100. 10 KAPAMPANGAN MATINEE IDOLS OF THE 1950s-1960s

These midcentury Kapampangan screen stars were the Daniel Padilla, Dingdong Dantes, and Alden Richards of their days--captivating female fans, melting hearts and causing screams and swoons, with their good looks and great acting talents.

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1. GREGORIO FERNANDEZ, Lubao

(b. 25 May 1904/ d. 11 March 1973)

Actor-director Gregorio “Yoyong” Fernandez was the son of  Eugenio Aranita Fernandez and Maria Montemayor, and grew up in an artistic milieu. To help finance his dentistry studies, he  became an actor at  Mayon Photoplay Corp.  where he did  “Anak sa Ligaw”. This film started his long career in Philippine moviedom, first as an actor ( “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” ,  “Ang Lumang Simbahan”, and the 1921 hit, “Ligaw ni Bulaklak” ). His first directorial debut was  “Asahar at Kabaong” (1937). He would have a directing career at LVN Studios, even winning a FAMAS in 1955 for “Higit sa Lahat”. His children with Pilar Padilla became actors too: Merle Fernandez, and Rudy “Daboy” Fernandez. Fernandez  was active until the early 70s; his last film was “Daing”, shown in 1971. 

2. MANUEL CONDE, San Fernando

(b. 9 Oct.1915/d. 11 Aug.1985)

Manuel Pabustan Urbano Sr., better known as Director Manuel Conde, is recognized as one of the greatest Filipino directors of our time. Born in Daet to Dionisio Urbano and Lucia Pabustan of San Fernando, Manuel enrolled in Geology at Adamson University, hoping to be a mining engineer. But he was lured by the movies, starting as an ‘extra’ in “Mahiwagang Biolin”. It was in LVN that he became a director. When he started his production outfit, he starred in his on pictures starting with the popular “Juan Tamad” series, and costume epics like Prinsipe Paris (1949), Krus Na Kawayan (1956), Siete Infantes de Lara (1950) and its re-make in 1973. But it was for “Genghis Khan” (1950) that introduced Philippine cinema to the world. From among 780 film entries, it was chosen as one of 20 films to vie for awards at the Venice Film Festival. Though it did not win, the film emerged as one of the most acclaimed movies of the prestigious festival. United Artists bought the film for international distribution, where it would later be dubbed in 16 languages and became a bestseller.

3. ROGELIO DELA ROSA, Lubao

(b. 12 Nov. 1916/ 26 Nov. 1986)

Lubao’s native son, born Regidor dela Rosa,  rose to become the brightest male star in the Golden Age of the Philippine Cinema (1940s-50s). Born to Feliciano de la Rosa and Rosario Lim, he was discovered by Gregorio Fernandez. He debuted in “Ligaw na Bulaklak”, with Rosa del Rosario in 1932. Soon, he was being paired with Emma Alegre, and Paraluman, but his team-up with Carmen Rosales was the longest and most successful . By 1948, he was the highest paid movie actor in the Philippines. . His 1955 role in “Higit sa Lahat” earned him a FAMAS 'Best Actor' trophy as well as the Best Actor Award at the 1956 Southeast Asian Film Festival in Hong Kong. After retirement, he entered politics, got elected as a Senator (1957-63), ran for Presidency (retracted upon the pleading of Macapagal, his brother-in-law, who was also running for the same position) and became an ambassador to Sri Lanka, Cambodia and The Hague, Netherlands.

4. JAIME DELA ROSA, Lubao

(b. 18 Sep.1921/d. 2 Dec. 1992)

Rogelio’s younger brother, Tommy, assumed the screen name Jaime de la Rosa, and he too, would earn his place in Philippine showbiz. He was studying Law when he was first featured in the Eastern Pictures movie, “Anak ng Lansangan” in 1939.Making his strong presence felt, he was cast successively in 3 movies: “Cadena de Amor”, “Bawal na Pag-ibig” and “Kahapon Lamang” . Before the war began, he was seen in a musical, “Ibong Sawi”. Two post-war roles would etch Jaime’s image in the hearts and minds of movie fans forever. One, was in the 1st ever “Darna” movie, starring Rosa del Rosario, as the lead’s love interest. And, in 1953, he was Fredo, the human lover of the fabled mermaid , “Dyesebel”, played by Edna Luna. Jaime was married to Betty Santos, also a Kapampangan.

5. EDDIE DEL MAR, Candaba

(b. 13 Oct. 1923/d. 8 Nov. 1986)

Born Eduardo Magat in Candaba, the son of Albino Magat and Benigna Sangalang, he was a medical student at UST when war intervened. After the War,  Sampaguita Pictures gave him a screen test which he passed. As “Eduardo del Mar” he became a featured player in "Kapilya sa May Daang Bakal" starring Oscar Moreno and Tita Duran, and directed by Tor Villano. It was at Premiere Productions where he made his most memorable film "Sisa". As Crisostomo Ibarra, he generated much buzz and an acting nomination. The film itself won the top "Maria Clara Award" in 1951. Thus began his association with "Rizaliana movies". His 1956 film, “Ang Buhay at Pag-ibig ni Dr. Jose Rizal” would changed the course of his showbiz career. The film, which dramatized Rizal’s romances,  won for del Mar the 1956 Best Actor Award trophy. Five years later, he would star in the movie adaptation of “Noli Me Tangere”  that was produced to commemorate Rizal’s birth centenary in 1961. Many actors have essayed the role of Rizal since— Joel Torre, Albert Martinez Cesar Montano, to name a few—but nobody was more famously identified with that role than Eddie del Mar.

6. LUIS GONZALES, San Luis

(b. 8 Aug. 1928/d. 15 Mar. 2012)

Luis Mercado, also known as Luis Gonzales, did over 100 films during his career, mostly by Sampaguita Pictures. He is best remembered for essaying the role of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos in two 1965 biopics: “Iginuhit ng Tadhana”, a Marcos’ propaganda film; and  “Pinagbuklod ng Langit”. He co-starred with Gloria Romero, who had appeared with him in the 1955 romantic comedy, “Despatsador” and which led to other blockbusters like “Artista” , “Hootsy Kootsy” (1955), Pagdating ng Takip Silim, Teresa, Vacationista (1956), Colegiala, (1957), Alaalang Banal, Palaboy, (1958), Sinisinta Kita (1963) and Show of Shows (1964). Together, they did about 30 movies. Luis would continue to be active in the next decades and some of his memorable movies include “Tubog sa Ginto” and “Haydee” in 1970, where he helped launch the career of another Kapampangan, Hilda Koronel. He was married to socialite Vina Concepcion, with whom he had 3 children.

7. EDDIE GARCIA, Macabebe

(b. 2 May 1929)

The bemoustached kontrabida you love to hate—Eduardo “Eddie” García started in showbiz as a swashbuckling hero in Manuel Conde’s 1950 classic, “Siete Infantes de Lara” . It also comes as a pleasant surprise that his grandmother was from Macabebe, married to a Spaniard, which makes him a quarter Kapampangan. Born in Sorsongon to Antonio Garcia and Vicenta Verchez, he joined the Philippine Scouts after the war. Fresh from his assignment in Okinawa, he answered a casting call for a costume film—and the tall, Hispanic-looking scout made it to the Conde film. Soon, he was being called to play villains, owing to his sleek, well-kept moustache, roles he played with such credibility. One of his movies was aptly titled, “Contravida”, which he did in 1955. Another memorable role is that fo a closeted gay husband in the 1970 film “Tubog sa Ginto”, by Lino Brocka. The durable actor is the only artist inducted in three categories in the FAMAS Hall of Fame: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Director. The prolific Garcia continues to act in TV shows and movies today, with over 400 appearances to his credit.

8. JESS LAPID SR., Guagua

(b. 5 Oct. 1933/d.13 Jul. 1968)

At the height of his career, ranked among the bigtime action stars of the 60s, led by Fernando Poe Jr. and Joseph Estrada. Born as Jesus Songco Lapid, he had started as an “extra”, then became a stuntman, where he had the good fortune of doubling for Fernando Poe, Jr. They became fast friends, and Poe would eventually give Lapid his break in the  1963 FPJ Productions’ “Sierra Madre”, where he gave a noteworthy performance. His next move, “Kardong Kidlat” (1964) would catapult him to stardom. Lapid had just wrapped up the movie “Simaron Brothers”with Jun Aristorenas, when, on the night of 13 July 1968, he was shot to death at the Lanai Nightclub after a row between two groups of movie personalities, which also involved his reputed girlfriend,  Nancy Roman, an actress. Lapid was just 35. As a belated tribute, nephew Lito Lapid appeared as Jess in the biopic “The Jess Lapid Story”, released in 1978.

9. RAMIL RODRIGUEZ, San Fernando

(b. 22 Aug. 1944/d. 29 Apr. 2014)

Ramil Rodriguez,  (Rene Rodriguez Jr., in real life) the elder son of Rene Hizon Rodriguez and Ma. Rosa Moreno. The Rodriguezes are from a prominent family with roots in Bacolor. They were friends of the Vera-Perezes, who owned Sampaguita Pictures. Ramil, unlike the younger Pepito, was the more reticent one when they were offered to make movies. In the end, family friendship prevailed and began his showbiz career via the 1960 movie, "Palanca". He was officially introduced in 1964's "Leron-Leron Sinta", a musical comedy starring Susan Roces and Eddie Gutierrez. As part of Stars '66, Ramil was  paired with Loretta Marquez, and Liberty Ilagan. He took on everything from comedies,  musicals, action and drama flicks in the '60s and evolved into a fine dramatic actor in the 80s. He starred in classics like "Blusang Itim", "Magdusa Ka", (1986), "Asawa Ko, Huwag Mong Agawin", "Ibulong Mo sa Diyos" (1988). Ramil found a new set of fans with his appearances in telenovelas like 1997's "Mula Sa Puso", "Love to Love" (2004) , "Magpakailanman" (2005) and the highly rated "Bakekang" (2006-07). He died of lung cancer.

10. PEPITO RODRIGUEZ, San Fernando

(b.1944)

Pepito Rodriguez was born Jose Rodriguez in 1944, younger brother of Ramil. The Rodriguezes were from a prominent family with roots in Bacolor. In 1963, Pepito joined the movie bandwagon as the boy-next-door type, in the film “Haliging Bato”. He was noticed in light musical romances like “Dance o’ Rama”, “Jukebox Jamboree” and of course, in the popular “Mga Bata..” series. He dabbled in drama like “Alaala ng Lumipas” (1965) , “Hinango Ka Sa Lusak” (1967), but fans seemed to like him better in lightweight romance films. When actor Ricky Belmonte entered the picture as Rosemarie’s other love interest, an alternative love team was formed. After appearing in “Life Everlasting” in 1971, Pepito  dropped out of circulation, only to come back almost a decade later in the made-for-TV movie, “The Children of An Lac” as the Vietnamese Capt. Nam. He was lured to return in the 1985 drama, “Palimos na Pag-ibig”, and in the 1990 action film “Alias Baby Face”. He would permanently retire from showbiz after that, and settle in the U.S. as a successful businessman.

SOURCES:

www.viewsfromthepampang.blogspot.com

Wikipedia.com

http://www.andropampanga.com/history_sanluis.htm
Salumbides, V.icente. Motion Pictures in the Philippines, 1952
Tiongson, Nicanor, The Cinema of Manuel Conde, UST Publishing House, 2008

Photo of Eddie Garcia:  https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Garcia

All others: Alex Castro Collection

80. 15 KAPAMPANGAN PLACES, THEIR MONICKERS AND MOTTOS

The use of short descriptive phrases--sobriquets, nicknames, monickers-- to describe places goes a long way back in history. "Pearl of the Orient" (Perla del Oriente) was first used in 1571 for Manila, now used as a sobriquet for the whole country. Central Luzon, which includes Pampanga, was dubbed as the "Rice Granary of the Philippines". Pampanga, of course, lays claim to the title of "Culinary Capital of the Philippines". Not all place nicknames, however, are positive in nature-- some are insulting, some amusing, many hilarious --but this naming tradition lives on today. Recently, town mottos, too, are being appended to rally people to support their municipality's vision/mission. 

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ANGELES CITY

Angeles earned its reputation as a center of entertainment with the rise of its barangay, Balibago as a recreation and leisure hub for serving both American and local patrons. The city’s proximity to Clark Air Base jumpstarted the establishments of night clubs, pubs, bars and gambling dens which lined the main avenue of Balibago, as well as the nearby perimeter roads known as Fields and Friendship Avenue. The entertainment strip was lit with neon marquees with Las Vegas inspired names such as Copa Cabana, Nina’s Papagayo, Little brown Jug, and Tropicana. Like Los Angeles, it was dubbed as the “City of Angels”, as it was named for both the founder (Angel Pantaleon de Miranda) and titular patrons  (Los Angeles Custodios).  The Casino Filipino, run by PAGCOR, is also located in Balibago.

“Abe-abe…Saup-saup…Agyu Tamu!” (Together...Helping Each Other...We Can!)

APALIT 

Apalit is the last town of Pampanga as one goes south to Manila, hence its nickname. The town is also famous for its long tradition in blacksmithing, and  the best bolos are said to come from Apalit. Today, th town doe not only produce bladed weapons like machetes and knives, but also domestic steel tools like rakes, hoes, anvils, picks, shovels and garden implements.

“Aplit…Apalit!” (Quicken the Pace...Apalit!)

BACOLOR

Like the ancient capital of Greece—Athens—Bacolor was the undisputed seat of arts and culture of the province, with the highest concentration of poets, artists, zarzuela performers, musicians, singers and writers. Bacolor is the proud home of such literary greats  as Juan Crisostomo Soto, Felix Galura, Luisa Gonzaga de Leon, Jose Gutierrez David, Mariano Proceso Pabalan Byron, Anselmo Fajardo, Zoilo Hilario, among others. Bacolor was also the country’s capital for two years during the Spanish colonial times when Manila was invaded by the British.

“Pluribus Unum, Non Plus Ultra" (Out of Many, No Further and Beyond)”

CAPAS

Capas is one of the richest, most historic towns of Tarlac,  the final site of the infamous Bataan Death March. It is a trekkers’ and mountaineers’ paradise as the challenging Mount Pinatubo treks were first offered by this town, which today continues to  attract thousands of tourists every year, unprecedented in number. This accounts for its latest nicknames as Tarlac’s tourism capital.

"Paspas..Capas!" (Make Haste, Capas!)

DAU

Camp Stotsenburg established its  Post Exchange in Dau, which presaged its rise from a barrio of Mabalacat to  the country's PX capital in the 70s. With the relaxation of Clark rules, PX goods flowed out of the base in abundance, to be resold later in stores  that quickly sprouted like mushrooms along MacArthur Highway of Dau. The completion of the North Expressway that linked Dau to Manila facilitated the great American experience as visitors trooped to Dau to buy Pringles, Oreos, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Hershey’s Chocolates, Almond Rocha, Hanes and Fruit of the Loom shirts, imported rubber shoes, branded cosmetics, apples and grapes, among others. The reversal of fortune began with the departure of American servicemen facilitated by the Pinatubo eruption of 1991. Business took a turn for the worse when PX Clubs opened at Clark-which extended PX shopping privileges to Filipinos.  Today, Dau shops continue to flourish, with toilet fixtures, military uniforms, various tools, and used surplus items replacing the once in-demand PX goods.

FLORIDABLANCA

The third largest municipality in the province has so much potential waiting to be untapped that the municipal government came up with a kilometric monicker for the province that reads more like a vision.

“Abe-abe king Panyulung!” (Together in Advancement)

LUBAO

The ancient town of Lubao (old name: Baba) has the sole distinction of producing two presidents: Diosdado Pangan Macapagal (b. Sep. 28, 1910/d. Apr. 21, 1997), who served from 1961-1965 as our ninth President, and daughter Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ( b.Apr. 5, 1947 ), who was our 14th President,  from 2001 until 2010.

MABALACAT

Over 97% of Clark Economic Zone is on Mabalacat land, hence the claim as Clarks economic breadbasket. ‘Makati of the North’ is a monicker coined by the long-running Morales Administration, which came across as too pretentious. The only similarity is, like the Binays of Makati, Morales’ term was a long one, stepping down only 2017, after 22 years in power. The Kamikaze monicker is in reference to the Divine Wind suicide attacks of Japan that was planned in the home of local Mabalacat resident,  Marcos Santos, during the last years of World War II.

“Misanmetung, Mabalacat! (United for once, Mabalacat!)

MACABEBE

In the art of peddling, perhaps no one can compare to the selling skills of the Macabebe cloth vendors. In fact, Macabebe takes pride in being called “Home of the Peddlers”, a reputation built by these native vendors who roamed across the Archipelago, travelling on foot and in groups of two or more, selling the famous ‘Macabebe cloth’—actually, Manila-bought fabrics. These humble, hardworking cloth vendors infused a lot of money into their town and in the 1930s, were largely responsible for pumping up Macabebe’s economy.

"Memalen Macabebe, tapat makiabe!" (Macabebe townfolks are loyal friends)

MAGALANG

Magalang aspires to become the sweet tamarind capital of the Philippines through a locally-propagated tamarind variety known as Aglibut. The late Professor Andres Aglibut, a consultant of Pampanga Agricultural College, successfully developed a  sampaluk type noted for it sour-sweet taste and juicy dark brown flesh. This is in consonance with the town’s “farm tourism” program which aims to revitalize the farm industry of this scenic, agricultural town.

“One Magalang! Metung King Panyulung!” (One Magalang, One in our Stride to Progress)

MINALIN

The town is known as the "Egg Basket of Central Luzon" because of its large scale production of eggs and chickens. According to the municipal government, Minalin earns P30 million per month or P1 million per day from the sales of eggs. There are 22 poultry raisers who own around 280,000 chickens. These chickens produce 479,100 eggs per day. So important is this egg industry that a laying chicken is even included in its town seal.

SAN FERNANDO

The capital city of San Fernando is popularly known as the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines" because of its traditional giant Christmas lantern industry. The establishment of the Paskuhan Village in 1990 served to reinforce its image, but the lantern-shaped complex folded up after the Pinatubo eruption and fell into disarray. Its Giant Lantern Festival held every December remains the city’s biggest attraction, in which the city’s barangays field their biggest and brightest lantern in a friendly competition attended by thousands of local and international tourists.

SAN LUIS

San Luis’ most famous son is the Huk Supremo, Luis Mangalus Taruc, who was born in the barrio of sta. Monica, of peasant parents on June 21, 1913. Following the Japanese invasion, Taruc formed the Hukbalahap (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon), along with Casto Alejandrino and other guerillas, in central Luzon in 1942.  San Luis became one of the hotbeds of Huk activities in the 50s and 60s. in 2017, Taruc was recognizedas a hero by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NCHP) for his role the struggle for  agrarian reforms.

SANTA RITA

Sugarcane was the cash crop that made Pampanga so rich, Sta. Rita included. The town is famous for its sweet delicacies-- turrones de casuy (wafer paper-wrapped cashew nougats) and sans rival (rich pastry made with layers of buttercream, meringue, and chopped cashew nuts). Ocampo-Lansang made these treats famous, and which in turn, gave the town’s nickname.

 “Sesen taya ing Santa Rita” (Let's care for Sta. Rita)

SANTO TOMAS

Santo Tomas is the smallest town of Pampanga but it has many unique homegrown industries like red clay pottery and funeral casket-making. The latter products are known for their beauty and fine quality,  made by craftsmen from about 100 registered enterprises, not to mention 200 backyard producers.  Its nickname as the casket capital of the country was given by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the 1980s, and its reputation shows no sign of waning. It is estimated currently, that 40% of the town depends on the coffin-making industry. It has been the tradition of Sto. Tomas town to donate coffins to affected provinces during times of calamities.

SOURCES:

List of city and municipality nicknames in the Philippines, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_city_and_municipality_nicknames_in_the_Philippines#Central_Luzon

Angeles: https://www.zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=File:Welcome_to_Angeles_City,_Pampanga.jpg

Apalit: https://www.zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=File:Goodbye_Arc_of_San_Juan,_Apalit,_Pampanga.jpg

Bacolor: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jf7717San_Fernando,_Pampanga_Welcome_Arch_Bacolorfvf_26.JPG

Capas: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CapasNationalShrinejf4224_13.JPG

Dau: Photo by Jun Malig, Inquirer Central Luzon

Floridablanca: www.pampangatalents.com

Lubao: http://www.wikiwand.com/tl/Lubao,_Pampanga

Mabalacat: https://pam.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabalacat_Lakanbalen#/media/File:Mabalacat_1.JPG

Macabebe: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FvfMacabebe9799_08.JPG

Magalang: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:7217jfSan_Jose_Welcome_Arch_Magalang_Pampangafvf_14.JPG

Minalin: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:09844jfRiverside_Districts_Santa_Rita_Santo_Tomas_Minalin_Welcome_Pampanga_villagesfvf_05.JPG

San Fernando: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jf7717San_Fernando,_Pampanga_Welcome_Arch_Bacolorfvf_12.JPG

Photo: by Chris Navarro,

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/images/2016/11/03/christmas-capital-507377

Sta.Rita: https://www.facebook.com/malauscasantaritapampanga/photos/a.807974675886366.1073741829.749594908391010/2051567958193692/?type=3&theater

 Sto. Tomas: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:09929jfExterior_Diosdado_Macapagal_Santo_Tomas_Pampanga_Municipal_Hallfvf_14.jpg

49. 18 PAMPANGA LANDMARKS AND MONUMENTS, 1st of 2 parts

Pampanga has but a few monuments that serve as identifying landmarks of our towns and cities. New or old, they commemorate events, mark the achievements of heroes and local icons, and also remind us of the likenesses of figures and personalities they honor. Here are a few of these monuments that stand on the hallowed grounds of our great province.

ANDA MEMORIAL OBELISK

Location: Bacolor, Pampanga

The original 6 meter-high Anda Obelisk was unveiled by town officials in 1853 to honor Gov. Gen. Simon de Anda y Salazar who moved the capital of the Philippines to Bacolor from 1762-64, as the British sacked Manila.  The obelisk stood on a pedestal 1.7 meters high, anchored on a 6 sq. meter base., On the monument’s frontal was a marble plate on which was carved a commander’s cane  and a general’s sword, united by a crown of laurels and palms.  The monument, made of Meycauayan stone, stood in front of the house where Anda lived, across the Bacolor church patio. A similar monument could be found in Intramuros, the centerpiece of the Anda circle, built in 1876. But while the Manila obelisk survived, the memorial in Bacolor was destroyed by revolutionary forces when Spanish forces burned the town in 1899. On 8 October 2012, a replica of the original Anda memorial monument  was inaugurated in front of the town hall, which is across the former site of the Casa Real, the seat of the provincial government.

GEN. MAXIMINO HIZON MONUMENT

Location: Pampanga Capitol Grounds, San Fernando

At the center of the grounds in front of the Capitol Building stands a stately statue of Gen. Maximino Hizon, one of the famous Pampango generals who, during the revolution, distinguished himself in many battles against the Spanish and American armies. Maximino was born on 28 May 1870, of Chinese-Filipino roots, in Mexico. He rose to become the Comandante General of Pampanga and died on 1 Sep. 1901. The monument, which shows the hero wearing a familiar revolucionario hat astride a horse,  was erected on 28 December 1919, by the government and the people of Pampanga.

MACABEBE Á RIZAL MONUMENT

Location: Poblacion, Macabebe

The "Macabebe á Rizal" Monument  manifested the town’s recognition of the making of the Filipino nation during the American period. It was the first act of the Macabebes to honor the icon of the Revolution in 1919 (also the same year the National Flag derived from that of Aguinaldo's was officially instituted as the national colors). The next gesture of Macabebes' participation in the process of nation-building was the erection, in 1934,  of a monument dedicated to their native hero—“To The Brave King of Macabebe",  a symbol of the Macabebes’ bravery and his struggle for freedom from foreign rule. Majority of Macabebes might not have yet developed the concept of a nation in 1898, but they struggled to be Filipinos and underwent the said process.  As Jose Rizal’s 1888 letter to Mariano Ponce declared with longing:   "On the day when all Filipinos should think like us, on that day we shall have fulfilled our arduous mission which is the formation of the Filipino nation”.

JUAN CRISOSTOMO SOTO MEMORIAL BUST

Location: Bacolor

Pampanga’s foremost man of letters--Juan Crisostomo C. Soto (b. 27 Jan. 1867) was known by his pen name Crissot. He was an influential and distinguished poet, playwright, novelist, journalist, publisher and revolutionary who sparked the golden age of Kapampangan literature. His lifeworks works are 49 plays, a novel, a few stories, sketches and a good number of poems and newspaper articles. At the height of his career, Crissot wrote the best-selling novel, Lidia. His zarzuela masterpiece, Alang Dios! (There is no God!) was first performed on 16 November 1902 at Teatro Sabina in Bacolor, Pampanga, and it was reported to have been given a standing ovation once at Teatro Zorilla in Manila. By common consent, Kapampangans immortalized Crissot by naming the popular vernacular poetic jousts Crissotan. The literary giant died on  12 July 1918. On 2 Aug. 1919, the “Aguman 33”, and actor’s club whose members performed in many Crissot zarzuelas, raised funds to build a bust memorial, done by the Quiapo sculptor, Euogio Velarde Garcia. After the town was buried in lahar in 1995, the Crissot Memorial Bust was the first to be unearthed.

AURELIO TOLENTINO MONUMENT

Location: Municipal Hall frontage, Guagua

Pampanga’s most notable revolutionary playwright was born in Sto. Cristo of this town on 13 Oct. 1867. Aurelio Tolentino's law studies in Manila was cut short due to his father’s death, and he returned to Guagua briefly to teach.  He found a job at the Court of the First Instance in Tondo where he met Andres Bonifacio and became a revolucionario. He helped print propaganda materials, was a signatory of the Declaration of Philippine Independence in Kawit on 12 June 1898. But it was his fiery writings that made Tolentino a force to reckon with. He was charged with sedition for his 1903 verse drama “Napun, Ngeni at Bukas” (Kahapon , Ngayon at Bukas) and was imprisoned for 2 years. Other works include the Kapampangan 6-act drama “Buac ng Ester” , “Daclat Kayanakan” and “Kasulatang Guintu”. Aurelio Tolentino died in 1915 and was buried in the North Cemetery. In 1921, his remains were transferred to Guagua, where they were interred in the base of a memorial monument which is now located at the Plaza Burgos, on the right side of Guagua’s municipal hall.

FELIX GALURA MONUMENT

Location: Bacolor, Pampanga

On 24 December 1924, a monument was put up in front of the Bacolor Elementary School by Aguman 33, a band of grateful citizens and friends, dedicated to the memory of a beloved son of Bacolor--“Caluguran Nang Anac Ning Baculud”—Felix Napao Galura. Born on 21 Feb. 1866, Galura became a well-known writer; he assumed the pseudonym “Flauxgalier” (an anagram of his name), and was a regular contributor to the bi-lingual newspaper “E Mangabiran/ El Imparcial” which began publication in 1905. He wrote Kapampangan adaptations of Spanish plays like “O, Kasiran” and “Azucena”. With Juan Crisostomo Soto, he co-wrote “Ing Singsing A Bacal” (The Ring of Steel), a zarzuela based on a Spanish play. ”Ing Cabiguan” (The Misfortune”), a verse narrative published in 1915, is his best-known work. The multi-faceted Galura was not onlya poet, grammarian, revolutionary journalist but also a public servant, serving as  Bacolor’s town head from 1909-18. He passed away on 21 July 1919, at age 53.

KING OF MACABEBE (Nameless Hero)  MONUMENT

Location: Municipal Hall frontage, Macabebe

The young leader of Macabebe led more than 2,000 warriors from Pampanga and Bulacan to expel Spaniards from Luzon on 31 May 1571. He refused the offer of friendship of Gov. Gen. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and instead, challenged him to a battle in Bangkusay, where the nameless hero perished. For centuries, he has been confused with Rajah Soliman, owing to Pedro Paterno’s assigning him the name “Tarik Soliman”. Spaniards called him “Bambalito”, a pejorative term, that does not really identify him. Nonetheless, in 1934, the brave warrior was honored with a monument showing "The King of Macabebe" seated, armed with a spear and shield. Originally located  in the Poblacion in 1934, it was a donation of then municipal presidente M. Bustos  Zabala and members of the Town Fiesta Committee led by its president, Feliciano Pineda,  In 2010, the monument was inscribed with the name ‘Tarik Soliman”, and 3 years later, with the issue still unresolved, a marble marker used both “Tarik Soliman “ and “Bambalito”. Only in 2016 that the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)  corrected the centuries-old error committed by Spanish and Filipino historians, by proclaiming an unnamed leader of Macabebe as the hero and martyr in the Battle of Bangkusay.

GEN. JOSE M. ALEJANDRINO MONUMENT

Location: Municipal Hall Grounds, Arayat

Gen. Jose M. Alejandrino was born to rich parents from Arayat in Tondo on 1 Dec. 1870 and would play many significant roles in our history—as a hero of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 and of the Philippine-American War of 1898. Later in life, he was known as an accomplished political leader-- as a senator for Mindanao and Sulu, and as an elected representative to the 1934 Constitutional Convention.  Even as a student in Spain, he was an active member of the Propaganda movement,  helping edit  Dr. Jose Rizal’s  book, “Noli Me Tangere” and in publishing  “El Filibusterismo”. He served in the 1898 Malolos Congress, and when the Philippine-American War erupted, he rose to the position of brigadier general and became the acting secretary of war. He died on 1 June 1951. To honor his memory his monument was unveiled on 20 October 1963 by the Gov. Jose M. Alejandrino Movement, and sponsored by the Arayat Municipal Scouting Committee. The Gen. Jose M. Alejandrino monument was designed by architects Romeo and Felicisimo Vivencio. The monument, showing the general on his war steed,  was installed on the grounds of the Arayat municipal hall.  It was refurbished after the renovation of the plaza and after the reconstruction of the municipal building.

ING TANDA

Location: Town Plaza, Magalang

“Ing Tanda”, or the Magalang town marker, features a book guarded by an eagle. On the pages of the open book is inscribed the history of the town—from its founding by the Augustinians in 1605 to its turnover to the Philippine Republic  in 1946.  A plaque on its pedestal recounts the same, in English. The marker, designed by the Father of Modern Philippine Architecture, Fernando Ocampo y Hizon of San Fernando, was built through funds raised by town committees. It was installed on 13 December 1954.  

TO BE CONTINUED....

SOURCES & REFERENCES

ANDA MONUMENT. Photo: http://nostalgiafilipinas.blogspot.com/2012/12/con-amor-reconstruido-anda-monument.html (John T. Pilot’s photostream)

Photo: Bacolor Anda Monument: Francis Musni

HIZON STATUE. Photos: Ivan Henares, Alex R. Castro

Source: Philippine Social Directory 1934

MACABEBE RIZAL MONUMENT. Photo/Source: Ian Alfonso

CRISSOT BUST. Photo: Sapni ng Crissot FB page

AURELIO TOLENTINO. Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JfAurelio_Tolentinofvf_06.JPG

FELIX GALURA MONUMENT.

Photo: (old photo) Alex R. Castro Collection;  

(new photo): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Tongio_Liongson#/media/File:Napaojf.JPG

Source: www.viewsfromthepampang.blogspot.com (The Fiery Pen of Felix Galura)

KING OF MACABEBE. Photo: Ruston Banal

Source: Ian Christopher Alfonso, “Nameless Hero” book, 2016.

GEN. ALEJANDRINO. Photo: Religion, Revolution and Rice: Rambling through Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Pampanga (Part 2, owned by Marco Ph)

https://medium.com/@1634PH/religion-revolution-and-rice-a57c6eabe853

ING TANDA. Photos: Magalang Heritage FB page, courtesy of Doris Manlapaz

36. 7 SPANISH FRIARS FROM KAPAMPANGAN TOWNS WHO MET VIOLENT DEATHS

There are documents to prove that Spanish friars were treated better in Pampanga than in other regions in the Philippines. Eighteenth-century chronicler Fray Gaspar de San Agustin wrote that Kapampangans were "very good Christians, most respectful of their ministers." But still some frailes met unspeakable deaths—occupational hazards of their mission work. Also, because “ya ing pari, ya ing ari ("he is priest as well as king"), some curas parroco tended to abuse their authority and exploit the parishioners' subservience—leading to their doom. Still others became collateral casualties of the bloody Revolution, victims of strong anti-Spanish sentiments in those tempestuous times.

* * * * * * * * *

BLESSED  FRAY PEDRO DE ZUÑIGA OSA

Assignments: Sasmuan, Porac

Manner of Death: Tortured and burned.

The future saint was born and educated in Sevilla, Spain, where he completed his priestly studies. The newy professed Agustino was shipped off to the Philippines in 1609 and became the first prior of Sasmuan. His arrival resulted in the separation of Sasmuan from the parish of Lubao, reverting back in 1642 due to the scarcity of priests. He ministered in Sasmuan from 1615 to 1618, until he was transferred to Porac. In 1620, Fray de Zuñiga sailed for  Japan with a stop in Taiwan in June. He, along with other missionaries of different orders, were tasked with propagating the Catholic faith among the natives. The ship captain was Catholic  Japanese, Joaquin Hirayama Diaz, and the crew all were members of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary. En route, the ship was intercepted by Dutch pirates who surrendered the passengers and crew to pagan Japanese officials in the port of Hirando. They were kept in prison for two years, until Fray de Zuñiga,  his Dominican companion, Fray Luis Flores and the captain,  were tortured and burned to death in Nagsaki on 19 August 1622. Fray De Zuñiga and his companions were elevated as “beatos” (Blessed) on 7 May 1867 by Pope Pius IX, just one step away from sainthood. His ashes were brought back by Augustinian fathers to the Philippines where they are interred at the San Agustin Church.

FRAY BALDOMERO ABADIA, OAR

Assignment: O’Donnell, Capas

Manner of Death: Killed in an attack by Revolucionarios

The saintly Fray Baldomero Abadia was another tragic victim of circumstance, who died a valiant, albeit, violent death. From Jarque del Moncayo, Baldomero entered the Recoletos community of Monteagudo, Navarre province, where, on 4 October 1887,  he professed his vows.  During his stay at the rectory, he became acquainted with two future holy men—St. Ezekiel Moreno, who had just returned from the Philippines,  and Blessed Vicente Pinilla, one of the martyrs of Motril, who became his fast friend. In fact, the two would make a trip to Philippines together, arriving in Manila on 18 September 1892. Sometime in January 1896, Fr. Abadia was made parish priest of a newly created O’Donnell town in Tarlac (named after the Spanish Gen. Leopoldo O’Donnell, who coincidentally had given his name to the priest’s brother, Leopoldo Abadia). Fr. Abadia  fulfilled the functions of his sacred ministry with great apostolic zeal.  But at the end of August 1896, the Philippine revolution had exploded, spreading  quickly from Manila to the border provinces. Several Recoletos were murdered, and Fray Baldomero found himself in the danger zone. In his last letter to his family dated Oct. 27, he calmly reassured them that, for his safety, he was sleeping in the soldiers' barracks. But he was not safe at all—he could not trust even his own parishioners. On October 31, Filipino insurgent troops entered O'Donnell and, as historiologist Francisco Sadaba put it-- "inhumanly sacrificed him in hatred of Religion and Spain." Fray Baldomero Abadia was not even 27 years old.

FRAY  GREGORIO BUENO DE LA VIRGEN DEL ROSARIO, OAR

Assignment: Mabalacat

Manner of Death: Executed by firing squad,  Boloed to death

The Spanish fraile  known for putting a curse on Mabalacat, saying that the town will never prosper, was Fray Gregorio Bueno de la Virgen del Rosario. Born in Taragona in Aragon, Spain, he was first assigned to Iba and Masinloc in Zambales, then moved to the Recoletos convent in Manila. On 30 November 1885, the Padre Garigu was named cura of Mabalacat. He was the last Recollect priest to serve and his was also the longest term, staying on for 23 years until his untimely death. The popular belief was that he incurred the wrath of town head Don Marcelo Tiglao, for harassing a female member of his family. The truth was, by 1897, the fervor of the Philippine revolution had reached Pampanga and Tarlac, which resulted in the closing of some Recollect missions. When Filipino revolutionaries succeeded in taking Tarlac from the Spaniards, word reached Mabalacat about Spain’s surrender at the Makabulos headquarters in San Miguel. A horde of angry, impassioned locals, incited by the Tiglao, stormed the parish and dragged Fr. Bueno outside.  The 66 year old priest was paraded on the streets in a bullcart, publicly humiliated and charged with espionage. On 10 July 1898, he was shot dead by a firing squad, although one other version had him boloed to death while in a pit that was to be his grave. Before Padre Bueno died, however, it was said that he managed to utter his famous legendary curse  on Mabalacat: the town will only be freed from the spell if it can produced fourteen native priests—a number that has since been exceeded.

FRAY JUAN HERRERO, OAR

Assignment:  Mabalacat

Manner of Death: Cornered and shot to death

The Recoletos were already firmly established in Pampanga and Tarlac when Fray Juan Herrero OAR, assigned in Dagami, Leyte,  was called on to help the thriving mission center in Mabalacat from where Recoletos fanned out to neighboring places to evangelize. In 1885, he was named as a compañero or assistant priest to long-serving Fr. Gregorio Bueno de la Virgen del Rosario.. Fr. Herrero stayed for just 5 months—from July 11 to December 10, but long enough to be facile with the Kapampangan language, a talent which earned him an amount of respect among the natives. On 30 April 1891, a new assignment took him to Imus where he was named as the Prior-Administrator of the order’s hacienda. But the looming revolution would change the course of the padre’s fate. By 1896, violent attacks against Spaniards were waged in many towns, Imus included. In the last days of September 1896, the Recoletos’ hacienda became the scene of a bloody siege. Advancing revolucionarios managed to corner Spanish soldiers and Recoleto priests--led by Fr. Juan Herrero--who bravely rallied around their country’s flag. Holed up in the hacienda without any hope of escape, Fr. Juan Herrero and 9 other Recoletos were killed in the crossfire by impassioned Filipinos. In an eerie twist of fate, a similar drama would unfold two years later in the same Pampanga town that he once served and involving the parish priest that he once assisted-- Fr. Gregorio Bueno.

FRAY JUAN TARRERO, OSA

Assignments: Arayat

Manner of Death: Executed by Gen. Maximino Hizon

Fray Juan Tarrero was assigned as a cura of Arayat, succeeding Fr. Jose Torres in 1858. Fr. Torres had started rebuilding the church, a project which Fr. Tarrero continued from 1858 to 1892. The work remained unfinished for two reasons—the stirrings of the Revolution had begun, and the poor padre found himself in trouble with the Alejandrino family of Arayat. The Spanish friar had ordered the patriarch, Mariano Alejandrino, exiled to Kiangan in the distant Ifugao province for allegedly being a Freemason. The last straw was when he supposedly abused a girl belonging to the Alejandrino family. By the time of the Revolution, the sons of Mariano—Jose, Joaquin, Manuel, Anselmo and Pastor-- had ascended into power as military leaders. Fearing for his dear life, the priest fled to the neighboring town of Mexico, only to be intercepted and apprehended by the troops of the gallant Kapampangan Gen. Maximino Hizon. He was dragged in front of the church where he was promptly executed. Curiously, Fr, Tarrero’s sorry tale has striking parallels with that of Fr. Bueno in Mabalacat, which is why old folks in Mabalacat and Mexico still believe that their towns have been cursed by executed friars.

FRAY ANTONIO REDONDO

Assignments: Bacolor, Sasmuan, Sta. Ana, Apalit, Minalin, San Fernando, Tarlac

Manner of Death: Illness while in captivity

Born in 1835 in Ceceda (Oviedo), Fr. Redondo took his solemn profession in Valladolid in 1854 and sailed to the Philippines in May 26, 1858. Initially assigned as presbitero in Manila, he was later appointed as cura interino of  Bacolor. He served in parishes in Tarlac (1861) and Pampanga:  Sexmoan (1862), Sta. Ana (1866), Minalin (1871), Apalit (1873) and San Fernando (1886-1898). He served in various capacities: prior vocal (1871 and 1889), Definidor de Provincia (1881) Vicario Provincial and Examinador de Idioma (1893 and 1897). The convents of Sta. Ana and San Fernando (including the church’s painted ceilings and dome) , and Apalit church are some of his accomplishments. During the Revolution, he escaped via Macabebe together with 13 Augustinians and one Recollect through the help of Gen. Ricardo Monet. He was captured by the revolutionaries in Hagonoy on 30 June 1898, as he was en route to Manila to board a ship for Spain. He was held captive in San Fernando where he contracted a disease; and was transferred to Mt. Arayat in 1899.  He was moved back to San Fernando, then to Angeles and finally forced to walk to Magalang. Fr. Redondo was supposed to have been brought to Magalang church, but his conditioned worsened and died on 30 March 1899, after receiving his viaticum from his fellow Franciscan captive, Fr. Francisco Sta. Olalla. 

   

FRAY VICTOR BALTANAS, OAR

Assignment: Mabalacat

Manner of Death: Hacked to death on the head

There has been so much focus on the gruesome murder of Fr. Gregorio Bueno, that it all but overshadowed the cases of his two other Mabalacat compañeros,  who died in the same terrible and controversial manner. The first, was the aforementioned F. Juan Herrero who was killed in Imus, and the second, the good padre, Fray Victor Baltanas de laVirgen del Rosario. Born on on 17 November 1869 in Berceo, La Rioja,  Spain, he became a Recoleto on 24 October 1886. Five years after, he was given a Philippine assignment, and just a few days after his arrival on 21 October 1891, the young deacon was sent to Mabalacat to assist Fr. Bueno and to learn, strangely enough, Tagalog basics. His stay was temporary, for  he was shuffled  from  Mabalacat to Manila, then Palawan (1894-1895) to Intramuros (1899-1902), and then finally to Valencia, Negros Oriental where he served as coadjutor. In October 1907, he became the cura of the Catholic Church of Escalante town. It was here that he was hacked to death in the head by an Aglipayan assassin, Mauricio Gamao, on the night of 15 May 1909, succumbing to his wounds the next day. The murder, motivated by the schism between Aglipayans and the Roman Catholic Church involving church property, was planned in connivance with the town head, Gil Gamao—Mauricio’s relative, who was subsequently convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. The martyr of Escalante was interred in San Carlos, but his bones were exhumed in 1995 due to acts of vandalism and robbery in the cemetery. These were then kept at the Colegio de Santo Tomas-Recoletos

BONUS: The Prisoner of War Who Survived.

FRAY FERNANDO GARCIA, OSA

Assignment: Macabebe, Betis

One Spanish priest who went through a harrowing experience and lived to tell his tale was the Augustinian Fray Fernando Garcia. He came to the Philippines in 1875, and was assigned in Ilocos, until 1889, until he was recalled to Spain to serve at the Augustinian College at La Vid at  El Escorial. In 1896, he returned to the Philippines, and was assigned in Macabebe, only to be overtaken by the events of the Philippine Revolution. As  Gen. Antonio Luna  and his forces advanced towards Pampanga, he took Spanish officials and friars prisoners—including the poor Fr. Garcia. He and other friars were hauled off from town to town across Central Luzon, forced to walk barefoot, tortured, beaten, starved and publicly displayed like animals as war booty. When Aguinaldo's troops fled to Cordillera mountains to elude pursuing Americans, they took with them the hapless friars hoping to use them later as bargaining chips. A gunfight that killed Gen. Gregorio del Pilar gave the friars a chance to escape via a boat in Ilocos to Manila, where they got safe passage back to Spain. Fr. Garcia recovered to write an account of his 18-month ordeal, Ing Pangatimaua ning Metung a Mebijag, published in 1901. In it, he wrote: “The townspeople secretly gave us coffee to drink as well as bread, cigarettes and clothes. And others sent us money and all forms of sustenance. There were the more daring ones and truly kind who washed our miserable clothes for free." In 1913, he was named prior of the Augustinian Monastery in Manila in 1913. After two years, he returned to Pampanga as párroco of Betis. He died in 1924 and is buried in the side chapel of San Nicolas in San Agustin.

CREDITS:

Singsing Magazine, AUGUSTINIANS IN PAMPANGA

http://viewsfromthepampang.blogspot.com/2007/12/64-murder-most-foul-curse-of-p-gregorio.html

http://viewsfromthepampang.blogspot.com/2011/11/272-fr-juan-herrero-oar-in-crossfire-of.html

http://viewsfromthepampang.blogspot.com/2008/01/65-other-murders-in-cloisters.html

http://www.agustinosrecoletos.org/noticia.php?id_noticia=11442&id_seccion=9&idioma=1

Entry of Fr. Antonio Redondo, by: Louie Aldrin L. Bartolo

Perez, Elviro Jorde, Catalogo Bio-Bibliografico de los Religiosos Agustinos Provincia del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus de las Islas Filipinas (1901), Establecimento tipográfico del Colegio de Sto. Tomas pages 509-510.

Alcubierre, Casimiro España el Filipinas Los Ultimos Años Su de Dominacion en el Archipelago (1910) Establecimiento tipográfico de El Imparcial, 25 de Mayo 1910 pages 54-57

Orejas Tonette. "Showing the Human Side of Heroes", Fr.Juan Tarrero

Tantingco, Robby P.,  "The Friars' Fate in Pampanga"

Photo Credits: 

Photos of Frs. Bueno, Herrero: Order of the Augustinian Recollects Archives, c/o Fr. Rommel Rubia OAR

Singsing Magazine

http://catholicsaints.info/blessed-pedro-de-zuniga/Bl. Pedro de Zuniga