After visiting the San Guillermo Parish in Bacolor, we headed subsequent to Guagua, Pampanga. Amongst all of the church buildings in our itinerary for this pilgrimage, that is the place I used to be most enthusiastic about. The primary time I noticed the picture of Betis Church on a Fb submit highlighting its magnificent trompe l’oeil ceiling, i needed to place it on my bucket record instantly. Santiago Apostol Parish Church or extra generally generally known as Betis Church was established in 1607. It was additionally declared as a Nationwide Cultural Treasure by the Nationwide Museum in 2001.
Betis was initially an impartial settlement lengthy earlier than the arrival of the Spaniards within the Philippines. It was named after the Guadalquivir River (Rio Betis) in Spain, indicating that Spanish colonizers noticed similarities between the world and their homeland. The city was based by Augustinian Priest Fray Fernando Pinto. It was a flourishing neighborhood located alongside the banks of the Betis River, which made it best for agriculture, fishing, and commerce.
In 1607, the Parish Church of St. James the Apostle (often known as Betis Church) was established, making Betis one of many oldest parishes in Pampanga. Fray Mateo Peralta was listed as its first parish priest. Nonetheless, it was Father José de la Cruz who initiated the constructing of the church. The preliminary construction was made of sunshine supplies, primarily wooden and stucco. Fireplace broke out inside the church a number of occasions as a consequence of these mild supplies, so it was lastly rebuilt with concrete in 1770.
Within the final quarter of the nineteenth century, Father Manuel Camañes dug an artesian nicely on the north aspect of the church, giving a supply of potable water to the individuals of Betis and close by cities. The current-day concrete fence with caryatids was constructed within the earlier half of the twentieth century.
Throughout this era, Betis was an impartial city with its personal governance and thriving native industries comparable to woodcarving and furnishings making. It grew to become particularly recognized for producing expert artisans, notably in woodcraft and ecclesiastical artwork—a practice that continues in the present day.
In 1904, in the course of the American colonial interval, Betis misplaced its standing as an impartial municipality and was annexed as a barangay of Guagua. This occasion passed off in the course of the time the place most cities are being consolidated. The consolidation of cities in the course of the American interval within the Philippines refers to a coverage of lowering the variety of municipalities by merging smaller or much less viable cities into bigger ones. This was executed to streamline governance, scale back administrative prices, and make native authorities extra environment friendly underneath American colonial rule.
Beautification of the inside was extensively executed in 1939 by Father Santiago Blanco, the final Spanish priest of the church. The ceiling of the nave was painted by the well-known Anac Baculud, a relative of Juan Crisostomo Soto, by the identify of Isidoro C. Soto, who was mentored by Dr. Sijuco. Isidoro, nicknamed Doro Soto, himself painted the ceiling itself.
The model of Betis Church displays a mixture of Baroque and Neo-Classical architectural kinds, tailored to native Filipino-Spanish aesthetics. It options large adobe and stone partitions that talk to the church’s age and sturdiness. A central arched predominant entrance is flanked by pilasters (flat columns) that divide the façade into three vertical sections.
The higher a part of the façade features a area of interest with a statue of St. Augustine.
On the correct aspect of the church façade stands a separate however related octagonal bell tower, product of adobe.
A number of statues will be discovered outdoors the church. One among which is the statue of the Sacred Coronary heart of Jesus in entrance.
The opposite entrance of Betis Church. This one was a rose window on its higher half however as a substitute of stained glass, it’s product of Capiz shells.
Simply few walks from the Artesian Nicely, you’ll discover a statue of Saint James, notably its illustration as Saint James Matamoros or the Moor Slayer.
You’ll discover the identical depiction as bas reliefs in the primary entrance of Fort Santiago in Intramuros ( See: Fort Santiago )and the facade of Paete Church in Laguna (See: Saint James the Apostle Parish/ Paete Church)
The inside of the Betis Church is extensively considered some of the breathtaking within the Philippines, incomes it the nickname “The Sistine Chapel of the Philippines”. Its inside design is a masterpiece of Baroque and Rococo artwork, blended with Filipino craftsmanship, particularly in woodcarving and ceiling portray.
Essentially the most putting function is the ceiling, totally lined in elaborate trompe l’oeil work—a method that creates an phantasm of three-dimensionality. The portray depicts varied scenes from the Bible, saints, and extra. The artworks of the inside have been extensively executed in 1939 underneath the final Spanish friar who served as parish priest, Fr. Santiago Blanco, OSA. Native painter Macario Ligón was later commissioned to color the ceiling of the church. Later within the Nineteen Seventies, Ligón’s assistant and nephew Victor Ramos restored 80 p.c of the ceiling and mural work.
Victor Ramos y Gozum (1922–1986) repainted nearly 80% of the ceiling and mural work within the inside of the Betis church which most up to date writers mistook for Simon Flores originals. Ramos and Daning Henson from San Fernando Pampanga and a sure Mr. Pangilinan reworked the ceiling work within the early 1980’s, commissioned by the Betis Fiesta Committee underneath Tatang Emias Roque. It was a flagship venture for the city which was then headed by former Guagua Mayor Atty. Manuel Santiago. Primarily based on Macario Ligón-originals (Ligón was an uncle and trainer of Ramos in portray), repainting was executed as a result of decaying panels infested by termites and to keep away from a extra devastating impact on different elements of the church’s ceiling.
The dome space options murals depicting photographs of angels, clouds, and different notable Biblical occasions. It additionally creates the phantasm of a three-dimensional dome opening up into the heavens.
This strategy is according to Baroque inventive traditions, particularly in church buildings the place a bodily dome was structurally impractical.
The principle altar of Betis Church is equally beautiful. It’s constructed within the Baroque-Rococo model and is a multi-tiered, gold-leafed picket construction.
The primary layer of the altar contains a single area of interest that enshrines the picture of Our Woman surrounded by angels. The second tier has 5 niches with the picture of Saint Joseph and the kid Jesus on the middle. It’s accompanied by 4 Augustinian Saints. The decrease tier has 7 niches with Saint James the Apostle within the middle together with few extra Augustinian Saints with Saint Paul and Saint Peter.
San Nicholas de Tolentino, Saint Augustine, Saint Peter
Austinian Saints
There’s additionally a picture of God the Father and the Holy Spirit on high of the grand retablo
One of many Aspect altars enshrines the picture of Virgel de la Correa
The picture of the Virgen de la Correa is one in all two treasured photographs of Betis church, the opposite, being the ivory determine of its titular patron, Santiago Apostol (St. James).
The opposite aspect altar options photographs just like the La Pieta, Saint Therese, Saint Anthony of Padua amongst others.
You may as well spot a pulpit on the aspect of the church
There’s additionally a bamboo pipe organ
The principle entrance door options some heavy particulars. The carvings painting the “Gates of Paradise”.
Choir loft space.
A small aspect chapel with intricately detailed and ornate altar with picture depicting the Baptism of the Lord
Betis Church is unquestionably not only a place of worship however a dwelling museum of Pampanga’s cultural soul. The church’s outdated refectory was additionally transformed right into a mini-museum. Nonetheless, we weren’t in a position to go to it that point.
This Publish is a part of my Pampanga Pilgrimage collection. Be happy to revisit my earlier articles right here
