Catmon Church Through The Years

    

The Beginning of Philippine-Spanish Architecture

The history of Philippine architecture under the Spanish regime begins with the arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi’s expedition in February 13, 1565, in Cebu island, together with the first batch of missionaries, The Augustinians. They built their first port in the country Fuerza de San Pedro now known as Fort San Pedro which became the Spanish trading outpost and stronghold for the region.

It was in the middle of 1580s the use of stones was introduced upon the discovery of stone quarries. The art of masonry was developed throughout the islands. Edifices began to be constructed of stone. Some were erected using shaped rocks and river stones. Bricks were also introduced. Different region uses different materials in building their Churches.

In Manila and central Luzon most of the buildings were made of a volcanic rock, mud and straw formed into rectangular blocks and dried in the sun. In northern Luzon brick was the essential building material; all the way down to Jolo, Sulu. Towns along the coasts of Luzon, especially from Zambales to Batangas, used roughly hewn blocks of coral stone. In the Bicol peninsula many construction took advantage of the abundant volcanic stone.

The craft of cutting stone or coral was virtually elevated into a fine art throughout the Visayas. Coral blocks fitted so accurately into each other not even a razor blade could be inserted between blocks, and was so durable that it did not have to be reinforced with anything.

More than three centuries of Spanish initiative, buildings of wood, stone, and

brick were constructed all over the archipelago, from the Batanes Islands in the north

to Tawi-Tawi in the south, from Palawan in the west to Samar in the east.

(Idea taken from http://nlpdl.nlp.gov.ph)

The 184 Years Old Church of Catmon

270 years later after Legaspi landed in Cebu, and 255 years after the stone quarry was discovered and made an integral part of the Spanish architectures, Catmon was separated from its mother parish Danao on November 2, 1835.

Cebu being part of the Visayas was known to be a place for these so-called fine crafters of cutting coral stones, no wonder Cebu’s Churches are mostly made of such precious stones, huge blocks of coral stones. When you see a church made out of this material, you can tell that this edifice is more than or a little less than 200 years old. These are the churches built by our ancestors during the Spanish era on which method no living creatures know, materials are near impossible to obtain, and skills no longer around.

Our Parish Church stands proudly and magnificently thriving above all odds brought about in 184 years of existence. The church was built with an adjacent convent, a school, and attached three-story belfry. The belfry, affording a good view of the surrounding land and sea, also used as watchtower. The bells performed many services for the community, the primary reason was to warn the parishioners of any impending danger, then, tolling the hours, calling the congregation to worship, and announcing important events. The School made of stone was called “Escuela Catolica”, remnants of this edifice can still be seen overlooking the sea and the provincial road. The old Spanish time convent was completely demolished to give way for the construction of a new rectory in 1956 during the time of Fr. Nicolas Navarro. It was also during his time that the first Church Altar renovation was implemented out of necessity. The belfry remains standing superbly as it was 184 years ago.

The main longitudinal body of the church is the nave, the central part, and is 33 fathoms long, 8 fathoms wide and 9 fathoms tall up to the ridge of its roof. The main entrance is through the huge wooden doors in front of the Church and four other wooden doors two on each side. To the left, as you enter the main door was the baptistery, where newly born babies were baptized into the Christian faith. The placing of the baptistery close to the entrance was symbolic of one’s entry into the Christian community.

Windows, I believe were made from the translucent capiz clam, which allowed light to filter through while at the same time acting as a protective barrier before it was replaced. The replacements however, are stained glass windows with different religious designs speak of evolution to progress again out of necessity.

At the far end of the sanctuary is the main altar, with its elaborate but simple design (the former). Behind the main altar was the sacristy, where the priest and his assistants put on their vestments before celebrating mass. The priest delivered his sermon from the pulpit, an elevated structure located at the side of the altar near the steps. The interior of the church is furnished with side altars, paintings, and carvings and sculptures of religious subjects, but everything was intended to focus attention on the tabernacle at the center of the main altar. One notable painting is found on the left side of the main entrance door right above the entrance to baptistery directly below the Choir Loft is said to be painted by Ricardo Avila, San Nicolas, Cebu on Dec.1937.

Parish Choirs performed at the loft just over the main entrance. Adjacent to the baptistery is the only access to the loft and belfry. All these are characteristics of a Spanish colonial tradition, which remind us of the immeasurable aspirations and unparalleled artistry of long-ago.

The Revolution of our Church Altar

Human, Time, and Nature, have conspired to erase this memory. Today,the outside wall of our church is in its original form, while inside have been spoiled by numerous developments. Tasteless Renovation which was followed by a magnificent Restoration and Preservation project in 1984 in time for the Jubilee Year. In 2018, another Unsavory Renovation of the Altar Ceiling and Wall, to me seems a cultural theater not a House of God. Again, another excessive renovation project proposal for the altar this year 2019 is in progress.

                                                                              1984                                                                                                                                                       2018                                                                              

                                                             2019 - Proposal

What’s next? In 2020?

I noticed only one set of elements gone missing, maybe because they were conspicuously standing above two opposing posts before the steps to the altar. Those exquisite Angels, where are they now? These, maybe just a few of many original items taken out of sight for reasons only those who have to do with it knows.

The Greatest Gift Ever

Why keep on changing the interior furnishing of our Church? If we want a modern looking Church, why don’t we build one? I know in my heart I can’t sway these people to reconsider, but at least I have tried, and am able to pour out my sentiments and the sentiments of those who don’t have a voice, and those who don’t have the audacity to join a long lonely quest for just preservation.

The greatest that ever gifted to us Catmonanons is our Church. I was and am very proud to talk about the amazing architectural feat of our Church. How the natives of Catmon along with the Spanish Augustinian Recollects built our Church 184 years ago. The materials used and the simple artistry applied outside and inside speaks of the Church itself, no need to elaborate.

I have seen a lot of excessively decorated Churches and they’re beautiful but extravagant, a solid reminder of how human twisted Jesus teachings on modesty. My sentiment is not about whom people support or what people prefers. My concern is about our Church being manipulated and abused by so many for so long. The idea of constant renovation already finds its way to the depths of the young generation minds and it will continue to grind until we see the last of these authentic features no more, gone forever.

The current parish priest alone renovated the altar in 2018 with audacious modifications. Many love the idea; maybe because they can no longer do anything but accept. I am one of those who believe in preservation of the past. Our Church is the last one standing, all the rest are but remnants of those glorious moments of the distant past. And again another project is looming around, maybe as of this writing the excessive altar renovation project proposal this year 2019 has already started. One parish priest, two major excessive altar “renovation” projects, is it not strange?

Another clergy will be assigned in the years to come, hopefully will not redesign and renovate the altar for the nth time. Renovation? What’s in this word? For me, I did not see improvement; all I see is destruction, vandalism, damage, defacement, despoliation, desecration, plunder, despoilment, exploitation… what else? Destroying the past comes in many faces. Renovation is one face regularly abused.

Catmonanon, suit yourself; this may be the last time you’ll see the interior original features of our church.  With the impending threat of massive interior renovation, our church will be one of those casualties of successive renovation which superimposes on the almost two centuries old defining features. Some are not seeing the importance of just maintaining or preserving the original aspects that convey the story of our past, the ancient splendid artistry so striking to ignore, but some give a little attention and fail to appreciate its unparalleled significance. So sad!

Adieu to whatever will be vandalized. Go fly with the Angels. Adieu!

 Fr. Gil Guardiario

I have nothing personal against Fr. Gil Guardiario. My first encounter with him was during the celebration of Flores De Mayo in 2015 of which I and my Wife were the respective Hermano-Hermana Mayors. He also celebrated a Mass on my Mother’s wake the night before the burial and again in my Mom’s burial, the third time I heard of him. In 2018 we were able to celebrate Catmon Fiesta with relatives, friends, and fellow Catmonanons. We attended the consecutive nine days early morning novenas, to honor our beloved Patron Saint William and in fulfillment of our personal commitment. With this, I heard Fr. Gil delivered his homily several times although I do not know him personally, his messages during the holy masses were enough for me to say that he is different from other priests just like Fr. Jonald Concha, worthy of my respect and admiration.

It’s the IDEA not the PERSON I am not in favor of. Just exercising my freedom of expression, I guess it is alive within the Roman Catholic Faith. After presenting a life story of our Patron Saint William and believing in that story all my middle life and found out later that the story is a hoax is dismay on my part. I lost a pound of trust in the people wearing the cloth and those surrounding them. Feeding false story is like making a fool out of the innocent faithful. My love and respect fading bit by bit, I can’t help it but let it out. The only reason I still go to Church is Jesus the Christ, it has been this way since childhood, grew up from a Catholic upbringing. Even if all priests lost their souls, I will still go to Church and pray. It is hard to be apologetic when you know you’re not at fault, but, if I offended anyone, I’m sorry… truly am.

God Bless!

Sr. San Guillermo De Catmon

                                     A Little Of History

Matter-of-Fact

Was Jesus born in Bethlehem or Nazareth? Since childhood I was taught that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a manger, then why is Jesus called a Nazorean and a Galilean throughout the New Testament?

Feel free to share your thoughts, but for me I would rather leave this to the Religious Scholars and Historians. Not even the Church Leaders has the right answer to this. We can have a very lengthy discussion, but I’m sure we’ll arrive to naught for we have different perspective and some not even supported with facts but still believe.

Most people do not bother to trace the origins of their religion, much less their beliefs and rituals. They don’t even care if they’re introducing Juan as Pedro, or writing and passing a story of Juan to describe Pedro. Almost all faithful always believe the men in the cloth, regardless of whether they’re telling the truth or the lie. Everything that comes out from their mouth to many is real; it seems they worship the clergies more than God. Ignorance is not a virtue!

Read the Bible and understand it. Study the history of the Catholic Faith; I’m sure you will grind your teeth in disbelief. The ancient and modern histories of our Church are besieged with scandals and it continues today and is certain, tomorrow. Men in cloth are also human like us, nothing is beyond ordinary. To spread and live by the words of God is their chosen vocation. We looked up to them as a living example of Jesus Christ, but many failed us, many came up short. You have to understand, they’re only human like us. They are not Gods, don’t treat them like one.

As of this writing, the RCC Leaders are the ones needing our prayers. With the present flood of scandals that rock the RCC Faith, being our Leaders’ inept ability as the primary reason, is an affirmation they are human like us, nothing is beyond, nothing is so special.

Again, they are not Gods, don’t treat them like one. Respect is mutual!

Catmon Tree Town

Our town was named after a tree abundant during the time of the Spaniards. The legend says that a Spanish soldier asked the farmer resting under the shade of a huge beautiful tree the name of the place. The farmer did not quite understand the soldier, however answered “Catmon”, thinking the soldier was asking for the name of the tree. From then on, the place was called Catmon.

San Guillermo Parish

The Augustian Friars who came with the soldiers whose mission was to spread Christian Faith among the locals started to look for a place to build their Church, hence our Parish Church today. They named the Church after one of their venerated Saints, thus, San Guillermo Parish Church came into existence.

Excerpt from the Book "Balaanong Bahandi"

“The Church of Saint William the Hermit in Catmon, Cebu was built in November 2, 1835 by the Augustinian-Recollects after Catmon became an independent parish from Danao. The site where the church stands was the third and final place chosen by its founder, the first one of which was in Catmondaan (Old Catmon) and the second one in Sitio Manobo, Barangay Maca-as. The walls were completed by Father Manuel Gimenez in 1868; the facade and belfry by Father Ramon Miramon in 1875; and the tile roof and altars by Father Francisco Bergasa in 1879.”

The Saint

The life of our San Guillermo is of two parts, half fictional and half factual. There was no account of his birth, where he’s from, and his early life. He was said to be a French soldier, living a debauchery life common among soldiers at that time. One day he realized his sinful ways and began to ask forgiveness through prayers. He went in a pilgrimage to the tombs of the apostles at Rome and begged Pope Eugenius III to put him into a course of penance, who enjoined him in a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the year 1145.

In 1153, he returned to Italy and was prevailed to run a monastery in the Isle of Lupocavio, in the territory of Pisa. The tepidity and irregularity of his monks were too much for him to bear, so he decided to leave and settled in Monte Pruno. In September 1155, he entered a solitude life in a cave in the wilderness of Maleval, situated in the territory of Sienna, in the diocese of Grosseto. The first four months, his hermitical life was accompanied by wild beasts, eating only the herbs on which they fed, and drank nothing but water. He slept on a bare ground and a stone for his pillow. He was discovered by the Lord of Buriano who built him a cell.

On the feast of the Epiphany, in the beginning of the year 1156, he was joined by a disciple or companion, called Albert, who lived with him to his death, which happened thirteen months after, and who has recorded the last circumstances of his life. Divine Providence moved one Renauld, a physician, to join Albert, a little before the death of the saint.

William developed a gift of miracles, and that of prophecy. Seeing his end draw near, he received the sacraments from a priest of the neighboring town of Chatillon, and died on the 10th of February, in 1157.

William the Hermit is also known as William of Malavalle and William the Great. He was Beatified by Pope Alexander III in 1174 to 1181, and Pope Innocent III Canonized him in 1202.

Is St. William the Hermit and William X are one and the same person? Possibility arises from this question.

William X Born in 1099 and Died on 9 April 1137, nicknamed the “Saint”, was Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, and Count of Poitou from 1126 to 1137. Against the will of his own bishops, he initially supported antipope Anacletus II in the Schism of 1130, opposite the legitimate Pope Innocent II.  In 1134, Bernard of Clairvaux ,now a Saint, convinced William to drop his support to Anacletus and join Innocent, an appeal to which the duke affirmed about a year later.  In 1137, Duke William X set out from Poitiers to Bordeaux, to leave his daughters, Eleanor and Petronilla, in the charge of the Archbishop of Bordeaux, one of the Duke’s few loyal vassals who could be entrusted with the safety of his children.

Duke William joined the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, to the Shrine of Saint James in northwestern Spain; however, on April 9th (Good Friday) of that same year, he was stricken with sickness and died that evening. William dictated a will on the very day he died that bequeathed his domains to Eleanor and appointed King Louis VI of France as her guardian. Some sources blamed William’s death to food poisoning.

Fiction or Fact

If you will end the story of William the X on his deathbed on April 9, 1137 then he is not the William we are looking for. But there is one narrative about William the X though not so famous story but some people talk about it.

Legend has it, that Duke William had ingeniously faked his own death and went on solitary spiritual mission. Eight years of soul searching ended when he went in a pilgrimage to the tombs of the apostles in Rome and chanced an audience with the new Pope Eugenius III begged him for absolution, who in return enjoined him in a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the year 1145.

So the story goes. The possibility is remote but who knows? William the X might be the Aquitanian Soldier who arrived in Maleval  in 1155 and lived a hermitical penitent life. It is for this reason I believe that some other sources call him the “Saint”. If this allegory is more than just a legend, then our St. William is the Duke of Aquitaine who engineered his own death for divine reason, lived and died a saintly hermitical death in a cave in the valley of Maleval on February 10, 1157.  He must be 58 years old when he died.

The Reality

 Regardless whether our Patron Saint is William X Duke of Aquitaine or a French soldier of rank also named William is not significant. His early life is not what made Him a Saint but His hermitic penitent life. It is His penitent life worth the emulation and the glorious praises. It is His life in the cave of Maleval, people around the world honor and adore Him, ask for his intercession and pray with Him. It was that life that made Him our Patron Saint since the birth of our parish hundred eighty four years ago, Today, and Ever!

Most RCC Saints were named after the place (or how they lived their final days) they breathe their last. His last breath signifies that his earthly penitent soul is born into heaven in God’s glory.  It is for this reason; our Patron Saint is called William the Hermit! Viva Sr. San Guillermo de Ermitanyo!

Augustinians and their Churches named after St. William

Six Augustinian Friars led by Andres de Urdeneta and five others in Mexico were the first to land in the Philippines. They were the founders and the first apostles of the Catholic Faith in the country. In Cebu, the Augustinians are also the first missionaries to have arrived with Legazpi in 1565.

They established several Churches in the Philippines and named these houses of God after St. William or San Guillermo. Although these Churches have different suffixes after the St. William or the San Guillermo, all elements refer to the same Titular Head, Patron Saint William the Hermit aka William of Maleval.

The following are the St. William the Hermit Parishes in the Philippines, Feast Day is observed every 10th of February:

1. Saint William's Cathedral, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

2. Saint William's Parish, Talisay, Batangas, Philippines.

3. Cathedral of Saint William the Hermit, San Fernando, La Union.

4. Saint William's Parish, Passi City, Iloilo, Philippines.

5. San Guillermo Paris, Buting, Pasig City

6. San Guillermo Parish, Iponan, 9000 Cagayan de Oro City.

7. San Guillermo de Aquitania, Dalaguete, Cebu

8. San Guillermo Parish Church, Catmon, Cebu

Augustinian Saint William

There are several Saints named William in the Augustinian Order and one of them is St. William of Maleval aka St. William the Hermit, the only soldier turned hermit among them.

Naming their Churches after Saints

It is nonsensical to name their Churches after Saints not in their ecclesiastical order. Our Church Saint William must be an Augustinian Saint. Revered and venerated by the Augustinian Friars.

Feast Day of a Saint

“The word "feast" in this context does not mean "a large meal, typically a celebratory one", but instead "an annual religious celebration, a day dedicated to a particular saint".

“The system arose from the early Christian custom of commemorating each martyr annually on the DATE OF HIS OR HER DEATH, or birth into heaven, a date therefore referred to in Latin as the martyr's dies natalis ("day of birth")…”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_of_saints

St. William of Gellone

William of Gellone was Born in the year 755 AD and Died on May 28, 812 AD. He was too early to be the Saint we are looking for. All characters involved in the story of our San Guillermo written by a local historian reflected in the Catmon Fiesta Souvenir Program were from the 11^th-12^th centuries time period except for William of Gellone who was from the 8^th century. William of Gellone is more than 300 years older than the rest of the characters.

St. William of Gellone to be exact was 325 years older than Pope Eugenius III who was born in 1080 AD (11th Century). Pope Eugenius III was the youngest among the individuals mentioned in the story. William of Gellone was already a Saint during the lifetime of our Patron Saint William. He is a Saint of the Benedictine Order not of the Augustinian, further substantiated the claim that He was not the Patron Saint the Augustinian Friars installed in the parish of Catmon.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_of_saints

Some are the same as with my previous postings.

Catmon Church Incomprehensible Journey

Our Church Incomprehensible Journey

Not long ago, the Church of Catmon was subjected to a renovation; I guess that was during the time of Fr. Sindulfo Iriarte. The renovation was spearheaded by the Association of Catmonanon Elsewhere or ACE for short. Their mission was to expose the hidden beauty of our Church and provide a significant improvement without ruining important original features, such as the stained glass windows with different religious design, and the once upon a time exquisite chandeliers hanging from the extraordinary wooden trusses.  

They got rid of the ceiling cover when they found out the gem behind, as you can see right now the original trusses and etc. made of uncut lumber of a kind of wood which you cannot avail nowadays.

They scraped off the cement finishing of the wall to expose this peculiar material commonly used by the Augustinian recollects building the walls of their churches during the time period. These materials are now scarce and hard to quarry by blocks; therefore it is almost impossible to build new structures using the same materials and methods these days. Coral stones as I was made to believe are the materials our Church was built upon. Yes, Coral Stones!

After the renovation the Church stand at its grandeur, the naked wooden trusses in the ceiling and the naked coral stone walls speak of the almost two century’s old edifice. So beautiful, so mesmerizing!

Just recently the Church Altar was renovated. The ceiling was redesigned and the whole altar was painted with different colors and lights extravagantly mounted, seems a disco pub.

This holy place is the house of God. A place of worship. Jesus was a simple man, he lived among the poor. He is the opposite of extravagance. During the last supper, Jesus used a simple cup and plate made of baked clay, or may be of stone, or of wood. Certainly not made of gold or silver. Today, Priests use a chalice made not just of any metal but gold or silver. Jesus was poor. Priests are rich. The RCC has billions of dollars in their coffer. Reality contradicts the scripture.

“Give your riches to the poor, come and follow me.” Think!

Let’s go back to our parish Church before I get carried away. I am not sure if during or before the time of our current Priest Father Gil those angels proudly standing above two opposing columns before the steps to the altar were taken down. Destroyed, trashed out, or sold? IDK!? Who was responsible? Honestly, IHNI. But the thing is somebody obliterated a more than century old effigies. Those effigies were part of our history, part of our house of God. Part of our parish. Part of what we are, who we are.

Every time a new cleric is assign, a new project would spring out. This is a sign that we are progressing. Progress is good. But let it be a progress without destruction. Do not destroy anything from a Church almost two centuries old. Do not take away something. Make this progress a factor for addition. Each project concept must be a new addition, never subtraction. Destroying the old to give way for the new one is idiotic. If you need to destroy the old to facilitate the new… please forget it, it’s not worth it!

Another project geared towards “Enhancement” of the Church Interior starting with the altar, I guess is already in progress. The Church people are appealing for your generosity to realize the project. The enhancement proposal is beautiful but excessive. They posted only pictures, no BOQ/bill of quantities. I asked Mec if he can post a BOM/bill of materials, at least from this we can generate a general idea about the project, but to no avail.

I pray that this is a preservation and enhancement project, nothing is to be destroyed.

If you are interested to donate or contribute, please contact the Church people.

God Bless!