Visiting San Jose's Fiesta

Saint Joseph The Patriarch. Patron
Saint of  San Jose, Batangas.

Taga Ibaan Ako

San Jose, Batangas can always draw a line in my life. For almost four years, this is where I spent a big part of my secondary education before transferring to St. James Academy in Ibaan. I have to admit, I fell in love with the town. The climate. The town folks. The ancestral structures. Despite local government's efforts to fast-track its development, the town remains the same -things hardly changed. And after almost 15 years, marking March 19 on calendar, I tried to pick up the pieces again where I left them. I visited San Jose on it's fiesta.

San Jose Cathedral, San Jose,
 Batangas

The municipality is bounded by Lipa City in the north and northeast, the municipality of Ibaan in the east, Batangas City and municipality of San Pascual in the south, and the municipalities of Cuenca and Alitagtag in the west.

The old San Jose, Batangas

Plotting again the road I used to take back in the days, I ended making an exit at the town's Municipal Hall. From Ibaan, that's the fastest way to get there. And across the road, just a few steps from plaza, one will be met by San Jose Cathedral.

The Shrine of St. Joseph the Patriarch is located in the town proper and is a popular Catholic pilgrimage site.   The altar is massive, with six rounded columns encircling the image of St. Joseph. Outside a multi-tiered belfry stands which was built in the latter part of the 19th century; a bridge offers passage to the church over the Malaquing Tubig River.

Although the Cathedral has changed color outside, its majestic appearance remains -seeing over the people of  San Jose in its uphill nest above the plaza. At the back of the Cathedral, taking the entrance gate at the right side, there lies the Oblates of Saint Joseph Mission and Minor Seminary which was founded by the recently canonized Saint Joseph Marello. The Oblates were the first Italian congregation to send missionaries to the Philippines.

This bell was named after M.P.S
Agustin in 1870 and installed by
Fr. Roman S. Sierra, OSJ.
Damaged by earthquake in 1942,
and taken from the belfry in
1953. This belfry was initiated
by Fr. Rony Alkonga, OSJ in
2000, erected by Rev. Fr. Jose
V. Alipin in 2001, and
completed by Rev. Fr. John
A. De Castro, OSJ in 2003.

It was once built with cogon and bamboo by Augustinian friars around 1788. The present structure was built on 1812 under the supervision of a famous botanist Fr. Manuel Blanco, OSA. It has single-aisle interior which offers an unobstructed view of the large main altar.

The church is a paragon of Baroque architecture in the Philippines, and combines this with the neo-classical lines of an adjacent convent. The pulpit and canopy is study in intricate carvings of local flora.

Past Fast Facts

The Aetas were the first inhabitants of the place. They started clearing some portions of the wilderness especially in the areas near the riverbanks. Several groups of settlers then drove this Aetas to hinterlands and permanently occupied the place. They named it “Malaquing Tubig”, referring to the big river that cuts through the central portion of their early settlement.

The Spaniards then colonized the Philippines. Bauan was established in 1596 as an ecclesiastical unit administered by the order of Saint Agustin with Malaquing Tubig as one of the barrios under its jurisdiction.

Human population of Malaquing Tubig started to grow and in 1754, Taal Volcano erupted destroying the original Bauan. And before its actual site could have been selected, Malaking Tubig was separated from Bauan. The recognized leaders of Malaquing Tubig then petitioned to the Spanish authorities for the creation of that place as a pueblo which was granted to them on April 26, 1765.

Hopefuls and believers trying to make both ends meet before
Saint Joseph The Patriarch.

Established on April 26, 1765 as the town of San José de Malaquing Tubig, it once formed part of Bauan, and in the new town's establishment, it originally included the land that now makes up the Municipality of Cuenca.

Just like any other Catholic celebrations giving honor to town's Patron Saint, Saint Joseph, The Worker's day attracts not just faithfuls, but also traders. Roman Empire, once ruled the world and popularized the such festivities in the name of Olympus gods and goddesses, has set such trend and was obviously carried on up to the present time. Some of its empire states, under the blessings of Pax Romana, even encouraged holding them to raise funds through taxes paid by merchants. 

Despite it all, with its livestock and great tasting agricultural products such as lanzones, San Jose will always be a nice place to visit. I may have failed to see and find the old faces I used to know, San Jose made me reflect more of my old self. Much more, now that some lines are beginning to cross my forehead.

Related Links/Source:
http://bit.ly/eeYQaR 

Imagen Del Senior San Jose Viejo. As listed in 1870 Libro De Inventario,
this figure is popularly known as San Joseng Binata. This is currently
being used in/for house visitation.