masterpiece is described as one with “exotic beauty of an oriental dream into the face of Our Lady – high cheekbones, with limpid almond-shaped eyes delicately suffused with the caress of the sun. Once finished, the pagan sculptor was bewitched with his own creation. Writer Derly M. Navarro sums it up. “The longer he looked, the more he believed. Beauty touched the pagan’s heart and converted him to the faith. Never again could he be otherwise than Mary’s faithful child.” The La Naval statue has withstood a great conflagration of Manila in 1603 which also razed the Sto. Domingo church where the image was kept; the killer and devastating earthquakes of 1610 and 1863 which destroyed her third and fourth home; and the strong artillery fire and bombings of World War II, which demolished the fifth Sto. Domingo church into ruins. Dominican historians take pride in the incredible shield which seems to protect the image and her devotees within the vicinity of her enshrinement at the University of Sto. Tomas grounds. As confirmed by American and Filipino prisoners of war, internees and refugees, scores of bombs that fell in her surroundings failed to go off or exploded out of harm’s way of the refugees who sought emergency shelter inside the Santissimo Rosario Chapel at the UST. National Artist Nick Jaoquin writes that the La Naval was Old Manila’s procession de las procesiones which started with the Novena of the Sto. Rosario at the Dominican abode in Intramuros, a festivity “… which drew hordes of sightseers from the provinces so that every Manila house in the old days was crowded with country cousins in October: they came (and stayed the whole month) not only to attend the fiestas but also do their Christmas shopping.” “Every night there was a solemn novena to go to,” Joaquin recalls, “and the band concert afterwards, and then the crowded feria to be explored. And Sundays glittered with the most magnificent processions of the year.” Such was October in Manila. Such was “La Naval” fiesta time in old Kuliat town, too. THE PRESENT
October in Angeles is a nostalgic and happy prelude to the last quarter of the dying year, ushered by fresh breeze and balmy weather, the seasonal annunciation of the Oriental monsoon which whips instant rains in the early afternoon or a benign and slight drizzle at vesper time, the mist of evening subdued by the orange glow of globe lamps along Sto. Rosario, Miranda and Sto. Entierro streets, where students from the Holy Angel walk in pair, in group, or by one’s lonesome self, in search of the Filipino dream, get married and rear children and continue the human cycle year in and year out; by families who now established secondary roots, if not principal veins, in Angeles by choice or circumstance, a name-place that invoke old history and a colonial past; then known as Kuliat even after American Gls made it a honky-tonk town, littered by small dimly light bars and open-front kiosks with high chairs near the sidewalk, with beer bottles jampacked on the counter as a macho symbol of the drinking patron, a sign of his prodigal prowess and spending ability; garish lights and sentimental songs accompany a working father’s walk to the jeepney stop to a ride home, unmindful of a street brawl between two Gls slugging it out with local swains in the Jake Gonzales stretch as bystanders watch in glee, stoned by their own drinks and drenched by the apathy bathing their own frustrated blasted lives; still it was Kuliat in October, the intermittent rains at evening time unable to discourage the gang at the street corner from their daily haunts; with night vendors lightning their lamps at the poblacion area and positioned at their appointed places, the balut vendors huddled with their carbide-bottom baskets; the fruit vendors polishing imported apples under a bulb; an old woman ladles out coconut juice from a plastic container to a thirsty driver; night moths hovering at roasted peanuts at the corner store where a young girl, tending lumpia and banana fritters, concentrates at a cloth streamer, a movie illustration of a visibly sex-starved sucking the luscious neck of his partner, with eyes in semi-orgasmic longing. PEP _______________________________________________________________________ EDITOR’S NOTE: Originally published in the 1994 Fiestang Kuliat Souvenir Program, Ram Mercado’s story paints a nostalgic portrait of the old Kuliat town while at the same time shares a glimpse of the simple life in a fledgling Angeles City— a golden period that is now long gone. OCTOBER2011|PAMPANGAPEP|41
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years of La Naval WORDS: CARMELITO SUAREZ
L
Again, in 1934, shortly after midnight of La Naval’s eve A NAVAL FESTIVITY in honor of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, patroness of Angeles City is being celebrated pompously and with lots of merry-making, a typhoon with a devastating fury hit the town of Angeles. The residents who have been busy earlier making ready whenever circumstances permit, on every second Sunday of October each year. It was first celebrated in Angeles in 1834. It is being celebrated to commemorate for the festivity and preparing various delicacies for their the victory in 1646 of the Spanish naval fleet over the Dutch naval fleet in Philippine expected guests have busied themselves in protecting waters supposedly through the miraculous intercession of the Blessed Virgin of the their property from the typhoon’s onslaught, which Rosary. In Angeles it is also being celebrated in commemoration of the devotion of caused immense loss to property and standing crops. Two years later, in 1936, another typhoon again the early settlers to the Blessed Virgin. It was the practice of the wife of the founder Dona Rosalia de Jesus, and prevented the residents from observing the La Naval with early settlers to carry the image of the Blessed Virgin in procession in every new usual grandeur and gaiety. Very few residents braved the air raids of the American clearing with the belief that the new settlement will, thus, be protected from any misfortune. It was also because of this belief that the founders of Angeles - Don Air Force in 1944 and heard mass during the La Naval Angel Pantaleon de Miranda and Dona Rosalia de Jesus adopted the Blessed Virgin festivity. The townspeople did not prepare any celebration because of air raids being conducted almost daily by of the Rosary as the patroness Angeles. On October 1834 the first La Naval Festivity was held in Angeles (as per later the Americans. Though unwanted by the residents, the research of Don Mariano A. Henson shows and not in 1830 as reported in one US Navy “Hellcats” or Grumman F6F and the Japanese of his books) and was being observed every second Sunday of October of each Imperial Army artillery the residents were in their air raid year thereafter except when forces of nature or when tense and critical conditions shelters reciting the rosary. The following year, although La Naval was celebrated, obtaining Angeles renders it impossible to observe the festivity. Whenever occasions permit, however, a high mass is said in the morning no procession was held in the evening because of the followed by lots of merry-making throughout the day held with residents scarcity of transportation and most of the residents who preparing sumptuous and delicious meals for visiting relatives and acquaintances. have evacuated in other towns and barrios were still In the evening the images of the Blessed Virgin and other saints were carried in stranded there and could not participate in the festivity. procession in modest biers until in 1860 when costly and luxuriously carved and When almost everything was back to normal in 1946 the La Naval was celebrated with the usual pomp, merrygilded image floats were introduced. Recent researches made by Don Mariano A. Henson revealed that the founder of making and other activities that contributed to a great Angeles, Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda, donated cane and ricelands comprising extent to its very successful celebration after a lapse of doce quinines (69.3060 hectares) including a sugar mill of stone rollers with its many years. High mass was said in the morning and a corresponding implements altogether valued at P1,100 to the local Archiconfradia procession was held in the evening. In 1964 Angeles celebrated La Naval as a city. Twentydel Santisimo Rosario (Most Holy Rosary’s Archiconfraternity) to defray the expenses of the Novena and religious festivities of the La Naval and the Blessed seven years later, the city and nearby towns of Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales felt what was considered as the Virgin of the Rosary every first Sunday of the month. This donation was ratified at Bacolor, Pampanga on November 27, 1838 by Dr. greatest wrath of nature in the 20th century. On June Mariano Henson, LL.D., Juana de Miranda, Ciriaco de Miranda, and Mariano de 12, 1991 Mt. Pinatubo, a long dormant volcano in the Miranda as willed by their father Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda. (The donor Zambales mountain range, awoke from its deep slumber. Angeles City suffered most in economic displacement summoned 12 persons as witnesses to the donation and to look over the interest with the sudden withdrawal of the Americans from of the Archiconfradia). Through unforeseen circumstances, the La Naval was not celebrated in 1871 Clark Air Base and destruction of public infrastructure although the residents made pompous preparations as early as July of that year. like the city hospital, vital bridges, schools, business On the eve of La Naval a strong typhoon lashed the town leveling to the ground establishments and barangays along the Abacan River. A all the decorations of lanterns installed at the churchyard and on the main streets, simple observance of the La Naval and Feast of the Holy the bands stands, the arches on street intersection have all been swept out by the Sepulchre was held four months after. It would take only a year after the eruption of Pinatubo typhoon of intense velocity that visited the town. For the first time and only time, the La Naval was not celebrated in the town when a cross section of city residents grouped together proper but at Barangay Sapangbato. This was in 1899, the year when Filipino- upon the initiative of Angeles City Mayor Edgardo American hostilities started. As early as February of this year, people began to Pamintuan to form the Fiestang Kuliat Committee. evacuate to safer places. The parish priest at the time, Fr. Vicente Lapus, went to The committee organized barely two months before La Sapangbato and stayed with Don Segundo Tayag where he was proved by the latter Naval was tasked with what is perhaps “the City’s most memorable.” PEP with a chapel, constructed of bamboo frame and cogon grass thatch, to say mass. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EDITOR’S NOTE: This piece by the late Carmelito Suarez was originally titled “158 years of La Naval festivities” and published in the 1992 souvenir program of the Fiestang Kuliat. “Apung Lito” was the chairperson for the festivity’s Publicity and Souvenir Magazine Committee. Abstracted from Mariano A. Henson’s Brief History of Angeles (1964, by permission). Some changes have been made to keep it upon date. OCTOBER2011|PAMPANGAPEP|43
“CASH WIDUS” GRAND RAFFLE PROMO FROM CASINO WIDUS
P3.5M for lucky winners! CASINO WIDUS recently launched “Cash Widus,” the biggest-ever cash raffle promo inside Clark Freeport Zone with a total of P3.5 million at stake for twelve lucky winners. Agnes ‘Neki’ Liwanag, the casino’s marketing and business development manager, said one lucky “Cash Widus” raffle winner every month from March to December this year will each get P100,000 in cash prize culminating in the grand raffle draws during the gaming facility’s anniversary on December 18, 2011. “As part of our anniversary celebrations on December 18, a not-so-minor prize of Php500,000 in cold cash will be given away to one lucky winner. For the grand raffle prize, Casino Widus will actually give away Php2 million in cash to one very, very lucky
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winner!” Neki Liwanag said. According to her, any guest or patron at the US$20 million hotel and casino complex can get a chance to win in Casino Widus’ “Cash Widus” promo. “All they have to do iss play in any of Casino Widus’ participating tables (where terms ms and conditions apply),” Neki Liwanag explained. The huge cash raffle draws are but some of the latest promo offerings of Casino o Widus to further entertain its growing list of foreign reign and local players. Last year, Casino Widus us and Hotel Vida successfully launched the “Stay, Play and Drive” promo wherein a brand and new Toyota Altis was given away. For inquiries regarding the promo, romo, interested parties may call Casino sino Widus at 045-499-9999 and ask the Customer Service Department nt for assistance. Casino Widus and d Hotel Vida are part of the busyy hotel and casino strip of Clark Freeport Zone found along its main thoroughfare, the M. A. Roxas Highway.
FLASHBACK
a crestfallen city celebrates I
N AN ATTEMPT to dispel the general anxiety ushered in by Mt. Pinatubo and the bases pull out from Angeles City, the Pamintuan administration opted to commemorate the city’s annual twin La Naval and Apu feasts with a month-long celebration of arts and culture dubbed “Fiestang Kuliat.” Unlike in the past, where pomp and pageantry had been the staple of the yearly festival, this year’s twin fiesta was uncharacteristically modest. Lavish expenditures were apparently done away with even as organizers had taken care to line up activities specifically acclaimed at raising funds and generating assistance for the thousands of Pinatubo victims in the city. “This probably the first time guests were required to pay for their meals,” said Fiesta Food Committee Chairperson Carmen Tayag McTavish, referring to the recently held fiesta food preview at the Circa 1860 building along St. Rosario Street. Launched last September 27, the food preview had guests mostly members of the Manila media, who had their time sampling the best of Kapampangan dishes. “I must say that everybody delighted themselves with adobong camaru, paku (fern salad) including the famed Aling Lucing’s sisig,” McTavish said, adding that given the success of the fiesta food, Angeles has a bright future as one of the country’s premiere culinary center. Aside from promoting the city’s gastronomic instruction, fiesta organizers are quite vocal about their vision for Angeles city as a future tourist haven in Pampanga. Former provincial board member Ruben Henson, for one, reported that several international and local tour agencies have already been receiving inquiries from tourism on the possibility of organized lahar tours in Angeles City. AGYU TAMU To give the celebration a social edge, organizers of the Fiestang Kuliat had seen it fit to adopt as theme of the month-long activity the city government’s battle cry “Ika, Aku, Agyu Tamu”— move many observers described as “timely” especially in face of Angeles City’s crestfallen state. In Balibago, where business has yet to recover since the collapse of the Abacan Bridge in June of last year, fiesta organizers came up with “Tigtigan, Terakan Keng Dalan,” a 24-hour Mardi gras-type dance musicfest in a bid to help revive this once bustling district. Staged last October 24, the activity which drew crowds numbering in the thousands, was seen by many as a much needed boost for Balibago’s economy. The entertainment district has now regained its former luster bolstered by the construction of the four- lane Abacan Bridge and the continued support of the Angeles Casino Filipino. For the first time, the Angeles City gay community took an active role in the fiesta celebration. Gigi Paras led the United Gay Power Movement (UGPM) in the successful Mutya Ning Angeles contest. The participants of the Mutya joined early walkers in the
WORDS: FRANCIS SISON
‘Lumakad Tamu’. Chaired by boxing enthusiast Bruce McTavish supported by the city sports coordinator Bert Ticsay and civic leader Ben Henson, the exercise was joined by government employees, civic organizations, and students. Lumakad is one of the highlights of the month-long sports component of Fiestang Kuliat. One last impression of the fiesta celebration, are the wall paintings done by the professional and among artists. Given the theme “Agyu Tamu,” each participant portrayed hope and cooperation in their individual works. The last day of the activity bought evacuees and street children in a fun-filled day. “Aldo Da Reng Anac” offered games, entertainment and open cartoon showing courtesy of Dennis Uy of the Angeles City Cable Television Network. MIXED REACTIONS While Fiestang Kuliat has been receiving praises from the national media, the festivity and each organizer are getting the mud pie from some obviously miffed sectors in the community. Pundits, for one, have dubbed Fiestang Kuliat as Pesteng Kuliat or Fiestang Mayayaman, owing of the fact that most of the activities lined up for the month-long celebration, with the obvious exception of “Tigtigan, Terakan,” which was unarguably “pang masa”… appeared to appeal only to the city’s more affluent families. While, Fiesta organizer are quick to point out that proceeds from the celebration will benefit Pinatubo victims, not to mention the city government’s cleanliness and peace and order campaign, observers noted that it is the composition of the fiesta committee which drew much of the flak. Incidentally, most of the members of the Fiestang Kuliat Committee belong to the city’s prominent Tayag and Henson clan.“Somebody’s has to do the job and it so happens that we have been tapped,” Fiestang Kuliat Chairperson Josie Dizon Henson explained, adding that despite the negative feedback this year’s fiesta celebration will go down as one of the city’s most memorable. FEEDBACK AFTER THE FIESTA True to its commitment, the Fiestang Kuliat Committee has already donated numerous equipment and materials for the peace and order and cleanliness drive campaign of the city. Chairperson Josie Henson recently turned over four handheld radios 02N, two battery chargers, one amplifier with three horns with driver kit, one microphone and one cassette recorder to acting Angeles City police chief Eden Reyes. The Department of Public Service (DPS) received 20 pieces of hay fork, 20 pieces of flat shovels, 10 pieces of pick mattock, 20 steel rakes 20, wheelbarrows, 20 empty drums, 500 midrib brooms plus 56 gallons of reflectorized rubberized paints for pedestrian crossing and sidewalk illumination. The committee also decided to sponsor art skills workshops for the evacuees. PEP
EDITOR’S NOTE: Written by Angeles Sun Senior Editor Francis Sison, this article was first reprinted with the permission from the Sun Monthly in the 1992 Fiestang Kuliat Souvenir Program with the original title Fiestang Kuliat ’92, A Crest Fallen City Celebrates.
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PERSPECTIVE
FIESTANG KULIAT
and the start of things big WORDS: JESUS ‘JAY’ SANGIL
P
EOPLE ATTENDING SUNDAY mass at the Holy Rosary Parish Church in Angeles City were thrown into a mild pandemonium when they discovered to their surprise, the most illustrious VIP of the land seated in their midst on the front pew – President Fidel V. Ramos, together with wife, Mrs. Amelita “Ming” Ramos. What doubly astonished the churchgoers was the appearance of the President at the Catholic Church despite his being Protestant.“Ano kayang iisipin ni Cardinal Sin, sa pagsimba ni Presidente sa simbahang Katoliko?” a churchgoer said. The first couple had been invited by Angeles Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan during the recent traditional observance of the La Naval fiesta of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the holy patroness of this city. Ramos at the Holy Rosary Parish Church The President going against the advice of his Presidential Security Group (PSG) guards attended the four o’clock noon Mass officiated by a local priest. The crowd inside the church took notice of Mr. Ramos and the First Lady only after he was introduced by Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, D.D of the Pampanga archdiocese, who also joined the President, at the end of the Mass. A wild applause broke out among the churchgoers as people shrieked and cheered while attempting to get to shake the President’s hand.Unknown to the churchgoers, security men in civilian clothes have earlier been deployed around the church premises before the Malacanang couple slipped in for the Mass. Mayor Pamintuan later told his churchgoer-constituents: “The presence of a Protestant president in the Catholic church just goes to show that President Ramos does not practice religious discrimination.” On invitation of Archbishop Aniceto, the President spoke before the altar microphone saying that he and Mrs. Ramos “are in Angeles City just to attend the La Naval fiesta observed each year and visit the lahar-affected areas.” At his church remarks, Mr. Ramos took time to congratulate Pampanga folks for having survived and overcome the life’s adversities caused by the Mount Pinatubo eruption and the subsequent withdrawal of Americans at Clark Air Base. He promised to continue supporting Mt. Pinatubo victims and the conversion plans for the former U.S facility of Clark. The President also assured people living in lahar-affected areas of continuing rehabilitation efforts by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
RAMOS ON CLARK DEVELOPMENT
At the mayor’s residence, Pamintuan told the President that Angeles City now pulsates with hope and optimism of rising above the tragedy. Despite the Mt. Pinatubo eruption and the subsequent closure of Clark, the city’s economy posted tangible growth by seven percent on revenues. On Clark development, the President assured the Pampanga officials and their constituents, business leaders and other NGO’s of his administration’s plans to convert the former American facility into an international airport. To allay fears of local authorities and their constituents that the huge Clark project might not push through, the President said his authorization of several multi-million dollar investments on Clark “is enough evidence of our good visions for the former American military reservation.” The President said he has already invited and welcomed to the country foreign investors from different countries to put up lucrative business on Clark. Mr. Ramos also expressed great optimism that the full conversion of Clark into a special economic zone “will eventually create a ripple of progress that will ultimately generate mass employment of people throughout Central Luzon.” For his part, Mayor Pamintuan said Clark’s bid to become a major gateway for international and domestic travels can spur economic growth in Pampanga and the rest of Central Luzon. “An airport accessible to local and global transport should make our region a prime investment area, that would, among others, create job opportunities for our constituents,” the mayor added. At the mayor’s residence The presidential couple and a host of Cabinet members, senators and congressmen, mayors and governors and other local and business leaders, including several Angeles residents were earlier feted at a luncheon given at the residence of Mayor Pamintuan. To name a few guests, aside from the Malacanang couple, during the Fiesta celebration were: Senators Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Butz Aquino, Rodolfo Biazon, Santanina Rasul, Sonny Alvarez, Ramon Revilla, Executive Secretary Tito Guingona, Vicente Carlos of Tourism, Jess Garcia of Transportation, Gregorio Vigilar of Public Works, Corazon Alma de Leon of DSWD and Mount Pinatubo Commission, Governors Bren Z. Guiao of Pampanga, Tingting Cojuangco of Tarlac, Amor Deloso of Zambales, Central Luzon congressmen and several others. PEP
EDITOR’S NOTE: We are reprinting this story of veteran reporter-turned-Angeles City councilor Jay Sangil, who was in the 1990s one of the provincial correspondents of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, to remind our readers of the significant impact of the annual Fiestang Kuliat on the development of Angeles City and the transformation of Clark from a military base to a special economic zone and later into a Freeport, as well as the festivities’ profound effect on both the local community and prominent personalities. Mr. Sangil’s article originally entitled President Ramos in church causes mild uproar was first reprinted in the 1993 Fiestang Kuliat Souvenir Program. 46|PAMPANGAPEP|OCTOBER2011
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