“As parochial superior he must have delegated his duties to somebody else, for one reason or another,” Fr. Rodriguez further explain.

Fr. Rodriguez’ categorical assertion is corroborated by the old historical book, Apuntes Historicos de la Provincia Agustinian del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus de Filipinas, Recopilados por el P. Bernardo Martinez,secretario de Provincia; page 256.

To settle once and for all the nagging conflict of dates, the author hied himself off once again to San Agustin church on June 5,1984 but Fr. Rodriguez was no longer around. He had long ago returned to Spanish Fr. Luis G. Merino, another Spanish priest, instead made himself available for the interview.

“Both dates are correct and ib harmony with each other,” Fr. Merino asserted. He pointed out that May 26, 1733 was the time when Baliwag began its actual or de facto existence while May 15, 1734 was the time when the Augustinians formally approved or recognized the creation of the town which thenceforth became part of the Order’s ministry and concern..

The convert adverted to in the chapter’s Declaration must have been that of Sta. Barbara chapel where the friars stayed for a long time. The chapel was built some 25 years ahead of the town church. The townsfolk therefore attended masses here in the meantime (Sta. Barbara was then known as Balanti).

When Fr. De Albarran came to town there were only around 750 inhabitants.* That year (1733) he baptized a total of 60 children, 36 girls and 24 boys, and married 13 couples. No one died during that period. But the following year 26 deaths (including those of two children) were registratered in the church books.

The Church and Covent

Apparently there is no extant record nor any maker to indicate when the local churc and covent were originally constructed. But a revealing account by Fray Juaquin Martinez de Zuñiga in his book, Status of the Philippines in 18000,** gives a good clue. Fr. De Zuñiga was an Augustinian missionary who arrived in the Philippines on Aug. 3,1786 and served in the different parishes (he was parish priest of Calumpit in 1794 – 1795).

Fr. De Zuñiga set foot in Baliwag on Feb.12, 1802 in the course of an expedition to different town in Bulacan and other provinces in company with Spanish Rear- Admiral Ignacio Maria Alva. They stayed in the covent (which had an excellent view of the picturesque plaza) for about three days, together with their host Fray Esteban Diez Hidalgo who was then the town’s priest.

“This parochial is, without doubt,the best in the whole archepelago,” recounted Fr. De Zuñiga.” It is of recent manufacture and is done not in the taste that convents of the Philippines are usually made but in consonance with that aesthetic preference by which Spanish houses in Manila are made. If the solidity of its walls, the neatness of all its parts, and their dimensions and symmetrical arrangement are considered, I believe that no edifice in all Manila can be compared to it. The church is also built of mortar and stone but is somewhat low and the tower which was poorly done is deteriorating. Fray Esteban Diez, who made the convent and lodged us in it, told us that embarrassed him a great deal not to be able to build the church in the same way as the convent, but that was so prevented by the provincial governor because of the misunderstanding over a decree issued by the Central Government which had originated from several instruction in the year 1768. I must say, though, that when the provincial governor, came to pay the Admiral a courtesy visit, they discussed this matter and the former granted the permission to repair and strengthen the church and tower, which has being done.”

Since Fr. Diez (the longest – serving cura parroco of Baliwag) began his local service in 1789, it is safe to assume that the church and convent were built sometime between 1790 and 1801. It has been traditionally held that the construction threof was done through forced labor and that very single material used, not excluding each giant adobe stoneblock, was supplied by the people in the form of tribute. The lumber used came from Sabang which was really a thick forest at the time.

The renovated church and the attached belfy were a lot stronger, taller, and more attractive. But unfortunately they were unable to withstand the terrible earthquake that shook the country on June 3, 1863 . they lay ruins, together with the convent, until the early part of 1870 when their reconstruction beagan on a contract basis.

In the meantine, the people fulffiles their religious obligations in a temporary house of worship called “Provincial” at the southeastern side of the churchyard along Año 1733 street. It was a narrow, simple structure which in later years was used by the RVM Sisters of the Colegio de la Sagrada Familia (now St. Mary’s Academy) as a classroom.

Antonio de Mesa, a youthful bachelor from Makati , Rizal,was hired by the contractor as master carpenter. “Maestrong Tonio,” as he was widely known, fabricated the parts of the church dome right in his hometown in Makati and transported them by the river banca. He then asseble the standardized parts and hoisted them up the roof with the use of big puley.*

It took many months, nay years, to finish the imposing the edifice which today the proudly stands as the magnificent symbol of the town’s ancient past and center of the religious life.

The Cura Parroco

As the town’s supreme ruler the cura parroco dictated his choice of local public official headed by the governadorcillo. He was so powerful that he perform the function of the following; inspector of primary schools, president of health board and board of public works, president of board of statistic and president of census taking. He also certified to the correctness of cedulas and to the condition of men chosen by lot for service in the army; checked the municipal budget; supervise the election of the police forced; examined the scholar attending the first and second grades in the public schools; and censored the plays, comedies and drama written in the native dialect.

In the fact, every time local public official held their regular meeting s at the convento they would kiss the hand of parish priest as a sign of subservience.

Padre Fausto

From 1733 to the end of Spanish regime in 1898 Baliwag had about 30 curates. Among them Fr. Esteban Diez Hidalgo and Fr. Fausto Lopez had the longest year of service. The former established a record of 40 years while the later chalked up a total of 24 tears.

But Fr. Lopez undoubtedly left the most lasting imprint in Baliwag. For during his lengthy stay here he was able to cultivate a completely human, though not quite holy, relationship with a local balle named Mariquita. Out of this forbidden companionship six children were born, three of them boys. One of these son became a national historical figure, having been one of the framers of the Malolos Constitution and the discoverer of the beri-beri as a disease in the Philippines . His name: Dr. Joaquin Gonzales (ef. His biography on pp. 356 -359). The two other were Francisco, the youngest and the former Assemblyman Ricardo Lloret Gonzales,* and Jose the eldest who was widely known as “Pepeng Mariquita.

Padre Prada

Pepeng Mariquita was noted for his reckless courage and impulsiveness. According to Atty. Ll Gonzales his uncle used to berate even the Spanish cura. Fr. Ysidoro Prada, for sitting improperty in their old mansion even in the presence of Pepeng Mariquita’s wife. This ill – mannered priest, who serve in Baliwag during the last decade of Spaniard regime, also had the habit of spitting on the floor. He allegedly display this bad habit at least once in Pepeng Mariquita’s house in the presence of other guests who were then dancing in the hall.

Once time Pepeng Mariquita also chased a very improper guardia civil out of their house (which later became the municipal building)
Talagang pambihira ang tapang ng taong ‘yon,” Atty Lloret Gonzales said shaking his head.*

There were another quite unforgettable incident involving Padre Prada. It concerned his street fight with the three courageous Ponce brother: Francisco, Vicente and Damaso (the later was Alfonso Ponce Enrile’s father), who were known for their anti – clergy sentiments.

According to the history, the three brother were walking down Sta. Leocadia Bajo (now Gil Carlos Street ) one day when they came upon Padre Prada in front of the Rustia house. Instead of stopping and kissing the priest’s hand as was the custom in those days the trio just walked on unconcernedly. Whereupon the offended cura rudely called out and backoned to them with his cane stick.

Without much ado Padre Prada struck the three brother with his cane, but the trio fought back. Consequently the priest found himself undignified rolling on the dusty street. For their sheer recklessness the Ponce brothers were exiled to an island called “Yslade Paragua, now known as Palawan .

Francisco lived to tell his tale of woe, including having to eat raw meat to survive. He came back several years later, when the Spaniard were no longer around, he even became the town’s chief of police – probably the best that Baliwag has ever had.**

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