Pampanga church keeps treasures in digital form
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—How did Roman Catholic churches in Pampanga appear in 1790? What are the entries in a Bacolor baptismal book dated 1680 and widely believed to be the oldest in the Philippines? How exactly did early Kapampangans live their faith?
The answers, and many more glimpses of the past, can be found in the digital collection of Spanish-era documents and photographs in the care of the Archdiocesan Archives of San Fernando (AASF) in Pampanga.
Consisting of more than 15,000 digital pages and ready for browsing after Holy Week at the University of the Assumption (UA) in the City of San Fernando and at the Holy Angel University in Angeles City, the AASF is a big contribution to scholarship and spread of Kapampangan culture and history, Archbishop Paciano Aniceto said at the launch on March 20.
The hard copy of the collection bears his official seal through molten wax.
For the live testing, the 75-year-old Aniceto, who does not own and avoids using mobile phones, sat down before a computer, clicked the mouse a few times and shortly gained access to the files of Candaba, the neighbor of his hometown Sta. Ana. As he realized, taking along a translator or refreshing your basic handle of the Spanish language can help you cover more topics.
First in PH
In digitizing portions of the AASF, the Archdiocese of San Fernando became the first archdiocese in the Philippines to go digital in preserving its archives, Prof. Regalado Trota Jose, head of the committee on archives of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), said during the launch.
“You have provided the lead,” Jose said. The first congregation to have digitized its archives is the Order of Augustinian Recollects in Manila, he said.
The Pampanga initiative had its roots as early as 1979 when then Archbishop Oscar Cruz established the archdiocesan museum and in 1983, and the AASF with the help of Jose and the late Benedictine nun Paz Katigbak. Kept at the Mater Boni seminary, the archives had been inaccessible to the public.
The digitization work took a year and four months to finish on a grant from the NCCA, and guidance from the Archdiocesan Commission on Church Heritage chaired by Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David.
More documents
The original materials or microfilms have been obtained from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila Archives, National Archives of the Philippines, Luther Parker Collection of the National Library of the Philippines, Venancio Q. Samson Collection and Filipinas Heritage Library Collection.
The AASF has more than 200,000 original, handwritten pages in its possession that are waiting to be digitized, David said.
A catalog has been printed for an orderly search and access.
Much of the materials, he said, captured the history of Christianity in Pampanga since 1572 when Augustinian friars evangelized in Betis and Lubao; 1579 when Pampanga was placed under the suffragan of Manila, then a diocese of Mexico; and 1595 when Pampanga remained among the 10 provinces under the Archdiocese of Manila.
The materials also gave a glimpse of the creation of the Diocese of San Fernando in 1948 and the formation of the Archdiocese of San Fernando in 1975 when the dioceses of Tarlac, Balanga and Iba were placed under it.
“We want to foster greater understanding of Pampanga heritage and culture,” said David on why the project was undertaken. “These are treasures.”
“Modern technology secured these for future generations,” said Auxiliary Bishop Roberto Mallari, UA president and who was assigned to set up the Center of Kapampangan Church Heritage.
This was appropriate, Mallari said, because the province produced many church pioneers.
They include Rufino Cardinal Santos (first Filipino cardinal), Don Diego Guinto (first native founder of perpetual pious trust funds or capellañas), Don Miguel Jeronimo de Morales (first native priest), Sor Bibiana Zapanta (first missionary nun sent to help evangelize Mindanao) and Sor Asuncion Ventura (first native to found an orphanage).
Highly recommended beach resort in North Luzon for company outings and family retreats is most frequently visited hotel in Clark Pampanga because of beautiful view and good outdoor facilities for swimming, picnic and barbecue.
Families traveling out of town go to the north to get away from Manila to unwind, relax and swim with friends and children. Highly recommended holiday spot and vacation destination this summer in the north is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark. Clark is adjacent to Pampanga’s Angeles City which is just 70 minutes from Manila and 25 minutes from Subic. Many visitors also come to Clark to play golf in one of the best golf courses in Pampanga. Pampanga is home to some of the finest golf courses outside of Manila.
New camping sites and picnic grounds in Philippines are now added to Clark for family outings in outside Manila. The best campsites are located at Yats Clearwater Resort & Country Club in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines. Just bring camping equipment and enjoy the fun and ambience of outdoor living camping in Clark under safe, secured and clean conditions. Outdoor activities include swimming and water sports, boating and paddling a kayak, lawn tennis, golf, shooting range and all sorts of leisure activities including colonial games like croquet and horseshoe.
Clearwater Resort & Country Club offers several styles of accommodation from US$65 up inclusive of breakfast for two at the beautiful Breakfast Garden Restaurant overlooking the large Clearwater lake and beach. This is a good rendition of the lifestyle that the Americans left behind after they left the Clark Airbase. A good short description of this lifestyle is suburban laid-back slow-paced clean living, very suitable for tourists and guests looking for a way to unwind from the stress of living in Manila.
In a city like Manila, most residents rely on visits to spa and beauty parlor to unwind and relax. But with a short getaway to Angeles City Clark Pampanga one can de-stress by enjoying beautiful outdoor amenities of this beach resort, savoring what nature can offer.
For reservations, comments and inquiries,
Clearwater Resort & Country Club
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023
Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay
http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com
Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com
Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.
For inquiries and bookings, click here to contact Clearwater Resort now
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com
While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com
YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com
While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com
For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit http://www.yilp.com
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!