#katahumtours

by Lindsay Sase Biantan     |      Dec 10 2014

One of earlier stops of our 2-day Antique tour was in the town of Anini-y. As we got off the bus, a few meters away from the perimeter of the church, one can’t help but feel a little chill to the stillness that welcomed us. Small as it was compared to the other churches I’ve been to, it emanated an air of austerity. The Anini-y Church or the Parish of St. John of Nepomuceno Church stood there, a silent giant, like a secret witness to the faith of millions of people through the centuries it has survived.

The original Anini-y church was built by the Augustinian missionaries and the townspeople from 1630-1638. It holds the title of being the only remaining church, on this side of Panay, built during the Spanish era.  The other churches, unfortunately, were not able to stand the test of time, and of nature. The Anini-y Church, however, is a survivor of typhoons, the Second World War and of earthquakes as tough as The Lady Caycay earthquake of Panay. But it has also undergone its share of alterations and restorations.

The present white coral structure, along with the use of the original materials, was completed in 1845 and in 1879, P. Jeronimo Vaquerin headed the finishing of the complex with the convent. In the early 20th century, the Aglipayans took over the church, followed by the Mill Hill Fathers from England. Fr. William Erickweld, one of the Mill Hill Fathers, lead the restoration of the damage brought about by the wake of World War II.

It is astounding to know that this historical landmark was built using white corals, mined from the nearby seas and shores, and glued together by egg whites. Some say that the townsfolk of Anini-y during those colonial times were pressured to raise a lot of chickens for the production of eggs.

The church’s façade is a rectangle capped by a triangular pediment and it showcased the divinity of Baroque art. The main entryway is topped with an arch, ornamented with rosettes—presenting nature’s proportions in connection to the religious world. The same is true for the saints’ niches on both sides and on top of the entryway. The base of the pediment was also lined with rosettes. The entrance was flanked by two columns on each side. The belfry on the left side is three levels high; the first level is square in shape, the second and third octagonal. A cross then reigns on top of the dome of the third level.

As we went in, the interior of the church gave pleasure to my wandering eye as it possessed symmetry. The circulating air made one feel calm in the presence of power. And in here,  the 115 year-old unmounted bell lay on the left hallway.

The beauty of not only the structural details but also of the history of Anini-y church is one jewels of Antique. And I hope that the effort for the continued preservation of our heritage is as strong as the faith that lay foundation of this resilient church.

References:

  Anini-y Church, the only surviving Spanish Church in Antique byE. Mendoza 

http://www.gigsilonggo.com/anini-y-church-the-only-surviving-spanish-church-in-antique/

Antique: Visit the Historic Anini-y ChurchbyChristian George F. Acevedo

http://www.explorepanay.com/2014/11/antique-visit-historic-anini-y-church.html

Early the next morning, we went to the shore of Tibiao to watch the sun rise and to witness what was supposed to be lambaklad fishing. Lambaklad, a Filipino term derived from lambat-net and baklad-corral is a stationary fish trap which requires the help of a lot of people commonly a community.

With the north being the center of the country, most portions of documented history comes from Luzon. The Visayas and Mindanao’s participation in the making of our history was minimal at most which was why Gen. Leandro Fullon’s efforts were not widely recognized during the revolution.  A student of Colegio de San Juan de Letran de Manila in 1896 when the war broke out, he was made the commanding officer in the Visayan revolutionary forces by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Commanding a force of 140 officers and 350 men, he was sent on September 6, 1898 to liberate Panay. Quick snap of the shrine as I ran to our bus.

On his shrine, where incidentally his remains where buried we were entertained by Kauswagan Rondalya, a local singing group.

Now we go from sight-seeing to hands-on participation. The women of Diclum in Thomas Fornier braid buri (palm leaves) into mats, bags and wallets to earn a living. They proudly boast how their weaving sustained their livelihood and even financed a lot of college graduates.

To give us hands on experience, they gave a live demonstration by weaving a small bag. Afterwards, we had a team competition on who can finish weaving the fastest. And we won!