The Easter "Salubong"

Happy Easter to everyone!

At long last, I finally got to see the Easter "Salubong" (Meeting) in my old barangay!  Just like the yearly Immaculate Conception Pagoda, I used to hear about the "Salubong" as a child, but I've never experienced it.  I could never get myself out of bed early on Easter Sunday mornings!  Even when we lived in Bayan across San Bartolome Church, any activity that involved my having to wake up at the crack of dawn never made it past wishful thinking.

But this year I told myself I should experience this Lenten tradition at least once in my life.  So I set my alarm clock to 3:30 am and went.


WHAT HAPPENS AT THE "SALUBONG"?

The "Salubong" is the re-enactment of the first meeting between the Risen Christ and His Sorrowful Mother.  The two statues of Christ and Mary sometimes come from two different places and are brought by procession to meet at the church courtyard. Mary is covered by a black veil to show that she is in mourning.  At the meeting place, the two statues meet under a canopy, and in some places, a child dressed as an angel lifts the veil of Mary, to show a mother who is joyfully seeing her son again.

In the "Salubong" of the Immaculate Conception Parish Church this morning, both statues of the Blessed Mother and the Risen Christ came from the church courtyard and their meeting or "salubong"  was at Cuatro Cantos, in front of the Rufina Patis compound.  The Risen Christ came out first - a little past 4:00 am - and was brought by procession on General Luna Street.  The procession of the Blessed Mother left a little later via C. Arellano Street.  We joined the procession of the Risen Christ.

On the way to Cuatro Cantos,  our procession chanced upon the procession of the Risen Christ of the Aglipayan Church as it was coming from Hulo going to its own "Salubong" (somewhere at the back of Mary Jay Restaurant, according to one of the procession marshalls I inquired from).  So this made for a unique and amusing situation of two Risen Christ images having their own "salubong."

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Risen Christ procession of the Aglipayan Church heading towards the direction of Bayan.

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"Salubong ng Dalawang Kristo" (Meeting of two Christs) could very well be the title of this unique scene.  Malabon devotees have long gotten used to situations like this.  They simply make way for each other to pass, then continue on to their respective destinations.

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After that brief crossing of paths, our Risen Christ procession continues to make its way to Cuatro Cantos.

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Many people were already waiting in front of Rufina Patis.  Easter Mass began a few minutes before 5:00 am, officiated by Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, Fr. Rey Amante (parish priest of Immaculate Conception Church), and another priest. The "Salubong" was held after the Mass.

In the "Salubong," the statue of Mary is moved under the canopy while that of the Risen Christ remains outside.  There is a shower of confetti and pigeons are released from the ceiling of the canopy.  A dove is then lowered onto the statue of Mary to remove the black veil over her face. The choir breaks into joyful Alleluias after the unveiling... multi-colored balloons are released into the early morning sky... and the crowd bursts into clapping and cheers of jubilation.  Afterwards the statue of the Risen Christ is moved towards that of Mary, and soon both statues leave in a procession going back to Concepcion church via C. Arellano.

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Devotees await the start of Easter Mass in front of the Rufina Patis compound.

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Blessed Mother statue is moved under the canopy.

White dove is lowered from ceiling of canopy.

Dove is about to lift Blessed Mother's veil.

Veil has been lifted from Blessed Mother's statue.

The balloons on top of the canopy are released into the morning sky along with the dove and veil.

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The "Salubong" of the Risen Christ and the Blessed Mother.

Window seat

Going back to church.

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OTHER EASTER SUNDAY SCENES

A sure attraction for the kids

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Full packed for breakfast

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A refreshing drink on a summer's day

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The Good Friday Procession

As a child I remember that Good Friday or "Biyernes Santo" was always very quiet and solemn.  There was a certain "Biyernes Santo" behaviour expected of us kids back then:  Just stay inside the house, no playing, no music and no loud laughter.  Uh, correction please:  no smiling even! 

Which is why we always looked forward to the procession that comes in the late afternoon.  After keeping still and being solemn all day, that gave us a chance to get out of the house and jostle with the other kids who were watching the procession.

I remembered all these with a smile when my son and I went to see the Good Friday procession yesterday afternoon in Barangay Concepcion.  We did not join the "prusisyon";  we just contented ourselves watching the nicely dressed-up "carrozas" (carriages) pass by. All the familiar characters from the Passion narrative were represented - the suffering Christ, His sorrowful Mother, the apostles, Mary Magdalene and the other holy women of Jerusalem, even Simon of Cyrene who helped Christ carry the Cross.  Thus it was a relatively long procession.

The procession left the Immaculate Conception Parish Church at 5:00 pm, then made its way on General Luna Street to Cuatro Cantos in Hulo.  From there, on to C. Arellano Street, then back to General Luna Street via Camus.  It was nearly 7:00 pm when the "prusisyon" arrived back at the church this time without the statue of Christ lying in the glass casket.  I was told that the image was left behind at the St. Jude Chapel.

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 We were able to watch a part of the Aglipayan Church procession as well, which usually follows that of the Immaculate Conception Church.  We didn't get to see the beginning of this procession, though, because we were late in coming out again to the street, having been misinformed about the time interval between them. I do remember that these two processions often overlap and there are times when one has to wait or give way to the other when their paths cross.  But everything always works out.

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The "Pabasa "

One thing I miss about living in the heart of town is the way you really feel part of the community's Lenten activities.

Take the traditional "Pabasa ng Pasyon" (Reading of the Passion), for instance.  When we used to live just four houses away from Concepcion Church, and at another point, almost across San Bartolome Church, there was no forgetting that Holy Week was upon us, because the "Pabasa" almost literally became the soundtrack of the days leading up to Good Friday.  Whatever you happened to be doing inside the house during those days, your background music was inevitably that familiar sometimes monotonous chanting of the "Pasyon."

But for the past nearly 20 years that we've lived away from the heart of Malabon in Barangay Potrero, there are years when I don't even get to hear a single chanting of the "Pasyon."  In that sense, I really get to feel we're so "out of it" in terms of the traditional community activities.

So after attending yesterday morning's Photo Exhibit at the Malabon City Hall, when I chanced upon a Pabasa going on in front of the Immaculate Conception Church on my way to my Dad's house, I felt glad. It suddenly felt like old times.


WHAT IS THE "PABASA," ANYWAY?

The "Pabasa," is a long-time Pilipino tradition - said to have began during Spanish times - wherein the life and passion of Christ is chanted or sung mostly a capella.  A group of singers usually take turns in chanting/singing, and devotees gather around them to listen and reflect. Although the "Pabasa" is commonly done during the Holy Week, a friend whose family holds a "Pabasa" every year to fulfill their mother's vow or "panata," says it can be done anytime within the Lenten season which begins on Ash Wednesday.

The "Pabasa" can take place over a span of days or even just hours.  My friend's family one time held their "Pabasa" from 3:00AM until 3:00PM of Good Friday.  The important thing is to finish the reading of the Passion of Christ once it is begun, and the singers can adjust their singing to suit whatever pace or time frame they have in mind.  Over the years there has been a lot of flexibility as well on the melodies used during the singing or chanting -- in fact I read recently in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the Church is not averse to having the "Pasyon" sung in a hip-hop beat if the effect is that it reaches more young people! 


THE "PABASA" HELD IN CONCEPCION

According to the Concepcion Church Parish Office, this "Pabasa" that I chanced upon yesterday morning started on the evening of Palm Sunday and ended on the evening of Holy Monday.

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Other devotees pray and sing along.

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Taking turns singing or chanting the "Pasyon."

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"Malabon's Best" Photo Exhibit

As part of the on-going celebration of Malabon's 412th year in existence with one decade of it as a city, a photo exhibit entitled "MALABON'S BEST" opened today at the Malabon City Hall Lobby.

On display are photographs taken of people, places and events in Malabon by members of the Nayon Photography Club, a camera club for hobbyists based in Intramuros, Manila.

Many of the scenes are familiar - such as the churches, old houses, fishponds and Malabon specialities.  But some are not - such as the Artex Compound, as I've never been there.  In all, the exhibit gives excellent photographic highlights of our city.  It's also a wonderful way to begin the month-long celebration that culminates in our beloved hometown's "birthday" on May 21st.

The "MALABON'S BEST" Photo Exhibit runs until May 22, 2011.

EXHIBIT OPENING.  Ribbon-cutting was led by Vice Mayor Len-Len Oreta.  (Photo from the Public Information Office)

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"MALABON'S PRIDE" is the title of this part of the exhibit, showcasing familiar Malabon products and venues.  TOP ROW (L to R):  Reno products, Malabon City Square, Pescadores Restaurant, Rufina Patis, Rosy's Pancit Malabon.  SECOND ROW:  Henry Martin School of Music, First Philippine Scale, Candyman, Nanay's Pancit Malabon.  THIRD ROW:  Balsa sa Niugan, M & A Resort, Crystaland, Mommy's Pride, Bilao of Sapin-Sapin.

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SOME OF MALABON'S OLD HOUSES.  TOP ROW (L to R):  Martinez House, Raymundo House.  SECOND ROW:  Teodoro (Luna) House, Lapuz House, Mario Luna House.  THIRD ROW:  Borja House, Marcelo House, unknown.

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SOME CHURCHES:  San Antonio de Padua Church in Tonsuya, San Bartolome Church in Bayan, Immaculate Conception Church in Concepcion, and Sto. Rosario Church in Dampalit.

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BEAUTIFUL FISHPOND SCENES IN MUZON AND DAMPALIT.  Familiar childhood scenes for many.

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VIEW FROM THE TOP.  The best vantage point in Malabon -- the roof deck of the Malabon City Hall.

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THE ARTEX COMPOUND.  Said to be Malabon's water world.

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 My thanks to Ms. Pas Ursal, OIC,  City Tourism & Cultural Affairs Office and Mr. Ronnie Gumatay, Public Information Office.

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Another distinguished son of Malabon: Epifanio de los Santos

Many of us in the metropolis traverse this major thoroughfare almost daily, but do we really know the man who it was named for?  And did you know that he came from Malabon?


WHO WAS EPIFANIO DE LOS SANTOS?    1/

EPIFANIO DE LOS SANTOS was an eminent scholar, lawyer, writer, historian, art and literary critic, archivist, painter, musician, and patriot.

Born in Malabon, Rizal on April 7, 1871, he was the only son of Don Escolastico de los Santos, a wealthy haciendero, and Dona Antonina Cristobal, an educated musician.

EPIFANIO DE LOS SANTOS, 1871-1928 (Image taken from the Epifanio de los Santos website)  2/

At age seven he was tutored by a private school teacher in Manila.  Then he enrolled at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, his father's Alma Mater.  He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at the Ateneo in 1890, graduating summa cum laude.  In 1898 he obtained his Licentiate in Law from the University of Santo Tomas.

When the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896, Don Panyong, together with his close friend Clemente Jose Zulueta, published a patriotic newspaper in Malabon named "Libertad."  The publication was short-lived, however, because the revolutionary government suppressed it after the publication of its first and only issue.  He then joined General Antonio Luna in publishing another paper, "La Independencia."  Don Panyong also became a member of the Malolos Congress.

Don Panyong married Ursula Paez, a native of Malabon, who bore him four children.  They moved to Don Escolastico's hometown San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, where Don Panyong became a fiscal and eventually a governor of the province.  After Ursula's death, Don Panyong married Margarita Torralba, a native of Malolos, Bulacan,

According to author Librado D. Cayco, what set Don Panyong apart from the many brilliant Filipinos who preceded him such as Pinpin, Balagtas, Rizal, Plaridel, Mabini, Antonio Luna and Tavera, was that, with the possible exception of Rizal, he was more versatile than any of them.

He was a gifted musician - a fine pianist and a superb guitarist.  During his time, he was one of the three outstanding guitarists of the Philippines, the other two being General Francisco Canon, a revolutionary hero, and Guillermo Tolentino, a distinguished sculptor.  He also had a talent for painting, having spent a great deal of time painting during his ten years at the Ateneo. 

Don Panyong was considered to be the foremost literary figure of his country and no less than Cecilio Apostol acknowledged him as one of the two best  Filipino writers of Spanish prose in the Philippines.  The other was Marcelo del Pilar.  The first Filipino of native parentage to become a member of the Spanish Royal Academy in Madrid, he was known in Europe as the leading philologist and writer of biographical and historical matters about the Philippines.

In 1925  Governor-General Leonard Wood appointed Don Panyong to become director of the National Library and Museum.  He accepted the position because of the honor attached to the chair; it was traditionally occupied only by scholars, men of learning and erudition.  He held this position until his sudden death from cerebral attack on April 18, 1928.

His Filipiniana collection was reputed to be the best and most unique at the time, that after Don Panyong's death, the Philippine Government lost no time in negotiating for its acquisition. 


THE NAMING OF EDSA    3/

Stretching around 54 kilometers, EDSA is a vital thoroughfare for hundreds of thousands of Filipinos passing through or doing business in Metro Manila. From the south, it passes through five cities - Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, and Caloocan.

When the avenue was constructed in 1940, it was first named as North and South Circumferential Road. But at the end of World War II, the Americans changed the name to Highway 54.

In 1959 the highway was renamed in honor of EPIFANIO DE LOS SANTOS.

The assistant then of Don Panyong, the late Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez, was a prime mover in renaming Highway 54 to EDSA, but he died before his dream was realized.

It was Juan Francisco Sumulong, a lawmaker from Rizal province and a classmate from his law school days at the University of Sto. Tomas, who continued the campaign.

Before Highway 54 became EDSA, the Americans wanted to call the highway (Gen Douglas) McArthur Highway; supporters of the late President Ramon Magsaysay wanted it named after him; while loyalists of Rizal fought for 19 de Junio, the national hero's birthday.

EDSA eventually won.


HOW HAS HE BEEN REMEMBERED IN MALABON?

In his book,  4/  Nonoy Marcelo wrote that Don Panyong was born in Barangay Longos.  During the Philippine-American war, Don Panyong used the pseudonym "G. Solon" and it is said that this pseudonym, once unscrambled, would spell his birthplace "Longos."

But try as I might, as of this writing, I've not been able to find EPIFANIO DE LOS SANTOS' exact birthplace in Malabon.

What I did find was a bust inside the Epifanio de los Santos Elementary School in Barangay Tugatog, which, according to the website of the Philippines' Department of Tourism  (Visit My Philippines/Malabon), is the Epifanio Cristobal Delos Santos Monument.

There used to be another school in Malabon that was named after him -- the Dalubhasang Epifanio de los Santos High School (formerly N.T.C.) in Barangay Baritan.

This must be the monument being referred to in the Department of Tourism website.  It would be nice if we could give EPIFANIO DE LOS SANTOS greater recognition in his hometown by building a shrine for him in a more public place.

Brief write-up on the wall lets school children know who their school is named after.  Hopefully these children will also feel proud that such a distinguished Filipino was a son of Malabon.

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References:
1/   Epifanio de los Santos, A Biography written by Librado D. Cayco of Department of Foreign Affairs, 
      c.1934 - as published in the book Ang Malabon by Angeles S. Santos.
2/   Website on Epifanio de los Santos
3/   EDSA: Freedom highway is country's busiest artery - article from the Manila Bulletin, October 16, 
      2005,  Byline:  Elizabeth C. Zambarrano.
4/   From Tambobong to City of Malabon, by Nonoy Marcelo, 2004.



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