San Bartolome de Malabon - The Mighty Patron of Malabon

-
San Bartolome de Malabon
In the historic city of Malabon in Metro Manila, we can find the oldest parish of the city - San Bartolome Parish which is also a prominent historic landmarks and the mother church of all the parishes of Malabon. The parish and its titular patron became silent witnesses to the evolving yet tumultuous history both of the city and the nation.

The image

The centuries old wooden image of San Bartolome de Malabon is a de tallado image of St. Bartholomew the Apsotle stepping on a demon that he captured with his silver chains while holding a book (an allusion to his preaching work) on his right hand and a bolo on his left (usually a flay knife in allusion to his method of martyrdom by being flayed alive).

The statue wears a red vestment and and a yellow cloak, sports long hair, beard, mustache, blue stern eyes and a halo. The image is enthroned at the main altar of the church. 

San Bartolome de Malabon
The life of St. Bartholomew

All that is known of him with certainty is that he is mentioned in the synoptic gospels and Acts as one of the twelve apostles. His name, a patronymic, means "son of Tolomai" and scholars believe he is the same as Nathanael mentioned in John, who says he is from Cana and that Jesus called him an "Israelite...incapable of deceit." The Roman Martyrology says he preached in India and Greater Armenia, where he was flayed and beheaded by King Astyages. Tradition has the place as Abanopolis on the west coast of the Caspian Sea and that he also preached in Mesopotamia, Persia, and Egypt. His Feast Day is celebrated every August 24.

History

The devotion to San Bartolome de Malabon began with its foundation first as a former visita of Tondo, Malabon was founded on May 21, 1599 by the Augustinian Friars. In 1614, it became an independent parish, with Padre Luis Gutierrez as vicar prior. When Padre Diego de Robles became prior of Malabon in 1621, he began the construction of the first stone church a year after. The construction was gradual as additions were made by succeeding priests. The people of Malabon have grown to have a devotion to San Bartolome that he is invoked by the people in their different needs for centuries up to this day.

During World War II, San Bartolome Church suffered heavy damages and restoration began only in 1951 until 1958. San Bartolome Church now has seven bells, two of which are dedicated to Santa Rita and one to San Bartolome. The Church went into numerous developments both in architecture and socio-religious conditions of the city. In celebration of the church's 400th anniversary, the Philippine Postal Corporation issued a limited edition stamp designed by Victorino Serevo. 

San Bartolome de Malabon
San Bartolome and the Katipunan

San Bartolome, who suffered martyrdom by flaying, is considered as the patron of knife makers. Providentially or not, the discovery of Katipunan happened in August, deemed as the red month, when violence was thought to easily ran amok, on the days nearing the feast of San Bartolome. The long bolo called Sang Bartolome was the favorite weapon of Katipuneros and they chose the eve of his feast, on August 23, 1896, to raise the cry of the revolution now known as El Grito de Balintawak, tearing their cedulas and raising their bolos to invoke the blessing of San Bartolome upon them. Moreover, the Katipuneros hurrying to join Bonifacio in Caloocan managed to pass thru the checkpoints of Guardia Civil just by posing as pilgrims of San Bartolome. And thus, the red vestment of the apostle was also the red of the revolution and its popular weapon, the Sang Bartolome. Ironically, the church was plundered by the Revolutionary forces and it became the publishing center of "La Independencia".

The devotion at present

The devotion to San Bartolome is engrained to the history and culture of the CIty of Malabon. His Feast day, August 27 is celebrated with much solemnity and color with the annual Tabak Festival held in his honor. During the said festival, different schools would perform different artistic presentations showcasing the life of San Bartolome and the history of the parish. The festivities end with a solemn procession of the image to his domain in Malabon. We have seen how the people were perpetually grateful for the protection of their patron saint as he became a silent witness to he history of the city and it is manifested in the culture and piety of the people.

Reference

Butler, Alban, Lives of the Saints, TAN Books, USA, 1995.
Brief History of San Bartolome Parish, St. Bartholomew Parish, Malabon City, 2014.
Joaquin, Nick, Almanac for Manileños. Manila: Mr. and Ms. Publications, 1979.

Photos:

Mangahas, Angelo
Aguilar, Yoshi

Interview:

Piolino, Rody

Special thanks to Mr. Rody Piolino for the references as the basis of this blogpost and Mr. Angelo Mangahs and Mr. Yoshi Aguilar for the photographs used in this blogpost. 
+AM+DG+

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Nuestra Señora de la Regla: Cebu's Gracious Lady

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de la Regla de Cebu Aside to the famed Santo Niño de Cebu, there is another devotion that flourished in the island that pilgrims visit through the centuries succor in times of great need - the felicitous Nuestra Señora De la Regla. The miraculous image is venerated widely by the Cebuanos who believe that the prosperity they enjoy is a blessing achieved through the strength of her maternal intercession. The image is currently venerated at The National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Regla in Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu. Features of the image The image of the Virgin is patterned to the original located in Chipiona, Spain. The Our Lady of the Rule image carved from the trunk of dark Philippine hardwood, was installed at the her own altar of Our Lady of the Rule Church in Lapu-Lapu City. The Brown Madonna holds the Infant Jesus in a form of offering and showing - as if she is presenting the Child Jesus to the people and telling them to worship his Son -
Read more

Nuestra Señora da la Salud: The Powerful Health of the Sick

-
Image
Nuestra Señora da la Salud Within the confines of modern Quezon City, there is a precious treasure that was once one of great importance of Old Manila's Glorious Past. This principal treasure is the dark image of the Blessed Virgin, under the title of"Nuestra Señora de la Salud" (Our Lady of Health) brought by the Recollect missionaries to the Philippines in 1634. In the olden days, the Virgen de la Salud is one of the most celebrated Marian images in the country with numerous miracles were attributed to this Dark Virgin of Old San Nicolas Church. So numerous and well known that even high government officials of the time are in attendance and one of most awaited in the summer and it somehow rivals that of the Virgin of the Santo Rosario of Old Intramuros (now will be venerated in her new Shrine in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.) However, after the ravages of World War 2, though the image was safe and kept by her custodians, the devotion her seemed to be forgotten by
Read more

The Regal and Miraculous Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Bacolor of Bacolor, Pampanga

-
Image
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Bacolor (Church image) Bacolor, Pampanga, one of the most historic town one of the most populated in the province that was once the provincial capital of the province bearing the name "Villa de Bacolor" and dubbed as "Atenas de Pampanga" due to its significant role in the history, culture, economy and faith in Pampanga. Bacolor is also famous for its centuries old sunken San Guillermo Church where half of edifice was submerged by lahar during the Pinatubo eruption in the early 1990's and decades later as the church from the iconic ABS-CBN teleserye "May Bukas Pa". Bacolor is also known as one of the main Marian pilgrimage sites in the province and also of Central Luzon because it was in the famed Bacolor Church were the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Bacolor is enshrined. The Virgin of the Rosary of Bacolor became a silent witness of the colorful yet tra
Read more

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga - the Queen of Cavite

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga In the province of Cavite, located in Southern Luzon area, there lies a church in Cavite City, then known as Cavite Puerto where it has been, and still is, the center of pilgrimage in the whole province and outside, including Metro Manila and other provinces for the parish San Roque in Cavite City is the home of the famous Patroness of the Cavite - Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga, the undisputed Queen of Cavite. For Caviteños, the Soledad will always be part of their lives for tremendous miracles were attributed through her intercession and it is no wonder that in almost every home in Cavite, altars and doorsteps are not complete without an image of the Soledad either in print, sculpture, reliefs and other media. The icon has received several titles in its history, including "Queen of Cavite" and "Exalted Patroness and the Celestial Guardian and Protectress of the Province of Cavite and its Port" (Spanish
Read more

Nuestra Señora de Barangay - The Mother and Protectress of the Barangay

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de Barangay Of all Marian images venerated in the country, there is a simple yet beautiful image of Our Lady that is very unique in our consciousness, the very Filipina image of the Virgin of the Barangay. The image of the "Virgen sang Barangay" gained much attention since its first public appearance in the 1950's as the Patroness of the Barangay sang Birhen Organization and began touring the nation for some years and numerous replicas of this image, whether it is a painting or a three-dimensional statue, this particular Venerada clearly shows how the Blessed Virgin became became our own Mother of the Filipino Nation and became a unifying force for centuries and still enjoys much love and veneration as time passed by.  The image The icon of the Virgin of the Baranggay depicts the Virgin presenting her Son to the barangay. The Virgin wears the traditional balintawak and wearing a red and yellow tapis on her waist while the Child is covered with
Read more