Simply few meters away from the Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles Metropolis, Pampanga is one other widespread shrine devoted below the patronage of Santo Entierro which is popularly identified to the town as “Apung Mamacalulu” or just “Apu.” Apung Mamacalulu is a Kapampangan time period which implies “Merciful Lord, Our Lord of Nice Mercy”. The picture depicts lifeless Christ within the Holy Sepulcher.
Apparently, there are two commemorated photos of Apung Mamacalulu in Angeles Metropolis and each are identified to be miraculous. The primary picture is enshrined in Holy Rosary Parish and the opposite one is commemorated in its personal Shrine in Barangay Lourdes Sur. Regardless of the exceptional devotion to the 2 photos, their historical past can be surrounded with controversies. The primary picture of Apu was from Rev. Father Macario Paras, the parish priest of Angeles between 1829 to 1849. He commissioned a sculptor named Buenaventura to construct a picture of Santo Entierro. This was first put in within the sanctuary he in-built Paras-Dizon property which is now often called Brgy. Lourdes Sur.
The picture was given as a present by Fr. Paras to the church which additionally comes together with a carriage and different adornments. The picture of Apu and the carriage have been transferred to the church in 1872. Nevertheless, as a result of Philippine revolution in 1896, the picture was transferred to a different place in Pampanga for safekeeping. Then it was saved throughout the battle in Sapangbato, till it was taken again to the church in 1904. The picture was put out in procession on Good Friday and in the course of the October fiesta of Angeles city.
Controversy of the Two Pictures of Apung Mamacalulu in Angeles
On Good Friday of 1928, nonetheless, a camarero named Eriberto Navarro forcibly took the picture after the procession ended. Navarro was appearing for his aunt Alvara Fajardo, an heiress to the Paras property that point. This santo-snatching incident resulted not solely from an possession dispute but in addition from a long-standing political quarrel between the then Nacionalistas and Democratas. This additionally resulted to a lawsuit in 1929 between the Catholic Archbishop of Manila vs Fajardo and Navarro.
A bas aid in Apung Mamacalulu shrine exhibiting the 2 an identical photos of Apung Mamacalulu
Fajardo claimed that when Padre Paras died in 1876, the picture was inherited by Mariano V. Henson who quickly transferred the possession to Fernanda Sanchez which quickly inherited by her son Crispulo Bundoc, the husband of Alvara Fajardo. The church data, nonetheless, declare in any other case. The document states that Padre Paras gave the picture as a present to the church earlier than his dying.
Resulting from lack of supporting paperwork and evidences, the Supreme Courtroom dominated in favor of the church and ordered the Fajardos to return the picture of Apung Mamacalulu. Whereas it was not confirmed that the possession of the picture was transferred to the Fajardos, the document states that Fernanda Sanchez acted out as “recamadera” after Padre Paras’ dying. Historically, the recamadera was a matriarch who spends for decorations and the feeding and non permanent lodging of those that will be a part of the procession. Pictures are entrusted to the recamadera who’s in-charge of the cleansing and the dressing of the statue and its carroza for the procession. This obligation was handed on to Alvara Fajardo.
The Picture of Apung Mamacalulu in Brgy Lourdes Sur (previously Dayrit property)
When the unique picture was returned to the church of Angeles, apparently, an an identical picture of Apung surfaced
on the chapel of the Dayrit property about the identical time. This resulted to a much more battle between the church and the Dayrits. The 2 photos have been taken out in separate processions and as time handed by, the devotion to the picture of Apung within the Dayrit property has turn into extra widespread.
As a result of rising battle between the 2 events, there was time when the request for plenty within the Dayrit chapel was denied by the Archbishop of Manila. They managed to have plenty within the Shrine of Apu in Dayrit property by by inviting clergymen from faraway stations and even by non-Catholic clergymen. A number of talks between the Angeles Church and the Dayrit Chapel have been achieved to treatment the scenario however none of them pushed by means of. There was even a time when the church requested the Dayrits to promote the their Chapel to the Church in order that it could be canonically acknowledged. The battle even resulted to the issuance of an interdict in 1985, prohibiting liturgical and para-liturgical celebrations within the Apu Chapel.
After practically 3 a long time, the interdict was lifted in 2010 by Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, recognizing the importance of the devotion to Apung Mamacalulu on the Apu Chapel. The Apu Chapel was quickly declared an Archdiocesan Shrine in 2012.
Final July 2023, the shrine confronted yet one more controversy. The crown of Apung Mamacalulu was stolen. Fortunately, with the mixed efforts of Angeles Metropolis Tourism Auxiliary and Angeles Metropolis Emergency Catastrophe Command Middle, instantly tracked the whereabouts of the alleged suspect via CCTV cameras and managed to retrieve the stolen crown.
Apung Mamacalulu Shrine facade
Look-wise, the shrine went by means of varied renovations. The present church seemingly options Neoclassical impressed type attributable to its simplicity and symmetry. It options few ornamentations with notable two niches on the primary layer. There are metal-framed stained glass home windows and one rose-window on its pediment.
One of many niches options the picture of Saint Francis of Assisi
One other area of interest that includes the picture of Saint Dominic
Shrine’s Pediment
Church Hall
Our Girl of Lourdes Grotto beside the church
Beside the church is the Dayrit Ancestral Home
The inside of the church is equally easy but stunning.
The principle altar options a big stone area of interest that enshrines the picture of Apung Mamacalulu. It additionally options an enormous cross above and a small tabernacle beneath.
There may be additionally an Altar Rail that separates the nave to the sanctuary or essential altar
Devotees can get an up-close look of Apu by heading to the again of the church.
This Publish is a part of my Pampanga Pilgrimage collection. Be happy to revisit my earlier articles right here
References: And All of the Angels and Saint / Pintakasi / Inquirer /
