We bade farewell to the province of Pampanga and headed to Nueva Ecija for the remaining half of our journey. It was more familiar ground because Nueva Ecija is my home province; I know several towns that are home to notable, historical and picturesque churches.

1. Heritage Series: Churches in Nueva Ecija
ivankhristravels.com/2016/11/19/heritage-series-churches-in-nueva-ecija/
Ivan Jose
We bade farewell to the province of Pampanga and headed to Nueva Ecija for the remaining half of our journey. It
was more familiar ground because Nueva Ecija is my home province; I know several towns that are home to
notable, historical and picturesque churches.
All the same, we were exultant because this was a chance to explore my home province. Admittedly, it has not been
my priority to explore Nueva Ecija because “it was near and just there.” That is not the correct mindset; distance or
proximity should not be the main consideration to familiarize oneself with the culture of a locality or to wander and
marvel at its sights and attractions. Nueva Ecija has a lot to offer in terms of heritage, remarkable festivals and
natural attractions.
Cabiao: Where Sugar Mills Abound
Immediately after Arayat, we made a stop in the town of Cabiao. This bustling town is one of the more progressive
municipalities of Nueva Ecija, a community where both agriculture and businesses thrive. History books told stories
about a place lined with sugarcane fields that extended up to the foot of Mt. Arayat. Venerable tongues passed on
anecdotes about rustic sugar mills called kabyawan that abound in the area. These ancient implements made of
stone were used to extract the juice from sugarcane plants. Kabyawan was eventually adopted as the name of the
locality and, as decades passed, it was shortened to “Kabyaw.”
While the population is predominantly Tagalog, Kabyaw (Cabiao) was formerly part of Pampanga before it was
ceded when Nueva Ecija was formed.
Cabiao gained its full township in 1797 under the term of Governor General Rafael Maria de Aguilar y Ponce de
Leon with the recommendation of the returning order of the Augustinian in the Province of Pampanga.
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2. St. John Nepomucene Church
It was established as one of the municipalities of Nueva Ecija in February 9, 1848 upon the order issued by
Governor General Narciso Claveria Y Zaldua and upon the recommendation made by the Governor General
Marcelino Oraa.
On a different note, for those who are looking for a natural attraction to visit, Cabiao is home to Nabao Lake. It used
to be teeming with fish and was a source of livelihood for many locals. Years of abuse had taken its toll on this body
of water but the local government is putting great efforts to revive it into an eco-tourism site.
St. John Nepomucene Parish
The Jesuit Missionary founded the visita of Cabiao between the years 1765 and 1767. It was elevated as the Parish
Church of St. John Nepomucene upon recommendation of the Augustinian missionaries during the time when
Cabiao was decreed as an autonomous town.
The Parish was named in honor of John Nepomucene, a Czech saint who was also known as the martyr of the
confessional. When he was young, John was cured of a disease through the prayers of his parents. They were so
thankful to God that they dedicated him to lifelong service to the Church.
As a priest in the city of Prague, he became a great preacher, a good mediator and a trusted adviser to the queen.
King Wenceslaus IV, who was cruel to his queen, wanted to know what she was confessing to Father John. Twice
the King asked and twice the good priest refused to reveal his conversations with the queen. This infuriated the king
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3. The Altar
who asked the priest to be tortured and thrown into the river to die. On the location where Father John drowned, a
strange brightness appeared upon the water. In the old Czechoslovakia, his name is invoked against floods and
against malign. His feast day is May 16.
San Isidro: the former Seat of Power
From Cabiao, we drove straight ahead to the historic town of San Isidro. Presently, the town is vibrant with
urbanization and many cottage industries. Business and commerce are undoubtedly thriving. It’s actually hard to
imagine that this municipality was one of the areas consigned to the oppressive and restrictive tobacco monopoly
during Spanish rule. In year 1896, when abuse became unbearable, valiant Novo Ecijanos took arms against their
European rulers. A historic reminder of this dark phase in San Isidro’s annals is the ruins of the old tabacalera; old
brick walls that still stand in the town proper. For a brief time, San Isidro also served as the capital of the Philippines
when Emilio Aguinaldo held office at the Sideco House.
The town’s patron saint, San Isidro Labrador (St. Isidore the Laborer), is perhaps the fitting guardian for the resilient
and industrious folks of this municipality. Born in Madrid, Spain, Isidore lived his life a laborer on a farm. It was said
that there were many miraculous happenings during his life in the fields, such as his divine visions. Many of his
peers also believed that angels sometimes helped him with his work in the farm. Long after his death, many
believed that divine occurrences still persisted due to his intercession. St. Isidore was canonized in 1622 and is the
patron saint of farmers. San Isidro Labrador Parish Small and quaint yet beautifully constructed, the Church
stands splendid behind the town plaza. The building is made of bricks, reminiscent of the olden times when said
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4. The beautiful interior
materials were the most prevalent construction materials. San Isidro Labrador Church is characterized by its two
belfries.
Outside the church, two ancient bells are permanently on display. These are called the M.R.P.F. Paulino Escalada
1836 bells. Fr. Paulino Escalada of the Order of St. Augustine supervised the construction of some of the Augustinian
buildings in Nueva Ecija.
Gapan: Historic and Valiant
The City of Gapan, known for its moniker as the Tsinelas Capital of the Philippines as footwear-making is one of its
biggest backyard industries. It holds its colorful annual Tsinelas Festival every August.
Gapan, also previously a part of the rich Kingdom of Pampanga, is one of the oldest towns in the country. It was
founded in the late 1500s and was a vast pueblo that encompassed Cabanatuan, San Miguel in Bulacan and
Candaba in Pampanga. The said towns were eventually relinquished and what remained was the City’s present land
area.
The old municipality was the site of the historic Battle of Gapan from January to August 1945, during which Filipino
and America soldiers defeated Japanese forces to free Nueva Ecija from the attackers.
Three Kings Parish
Located at the center of the City is the prominent Three Kings Parish, the biggest and oldest colonial church in all of
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5. There is a permanent exhibit of the Virgin Mother Mary, depicted in her various titles
Nueva Ecija. It is also the National Shrine of the Virgen La Divina Pastora.
The Augustinians administered the construction of the church in 1856 until its completion in 1872. It was
undoubtedly Byzantine in style with walls made if limestone and bricks. The church has a central dome that
depicted a painting of the Holy Trinity, an artwork made in the early 1900s by local painter Isidoro Samonte.
Enshrined in the church is the image of the Virgen La Divina Pastora, the focal point of the Marian devotion in
Central Luzon. During the 17th century, a scion of a prominent family in Gapan, Doña Juana Valmonte, recounted to
a friar in Manila her recurring dream about the Virgin Mary wanting to be fetched from Spain.
At that time, the devotion to the Virgen La Divina Pastora was starting to gain popularity in Spain. An image of Divina
Pastora eventually reached Gapan via the Galleon Trade. The family became greatly devoted to the image,
celebrating May 1 as her feast. Winds from the rice fields brought stories about her miracles and people from all
over Nueva Ecija came to see her every year during her fiesta. A century later, the Virgen La Divina Pastora was
made patron of Gapan, second to the Three Kings.
When Doña Juana died, the image was entrusted to members of the Valmonte clan who saw to it that it was in its
most pristine condition throughout the passing of time. On December 19, 1963, the canonical coronation of the
image of Virgen La Divina Pastora was granted by Pope Paul VI. The event was presided over by the first Bishop of
the Diocese of Cabanatuan, Reverend Mariano Gaviola.
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6. A grotto just outside the church
The miraculous image of Divina Pastora was eventually donated by the Valmonte heirs to the Parish of the Three
Kings coinciding with the church’s declaration as a national shrine on April 26, 1986.
San Antonio: the Delinquent Town
Our last destination is my hometown of San Antonio. Quaint, quiet and slow-paced, this first-class municipality is for
those who long for a peaceful provincial life.
San Antonio used to be part of Gapan and was then known as Barrio Delinquente. It earned that name because
residents recounted a story about a big boat (Casco) carrying sacks of palay that sunk in the Pampanga River.
Palay is an important commodity and that was probably the reason why it was considered a mortal sin to lose those
sacks of rice. The current name of the town was given by Father Leocadio Luis in the mid-1800s in honor of its
patron saint, San Antonio Abad.
St. Anthony Abbot
San Antonio Abad or Saint Anthony Abbot lived a life that emulated that of Jesus Christ’s. During his time, many wise
men came to him to learn, seek miraculous healing and find comfort. He dedicated his life to praying, fasting and
manual labor. He also sought other wise men, not to look for words of wisdom but to “become” or imitate that
person’s honorable ways.
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7. The Sideco Mansion
Once he was badly beaten by the devil because he resisted his temptations greatly. After that incident, God told him
that He would be by his side from then on.
San Antonio Abad Parish
This Augustinian-built church was first built in 1848 by Father Juan Tombo (OSA) but it was destroyed by an
earthquake more than three decades after. In 1882, it was rebuilt by Father Mariano Gil (OSA), the priest who
discovered the existence of the Katipunan. The old church was damaged during the 1898 Philippine Revolution. It
was repaired thereafter and in 1954, the bell tower was renovated by Fr. Florentino Guiao.
The 1990 earthquake also brought great damage to the church with its thick walls almost yielding to the big cracks.
Over the next few decades, repairs have been made to the church which gave it its present look.
Sources:
1. Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
2. Wikipedia.com
3. Shooting Churches, Eating Noodles (http://bigberto.blogspot.com/)
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8. The San Isidro Labrador Church
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9. One of the bells on display
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11. An antique bell outside the church
The impressive facade of the Three Kings Parish
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14. The church’s dome showcasing a painting of the Holy Trinity
The altar
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15. San Antonio Abad Parish
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16. The spacious and well-designed interior
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