St John the Baptist Parish (Structure)

Who is St John the Baptist? History of the St John the Baptist Parish (p. 13 Milestones ...) Up to 1896 The St John the Baptist Parish Church (p.20 Ord Nr 63, s 1989 ... Historical Site) On July 15,1894, the Vice-Royal Patron of the Philippines issued a Royal Decree establishing the Parish of San Juan Bautista. A year later (1895) the first church in Pinaglabanan was constructed, with the late Mariano Artiaga donating practically all the adobe stones. The image of the Patron St John the Baptist was enshrined permanently since then, at the Pinaglabanan Church. (p. 13 Milestones ...) The first church was built in 1896 by Fr Roman Perez, OFM, the first parish priest. It was of stone with a convent built beside it. He was assisted by architect Luis Arellano and other prominent residents such as Mariano Artiaga and Martin Ocampo. The first battle of the Philippine revolution was fought “in the expanse of of land fronting the newly-built church. Inspite of (the) hostilities [sic], the parish continued to serve the community. The first expansion of the church ws undertaken in 1951 and was supervised by architect Otilio Arellano (a grandson of Luis Arellano). (p.77 Awards Night) “(1951) ... He preserved the facade as built by Luis Arellano, his grandfather. The church facade was expanded to accommodate two additional front doors. He also built the mortuary chapels. (p. 13 Milestones ...) A couple of mortuary chapels were added on in 1975. (p.77 Awards Night) “... second expansion of the church in the early 1980’s, but this, he was not able to complete. xxx he died when their home went up in flames in 1981.” (p. 13 Milestones ...) This second expansion, completed in 1983, involved Alejandro Arellano, a cousin of Otilio Arellano, who assisted in planning and implementing the project. The retablo (altar wall) of the main altar was retained and merely expanded, and other physical improvements, including a new altar and the installation of a huge crucifix (later replaced by the present crucifix) were completed in response to the “new liturgical protocol” ??? (mass presider facing the people, etc.). The choir loft that was built over the main entrance was removed and the church was largely rebuilt and enlarged toward the southwest of the church site. The grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes gave way to the present rectory, parish celebration hall, and crypt that was inaugurated in 1987. The following year, on 01 August 1988, a “new Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel was blessed and inaugurated.” (This adoration chapel was demolished during the construction of the SJB Catholic School and a modern adoration chapel was completed in _____). The image of St John the Baptist postioned in a niche in the center topmost part of the retablo of the pre-1983 expansion altar is now placed in the St Joseph Chapel that was completed in 1999. On 15 May of the Parish Centennial Year (1994), the present church belfry was inaugurated and it now houses the same century-old bell that dates back to the completion of the first church. ------------------------------------------------------ p. 19, Ord Nr 63, 1989 (Joe Alvior) 16th century K Lacantagcan and his wife ... donated a large tract of land to the Dominican Missionaries ... ??? (p.14, Glimpses) Royal grants “... several1602, the friars constructed a small church in advocation of SJB ... Beginning of 17th century “ a life-size image of the Crucified Christ ... enshrined at the Binondo Church ... ... Chinese uprising of 1639, ... including the small church in San Juan, but ... image of the Crucified Christ was saved ... In 1641, the reconstruction of the small church in San Juan was finished ... transfer of the image of the Crucified Christ from the Binondo church to the small church of San Juan (now Sanctuario del Santo Cristo in Bgy Kabayanan). The image of the patron SJB gave way to the image of the Crucified Christ. 1641 – 1894 where was the image of SJB? Is the “original image” given by the Dominicans, now housed in the St Joseph’s chapel, the same image? 1894-1641 = 253 years 2013 – 1641 = 372 years (p.20 Ord Nr 63, s 1989 ... Historical Site) “On July 15,1894, the Vice-Royal Patron of the Philippines issued a Royal Decree establishing the Parish of San Juan Bautista. A year later (1895) the first church in Pinaglabanan was constructed, with the late Mariano Artiaga donating practically all the adobe stones. The image of the Patron St John the Baptist was enshrined permanently since then, at the Pinaglabanan Church.”

Balsa?, baha!, BEC [Published in the 2012 St John the Baptist Parish Souvenir Program as "Balsa?, baha!"]

Barangay San Perfecto is named after Saint Perfect, a priest and the first of Christian martyrs beheaded by the Saracen Moors (c. 850) in Cordoba, Spain. He is relatively unknown today but he remains relevant to current world affairs, dying in defense of his faith. He is immortalized by his contemporary, Saint Eulogio, in the latter’s “Martyrs Memorial”. His feast falls on 18 April. A couple of parish publications provide conflicting data on the origins of the territory: “... used to be part of Barrio Balsa.” (A Century of Growth, 1994) and “Barrio Balsa was divided into three barrios of Rivera, Salapan and Progreso” (Echoes of a Hundred Years, 1999). Original land titles (titulos), however, inform that lots in the barangay were once part of San Juan Heights Subdivision that was developed together with Sta. Mesa Heights, New Manila Heights and other planned choice locations in the suburbs of Manila. That it was once part of a territory called Barrio Balsa is, however, highly credible considering that, pending completion of public flood defense infrastructure, the barangay is largely flood-prone as it may have once rested on the wetlands of the San Juan River. Notwithstanding, Barangay San Perfecto remains a triangular territory bounded by two major arteries of the city – N. Domingo and F. Blumentritt (up to the old stone aqueduct / arko) - and the decommissioned MWSS main pipe. It consists of several blocks and streets largely named after Christian saints (Remigio, Jorge, Joaquin, Venancio, Sotero, Gabriel, Toribio, et al) while some are named after historical events, personages, and places. The site of the old water pipe (Tubo), once carpeted by sunflower blooms (according to oldtime residents), is now home to a considerably large informal settlement. The heart of the barangay rests on an area along San Perfecto Street where the Barangay Hall and the Barangay Chapel (Kapilya ng Nazareno) are located. The annual Jan 18 Nazareno barangay fiesta gave San Juan City its reputation as the “home of the other big celebration of the feast of the Black Nazarene” (p. 70, Metro Manila, 1999). The Nazareno is the patron of the barangay, its image prominently displayed in the barangay seal. Regular Sunday masses and seasonal church activities are held at or originate from the kapilya (novena to the Nazareno, barangay Way of the Cross, various processions, Mayflower offering and catechism for children, choir practice, meetings) under the aegis of the San Perfecto Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC). Listen to the San Perfecto (SP) BEC choir sing at the 6 o’clock Sunday morning mass at the parish church and at the 7 o’clock evening mass at the Kapilya. The SP BEC Youth Ministry recently conducted the “great hit” 2013 Mary Days of May.