Some Churches in Bulacan

The recent flooding in coastal towns of Bulacan reminded me of a trip we once took to see the Hagonoy, Calumpit and Pulilan churches.  The streets got flooded during the day and the place had a fishy smell.  But the people looked well-off and the welcome we received was warm. 

The province of Bulacan covers a large area.  The southern portion has marshlands and coastal waters that  make good fish pens.

We took two big motorized bancas to a fish pen in the bay.  On the way, we passed by boat garages.  This is a one-boat garage.

This one houses several boats.  The fish pens wre protected by dikes (sadly, made of plastic bags filled with debris).   After a sumptuous lunch in the middle of the fish pens, we visited several churches.

The National Shrine of St. Anne (Hagonoy Church) was established in 1581 has undergone a lot of reconstruction.  (Another sad note: the more prosperous the place, the more reconstructions.)

The entrance retains the original carved door.

 

Detail of the door.

The altar of St. Anne's Shrine is in pink!

The church has museum. A Liber Confirmatorum (Book of Confirmations) on display.

A book where names of those previously baptized in Aglipayan and Protestant churches and who converted to the Catholic Church were listed.

The St. John the Baptist Church is older (built in 1572) and has undergone less reconstruction of the facade.  It is a little out of the way and is rumored to have a tunnel under the floor where the Spanish priests kept gold and other treasures.

This is the town where farmers bring their carabaos during the town fiesta to kneel in front of the church.

Younger (and smaller) carabaos being trained to kneel.