Bayambang: A Town of San Vicente Ferrer Devotees
By Resty S. Odon
Bayambang is quite a complex town, in terms of character. It not just an
agricultural town known for its rice, corn, onion, freshwater fish, buro, and
deremen; not just the place where the binasuan dance originated; not just an
historical town (the fifth capital of the First Philippine Republic); nor just
a university town. In terms of consanguinity, according to Local Civil
Registrar Ismael Malicdem Jr., an estimated 65% of Bayambang's population are
part of the Junio clan, so even by conservative estimate, it is veritably Junio
country. Moreover, Bayambang is – let’s face it – also known for its many
‘faith healers.’ Lastly, it is also a town of San Vicente Ferrer devotees, and
you are readily reminded of this everywhere you go.
There is one barangay called San Vicente. The first local private school
is called St. Vincent Catholic School, located in the heart of Poblacion. In
Brgy. Bical Norte, there is a village called SVV, after “Saint Vincent
Village,” in case you didn’t get it. There is also a medical facility named St.
Vincent Dialysis Center, a municipal councilor named Joseph Vincent Ramos and
countless other boys with the same name, and a local music band named what else
but D'Vicente Band.
This is no surprise, as the town has been under the parish whose patron
saint has been San Vicente Ferrer since the Spanish times. In the St. Vincent
Ferrer Parish Church is sung a gozos (a kind of religious song – ‘gozos’ means
‘joys’) reserved in honor of the saint on his feast day.
Gozos nen San Vicente
Bangta matoor kan mangasi
Diad sikay apirengan mi
Pikasi mo kami pa San Vicente
Na singa say pangilalo mi
Say agilan mangaridios
Nen mababa ni andin balot
So inkianak mon matoor
Inpropeta to lan sipor
So penel a kaibigan lanti
Pista’y gayagan masuri
- Pikasi mo…
Niyanak kan oliranay
Grasyan milagron gawam
Elementos igagangan
Naoley mon kinakatakutay
Inpiyerno ed pakayari
Tan belat na lupam a dili
- Pikasi mo…
Another thing of interest: Displayed inside the church's side chapel
(now called Prayer Room but was originally reserved for the Adoration Chapel)
is an authenticated first-class relic of the saint made of bone.
Of course, the town celebrates a yearly fiesta in honor of the saint,
and the day usually falls on April 5. The feast day falls on other dates,
depending on the dates of Lent (in the Catholic church, a fiesta date may be
moved to a contiguous date as this is considered of secondary importance in
relation to other official church celebrations).
It so happens that this date is inextricably tied to the foundation day
of the town, for April 5, 1614 was the time Malunguey became an independent
visita of the Binalatongan parish or diocese in what is now San Carlos City.
(There was no separation of church and state then.)
Today, in the so-called Calle Onse in Brgy. M.H. Del Pilar, there is a
spring that is believed to bring healing to anyone who bathes in its waters
with the intention to get cured of any malady. It is also attributed to the
saint, as it is called Bubon nen San Vicente.
In Brgy. Tanolong, the family of Mrs. Marcelina Malicdem keeps a small,
nicely crafted wooden statue of the saint that was found in unusual
circumstances: floating in a river there, just like the mysterious provenance
of Sto. Niño de Cebu and other Philippine religious artifacts which came to our
shores by way of water. It is believed to be miraculous.
Among devotees, a number of other stories circulate about the saint's
miraculous works in their lives.
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Sidebar:
God’s Love, Grace, and Mercy through St. Vincent Ferrer in the Eyes of
Bayambangueños and Other Devotees
by Gerry Ann dela Cruz, Christien Emmanouelle Artacho, Joseph U.
Salopagio, Resty S. Odon; edited by Resty S. Odon
For Bayambangueños, lifting everything to God through the intercession
of their patron saint, St. Vincent Ferrer, has been the bedrock of their
everyday living. It is through their unwavering faith and rock-hard devotion
that they have surpassed various challenges in life that have come along the
way.
During the celebration of the 400th founding anniversary of St. Vincent
Parish Church and the 600th death anniversary of Saint Vincent Ferrer in 2019,
sample testimonies of some Bayambangueños were gathered showing how their faith
have played a key role in their lives.
From these testimonies, we can glean how God’s love, mercy and grace are
indeed undeniable, and the intercession of our patron saint is a proof of God's
living miracles and impact on the personal lives of those who believe in Him.
***
A Spiritual Guide
Marites Lutas, catechist, Brgy. Telbang
“Torn by every trial, difficulties, and pain that I experience every
day, I find profound joy and comfort by going to church and praying for divine
guidance. Whenever I feel weak, I always seek for guidance and strength from
Saint Vincent Ferrer, and there he is, making me realize that it is not good to
break down and surrender.
I always experience great enlightenment despite the innumerable
obstacles in my life. Praying to Saint Vincent makes me realize that giving up
on problems is not a characteristic of a child of God, and therefore, I should
be strong.”
***
Companion in Life’s Difficulties
Jeanette Dimalanta, teacher
I remember how it was during the onslaught of Typhoon Pepeng on October
8, 2009 when most parts of Luzon were affected and most of the barangays in our
town were heavily flooded except in our purok. Yes, except our purok! Our
neighboring houses were already flooded, 5 to 6 houses away from our area.
I prayed the rosary that time for more than 15 times, paulit-ulit
talaga, and I asked our patron saint (St. Vincent Ferrer) to intercede for us.
He heard it. To cut the story short, I was then called "The Prayer
Warrior" by our parish priest, Fr. John Palinar.
Every time Pangasinan is under Typhoon Signal No.3, I always ask St.
Vincent Ferrer to intercede for us, to spare us from the typhoon and other
calamities. It's great to share that He really answers the prayer of a sincere
heart especially if it is for the good. He delivers us from any disaster and it
was proven many times that he really delivers miracles. His love and mercy
endures forever.
St. Vincent Ferrer has always been good to me and my family, in
particular. He is always our companion in facing life's difficulties. Yes, we
experience and feel his love and mercy on us every day of our lives. Without
him, we won't be able to surpass all trials and challenges in our journey. Yes,
he performs miracles, but only those who believe in him will experience and
feel it."
***
Divine Enlightenment
Imelda Cayabyab, teacher, M.H. Del Pilar
"In my six decades of existence, my whole life revolved around
Bayambang. I am a living witness to how man-made and natural tragedies tried to
ruin our living. I have experienced extreme floods brought about by devastating
typhoons. Earthquakes also shook our house and we even came to the point of
losing all our properties. But every time, I and my family pray to our Almighty
through the intercession of Saint Vincent, and we always feel that we get
enlightened about what these catastrophes meant.
A faithless person would readily lose faith and surrender, but our
constant prayer and devotion made our faith stronger. We understand that all of
these challenges are a wake-up call to stronger faith.
With this, we understand that our faith and devotion is our great refuge
against whatever challenge that comes our way, no matter what it is. And we
thank our patron saint for his divine enlightenment."
***
The Angel’s Guiding Hand
Mrs. Fe Macaraeg, 86, retired professor, Quezon Blvd.
It was during the Liberation time (Japanese period) when Mrs. Fe
Macaraeg experienced the miracle of San Vicente Ferrer. It was the time when
most of the Japanese military men who tried to invade the Philippines moved to
Pangasinan. The United States instructed to destroy all the churches and
bridges in the Philippines because they knew that the Japanese hid in those
places.
Mrs. Fe was six years old at the time, and their parents always reminded
them to keep an eye on their surroundings and to be alert on the possibility
that bombs could be thrown anytime in their residential area. Since they lived
near the church, they were very scared of the possibility.
Every day, she observed something flying in the sky. It was like a big
bird with big wings flying around their area. She took it as a warning that
something would happen to the church.
Indeed, soon enough, a bomb unexpectedly exploded at the back of the
church. The people felt devastated. Another bomb was thrown inside the church,
and that bomb hit the hand of the statue of San Vicente Ferrer. That’s why,
today, if one looks at the original statue of San Vicente Ferrer hidden in the
convent, the saint has a missing hand. But that bomb did not explode. After
that, another two bombs were thrown inside the church, and fortunately the
bombs again did not explode. The bombing continued, and one of the bombs fell
in front of the church, and that one exploded. Bombs were also thrown at the
Calvo Bridge, and all the bombs exploded, destroying the bridge. How does one
explain the unlikely scenario of bombs being thrown inside the church and not
exploding?
Mrs. Macaraeg believes, to this day, that the creature flying in the sky
before the bombing was San Vicente Ferrer himself. She believes that the patron
saint had saved the church from the bombing. Even though the hand of the
original statue of San Vicente Ferrer was hit and got destroyed, she firmly
holds that the missing hand is no less than the winged saint’s guiding hand.
***
Rescued from Hopelessness
Dr. Henry J. Fernandez, physician, Brgy. Bical Sur
Perhaps more painful than any injury or illness is the feeling of utter
hopelessness and despair of the soul. Dr. Henry J. Fernandez knew this pain as
he was going through deep misery for his first-born son. His son was born with
congenital heart disease, specifically ventricular septal defect. It meant the
child had a big hole in the heart.
The child was having a hard time breathing. All doctors all over the
country were already visited by Dr. Henry and his child, so the doctor got
tired of even trying and felt hopeless, especially with the ironic thought that
even though he was a doctor himself, he could not do anything for his own son.
But one afternoon of stormy darkness, Dr. Henry was given renewed hope:
“Inawit kod simbaan may anako, tan nandasal ak ed San Vicente Ferrer. Agaylay
simuon man ya panagdasal. Kunin mo na if it’s your will; kung mabubuhay siya, I
promise that he will serve his fellowmen.”
After that, they went home and decided to go to Manila to visit his
siblings. At 6 p.m., Dr. Henry together with his wife Julie brought the child
to Manila Children’s Hospital, which was owned by Dr. Del Mundo, to see Dr.
Bienvenido Abesamis, a pediatric cardiologist trained by Dr. Denton Pulley, a
cardiovascular surgeon from Houston, Texas.
The doctor checked the child and was given some medications. After three
days, they went back to the hospital and the doctor said that the child’s heart
suddenly was doing well. Dr. Henry and Ms. Julie believed that this was the
start of the miracle.
The child did fine even up until it was time for his surgery in Houston,
Texas. After the surgery, everything was history. He grew up normal just like
any other children.
At present, that child is one of the best doctors and a world-renowned
neurologist in America. He is an international lecturer on Parkinson’s disease
and the head of the Abnormal Movement Department in one of the best hospitals
in the world. He has published 290 articles in North America Neurological
Society magazines and has authored nine books, the first of which is being used
by medical students in America to this day.
The strong faith and devotion of Dr. Henry and Mrs. Julie Fernandez to
San Vicente Ferrer saved their child from sickness. This is a big miracle that
happened to their family, giving a second lease on life to Dr. Hubert Henry
Fernandez, who is now serving the world.
***
Saved by the Miraculous Wings
Dr. Henry J. Fernandez, physician, 2019 Pista’y Baley Hermano Mayor,
Brgy. Bical Sur
Paralyzed with grief, Dr. Henry and Mrs. Julie Fernandez somehow managed
to give praises and thanks to San Vicente Ferrer after receiving a call that
their second son, together with his secretary, were fired with 11 gunshots by
unidentified men in Pasay.
Earlier, the son had gone to Metrobank and withdrew P500,000 to buy
stocks and to pay for the salary of his people who were working under him.
While driving, he noticed that a motorbike and a car were following them. He
decided to go to Pasay City Hall to ask his friends to escort him along the way
going back to their house.
But before he could reach City Hall, another car blocked their way and
the motorbike and the other car began to fire gunshots at them. Screams and
shouts were heard in the area, but fortunately no one got hurt. The son and his
secretary did not sustain even a single wound.
The son explained later on that when he saw the gunmen firing shots
towards their direction, he mentioned the name of San Vicente Ferrer and
prayed, “Ilaban mo kami, San Vicente Ferrer.” He believed that the miraculous
saint had saved him from that tragic incident. He thought that he was saved by
the patron’s wings.
“If you are in the midst of tragedy or turmoil, remember that as a
die-hard devotee and a child of God, you can look to the ultimate miracle
whenever you need a dose of hope,” Dr. Henry said.
***
Silver Lining Amid Ashes of House Fire
Wenchie Artacho, photographer/barangay councilor, M.H. del Pilar St.
Watching a family’s home going up in flames is heartbreaking, but
miracles do happen anytime, anywhere, if we have strong faith.
On January 26, 1966, an unexpected fire burned the house of the Artacho
family to ashes. The fire started from a candle that was left burning, causing
the entire house made of wood to blaze intensely.
Since there were no fire stations yet in the municipality, people had a
hard time preventing the angry blaze from spreading. The house was near other
houses and located just beside the church, so the fire started to spread out to
the neighboring houses and the church walls as well. The birds’ nests on the
church eaves started to flare up and caused more tension and fear among the
people working in the church.
To make matters worse, the roof of the church was so high, so the people
found it hard to douse pails of water to the burning birds’ nests. Two
sacristans got an idea and bravely carried the statue of San Vicente Ferrer and
brought it down from the altar to face the burning house.
Surprisingly, a strong gust of wind suddenly blew the fire out of the
burning house and the church’s roof. Everyone was shocked with what happened.
They believed that San Vicente used his wings to blow the wind and stop the
fire.
After the fire was put out, the two sacristans were surprised to find
that they could no longer carry the statue back to its place in the altar. They
had to call some help to bring back the statue. It took seven people to carry
the statue back to its place.
***
Miracles Never Cease to Exist
Rev. Fr. Allen O. Romero, parish priest, Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish
Church
The world that we live in is packed full of God’s miracles that we might
easily take for granted. If we really take a pause to ponder how magnificent
His creation is, we will find ourselves in awe and amazement.
Rev. Fr. Allen Romero believes that miracles of our patron saint, San
Vicente Ferrer, have brought the church to the limelight. The significant
changes that happened to our church – its massive roof, its beautiful retablo,
the giant chandeliers, the refurbished church façade, and its newly opened
Jubilee door – can be considered as astonishing miracles if we take into
account the odds faced by the priest and parishioners at the time these changes
were made.
Moreover, we have seen the splendid launching of the Saint Vincent
Ferrer Prayer Park last April 5 in celebration of the 400 years of the SVF
Parish Church and the 600th year death anniversary of Saint Vincent Ferrer. We
have set another record for Bayambang as the Guinness World Record holder for the
newly created official category of “Tallest and Highest Bamboo Sculpture
(Supported).” This alone is another miracle for Bayambang!
With the collaborative efforts of the Local Government Unit of Bayambang
and the Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish, we are carrying the name of our town to
the world stage. Also, with the help and support of the townspeople of
Bayambang, especially the parishioners, donors, and major sponsors, miracles
are continuously happening in our town.
For Fr. Romero, these are considered miracles of our patron saint for
our town, Bayambang. He said that miracles don’t just come from ancient stories
and myths but everyday miracles that are all around us, if only we keep our
spiritual eyes open.
***
An Unusual Panata
Paul Datuin, Brgy. M.H. Del Pilar
According to yet another informant, Paul Datuin of Brgy. M.H. Del Pilar,
a Philippine Air Force pilot from Bayambang named Mack AR. Ferrer, who was a
former Philippine Military Academy scholar, had this panata (vow) of circling
the church twice whenever his helicopter passes by the town. The outlandish
gesture was apparently a gesture of thanksgiving after his mother, who used to
be a managdasal (prayer-for-hire) and rolling store vendor, and his father, who
used to be a lineman, were able to send him and his siblings to college.
***
Healing Testimony
Q-P D. Velasco, Camiling, Tarlac
A St. Vincent Ferrer statue was entrusted to us by Mrs. Romulo which was
owned by her mother. We do not know the exact age of the statue, but her mother
died at 101 years of age, and Mrs. Romulo died at age 94.
I became a devotee of St. Vincent Ferrer when I learned that my prostate
was enlarged, I had fatty liver and gallstones. Together with my medicines,
prayers and devotion to St. Vincent Ferrer, right now my enlarged prostate
became smaller, my liver is now normal, and my gallstones are gone.
***
Literal Rising from Death
Danny Sagun, Poblacion
This is a true story that I myself witnessed when I was still a child
around 6 years old.
May isang kapitbahay kami doon sa aming lumang bahay na si Tiyo Carling
Junio, isang karpentero. Asawa niya si Tiya Felissa, isang mananahi, at anak
nila si Ricky, na minsan ay nakakalaro ko. Meron siyang homemade scooter na
yari sa kahoy at ang gulong niya ay used ball bearings. Mabilis tumakbo ang
scooter kahit sinisipa-sipa lang para umandar.
Isang araw nabalitaan namin na namatay na si Tiyo Carling. Out of love
for his father, labis itong ikinabigla at ikinalungkot ni Ricky. Ipinahiga na
ng pamilya ang bangkay sa lamesa at tinirikan na ng kandila bago siya
i-embalsamo. Sa oras ding yun, umalis si Ricky gamit ang kanyang wooden scooter
papunta sa simbahan. Pagdating ni Ricky sa simbahan, siya ay umakyat sa altar
ni San Vicente na mismong kinatatayuan ng imahe. Doon siya labis na umiyak at
hiniling na buhayin muli ang kanyang ama.
Pagkatapos ng kanyang masidhing panalangin kay San Vicente, si Ricky ay
umuwi sa kanilang bahay.
Pagdating ni Ricky sa bahay, naratnan niyang bumangon ang kanyang ama at
humingi na tubig.
Matagal pang nabuhay ang ama ni Ricky. Malaki na rin kami noong siya ay
namatay.
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Today, the sprawling St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park in Brgy. Bani
features the world's biggest statue of the saint. Officially, the structure is
the Guinness World Records' tallest steel-supported bamboo sculpture at 50.1
meters.
What not a lot of people know is that, in Brgy Alinggan, a family keeps
what is most probably the world's smallest St. Vincent Ferrer statue, which is
carved from a single rice grain. According to Municipal Councilor Benjamin
Francisco 'Benjie' de Vera, the story goes that this sculpted grain grew its
own wings. And before this grain came to become a miniature statue, the owners
heard mysterious knocking from the garong (giant wooden rice chest) it came
from.
"Why all that hullabaloo?" the uninitiated may ask. Who is
this curiously winged saint anyway?
In Bayambang's first coffee-table book, Subol na Pananisia, which
recounts the history of the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish including the physical
church structure, we learn from the author, Dr. Clarita DG. Jimenez, that he
was a Dominican priest from Valencia, Spain, in the 1360s. He is often depicted
winged, like an angel, "because people have witnessed that in the middle
of preaching, he would suddenly fly off, assuming that he had wings, to help
someone who is suffering and then he would return in the same manner and
continue his evangelical work."
Marvelous stories like this abound in this saint's earthly life, that is
why he is considered a "miracle worker." He is now considered as the
"patron saint of builders," among other things.
Now, how does a town of San Vicente Ferrer devotees square in with its
history of rebellion against Hispanic conquistador oppression? (Consider that
the barrio of Manambong in this town was the first site of Andres Malong's
revolt against the Spaniards and the town was also the first site of Juan dela
Cruz Palaris' revolt of the same nature.) The answer to the seeming
contradiction lies in another historical account, which notes that while Malong
and company were against the abuses of the foreign rules, they were also
fervent Catholics, meaning they recognized that they had encountered what they
believed to be the one true faith and it was the height of folly to discard it
and confound it with the un-Christian actions of those who brought the cross
using the sword.
***
Bayambang, of course, has other churches and many chapels. There are the
three sister churches of the mother parish: the churches in Brgys. Wawa,
Sapang, and Carungay. There is also an interesting underground chapel in Brgy.
Tanolong in the unusual Chapel of Adam and Eve.
Non-Catholic churches include the Iglesia ni Cristo, Mormons or Church
of Latter-Day Saints, Baptist, Evangelical/born-again Christian, Methodist, and
the Muslim/Islamic church.
Despite the differences in dogma, all these churches exist in mutual
respect, united in service as moral and spiritual anchor to the people of
Bayambang.
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