Parroquia de Lubao (Church of Lubao)

I first visited the Church of Lubao, Pampanga in 2016 with my photography friend Buboy during a 1 day Visita Iglesia in Pampanga. It’s one of the 7 churches we visited that day. It’s only now that I’m posting my pictures of this amazing brick church. The markers on the façade of the church is enough to know the history of this church.

The 1^st marker on the façade of the Church of Lubao reads:

On the 440^th Anniversary of the Introduction of the Christian Faith to the People of Lubao and to the Kapampangan (1572-2012)

440 years ago, Calced Augustinian Missionaries (O.S.A.) introduced the Christian Faith to the inhabitants of Lubao and to the Kapampangan People.

The annals of the Augustinian province of the Holy Name of Jesus in the Philippines (Libro de Govierno) indicate the Parish of Saint Augustine here in Lubao, as the oldest foundation in the Province of Pampanga when it was accepted as a convent during the chapter of May 3, 1572.

The People of Lubao Readily accepted the gift of faith and thus opened the seeds of Christianization in the nearby towns and in the rest of Pampanga.

This year also marks the auspicious arrival of the relics of Saint Augustine and Saint Monica given by the Postulator General and the Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine in Rome.

With utmost celebration and thanksgiving to Almighty God for the gift of faith, the people of Lubao renew their commitment to keep and pass it on to the next generations.

On the 5^th of May in the year of our Lord 2012 and in Seventh Year of the Pontificate of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI.

Rev. Fr. Nolasco L. Fernandez

Parish Priest Mayor

Augustine Parish Church, Lubao Pampanga

Most Rev. Paciano B. Aniceto, D.D.

Roman Catholic Archbishop

Archdiocese of San Fernandeo, Pampanga

Hon. Mylyn G. Pineda-Cayabyab

Mayor

Municipality of Lubao, Pampanga

Hon. Lilia G. Pineda

Governor

Province of Pampanga

The 2^nd marker on the façade of the church is from the Philippines Historical Committee (1952) reads:

Church of Lubao

Founded 1572 in Barrio Santa Catalina. Moved to this site thirty years later due to yearly floods. Architect Fr. Antonio Herrera, Augustinian, constructed this church, 1614-1630, out of locally-made brick and sand mixed in egg albumen contributed by the people of Lubao. Occupied 1898 by the revolutionists. Used as hospital 1899 by American forces. Destroyed 1942 by Japanese shelling. Repaired 1949-1952, under the direction of Fr. Melencio Garcia and other priests.

You can also find a 3^rd marker and historical data on President Diosdado Macapagal on the façade of the church that reads:

Diosdado Pangan Macapagal

Fifth President, Republic of the Philippines (1961-1965) and president, 1971 Constitutional Convention, also lawyer doctor of laws doctor of economics educator, diplomat, congressman and Vice-President of the Philippines. Born in Lubao, Pampanga, Sept 28, 1910, was baptized in this church, Oct 12, 1910 by Fr. Francisco de la Banda, of parents Urbano and Romana (midwife: Escolastica Romero), sponsor: Angel Javier, book 32, page 98, entry 4 – Fr. Pedro Diez, Parish Priest. This marker placed by Rev. Fr Gregorio P. Binuya II, Parish Priest on President Macapagal’s 72^nd baptismal year for… (unreadable).

I hope to upload the rest of the 6 churches we visited that they. It’s been buried deep in my hard drive.

BuzzNet Tags: Lubao Church,Pampanga

Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival 2017 – Enjoy the Summer Skies with Amazing Sights and Sounds

LUBAO, PAMPANGA – Summer in the Philippines last 2016 heated up with colors and wonders as the biggest hot air balloon festival in Southeast Asia was set to light up the skies.

The Lubao International Balloon Festival 2016 featured amazing balloon flights from international participants, as well as aerial exhibitions and other exciting activities like land exhibits, car shows and fireworks display. Families and barkadas got to enjoy dynamic music from Ely Buendia, Bamboo, True Faith, Sabado Boys and Mitoy and D’Draybers.

Indeed, it was a successful and well-attended event which paved the way for another exciting hot air balloon festival that everyone can surely look forward to. Happening on April 6-9, 2017 at Pradera Verde, Prado Siongco, Lubao, Pampanga, the most awaited event will be back bigger, bolder, and better!

Bigger. More than thirty (30) international balloons will decorate the skies of Pampanga with magnificent designs and beautiful colors. It will surely be a one of a kind spectacle for the viewing pleasure of over 100,000 expected local and foreign guests.

Bolder. The festival will not only showcase the majestic display of hot air balloons during the day, but also provide the spectators with the chance to marvel at their grandeur against the night sky during the Night Glow. Furthermore, amazing fireworks display will cap off the day and end it on a high note.

Better. Great views are best enjoyed with great music. A first for the event, an international music festival will be held on the last day featuring Alex Aiono and Redfoo with Party Rock Crew. Local artists will also perform like SpongeCola, Parokya ni Edgar and Bamboo.

It’s going to be a wonderful experience, so bring your friends and families over to enjoy the summer with amazing sights and sounds at the Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival 2017!

Buy your tickets now at SM Tickets (https://www.smtickets.com) and at TicketWorld Online (https://www.ticketworld.com.ph). Ticket price is at Php300 for General Admission valid for one day only from April 6-9. A special Gold Ticket worth Php1,500 is available for April 9 which provides a closer view during our International Music Festival.

The Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival 2017 is organized by Lubao International Balloon Festival, Inc. (LIBF) together with Forthinker, Inc., in cooperation with the Arts, Culture and Tourism Office of Pampanga (ACTO) and with support from Provincial Government of Pampanga.

For more information and inquiries, you may contact Forthinker, Inc. from Mondays to Fridays, 9am to 6pm via landline +632 942 0768, mobile 09178210728 or email – lubaoibf@gmail.com.

Technorati Tags: Lubao International Balloon Festival 2017,LIBF2917,LIBF

Giant Lantern Festival 2016

This year’s Giant Lantern Festival 2016 will commence on December 19, 2016 until January 6, 2017. It will be held at the Robinsons Starmills Pampanga, City of San Fernando.

I hope I can finally attend this year.

Technorati Tags: Giant Lantern Festival 2016,San Fernando City

1 Day Visita Iglesia in Pampanga

My good friend at the photography club invited me to accompany him in a 1 day Visita Iglesia in the province of Pampanga. We left Genesis Transport terminal in Cubao around 7:00 AM (the wait time is a grueling 1 hour).

San Antonio de Padua Parish Church in San Antonio, Lubao, Pampanga is our 1st Church on our list.

First we visit the town of Lubao. We got off at Brgy Sta Cruz along Jose Abad Santos Avenue from SM Pampanga in San Fernando. Our first destination was the San Antonio de Padua Parish Church in Brgy San An tonio, Lubao. We could have gotten off the Lubao Supermart and the L-TODA tricycle station in the corner but we went back from Sta Cruz Market.

So we took a jeep to to Brgy Pasbul and another tricyle to San Antonio de Padua Parish Church. I thought it’s a huge church but I think it’s more of a chapel. From San Antonio de Padua Parish we rode a tricycle back to Pasbul and a jeep to Lubao Plaza.

In Lubao Plaza, we took pictures of the Lubao Church aka San Agustin Church. I love the brick façade of this church and the huge patio. The Church of Lubao was founded in 1572 in Barrio Santa Catalina but was moved to the current site 30 years later due to yearly floods. A few meters from the Lubao Church is the Lubao Municipal Hall and the nipa hut of President Diosdado Macapagal.

Next to our list of church to visit is the Church of Guagua. It was built by light materials by Augustinian priests in 1590 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It could have been better if there are no nearby electrical wires on the front side of the church that ruins the vista. Next the Church of Guagua are the Municipal Hall built in 1937, the Plaza and a small Razon’s Halo-Halo store besides the creek. I don’t know if it’s the original Razon’s store of Guagua.

We then rode a jeep to our 4^th church of the day – Betis Church, Guagua, Pampanga. I’ve seen pictures of this church’s interior but unfortunately, like the Church of Guagua, it is close on a Friday morning. Betis Church is a very interesting church with its Ionic columns on the main entrance. The side entrance (facing the street going to San Fernando) is also very elaborate.

Instead of going straight to San Fernando, we made a side trip to Sta Rita Church in Sta Rita, Pampanga. We have to go back to Guagua Town Proper and ride a jeep going to Porac. We took off at the Sta Rita Public Market and walk towards the church. The Sta Rita Church is dedicated to Sta Rita de Casia. My photography friend saw this church being featured on ANC due to the colorful umbrellas that lead to the main entrance (from the street).

The Sta Rita Church is beautiful and it was submerged in about 3 feet of lahar. As you enter the church, you will descend a few flights of stairs and you will see the arches inside the church which is half-way buried. There are also a lot of statues of saints lined up the façade of the church. Near the Sta Rita Church is Villa Epifania which is an ancestral house build in the 1930s. There are also other umbrellas along the street leading to the Municipal Hall.

From Sta Rita Church, we walked back to Sta Rita Public Market, ride a jeep back to Guagua and rode another jeep towards San Fernando, Pampanga. We took off at the Bacolor Public Market and walk towards the Bacolor Church (San Guillermo Parish Church). This is our 6^th church of the day. The Bacolor Church is buried in lahar about 6 feet. The entrance now to the church used to be the windows above the main entrance.

I like the wooden trusses used in this church. Plus, the bell tower is home to local species of bats. There is a Museum besides the church and a few meters away is the Campo Santo de Bacolor. We walked towards the road to San Fernando and by this time, it’s already 4:00 PM. We haven’t eaten yet and we got mesmerized by all these beautiful churches. The road from Guagua to San Fernando City is also part of the Death March road. We saw markers 96 and 97 but we failed to take a picture of the 100^th Kilometer Marker.

Our 7^th and final church for our Visita Iglesia in Pampanga is the Metropolitan Church of San Fernando. It’s dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. Like the 6 previous churches, this also has a single bell tower. It’s also opposite the City Hall of San Fernando and a few meters away from the Heritage Houses along A Consunji Street.

This 1 day Visita Iglesia in Pampanga is both tiring but it’s worth it. Next time, we’ll try to visit the other Pilgrimage Churches with Holy Doors during the Year of Mercy – Apung Mamacalulu Archdiocesan Shrine in Angles City, Divine Mercy Parish in San Jose, Floridablanca, Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles City, Sta Ana Parish Church in Sta Ana, and San Pedro Apostol Parish in Apalit, Pampanga.

Lubao Church aka San Agustin Church in Lubao Town Proper, near the Municipal Hall and Diosdado Macapagal Nipa Hut.

Guagua Church (Immaculate Concepcion) in downtown Guagua, Pampanga. I hope the City Government of Guagua would do something about the electric lines.

Our 4th Church is Betis Church in Betis, Guagua, Pampanga. This church is dedicated to Saint James the Apostle.

Our 5th Church is Sta Rita de Casia Parish Church, Sta Rita, Pampanga.

Our 6th Church is the Bacolor Church (San Guillermo Parish Church) in Bacolor, Pampanga.

To complete our Visita Iglesia, our 7th Church is the Metropolitan Church of San Fernando, Pampanga, dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption.

Technorati Tags: Visita Iglesia,Pampanga,Churches