Kambal na Simbahan: Parokya ng Loreto

The Holy Name Society (HNS) of Our Lady of Loreto Parish poses in front of the pre-war Altar Mayor of the church with Rev. Fr. Jose Pamintuan as their Chaplain celebrating heir 2nd anniversary. (10th of January, 1937)

This pre-war church of Our Lady of Loreto is the third to be built. The second church was destroyed during the Chinese uprisings in Manila in the Spanish colonial era. 

This church was also known as "simbahang adobe" (adobe church) due to the materials used to construct the church. This church was formerly administrated by the Franciscans (O.F.M.), later transferred to the diocesans in the mid-1930s. 

Unfortunately, everything in this adobe church, except the "imagen venerada" of Our Lady of Loreto, were destroyed during the Battle of Manila, ending the World War II. The image was miraculously saved from the casualties, but nothing was left in the adobe church except a small crypt, believed to be the remains of the good benefactor of the church. 

Bisítas ning Mílábas

"Old Barrio Santa Monica Chapel",

ca. 1953

photo by Doris Simpao

This small chapel was built by the efforts of the Don Sixto Alfonso and Dona Epifania Mercado and the residents of Barrio Santa Monica in Santa Rita, Pampanga, in the year 1926. This shot was taken during the "pámandálo" (visitation) of the "cruzada" of the Santo Cristo del Perdon and Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de la Pampanga, in the early days of the crusade. 

The reredos of the chapel depicts Saint Monica, the titular, with Saint Augustine on her right and (probably) Saint Rita on her left. Attached to it is a Tridentine altar, with the Tabernacle on the middle and three altar cards (or diptych): the Center Card, where the "Gloria", "Credo" and the "Canon Missae" are inscribed; the Right Card where the "Last Gospel" (Jn. 1) is found; and the Left Card where the prayer "Lavabo inter innocentes" is inscribed.   

The chapel also has its communion rails, where the Christfaithful receives the Lord after the absolution of their sins during the communion part of the Mass. 

In its entirety, the chapel is simple, yet extravagant in design. The simple arañas (chandeliers) with the accents of drooping flower arrangements give a classic ambiance in the interior. 

  

After the closing of the Vatican II, it was abandoned and a new, larger, modern chapel was built. The remaining parts of the chapel, including its sacred vessels, are nowhere now to find. 

Sadly, this house of God was left lonely, filled with bulky furniture and stuff. Hope this would be revived in the future. 

:)

Una Belleza Genial

"A Filipina Beauty",

photo by John T. Pilot

How it all started?

How did I start to collect antiques?

I was then a boy. Our home is still made of pinaud roofs and a room, with lauanit walls and flooring made from bamboo. We used to have a small and large bangguera where we put some bulky materials, unlike the usual where it used to display eating utensils. Half of the old bale kubu is a concrete bungalow, here we receive guests, eat together, and sometimes sleep together as one family. This cradle molded my childhood.

I can vividly remember when I saw my grandma's old photos. I was then browsing secretly her aparador when I encountered a bunch of oldies. I found her wedding picture with the ingkung Bencio. I was fascinated of the beauty of her, obviously showed in her old picture. And there were more pictures, some I do not recognize who are in the pictures. That's was when I was a kid. I returned them in their places, hoping some day I could beg them to my apung indu.

And after I finished my high school, I begged these photos to her, and she faithfully entrusted them to me.

My grandpa in the 60's when he went abroad in Saudi Arabia.

With her niece in the year 50's.

ALÂNG ÁNGGÂNG LUGUD. My grandpa, Jovencio Macasias y de Jesus, and my grandma, Luz Labitag y Garcia de Macasias, in their wedding pose in the 21st of May, 1958, a day before the feast of Saint Rita. It was Rev. Fr. Ireneo Gangcuanco who solemnized the Wedding at the century-old Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish in Santa Rita, Pampanga.

DALÁGÂNG KAPAMPÁNGAN. My grandma in the year  1970.

Welcome!

Sálángî támu pû!*

Tuloy po kayo!

Welcome!

Hi! Welcome to my new blog!

I dedicate this blog in the name of antiquities and everything. Personally I am fond of old things and knick-knacks! I love to see and collect antiques like old books, sacred images and pictures, likewise. Sometimes I regret-up-to-death to lost some of my collections. But I hope and pray that God hath placed them in good hands, wherever they maybe. (giggles)

By the way, in the following days I will be posting some of my antiques here so you may see them. If you'll be interested to buy them, just let me know. (but it's hard to give them away for they have been in my custody for years, hehehe!)

Also, I will feature here some old photos from our fellow bloggers and FB friends so you may have your daily dose of the heyday of the yesteryears -- where everything is fine, classic and beautiful.

[*This term literally means, "May you be lightened up" and is in a polite speech.]