Tara 'Igan sa Montalban ( the blog entry)

Wawa Dam

Admittedly, the title isn't mine. However, I give credit to the owner of the concept. Either it was Tim Delez or Mabel Tenorio or the organizer of the tour, Edgar Canete. Some members of AHP and some of their friends decide to get away for a Sunday and visit the town of Montalban. The small group composed of: Pheeyah Salones, Mafe Dajalos, Dennis Geronimo Red Maristany, Jam Ki, Tim Delez, Mabelle Tenorio, Maricar Anatalio, Edgar Canete, Lopa Equitad, Arlene Arguel Cejar, Presy Vivar, Lydia Canlapan, Leah Mina Caliboso, Esquierdo Bhel Asinas, Allan Pardilla Martiinez. I hope I didn't leave anybody out...

Nstra. Sra. de Aranzazu church

We decided to get together and take up Edgar's long-standing invitation to experience his hometown. Along the way, we visit the Church of Nstra. Sra. de Aranzazu, a japanese temple,  Eulogio Amang Rodriguez' heritage home, and finally Wawa Dam where we get soaked to the skin to get rid of the heat and much on simple food lovingly prepared by Edgar's Family. To rinse off we went to Edgar's home in Montalban  adn finally head home to Manila. But I'm getting ahead of my story...

Nstra. Sra. de Aranzazu knave

This trip was one for the books. I woke up early for the 5 a.m. call time at Mc Donald's Centris. Some members were late (as is normal in these meet ups) so we finally reached the first item on the itinerary. The Nstra. Sra. de Aranzazu in Marikina. I first became aware of the Nstra Sra. de Aranzazu at the Grand Marian Procession held in Intramuros. I see her yearly every time I make an attendance at the procession. So to visit the shrine was a first for me. As it turns out Arlene Cejar was a church volunteer here in her younger years. We were met and welcomed by elders of the church ministry and toured around the church after a Mass celebration. After the orientation, we went up the choirloft and tried to make it to the belfry. Unfortunately, the entry was locked up and so we failed to go see the original church bells. After the obligatory photo ops, we then proceeded to the Japanese temple. 

Japanese Temple

The temple required us to walk uphill for some 5-10 minutes. Once we got to the site, it was easy to see why they would decide to build a temple in the area. It had a clear view of the mountains in front of the temple entrance. at the back of it was a vista of the Quezon City area. The temple is completely abandoned. A pity really, as it is made of  sturdy construction material: poured concrete in a dome-like structure with portholes and an exterior stairway leading to a circular view deck. On the very center of the exterior dome is a square baluster that probably serves as a look out. The interior was cool probably due to the molded poured concrete with a recessed altar at the very center. The acoustics were amazing. It  perplexes me why it was totally abandoned. I could totally convert it into a home... or at the very least, a cafe...

viewdeck of abandoned Japanese temple 

Montalban was a delight to re-visit. I remember going there during a few summers in my youth when we would stay at my cousins in Pasig. That was the nearest area to go to. Back then, there were no thriving communities in the area. It was sparsely populated and a few enterprising families would peddle snacks and soda which they allowed to cool in the running streams in the area. Yeah... I am old. The place is highly populated now and the tourism draw in the area is highly developed. The trek to the wawa dam was an easy one. so when we got to the area, it was mid day and quite a few groups were already enjoying the rushing water. beware of the slippery dam. Years of accumulated moss  can be dangerous. The rushing water can be therapeutic if you stay there long enough.

Wawa dam

By 11:30, we went further uphill to have lunch in the resrrvoir where we feasted on grilled milkfish, eggplant served three ways: omelet, grilled and steamed. steamed okra and camote tops, crispy biya, salted egg, and leche flan and mango ice cream for dessert. The bamboo rafts drifted along the river while lunch was going on and so it nearly lulled me to sleep after eating a large meal.

rafting on the dam

By half past two we needed a good rinsing from the river and headed to Edgar Canete's home. While admiring his abundant blooms, we had merienda of Ginataa'ng bilo bilo, fried bananas and fresh coconut water gathered from his trees. Oh my, I must have eaten a three days' meal worth of food. I got home really tired so i ended up falling asleep on the couch while restiing  my tired legs from walking and climbing all day....

Ginataang bilo bilo

This trip was epic fun...

Eulogio Amang Rodriguez heritage house

AHP in Pampanga (3)

San Luis Gonzaga Church

The Advocates for Heritage Preservation family visited Pampanga for the third time. This visit saw the group travelling to the east side of the province. The areas we went to were San Luis, Arayat, Sta. Ana and Candaba.

God the Father detail above the main altar of San Luis

Interestingly, the four municipalities mentioned have their share of noteworthy heritage churches that have withstood the ravages of time and also the whims of its parish directors. Incidentally, there were also some heritage homes that we saw (not necessarily entered but it was worth a go-see.) We motored early towards San Luis which was the first stop in our itinerary. It was an impressive facade that greeted us. Obviously, the community poured its resources in building the church of San Luis Gonzaga. The church is described thus:

the oldest church bell of San Luis

"The town's Renaissance and Baroque church was finished during the late eighteenth century and restored in 1883 by Father Isidro Bernardo. The main altar was restored by Filipino Father Jacobo David in 1984. The convent was enlarged in 1877 by Father Francisco Diaz.

hidden columbary inside the sacristy

The church is 56 meters long, 13 meters wide, 11 meters high and has a heavily stone-laden, chipped off and painted Byzantine facade decorated with triangular, segmented and arched window panels as well as arched and oval blind windows. Its recessed, carved main entrance door has the papal insignia on top and is flanked by two small niches. The main center window is decorated with heavily carved stone balusters. The pediment is encompassed on both sides  by scroll like volutes. Flat, Ionic pilasters run up to the heavily carved stone balusters (enclosing the two bell towers) at the arched niche on each side, and the upper portions. San Luis is located 69 kilometers from Manila.*"                                                                                                                                                                                                

San Luis Gonzaga knave

We then visited the Don Pablo Eleuterio house with painted frescoes on its exterior built in 1892.. Sadly, we were not allowed entry into the home as it was  occupied by the family. The home was the typical "bahay na bato" with  cast iron grills on the windows and "ventanillas" the iron work was exquisite.

Don Pablo Eleuterio heritage home in San Luis, Pampanga

Our next stop was at Arayat, Pampanga where we visited the church of St. Catherine of Alexandria. Located on the east side of the province, we navigated towards the town passing through Sta. Ana first before reaching our destination.

Facade of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Arayat, Pampanga* photo by Dolcevitalux

"The town's church, built in honor of St. Catherine of Alexandria in 1863, is one of the oldest in the province and is known for its classical architecture. The present church was restored by Father Jose Torres in 1858, continued by Father Juan Terrero in 1887 and finished by Father Bedoya in 1892. The presbytery, ceiling and main altar have recently been renovated and the original stone covered with cement and painted white.

Retablo of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Arayat, Pampanga

 The church is 70 meters long, 16 meters wide, 12 meters high and has a three level Renaissance style facade dotted with geometric forms dominated by arches and circles of the doors and windows, and topped by a balustered dome. Projecting cornices separate the three levels. On the second level is a frontal arcade with  Celtic-like cross windows. The pediment has a blind pointed archway consisting of an inverted "C" form breaking the sides of the triangle. Underneath it is a small semicircular arched window below a superimposed gabled plane. Its bell tower on the left has  chamfered corners topped by intersecting gable roofs (replacing a former dome). Arayat is located 86 kilometers from Manila.*"

St. Catherine of Alexandria belfry

After the church, the AHP family had lunch at the famous Kabigting's restaurant. Known for its Pampango style halo-halo. We had a meal of Sizzling Sisig, Chicken ala King, mushroom soup, mixed veggies, leche flan and iced tea that was plenty  for a group of five but  was enough for our group of seven. 

Once lunch was done, we walked a few meters off the restaurant. We visited the Samia house built in 1895. It was, we learned the location for the TV series "Be My Lady". The home has been lovingly restored but was off limits to the public. Apparently the heirs of the property do use the home as a weekend retreat. In front of the heritage house was a "visita" or chapel. It housed a "Santo Entierro" apparently owned by the clan and its descendants. The chapel was done in the Philippine earthquake baroque style with buttresses outside of the walls.

Visita across the heritage home

We went to Sta. Ana after Arayat. We did pass by the church along the way so we knew it wasn't a long drive to another impressive church:

Sta. Ana church, Pampanga

"The town's present stone and brick chrch was begun by Father Ferrer in 1853 and finished by Father Lucas Gonzalez. It is 58 meters long, 14 meeters wide and 13 meters high. The massive, five story hexagonal tower was built in 1857 by Father Lucas Gonzalez and has blind and open recesses, canopied by triangular segments and is topped by a balusterred dome and cross. The stone convent was built in 1866 by Father Antonio Redondo and restoredin 1872 (by Father Francisco Diaz) and in 1877 (by Father Paulino Fernandez). Sta. Ana is located 79 kilometers from Manila.*"

Sta. Ana knave

Our final stop was in Candaba, Pampanga. Known for its marshlands, the area is visited yearly by migratory birds.However, Candaba is also rich in cultural heritage as evidenced by its church of St. Andrew the Apostle.

St. Andrew the Apostle, Candaba, Pampanga

"The town's present church was built by Father Jose dela Cruz.Father Esteban Ibeas made considerable renovations, adding the grand dome in 1878. It measures 60 meters long, 13 meters wide and 13 meters high and has a simple and sparsely ornamented facade with depressed three- centered arches on the windows of the second level.

St. Andrew knave

 The convent, built at around the same time as the church,was enlarged by Father Vicente Ferrer in 1854 and continually improved by Father esteban Ibeas in 1878 and father Isidro Bernardo in 1892. Its original facade has an arcaded front with alternating semi circular and depressed three centered arches on the first level, rectangular windows on the second level and a cornice decorated with geometric designs separating both levels. The convent's roof and interiors were damaged by a tphoon in the 1960's.

bell detail

The three- storey bell tower, mounted on a rectangular pedestal, interlocks with the church and convent and was built by Father Antonio Bravo in 1881. Another was installed by Father Bravo in 1890. Candaba is located 85 kilometers from Manila.*"

Reyes Mansion

Finally,  we visited a worn down mansion that was impressive in size but also left to decay. Apparently the heirs of the Reyes mansion had sold the house lock, stock and barrel to the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar group in order to arrest its further degradation. The house would have been amazing had it been kept immaculate. Among its details are embossed tin ceilings, tromp l'oile painted details on wood panelings and a bas rel;ief of a classical bust at the archway leading to the azotea. One would imagine how it would look like once it has been restored to its former glory. Then by late afternoon we had called it a day and headed back to Manila.

tromp l'oile detail

bust detail

* church descriptions lifted from 

A Tourist Guide to Notable Philippine Churches

Benjamin Locsin Layug

New Day Publishers 2007