1. ANGELES, LOS ANGELES
CUSTODIOS, VIRGEN DEL ROSARIO DE LA NAVAL
Originally called
Culiat, the name was changed to Angeles in honor of its titular patron saints,
Los Santos Angeles Custodios (the Holy Guardian Angels) and the founder whose
name was Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda.
Also considered patroness is the Virgin of the Holy Rosary, with the pisamban maragul of Angeles dedicated to her. Feast Day: 2nd Sunday (La Naval)
and last Friday of October. Feast of Holy Angels: October 2.
Apalit, one of the ancient towns of Pampanga is under the
patronage of San Pedro Apostol (Saint Peter the Apostle). He is
represented seated on a throne, wearing papal tiara and holding a 3-barred
papal cross. An annual colorful traditional fluvial parade since 1844 is held in honor of the pope saint. The shrine of the
ivory image of St. Peter, called "Apung Iru," is venerated by the
townspeople the whole year round. San Pedro is the patron of patron of papacy,
fishermen, and in the Philippines, of cockfighters. Feast day: June 29.
4. BACOLOR, SAN GUILLERMO ERMITAÑO
Known in the old days as Baculud, the town’s patron is San Guillermo Ermitaño ( St. William the
Hermit), who founded the Williamites branch of St. Augustine. He led a life of
decadence but was converted after an audience with Pope Eugene III who asked
him to do acts of penance in Jerusalem. After returning to Italy,
he became a hermit in the woods near Pisa, before moving to the desert of
Maleval. He is often confused with San Guillermo de Aquitania (St. William,
Duke of Aquitaine). San Guillermo’s attributes include a skull (to symbolize man's mortality), and a
crucifix, (upon which he reflected on Christ's passion), and a penitent's whip.
Feast Day: February 10
5. CANDABA, SAN ANDRES
APOSTOL
Old Candaba or Candawe is placed under the protection of San
Andres Apostol (St. Andrew the Apostle), where an ancient stone church bears
his name. he is the patron saint of fishermen and also countries like Greece,
Russia and Scotland. Tradition depicts the martyred apostle crucified on an
X-shaped cross. Feast day: November 30
6. FLORIDABLANCA, SAN
JOSE
Documented records indicated that since 1823 there had
already been a chapel with a Capellan in the “Hacienda de San Jose de Caumpaui”
(or Caumpuit). Apparently, this barrio was the forerunner of the town, we now
call Floridablanca. San Jose (St. Joseph), the spouse of the Virgin Mary and
the adoptive father of Jesus, continues to be the patron of the town. Thus, he
is also the oatron saint of father, home hunters, laborers and working people.
Feast day: March 19.
7. GUAGUA, IMMACULADA
CONCEPCION
The town that was once known as “Uaua” (lake) was actually
an inland port that contributed to its prosperity. But of course, many faithful
attribute the town’s progress to the Immaculada
Concepcion (Virgin of the Immaculate Conception), Guagua’s patroness. A 17th c. baroque church is dedicated to her name. Feast day: December 8.
8. LUBAO, SAN AGUSTIN DE
HIPPO
The low-lying town of Lubao that gave the country 2 presidents, is home to a
massive neo-classic church where one can find the likeness of its patron
saint, San Agustin de Hippo (St.
Augustine of Hippo). The wayward saint was converted through the prayers of her
mother, St. Monica. He is represented asa bishop, holding a church in one
hand,and a staff in the other. He is the patron of theologians, printers and
brewers. He is also invoked against sore eyes. Feast day: August 28, but moved to May 5 due to the rainy season.
9. MABALACAT, MADRE
DIVINA GRACIA
The Augustinian Recollects have always had an early devotion
to the Nuestra Señora de las Gracias (Our Lady of Graces) and they propagated this devotion among Mabalaqueño converts. The original shrine in
Guadalupe, Makati was first dedicated to her Divine Grace. To this day,
Mabalacat town continues to be under Her patronage. The seated “Apung Gracia”
is shown holding Baby Jesus in Her lap.
Feast Day: Originally June 9, but moved to February 2, to coincide with
the Presentation of our Lord.
10. MACABEBE, SAN NICOLAS
DE TOLENTINO
One of the oldest and most prosperous settlements in
Pampanga has the wonder worker monk, San Nicolas de Tolentino (St. Nicholas of
Toletino) for its patron saint. He is said to have cured the sick with bread, now known as "panecillos de
saniculas", in the Philippines. The saint is represented wearing a
star-studded habit holding a cross and a plate on which a roasted partridge was
miraculously revived to life. He is invoked against fires and is the patron
saint of the dying, sick animals, souls in Purgatory, babies and mothers. Feast
Day: September 10.
11. MAGALANG, SAN
BARTOLOME APOSTOL
Magalang was once located at San Bartolome, a barrio under the jurisdiction of Concepcion. When the town moved southwards to
its present site due to flooding , it retained San Bartolome Apostol (St,
Bartholomew the Apostle) as its patron. As he is represented in art being
flayed alive, the martyr saint has become the patron of tanners and shoemakers.
Feast day: August 24
12. MASANTOL, SAN MIGUEL
ARCANGEL
The people of the southern town of Masantol consider San
Miguel Arcangel (St. Michael the Archangel) as their protector. The warrior
angel is represented waging a fight against Devil whom he has trampled
underfoot, wielding a shield and a sword. He is the patron of supermarket
operators and grocers (his iconography includes a weighing scale), mariners,
police and doctors. Feast day; May 8
(follows the feast of his apparition on Mt. Gargano in Italy in the 6th century, an not his actual Sept. 29 feast
day).
13. MEXICO, STA. MONICA
The virtuous woman who managed to convert both her pagan
husband, Patricius, and her pleasure-seeking son, Augustine, is the patroness of Mexico—Sta. Monica. She is
invoked against domestic abuse, and is a patron saint of mothers. Patron of
wives and mothers. Emblems: girdle, tears, handkerchief, cross. Feast day: May
4 (following the pre-1969 General Roman calendar. In 1969 the Roman Catholic Church moved the
observance to August 27)
14. MINALIN, STA. MONICA
Minalin, another Pampanga town of great age, shares the same
titular patroness as Mexico—Sta, Monica, the prayerful mother of St. Augustine.
She is usually shown in a widow’s black
outfit as a sign of her mourning. Other emblems: girdle, tears, handkerchief,
cross. Feast day: second sunday of May (coincides with Mother's Day).
15. PORAC, STA. CATALINA
DE ALEJANDRIA
The town of Porac also shares both a patron saint and a
fiesta celebration with Arayat. The people venerate Sta. Catalina de Alejandria
(St. Catherine of Alexandria) as their patroness, whom the fondly call “Apung
Tali”. Feast day: November 25
16. SAN FERNANDO, SAN
FERNANDO REY
The capital city of San Fernando is named after its patron,
St, Ferdinand III, Confessor and King of Castile. A man of great faith and
devotion, especially to Our Lady, Ferdinand founded and funded hospitals,
bishoprics, monasteries, and churches. He was a just ruler, often pardoning
those who worked against the crown. Patron of engineers, prisoners of war,
magistrates, rulers, paupers. The holy king is shown crowned. with his royal
cape, armed with a sword and holding an orb. Feast day: May 30 (date of death
of the saint) moved to May 1
17. SAN LUIS, SAN LUIS
GONZAGA
The young aristocrat-turned Jesuit saint San Luis Gonzaga
(St. Aloysius Gonzaga) gave this town its name. It is also the masculine
derivative of one Doña Luisa, the wife of the town lawyer who won a territorial
dispute case against neighboring Sta. Ana. The saint, who died at age 23, is
depicted with his attributes: lily, cross, skull, rosary. He is the patron of Christian youth, AIDS
sufferers, teenagers, students. Feast day: April 25
18. SAN SIMON, VIRGEN DEL
PILAR
The people of San Simon celebrate two town fiestas, one in
honor of Lady of the Pillar who was said to be the patron of the town first
barrio of the town founded by Mariano del Pilar de los Reyes. The second feast
day is in honor of the Apostle Simon Peter.
Feast day: October 12
19. SANTA ANA, STA. ANA
Known formerly as “Pinpin”, the town gained a new name
through its patroness, the mother of the Virgin Mary, Sta. Ana (St. Anne).
Married to San Joaquin (St. Joachim), Sta. Ana is the patroness of unmarried women, housewives,
women in labor, grandmothers. She is portrayed in art as an elderly woman,
standing, and looking down on the young Mary, or seated, with a book on her
lap, mentoring Mary beside her. Feast day: July 26
20. SANTA RITA, STA. RITA
DE CASIA
Santa Rita de cassia (Rita of Cascia) was an Italian widow
and Augustinian nun and she is a fitting patron of the town of Santa Rita. Her
temperamental husband was killed in a family feud. His two sons vowed to avenge
their father’s death, but the saint
prayed to God, asking Him to take her sons before they lost their souls to the
mortal sin of murder. Her prayers were answered when her sons contracted dysentery and died. Her attributes include a forehead wound, roses,
thorns and crucifix. Invoked against marital problems, abuses, wounds and
desperate causes. Feast day: May 22
21. SANTO TOMAS, STO.
TOMAS DE APOSTOL
The town's name is derived from Baliwag ("tardy"
in Spanish) a reference to the local habit of arriving late for Mass. Baliwag,
whose original name was Santo Tomas, had St. Thomas the Apostle as its patron.
He is also called Doubting Thomas, in reference to his skepticism in the resurrected Christ. Thus, he is represented touching the wound of Jesus . Sto. Tomas is also the patron of architects,
builders, surveyors, blind people, and people in doubt. Feast day: December 21
22. SASMUAN, STA. LUCIA
Sasmuan, which meant a place where people assembled, is
protected by its martyr-saint, Sta. Lucia (St. Lucy). She is depicted holding the palm of martyrdom
and a a set of eyes on a dish (in reference to her being blinded by the
torturers of Diocletian. On her feast day, thousands of revelers participate in
the kuraldal, in which they dance in a trance while shouting, “Viva Sta. Lucia,
pwera sakit!”. The saint is invoked against blindness, eye problems, and in
Sasmuan, against barreness. Feast day: December 13
Doesn't the name of San Simon town also have something to do with Governor General Simon de Anda?
ReplyDeleteYes,he was the governor general who approved of the town's creation.
Delete