The Holy Rosary Parish, also known as ''Santo Rosario Church'', today fondly called by locals as "Pisambang Maragul" ("Big Church") stands in the epicenter of the old Culiat town, now
Angeles City
, anthem = Himno ning Angeles (Angeles Hymn)
, subdivision_type3 = District
, subdivision_name3 =
, established_title = Settled
, established_date = 1796
, established_title1 = Chartere ...
,
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
. The church has recently been recognized by the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines ( fil, Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining, ceb, Nasodnong Komisyon alang sa Budaya ug mga Arte) is the official government agency for culture in the Philippines. ...
as a national historical site.
History
The foundations of the Holy Rosary Parish church were first laid out on October 18, 1877 by the founding families of Angeles City led by Don Mariano V. Henson, It was laid out by city planners in the Spanish colonial era and is now one of the most distinctive landmarks of the city today because of its historical significance relating to how it was built. The church was constructed from 1877 to 1896 by the "Polo y Servicio" labor system, defined as the forced and unpaid labor of the
Filipino
Filipino may refer to:
* Something from or related to the Philippines
** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines.
** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...
native people for 40 days per year to all males from 16–65 years old by the
Spanish colonial government. The first mass was held when only half of the church was built on April 14, 1886. The second half of the church, which includes the building's distinctive dome, was finished on September 17, 1891. The twin bells were rung for the first time on February 12, 1896. The church was finally finished as it still stands today in October 1909. Its engineering and architectural skills were provided by ''Don Antonio de la Camara'' from
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
.
The backyard of the church became the execution grounds from 1896-1898 in shooting down Filipino rebels and suspects by the Spanish forces.
And it was also used by the U.S. Army as a military hospital from 1899 to 1900. The church's belfry was destroyed in the 1940s as a result of World War II. It was immediately restored by the government with the help of American troops and was finished by early 1944. Today, the Holy Rosary Parish Church serves as the city's main religious center, being located at the front of the former city hall, now known as the Museo ning Angeles. Local devotees flock the church and faithfully attend activities especially during Holy Week. Two of the awaited activities are the Good Friday Procession, where bare-footed followers of the Apung Mamacalulu, or the Holy Sepulchre join the procession in the city complex; and the Salubong, held at the Nepo Parking Lot, that ends with the traditional meeting of the Risen Christ and Virgin Mary amidst the fireworks.
References
External links
Churches of Pampanga http://www.andropampanga.com/churches/angelescity_church.htm.
{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando
Buildings and structures in Angeles City
Roman Catholic churches in Pampanga
Churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando