The Churches of Pampanga: A Lenten Journey

It was Black Saturday, April 7, 2007 here in the Philippines. For weeks now, I have been trying to firm up a Holy Week activity where members of my CFC unit could join, ideally, along with their family members. In the end, only the Espera couples, Bro. Dodie and Sis Eva, along with my wife Odette, two of our kids Joshua and Faith, with their nanny Maymay, were able to join our host couple, Bro. Omin and Sis. Nette Del Castillo in this "pioneering" journey as a unit to the churches in the province of Pampanga, many of which we were to see and visit for the very first time.

Our journey started in the Municipality of Sta. Ana, a small town on the eastern side of the province. The first church we visited was in this area, St. Anne's Parish Church. Since it was Black Saturday, churches were actually closed though not entirely closed to the public. Actually people inside were busy cleaning the premises and preparing for the Easter celebration tomorrow commemorating the Lord’s glorious resurrection.

Joshua and Faith inside St. Anne's Parish Church

Next stop was St. Catherine Parish in the adjacent town of Arayat, Pampanga. During the church visits whenever possible, we go inside, individually pray and then move on to the next site.

Near the town is Pampanga’s most recognizable natural landmark, Mt. Arayat. An inactive volcano, Mt. Arayat is also known to leftist elements as Karl Marx University where political cadres indoctrinated its recruits and supporters especially during their heydays in the 70’s and 80’s.

A long dormant volcano, Mt. Arayat looms over the horizon.

We pose near the back of the church’s belfry in Magalang , Pampanga

In front of the Magalang Church

Joshua and Faith jostle each other for the use of the native hammock

By noon time, we went over to the Ignacio family residence in Sta. Maria, Mexico, Pampanga where some of the relatives and father of Sis. Nette lived. The families of Sis. Nette’s siblings were also there that day something which I’m sure made it extra special for her.

The Ignacio family led by their patriarch, Tatang Gaudencio prepared a sumptuous meal for us. There were grilled fish like hito (mudfish), local delicacies like burong dalag (preserved fish with rice), litson manok (roasted chicken), nilaga (boiled meat with broth), steamed rice, bagoong (sautéed shrimp paste) with green mangoes, etc.

While the Lenten journey was food for the soul, before us was nourishment for the body

The Ignacio property was full of mango and guava trees (much to our delight!)

Mangoes and guavas as far as the eyes can see…!

Look….up in the trees….!

It’s a bird, it’s a plane! It’s….Sis. Eva!

Grotto at the Sta. Monica Parish in Mexico, Pampanga

The Sta. Monica Parish church facade was under construction

The Sto. Domingo Parish Church in Mexico, Pampanga

Joshua and Faith pose beside the altar at Sto. Domingo Parish Church

Joshua stands beside the statue of San Fernando, Patron Saint of the City of San Fernando, the provincial capitol. It is situated inside the compound of the Cathedral church in the heart of San Fernando.

Razon’s – San Fernando branch

The summer heat was very intense that afternoon. From the Cathedral of San Fernando we decided to cool down ourselves with the refreshing Halo-halo of Razon’s. While the first Razon’s Restaurant may be found in the municipality of Guagua, it has grown through the years with branches in San Fernando and even in Metro Manila. While their halo-halo may not have as many ingredients like the other version, it does have value for your money and will surely satisfy even the people with the most discriminating taste for cold snacks or dessert. They say the palabok in this establishment is also a best seller. I didn’t get to try it though on this occasion. But we were able to buy a bottle of taba ng talangka (orange colored small crab fat paste) – a sinfully cholesterol-packed temptation I couldn’t resist and special San Nicolas cookies.

Next stop ---Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Dolores, City of San Fernando

St. Agustin Parish in San Agustin, San Fernando

If my memory serves me right, I believe this is the church where Bro. Omin and Sis. Nette told us they tied the wedding knot.

Sacred Heart Parish in Telabastagan, San Fernando

Joshua stands in front of the Sto. Niňo (Child Jesus) statue inside the Carmelite Monastery in San Jose, Angeles City

Cathedral of the Holy Rosary in Sto. Rosario, Angeles City

The Cathedral of the Holy Rosary was the last church we visited that day. We prayed to the Blessed Sacrament at its Adoration Chapel at the back of the church.

Susie’s Cuisine at the Nepo Mart, Angeles City

Home to the best native kakanin (different varieties of rice cake) of Pampanga, some of the group went inside Susie’s Cuisine to buy some delicacies as pasalubong (treats from someone homeward bound).

When in Clark, Pampanga, do what the Kapampangans do --- buy px goods!

No, we didn’t buy wines and spirits but we were able to buy some imported items from Puregold in Clarkfield, Pampanga, our last stop in the province.

Back in Quezon City, we dropped off the Espera couple near their home in the place we now call as Pandoy. Then the rest of us passed by the home of the Cajipe couple to drop off our pasalubong. Then the Del Castillos dropped my family off at our West Fairview home.

Unsurprisingly, this road trip went beyond its religious purpose. While it provided ample time to commune with God, it also provided us the time to commune with His creations, the simple wonders of nature.

Moreover, it became a time for bonding and fellowship among members of our CFC Unit. It was a time for giving thanks to God….for His graces, His blessings....His Son.

Thank you God for this meaningful journey with You.

Cagayan de Oro: The City of Golden Friendship

I was recently in Cagayan de Oro, a city way down south in the province of Misamis Oriental….only for the third time in my life. The first two were way back in May of 2003. I was then part of the OMB team as facilitator and support staff that conducted capability-building seminar workshops on the investigation and prosecution of ombudsman cases. This time, I headed the OMB secretariat for the first leg of a nationwide series of seminar- workshops on procurement training for trainers, observers and monitors. All these three events were conducted in the same venue, the Country Village Hotel in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.

Dubbed as the City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro lives up to its reputation. People were indeed friendly, a trait i think that is generally characteristic of Filipinos anywhere, but most especially so in the not so urban places of the archipelago. In Mindanao, where poverty and religious intolerance sadly continues to fuel strife in many places, Cagayan de Oro is one of those areas that show peace and harmonious co-existence between people of different faiths is very possible indeed!

Ably assisted by OMB Mindanao staff Cheryl Lu and Vivian Matugas

A Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM) run school in Cagayan de Oro

With CSO participants by the hotel's poolside

With some of the training participants and organizers

Trying out the city's alternative means of transportation - the "motorela"

A cultural melting pot and important booming commercial center for Northwestern Mindanao, this is often seen in the wide variety of merchandise that can be bought in the city from various places of the region. Delicasies for example such as the famous Pastel (dinner rolls or buns with sweet 'yema' filling) from the province of Camiguin can now be bought from a local branch of the award-winning Vjandep Bakeshop in Cagayan de Oro. Roasted peanuts by Chedings and the 'pinakurat' (spicy fermented coconut vinegar) i bought in the city actually come from Iligan City in the province of Lanao del Norte. So with the case of the aromatic arabica coffee produced by the Benedictine monks of the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

That's not to say that Cagayan de Oro is not famous for anything genuinely Cagayanon. One should try out their local version of the ham and other pork products from establishments like Oro Ham. For the more health conscious visitor, i recommend local delicasies like Fely's Homemade Baked Garlic Peanuts and Cheese Sticks manufactured by SN Food Products as pasalubong to one's family back home.

Buying pasalubong at the heart of the city's commercial district known as "Divisoria"

As always, one doesn't really get so much time to see the sights during official travels like in the conduct of these trainings. As a springboard to scenic areas like Mt. Kitanglad National Park of Bukidnon, the Maria Cristina Falls of Lanao del Norte and Lake Lanao of Lanao del Sur, and equally famous for its white water rafting, it leads one to wish he had all the time to experience all the sights and adventure of Cagayan de Oro.

Home sweet home