Capiz: More than just windowpane oysters

A  couple of days after my arrival to my  sleepy hometown, Estancia, Iloilo  which turned out even sleepier after Yolanda's wrath, I organized for  my whole family a trip to Roxas city to while away for the following reasons:  (one) to compensate over my absence last Christmas and  (two) to have them forget , even for a short while, everything they had to go through during the typhoon.

We all prepped up, together with my cousin and her  three kids and travelled  to Capiz. Iloilo and Capiz are neighbouring provinces. My  mom is a pure Illonggo and my father is from Capiz. The latter is famous for the superstitions about the existence of Aswang. My father affirmed to having encounters with some when he was younger . And no matter how many times he told stories of them I am yet to see and fully describe one. So I couldn't share anything about Aswangs right now.  And that's not really what I wanted to blog  about. What would interest me is knowing that my travels interest you too. Here is how my small trip to Capiz went.

Our first stop was The Shrine in the Agtalin Hill. Devout Catholics and Marian followers go here every first Saturday of the month because of the mass. Many have said that the ascent to the hill helps you answer your prayers and heal your illnesses. We were mainly there to express our gratitude to the  Higher Power  because my family survived the typhoon unscathed .

The Ascent to Agtalin

I forgot to count how many steps it took me to reach the top. But it surely is breath-taking - both the climbing up and the view. At the top of the hill, an 80-ft tall statue of Our lady of the Miraculous Medal stands. Even from the highway  in  Dulangan, Pilar you would already see the image.  It's always  going to give you that need of stepping out of the vehicle and climbing up to either say your prayers or to enjoy the beauty of the gigantic statue and the view  from the top of the hill.

How did it get there? The idea was conceived  by a believer who was miraculously healed   from a fatal illness through the Virgin Mary. He, gratified by the miracle, wished to have a statue built in Her honor. This was realized in the combined efforts of engineers, sculptors, laborers, and locals in 1991.

I remember going up there 2-3 times before that last one.  But none so purposeful as this one.  I knew that all those things we lost during the typhoon were just things we can always buy in the future, but my family's safety is the main reason all of us, together, climbed up that hill- to acknowledge the  efforts of God  in securing them during  the hardest of times. Something I am very thankful for.

Jaro Cathedral: An irresistible stopover

It was Dinagyang Festival week when I had to make the stop in Iloilo before I could get home to my Family in Estancia.  That trip was not for pleasure. That was to compensate for not being able to go home to my Family last Christmas - also to check how they had been after Yolanda, the devastating  Typhoon that hit  most of the Visayas region. I knew before getting home that they were all safe. Though they had to start from scratch, after all the material losses. I then,  just wanted to spend time with them.

Before getting to the Terminal at Tagbak Station, the Jeepney I was riding in passed by the Jaro Cathedral as the locals call it also known as  The Parish of Our Lady of Candles.  So I cried out "Lugar lang"  our very own version of "Mama, para".

Upon walking towards the church, from above the trees of Jaro plaza, the bell-tower facing the church stands with might. The Parish of Our Lady of Candles is one of those churches that have bell towers detached from the actual Church building. Here, the belfry is across the street.

Another cool thing about the church is its façade. It has stairs leading up to the statue of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria.  This statue, according to Wikipedia, was found floating  by fisherman in the Iloilo river before it was brought to where it is now.

 I was able to walk up the stairs and I took pictures of the belfry across the street, the statue in the altar covered with glass, the intricate wall of the church  and I was left with one dilemma.  I had no picture of my own in this church. So I asked a boy to take my picture. He's one of those kids who stay at church selling candles. I gave him five pesos after he took two shots. I reviewed the pictures and I couldn't complain. It's the downside of travelling alone- no one is there to take your pictures. 

I remember when I was 9 or 10 , my Nanay usually brings me to a Catechism meeting with her friends every Wednesday night. When I grew older, I joined the annual summer youth camp of our church and there I learned so many things. These may be the main reasons why Churches amaze me big time!

Fun Fact: Graciano Lopez Jaena was baptized in this same church. He's one of our national heroes. He's Ilonggo and is famous for his revolutionary news paper, La Solidaridad. At 18, he also wrote the satirical story "Fray Botod".  I knew about this through the funny conversations I had with Drew.  He's a Social Studies teacher . Ask him a question and he would have supporting facts  that would give you a feel of that same Araling Panlipunan nostalgia in grade school.

I went inside the church and said my prayers and I thanked the Lord for keeping my family safe.  I was not able to take pictures inside the church so as not to bother the devout churchgoers praying at that same time. Then, I went out, feeling excited to take that Jeepney ride to Tagbak, then I'm a 3-hour ride away from home.