ADAN TAN EBA/ADAM AND EVE CHAPEL WITH UNDERGROUND ALTAR
(Category: Significant Tangible Immovable Heritage; Churches, Temples and Places of Worship; Church)
The Adam and Eve Chapel is a private Roman Catholic chapel located in Sitio Bengal, Barangay Tanolong, Bayambang, Pangasinan. It is a 400 sqm structure inside a 5,000 sqm lot originally owned by Mr. Simplicio Junio and his wife Mrs. Emelia Iglesias Junio. The church was constructed in 1946, and it was first sanctified in 1947, thus it is estimated to be 71-73 years old.
Maria Magdalena Junio, the daughter of Simplicio Junio, is the current owner of the church.
Surrounding the church are trees and ornamentals such as bamboo, mango, calamansi, and santan. There is a heart-shaped grave that mystify visitors in front of the church. On the right side of the heart is where Mr. Junio's (head of the Junio family) grave is located, while on the left is his wife's. The grave's shape is said to symbolize the dedication of the married couple to their faith.
On top of the grave, 4 crosses and a shell serving as holy water font (stoup) can be found.
A number of smaller graves can be found on the front left side of the church. A combination of blue and white paint coats the church. The church is made out of blocks of cement and bricks and shines with white tile flooring. There is a stoup of holy water located on the right side of the entrance of the church. The stoup is made of a giant shell, symbolizing that the church welcomes everyone.
Above the ground, the church has a nave with long wooden benches. On the altar are images of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit, four angels, saints and Jesus Christ at the center.
On the upper part of the Jesus Christ image, a globe can be seen, a depiction of God's unbounded love for humanity.
The underground part of church is like a passage. Upon entry, an antique bell beckons. It is struck each time a mass is held as a way of calling parishioners together.
The passage is 6 feet and 8 inches in height, and at the end is also an altar. The image of the Holy Spirit is placed at the center of the altar, while a naked Adam and Eve are positioned on both sides. There are two ways to get out from underground, and these both lead to the altar of the aboveground church.
Every 2nd Saturday of the month, a mass is held here, presided by the parish priests from the town.
***
Associated stories
Simplicio’s family was known in the locality for being Godly. In their house, there was a room where they gathered around and worshiped together. There was also an altar where they placed the statue of the different saints. They were also known for being a landed family, having a 35-hectare real property. Due to Simplicio's devotion, he decided to build the said place of worship.
At the age of 11, Maria Magdalena witnessed how his father dedicated his time, effort and even life in constructing the church. Due to her advanced age, she barely remembers what year the church was finished. She said that, for the past decades, the statues in the church came from different places and were blessed by the bishop.
The story goes that, when Mr. Simplicio Junio went out one day to find his missing horse, he met a man who was known to be in the habit of 'being possessed by the Holy Spirit.' Mr Junio was shocked when the man called him by name and instructed him to construct a place of worship. The story goes further that, according to the Holy Spirit, the church should be named Adan tan Eva or Adam and Eve and would have an underground area that would serve as a holding place for the saints. All the details of the arrangement of the parts of the church were reportedly according to the Holy Spirit's instructions.
Moreover, people living near the church say that, in the early days, there used to be a 'ghost snake' in this place of worship that’s why people sometimes avoided going here, but as time passed by, the story about the ghost snake waned. When Maria Magdalena was asked about this story, she kept mum on it.
***
The Adam and Eve Underground Church is being maintained by Maria Magdalena’s family. If there is an unexpected damage, her family takes care of fixing it. However, the owners have made some alterations to the tile flooring and the exterior and interior have been renovated to strengthen the structure.
The surrounding community which avails of the chapel services routinely take off their shoes or slippers before getting inside as a sign of respect and to maintain cleanliness.
Vandalism (some unruly youth play basketball near the area and leave trash), earthquake, and flooding are the major threats to this structure. There were times when the statues had to be evacuated away from the flood.
NAME OF PROFILERS/MAPPERS: Bryan Bugarin, Jake Friaz Marlon Mangrobang, John Jeremy Ong, Mark Kian Sabado, Jerica Barboza, Fatima Boado, Chenie Lei Cayabyab, Zarina Carcha, Rehine Calderon, Rose-Ann de Jesus, Joy Ann Gonales, Angelica Junio, Lhealine Junio, Andrea Magalong, Angelica Morales, Enna Sofia Nonato, Krizza Kae Poso, Monica Sales, Angelica Soriano; Bayambang National High School, Senior High School
DATE PROFILED: October 2, 2018
ADVISER: Mrs. Lanie Bautista
KEY INFORMANT: Maria Magdalena Junio, Sitio Bengal, Barangay Tanolong, Bayambang
(Category: Significant Tangible Immovable Heritage; Churches, Temples and Places of Worship; Church)
The Adam and Eve Chapel is a private Roman Catholic chapel located in Sitio Bengal, Barangay Tanolong, Bayambang, Pangasinan. It is a 400 sqm structure inside a 5,000 sqm lot originally owned by Mr. Simplicio Junio and his wife Mrs. Emelia Iglesias Junio. The church was constructed in 1946, and it was first sanctified in 1947, thus it is estimated to be 71-73 years old.
Maria Magdalena Junio, the daughter of Simplicio Junio, is the current owner of the church.
Surrounding the church are trees and ornamentals such as bamboo, mango, calamansi, and santan. There is a heart-shaped grave that mystify visitors in front of the church. On the right side of the heart is where Mr. Junio's (head of the Junio family) grave is located, while on the left is his wife's. The grave's shape is said to symbolize the dedication of the married couple to their faith.
On top of the grave, 4 crosses and a shell serving as holy water font (stoup) can be found.
A number of smaller graves can be found on the front left side of the church. A combination of blue and white paint coats the church. The church is made out of blocks of cement and bricks and shines with white tile flooring. There is a stoup of holy water located on the right side of the entrance of the church. The stoup is made of a giant shell, symbolizing that the church welcomes everyone.
Above the ground, the church has a nave with long wooden benches. On the altar are images of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit, four angels, saints and Jesus Christ at the center.
On the upper part of the Jesus Christ image, a globe can be seen, a depiction of God's unbounded love for humanity.
The underground part of church is like a passage. Upon entry, an antique bell beckons. It is struck each time a mass is held as a way of calling parishioners together.
The passage is 6 feet and 8 inches in height, and at the end is also an altar. The image of the Holy Spirit is placed at the center of the altar, while a naked Adam and Eve are positioned on both sides. There are two ways to get out from underground, and these both lead to the altar of the aboveground church.
Every 2nd Saturday of the month, a mass is held here, presided by the parish priests from the town.
***
Associated stories
Simplicio’s family was known in the locality for being Godly. In their house, there was a room where they gathered around and worshiped together. There was also an altar where they placed the statue of the different saints. They were also known for being a landed family, having a 35-hectare real property. Due to Simplicio's devotion, he decided to build the said place of worship.
At the age of 11, Maria Magdalena witnessed how his father dedicated his time, effort and even life in constructing the church. Due to her advanced age, she barely remembers what year the church was finished. She said that, for the past decades, the statues in the church came from different places and were blessed by the bishop.
The story goes that, when Mr. Simplicio Junio went out one day to find his missing horse, he met a man who was known to be in the habit of 'being possessed by the Holy Spirit.' Mr Junio was shocked when the man called him by name and instructed him to construct a place of worship. The story goes further that, according to the Holy Spirit, the church should be named Adan tan Eva or Adam and Eve and would have an underground area that would serve as a holding place for the saints. All the details of the arrangement of the parts of the church were reportedly according to the Holy Spirit's instructions.
Moreover, people living near the church say that, in the early days, there used to be a 'ghost snake' in this place of worship that’s why people sometimes avoided going here, but as time passed by, the story about the ghost snake waned. When Maria Magdalena was asked about this story, she kept mum on it.
***
The Adam and Eve Underground Church is being maintained by Maria Magdalena’s family. If there is an unexpected damage, her family takes care of fixing it. However, the owners have made some alterations to the tile flooring and the exterior and interior have been renovated to strengthen the structure.
The surrounding community which avails of the chapel services routinely take off their shoes or slippers before getting inside as a sign of respect and to maintain cleanliness.
Vandalism (some unruly youth play basketball near the area and leave trash), earthquake, and flooding are the major threats to this structure. There were times when the statues had to be evacuated away from the flood.
NAME OF PROFILERS/MAPPERS: Bryan Bugarin, Jake Friaz Marlon Mangrobang, John Jeremy Ong, Mark Kian Sabado, Jerica Barboza, Fatima Boado, Chenie Lei Cayabyab, Zarina Carcha, Rehine Calderon, Rose-Ann de Jesus, Joy Ann Gonales, Angelica Junio, Lhealine Junio, Andrea Magalong, Angelica Morales, Enna Sofia Nonato, Krizza Kae Poso, Monica Sales, Angelica Soriano; Bayambang National High School, Senior High School
DATE PROFILED: October 2, 2018
ADVISER: Mrs. Lanie Bautista
KEY INFORMANT: Maria Magdalena Junio, Sitio Bengal, Barangay Tanolong, Bayambang
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