First Salubong in Gagalangin

(2015 marks the 100th birth anniversary of my late grandmother Dr Pilar Valdes-Albano. Part of that celebration is to feature anecdotes in her Facebook group page. Below is the anecdote featured last May 20, her 15th death anniversary.)

As Easter draws to a close this Pentecost Sunday, I cannot fail to recall one summer morning in 1980 when Manong Romy Sanchez, one of our drivers, brought me and my younger brother Gio to Tayuman to collect statues of the Risen Christ and of the Mater Dolorosa (Sorrowful Mother). Upon reaching home, Lola Piling (we lived with our grandparents during that time) had a look at the statues. She had the Virgin Mary’s statue placed in one corner, but had Jesus’ statue returned. Another statue was brought later that day, but this too didn’t satisfy Lola’s taste.

Meanwhile, all of us grandchildren at that time who were staying in Manila, were rehearsing with Fr Loreto Palafox, St Rita Hospital Chaplain, and Tita Tessa Albano. The song was in Latin. Manong Coy Alcantara was chosen to be the soloist. In our young minds, we didn’t have a clue of what we will be doing and why.Everything seemed rushed.

One evening, we all went to Rotonda where a stage was ready. The statue of the Virgin Mary on a float was brought in and Manong Coy had a try of reaching the statue’s head. We left a few minutes later. Still, no idea what we will be doing and why.

The following day, all of us woke up very early and were dressed in white long dress complete with white hairclips! (Don’t ask me why even us boys have to wear clips!) As we took a ride from the house to Rotonda, we saw a young priest speaking with Lolo Paul. It was Msgr Feliciano Santos, the new parish priest.

Rotonda was already full of people. We assembled on the stage. Fr Palafox was nearby as well as Tita Tessa who provided the musical accompaniment. I think Tito Alex too helped with another musical instrument. From Yangco Street, the float of the Virgin Mary came forth. Later, from S. del Rosario Street came a brightly lit float of the Risen Christ. With the floats facing each other, it was time for us to sing: Regina coeli laetare, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! (Queen of heaven rejoice, , alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!). Manong Coy would later remove the black veil of Our Lady’s statue. After our song, an effigy of Judas Iscariot was burned down – I later found out that this was a custom in Ilocos Norte. Then we headed to St Joseph Church for the Easter Sunday Mass.

Years later, I discovered that there was no Salubong – that religious tradition in the Philippines commemorating the Risen Jesus’ encounter with His mother Mary - in Gagalangin before 1980. Which is why Lola would describe to me this event as an ‘emergency’. Perhaps when Msgr Santos assumed pastoral responsibility, he was surprised to find out the absence of a Salubong and requested for one to be held. Lola, during that time, was President of the Catholic Women’s League. She may have been asked for help or she may have volunteered. Either way, she was more than happy to help!

The next Salubongs in Gagalangin didn’t have any Albanos participating as a number of members started to migrate to the States. As we spend our Holy Week in Cavite, my three sisters – Gisela, Nicola, and Kristina –were often performing as angels. Right here in Nottingham, our Filipino Rosary Crusade have our own version of the Salubong. It may not be as lavish as its counterpart at home, but it attempts to evangelize especially our kids and young people who have not been aware of this tradition. Chiara has been one of the kids singing!

Thank you, Lola for introducing us to such a beautiful Easter tradition. May your good example be a source of inspiration for us to remain generous so that, emergency or not, we would be ready to lend a hand to the community. It’s been 15 years since you passed away. Today, as we gather to offer for you the Mass of the Resurrection – that’s how you call a Requiem Mass - may our faith be renewed in Him who triumphed over sin and death. May you be at peace in your personal salubong with the Risen Lord and the Blessed Mother!

Eternal Rest

Travelling to the north of the Philippines with my grandparents and the rest of the clan many years ago, has been informative and instructive for me.  From Manila going to Ilocos Norte, you would easily learn by heart the various provinces that you need to pass through to get to your destination: Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union,  and Ilocos Sur (now this province makes travel time longer as you have to pass through its entire stretch).  You would also see for yourselves the old churches and other edifices, learn which is the capital of which province, etc.  

As devout Catholics, Lolo Paul and Lola Piling would pray the Rosary as part of our journey.  But what made me wonder was that every time we would pass by a cemetery, Lolo Paul, in his booming voice, would utter "Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord".  To which, the rest of us (or at least those who know it) would respond "And let perpetual light shine upon them". "May they rest in peace," Lolo would then say. To which every one would reply "Amen".  You could imagine how many times this "exchange of words" would occur in our itinerary.  

Apart from this practice, I have been tagged along by my grandparents to a number of wakes and have assisted the late Fr Loreto Palafox, St Rita Hospital's Chaplain at that time, in the Mass.  We would also have Masses celebrated by Fr Palafox during All Souls' Day when we visit graves of his siblings at the La Loma Cemetery as well as the cenotaph at the Manila North Cemetery erected in memory of Tito Chito and companion scouts.  

I don't know where exactly my grandfather learned this devotion to the faithful departed, but I would imagine he learned this from his parents or from his older brother, Lolo Padi, whom he would have assisted in Masses for the Dead.    Apart from that, as doctors he and Lola Piling would have often encountered life and death situations. Being religious, they would have that cultivated a spiritual insight on these situations; that life is something to be cherished and shared with others for the glory of God and that death is not the end, but the beginning of life everlasting.

Lola Piling told me that on his last day on earth, Lolo Paul wanted to talk about death while making their way home from church.  Hours later, he would pass away. She told me how she consoled her dying husband, shouting prayers towards his ears.  I am amazed at how strong a woman my grandmother was when my grandfather died. She said "I could not cry, but shouted, “Thy will be done, O Lord".

In our Catechism we are taught of the 7 Corporal and 7 Spiritual Works of Mercy.  One of the Corporal Works is "to bury the dead".  One of the Spiritual Works is "to pray for the living and the dead".  My grandparents have shown, in their own way, how to practice these.  I'm grateful that they have shown me the way.  It gives me hope in what St Augustine once wrote: "Then we will be free and will see, will see and will love, will love and will praise. See, in the end it will be without end".

Lolo Paul, as we remember your 29th Death Anniversary this 19th of November, we implore that the Risen Lord would grant you, as well as Lola Piling and all the faithful departed (particularly those who died in the earthquake and typhoon that hit the Philippines recently), the eternal rest that you have always aspired and prayed for.  May you now enjoy that freedom to see, love, and praise God in His kingdom. We love you!