The Feast of Immaculate Concepcion and 192nd Angeles Foundation Day
ANGELES CITY — This highly-urbanized city celebrated two religious and significant events in its history on December 8, 2021: the Feast of the Immaculate Concepcion and 192nd Foundation Day of Angeles City.
The celebration started with a Thanksgiving Mass was officiated by Rev. Fr. Nolasco Fernandez, Parish Priest of the Holy Rosary Parish, more popularly known among locals as the Pisamban Maragul.
Photo: Jing Torno
After the Mass, a flower wreath was offered at the tomb of the founder of Angeles City, Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda, who also served as mayor of his hometown Bacolor, and in 1796, he and his wife, Dona Rosalia de Jesus, began clearing the town’s northernmost barrio and established Culiat.
From 1797, he served as captain of the Hussars Squadron of Pampanga in the Urban Militia of Manila.
Don Angel rejoined his wife in the task of clearing the barrio, which was officially separated from San Fernando.
As the couple are both devotees of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Guardian Angels, the foundation happened on December 8, 1829, which was exactly the Feast of the Immaculate Concepcion and become the town of Angeles, prompting Fr. Nolasco to cite that Angeles is indeed a blessed town because the Virgin Mary is “full of grace”.
The wreath-laying at the Founder’s House was led by Angeles City Vice-Mayor Vicky Vega Cabigting; Sto. Rosario Barangay Captain Rey Cosme; Museum of Philippine Social History Curator Bettina Pangilinan-Arriola; Aaron Gaerlan-Dalúsung Rivera; Councilorables Aaron Pineda and Rodelio Mamac, Jr..
Also with them were J-Lyn Anicete Syhuat-Rivera; officers and members of the Kuliat Foundation Inc. and Museo Ning Angeles headed by Eloisa R. Narciso Founding President of Kuliat Foundation, Culture and Herritage Consultant Carmen McTavish, Resident Historian Marco D. Nepomuceno and his wife Dr. Lourdes Tanhueco-Nepomuceno; ARAW President Renato “Abong” Tayag Jr. and his wife Corito Rose O. Tayag; Kuliat Foundation Board Secretary Leigh Jocson, Jing Torno of Kite Philippines, Museo Administrative Officer Rhodora Salazar and Museo Guide and Historian Lucio Sison.
The blessing of the replica of the image of the Santo Rosario was also held at the Museo Ning Angeles and was attended and witnessed by the guests .
After the events, Kapampangan breakfast was served at the Culinarium of the Museo Ning Angeles which included the suklating batirul of Café Museo, putung babi, torta, pansit and puto bumbong generously sponsored by Mary Grace De Guzman-Tayag.
***All photos by the author except the photo of the Founder’s tomb
