TREASURE. Flanked by parish priest Fr. Greg Vega and town cultural heritage chair Owen Canlas, Minalin Mayor Arturo Naguit proudly holds National Museum marker declaring the Sta. Monica Church as a national cultural treasure. Photos by Bong Z. Lacson
MINALIN, Pampanga- Amid preparations for Saturday’s official declaration of the church of Sta. Monica here as a National Cultural Treasure (NCT) by the National Museum, parish priest Fr. Greg Vega revealed yesterday a “major discovery” hidden in the old church: the heart of Sta. Monica, mother of St. Augustine.
“This is the find of the century here,” remarked Fr. Vega who said the heart was found at the entry of the 17th century church named after Sta. Monica, after the rotting ceiling at the main door was dismantled for replacement.
The heart was not a relic though, but rather an unusual bas relief, or sculpture carved from an adobe beam supporting the choir loft at the church entry. It had been hidden, probably for centuries, inside the old wooden ceiling.
The recent discovery of the heart, which was inverted and pierced with arrow, initially baffled researchers involved in the preparation for the declaration of the 17th century church as NCT.
Fr. Vega noted that in other parts of the church, particularly above entry doors, also had centuries-old bas relief but they all depicted emblems identified with St. Augustine, such as his book City of God, his miter, and a church symbolic of his being a doctor of the Church.
Thorough research finally led Fr. Vega to some historical evidence linking the pierced heart to Sta. Monica. He said the heart symbolized the sufferings of the saint over her son’s previous sinfulness before he became a devout Christian.
The new ceiling at the church entry was thus built higher to expose Sta. Monica’s heart.
Mayor Arturo Naguit said his town is all braced for the declaration of the parish church as NCT. This would not only kindle anew religiosity among local folk but also boost local tourism, he said, baring plans to establish Pampanga river cruises for visitors.
But Fr. Vega said the parish church itself offers many historical features that should attract both devotees and tourists, apart from Sta. Monica’s heart.
The church remains unique in being the only one in the Philippines to still have four so-called “capilla posas” still intact at the four corners of its front patio.
The capilla posas are concrete arched structures which, during the Spanish era, were used as “oratory stations” where the Blessed Sacrament was placed during Christ the King, Corpus Christi and other commemorations.
Fr. Vega also noted that the architecture of the church, whose construction by Augustinian friars was started sometime in the 1600’s and completed in 1764, showed a combination of various cultural influences. Carved around one door are lotus flowers with Buddhist motif, while wooden trusses supporting the roof are shaped at the edge like crocodile reflecting pre-Hispanic beliefs of local folk.
“But the statues of saints at the main altar also reflect that while the church was built by Augustinians, it once became a center for various religious orders such as Franciscans and Dominicans,” he noted pointing to the statues of St. Francis of Asissi and St. Thomas of Villanova .
Another attraction at the main altar, at its upper portion, is a mysterious painting of La Consolacion which the parish had opted to keep despite attractive offers for its purchase.
Interior and Local Governments Sec. Jose Robredo and Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III are expected to participate in the ceremonies declaring the church as NTC.
–Ding Cervantes
