Saturday, January 21, 2012

Around Bulacan 2007

Feeling that Metro Manila no longer has the Pagsasanto tradition of the olden times? Or that it is not replete enough to satisfy your desire to see more beautiful samples of Filipino religious artworks? Fortunately, North of Manila is Bulacan a few kilometers drive from the metro and you are sure to able to see more than what you ask for...

Butterfly Haven
Pulilan, Bulacan

Who would have thought that a Butterfly Farm/resort will have an extensive collection of religious images? Enter the Aguirre ancestral home...

Slide154 (Small)
Even before entering the house you'll see these impressive wooden icons: a relief of Our Lady of Penafrancia of Bicol, San Jose and...

Slide155 (Small)
Sto. Nino Dormido (sleeping Sto. Nino)

More Sto. Nino

The whole expanse of the mansion is literally cluttered with images of the Sto. Nino, of different poses and titles (I presume)...not really complaining...

Here's a very cute (but very expensive-looking, knowing that Jesus was born on a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes)image of the new born Jesus

Slide147 (Small)

Prayer to Jesus in the Manger

O Divine Redeemer Jesus Christ, prostrate before Thy crib, I believe Thou art the God of infinite Majesty, even though I do see Thee here as a helpless babe. I humbly adore and thank Thee for having so humbled Thyself for my salvation as to will to be born in a stable. I thank Thee for all Thou didst wish to suffer for me in Bethlehem, for Thy poverty and humility, for Thy nakedness, tears, cold and sufferings.

Slide146 (Small)

Would that I could show Thee that tenderness which Thy Virgin Mother had toward Thee, and love Thee as she did. Would that I could praise Thee with the joy of the angels, that I could kneel before Thee with the faith of St. Joseph, the simplicity of the shepherds. Uniting myself with these first adorers at the crib, I offer Thee the homage of my heart, and I beg that Thou wouldst be born spiritually in my soul.

Slide148 (Small)

Make me reflect in some degree the virtues of Thy admirable nativity. Fill me with that spirit of renunciation, of poverty, of humility, which prompted Thee to assume the weakness of our nature, and to be born amid destitution and suffering. Grant that from this day forward, I may in all things seek Thy greater glory, and may enjoy that peace promised to men of good will.

Slide153 (Small)
A Sto. Nino mounted on top of a small carroza, similar to the caru-caruhan tradition of Rizal

Slide160 (Small)
A devotion to the Child Jesus

The 2nd Luminous Mystery: The Wedding Feast at Cana (also known as the First Miracle of Jesus, in Cana)

Slide149 (Small)

...do whatever He tells you...

Jesus, His Mother and disciples were invited to a wedding in Cana. During the wedding feast the wine ran short. Mary turned to Jesus: "They have no wine." Jesus replied: "What would you have me do? My hour has not yet come." Mary said to the waiters: "Do whatever he tells you." There were six stone water jars, each holding fifteen to twenty gallons. Jesus bids the waiters to fill the jars with water, and then draw some out and take it to the chief steward. The chief steward said to the groom: "Every man serves the good wine first... but you have saved the good wine until now."

Slide152 (Small)
From L-R: Another look at the tableau; presumable one of the servants who was told by Mary to do whatever Jesus tells them to do...

A closer study of the extremely expressive faces of the images, unfortunately I don't know who carved these images

Slide150 (Small)

Slide151 (Small)

At Mary’s request, Jesus worked His first miracle. Inside the house, there are also a lot of Marian images...

2 Sto. Rosario's in 1

Slide159 (Small)
The elaborate metal design on the images garments are copied from the famous pattern-tradition of Our Lady of La Naval however she also wears a "Media Luna," a moon shaped crown just above the forehead, which is worn by Our Lady of Manaong...so which is which...nonetheless it is a beautiful Marian image...

Study of the Image

Given that I am a devotee of Our Lady of La Naval, I just had to see the image from all angles...

Slide156 (Small)

Slide157 (Small)

Slide158 (Small)

"I am the Lord's servant," said Mary; "may it happen to me as you have said."

Slide161 (Small)
Other Marian images: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Our Lady of Perpetual Help; other images of saints eg St. Dominic de Guzman, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Jude Thaddeus and more Sto. Nino images...

The Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar

This is an inspiration, this is one of my dream projects for my hometown in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. This image is about 1 meter tall.

Slide162 (Small)

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped.

Slide163 (Small)
This image is exquisite from all angles, truly a dream project...

Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth. Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me."

Outside Pagsasanto

Aside from religious images, there are other interesting items included in the exhibition of family memorabilia...the following are pictures of diorama's depicting typical Bulacan life, traditions, history and folklore.

Slide164 (Small)

Slide165 (Small)

Slide166 (Small)

Slide167 (Small)

Slide168 (Small)

Slide169 (Small)

A nearby Marian exhibit

Since we are in the area, dropped by a Marian Exhibit held as part of the October Devotion activities of the Parish.

Slide170 (Small)
Before entering the exhibit area, noticed this base of Our Lady of the Rosary (presumably) since this is a copy of La Naval's original base

Slide171 (Small)
Another  tableau of the first miracle at Cana...

Slide172 (Small)
The young Mary with her parents, St. Joachim and Anne

Slide173 (Small)
The young Mary

Slide174 (Small)
The First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation

Slide175 (Small)
From L-R: The Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation; The Holy Family and the flight to Egypt (small image)

Slide176 (Small)
Two images of Sorrow: The Mater Dolorsa and the Pieta

Slide177 (Small)
From L-R: Santa Veronica and another image of the Mater Dolorosa

Slide182 (Small)
From L-R: Virgen Soledad; Nuestra Senora dela Victoria

Slide181 (Small)
More Dolorosas...one more and we can have a representation of the 7 sorrows of Mary

Slide183 (Small)
Rosa Mystica

Slide184 (Small)
Our Lady of the Eucharist and a very stylish image of Mary, I forgot the title

Slide185 (Small)
I believe this is another representation of Our Lady of the Dove, (Nuestra Senora de la Paloma)

Slide178 (Small)
Dormicion or the Death of Our Lady (the Sleeping Virgin); although some note that the image of the virgin under this title should not have her mouth and eyes open given that this signify a painful death in contrast to what is traditionally believed that Mary expired peacefully. 

Slide179 (Small)
Another look at the Dormicion. Although I think the reason why the mouth and eyes are agape is more the artist's or the carver's choice than the owner's...somehow carvers in the country have made it a measure of their skills, an image with a beautifully executed open-mouth means highly skilled!

Slide186 (Small)
a seated image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Slide180 (Small)
Reina del Cielo, the Queen of Malolos' Processions...

Slide187 (Small)
Our Lady of Rosary of Pompeii and an image of Mary holding a globe probably as Queen of the Earth

Icing on the Cake

After feasting my eyes on the various Marian images on exhibit, inside the Parish are carroza's being readied for the procession, another October Devotion activity, featuring the mysteries of the rosary.

Slide188 (Small)
From L-R: Fifth Luminous Mystery: Institution of the Eucharist; Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension

Slide189 (Small)
From L-R: The Second Sorrowful Mystery: Agony in the Garden; The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: the Carrying of the Cross

No comments:

Post a Comment