Grand Parade at the Santo Niño de Bago Bantay in Quezon City

Santo Niño exhibit within the Diocesan Shrine of Santo Niño in Bago Bantay is one of the highlight of the annual festival.

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There were 486 Santo Niño mostly owned by the residents of the community were on display for 9 days.

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According to the one manning the exhibit, There were a lot of residents who keep the image and statues of the child jesus.

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church facade

The area is just within 1 to 2 kilometers away from SM North EDSA, DEPED -Quezon City and Trinoma Mall.

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early mass

History of Santo Niño in Bago Bantay

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The devotion of the child jesus can coincide with the establishment of Bago Bantay. Bago-Bantay started as a small visita in the early 1930’s under the jurisdiction of San Pedro de Bautista parish in San Francisco del Monte in Quezon City.

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umbrellas at the church yard

After the second world war immigrants from the city of Manila and nearby cities eventually moved in the vicinity.

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After thousands of displaced families moved from war ravaged Manila, Caloocan and nearby cities  due to the destruction from World War II. The migration came from the late 1940’s and early 1960s.

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Sto. Niño de Bago Bantay with new vestment

These new migrants brought more problems to the community, as criminal gangs started carving their territories through the streets of Bago-Bantay and adjacent area.

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colorful ati-atihan costumes

Petty crimes, snatching, criminal activities started creating problems within the surrounding area.  Bago Bantay area is almost synonymous to Tondo in Manila or Bagong Barrio in Caloocan.

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In 1957, the parish became under Santa Rita Parish of Philam Life and in 1961 under the jurisdiction of Christ the King parish in Project 7.

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church facade and belfry

On May 3, 1967, Rufino Cardinal Santos decreed the erection of new parish under the patronage of Santo Niño with 25,625 residents.

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marker

On May 3, 1967, RT Reverend Miguel P. Nuguid was appointed as the first parish priest and vicar forane.

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Santo Niño Parochial School

The local authorities tried their best to remedy the situation, nothing much was achieved until the arrival of Fr. Miguel P. Nuguid as the parish priest in 1967.

Father Miguel Nuguid together with some parishioners started to conduct home visitation.

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marker

He also worked with the retired public school teacher, Mrs. Romana Delos Angeles, the Catholic Women’s League and residents to establish the Santo Niño Parochial School in 1968.

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The priest also spearheaded for the construction of a new church which is now known as Diocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño de Bago Bantay, Quezon City.

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current parish priest

It was in the early 1970’s that a master plan surfaced for construction of a permanent church of the Sto. Niño. On January 14, 1973 the church was consecrated and dedicated to the Holy Infant Jesus. In 1976, the Sto. Niño Church became the seat of the newly created vicariate made up them of seven parishes. This was an important historical event in the life of the parish.

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On March 26, 1978, the devotees of the Sto. Niño witnessed the laying and blessing of the cornerstone of the permanent church where the Silver Sto. Niño would be enshrined.

In January 14, 1983 , finally the new shrine was dedicated by Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.

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Grand Parade

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The grand parade started early after the early dawn mass by the parish priest, there was a street dancing competition were students of the nearby parochial school participated.

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firecrackers were lighted prior to the street dancing competition

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long lines of well-wishers and residents

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street near the church

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parade route

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mass schedule

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parishioners in ati-atihan costume ( photo courtesy by Mr. Vladimir Estocado)

There were also several residents who brought their cherished and beloved images and statues of the child jesus during the parade.

References and Sources:

Dedication Marker

Santo Niño Parish Church

Historical marker

Personal interview of Bago Bantay residents

Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao website

Photo credits: Vladimir Estocado, Santo Niño Parish and the author

Historical Christmas Celebration Jump Start in Kawit, Cavite

Kawit is a historical town in Cavite province which is very near Metro Manila. Despite the hustle and bustle of the busy and traffic streets and establishments, everyone busy getting their Christmas shopping done.

Christmas tree lighting ceremonies held at the Aguinaldo Shrine and Freedom Park

There are a few sights and sounds in nearby areas where we can feel the true spirit of a Filipino Christmas, especially with our loved ones.

The Christmas lighting event was held last December 14, 2019, and a number of distinguished guests and celebrities joined in the celebration of the event.

Historical Christmas Celebration and Culinary Heritage

Puto Bumbong

Puto Bumbong or a rice cake with shaved coconut and muscovado sugar is a staple food trip stop that shouldn’t be missed when visiting Kawit.

Aling Norma’s Suman – a tour in the town is incomplete without buying the famous suman made from Toclong, Kawit. I have written an article about the delicacies from the town.

Aguinaldo Shrine

Aguinaldo Shrine is situated wherein the Philippine flag that we know of today was first waved publicly announcing our Independence by none other than the first Filipino President Emilio Aguinaldo. There’s also a lot to learn about our first president and how he has lived his life and times during the revolution era.

Museo ni Baldomero Aguinaldo hailed towards the cousin of Emilio Aguinaldo and grandfather of Cesar Virata who as a prime minister in the 1980s.

Kawit Church or Saint Magdalene Church was built around 1737 and Emilio Aguinaldo was baptized in this church. His birth certificate is kept on the left side of the altar.

 Pandayan or the local blacksmithing shops which is an endangered craft that needs to be promoted and preserved. The local Pandayan is still active and you can still buy handcrafted knives and bolos made the same way during the Revolutionary era.

Kawit celebrates the Christmas season through a spectacular display of lights at the Aguinaldo Shrine and Freedom Park.

A fireworks display and lighting of the Christmas lights at the Freedom Park was also held. Make sure to v isit Kawit Cavite this Christmas Season and enjoy the season filled with pride in our own heritage and historical sites in Kawit.

The Municipality of Kawit welcomes everyone who wishes to visit Kawit during the Christmas season.

 

American Regime Manila Thru Postcards (Part 3)

Manila and her immediate towns and landmarks were always the main feature during the American regime.

Escolta street earn the moniker “Queen of Manila’s street” since this one of the oldest street and a major street of the city.

One of the oldest streets in Manila, Escolta was created in 1594. Its name was derived from the Spanish word escoltar, meaning “to escort”. This was further developed during the late Spanish and American colonial regime when tall buildings were built.

Another important note is this street would host ticker tape parade when visiting dignitaries, crowned beauty queens and heads of states even until the mid-1970’s.

There was an obscure ordinance in Manila that requiring men to wear formal dress when within Escolta. This was finally repealed in the early this millennium.

American Regime Postcards

Avenida Rizal

Avenida Rizal is one of the important commercial centers of pre-war Manila. This comprises of Quiapo, Santa Cruz district. The business activity from Avenida Rizal is an extension from nearby Escolta. Some businessmen preferred this district since rentals is a little bit lower compared to Escolta, Chinatown or Binondo.

Bridge of Spain with trolley tracks and industrial area

Bridge of Spain – Is one of the most featured bridge of Manila during the late Spanish and American regime.  This postcard was probably printed before 1914 flood which had almost destroyed the bridge.

Government Printing Plant– postcards was issued around 1909. This building was one of the casualties of the last war.

Philippine General Hospital– This hospital is one of the facilities built by the Americans.

Manila Hotel– is the grand dame of hotels in the city, opened in 1912, it was once the residence of General Douglas Macarthur. Ernest Hemingway, to say, ‘It’s a good story if it’s like the Manila Hotel,”. This hotel is one of the most featured hotel in the country.

Most of the landmarks featured were infrastructure built by Spanish and American colonial government. Please try to visit my previous post on postcards issued during the American regime .

Link to “American regime Manila thru Postcards” Part 2 and Part 1

Sources and References:

Collins English Dictionary : Postal Card

Littrell, Robert, Ed; Postal Cards of Spanish Colonial Cuba, Philippines, Puerto Rico, UPSS, 2010.

Personal interview from postcard collectors

Philippine Postcards page 130 to 137 Consuming Passions

Rare Glimpse of Philippine Chinese Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall within Manila Chinese Cemetery

The small group of about 10 friends went at the iconic Manila Chinese Cemetery. We spotted that the door of the Philippine Chinese Anti-Japanese War Memorial hall was  open.

Philippine Chinese Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall

According to the caretaker of the war memorial hall, They would only open the hall during November 1 or during important meeting of the association.

Consul General Clarence Young road corner Chun Chin road

We were quite lucky to have the rare chance of seeing the collection. Our group wrote  our names at the visitors log-book and took sometime exploring the museum.

Manila Chinese Cemetery south entrance ( Felix Huertas street) Santa Cruz, Manila

Wha Chi historical marker installed in 1994

Although i have been at the memorial hall several times before, have not brought any camera to document my visit. It is good that some of my friends brought some cameras.

NHCP historical marker installed in 2005

The memorial hall is neatly landscaped with blooming ixora ( santans), champagne palms and potted Adenium obesum ( Bangkok kalachuchi).

boy with native hat mannequin

Philippine Chinese Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall

staircase going to the second floor

The memorial hall is grouped into two parts, The first part consists of pre-Pacific war materials, when the Filipino- Chinese supported the war of resistance against Japanese aggression in China. The second part consists of materials after the Pacific war broke out.

That was the period when the Filipino-Chinese joined hands with the Filipino people and American forces to resist Japanese occupation. They organized their own guerilla groups and gallantly engaged the enemy in actual combat, and in so doing, made them indelible contribution to international war.

The materials on display includes historical photos,charts, books, paper money, flag, medals, uniform, map and paintings.

San Pablo, Laguna massacre of hundred of innocent civilians among which are Filipino-Chinese  (painting)

mimeograph machine

Although far from being complete, these at least represent the veins of that period in history.

bas relief

The group was also lucky and got a chance to visit the balcony area, We were able to view a big portion of the cemetery and surrounding skylines.

Manila Chinese cemetery and immediate surroundings

Aside from tombstones, historical personalities, bird watching activities, jogging and biking. Manila Chinese Cemetery can boast of its own unique nice flora.

Note: Special “Thanks” to Mr. Roland Roman Roldan for some of the photos with watermarks, He is an online friend  used to work as a photographer and cameraman in a reputable media entity.