July 25 is Feast Day of St. James

 

Let me tell you something about the town where I was born — Santiago City.

Santiago is in the province of Isabela, the second town entering the province if you come from Manila.

The original name of Santiago was Carig.  Legends had it that in the old times during the Spanish colonization era, the town was always under siege by bandits and lawless elements taking away the people’s livelihoods and belongings.  These acts of atrocity continued for quite some time.

One day, while these thugs and crooks were doing their yet another “round” of barbarism, a knight-like warrior came into the townfolks’ rescue and single-handedly repulsed the invaders.  That was the last time the headhunters, or whatever was left of their tribes, assaulted the town of Carig.

St. James the Apostle

People then thought the savior in white stead was St. James the Apostle. Thus, in honor of their hero, they re-named the town Santiago, which is the Spanish name of St. James.

This is how I remember the story told to me by one of my elementary school teachers.  There could be another version or a more detailed one but that basically is the substance of it.

The feast day of St. James is July 25 so the feast day of Santiago, the town, is thus obviously observed and held on July 25 as well.  I recall there are lots of activities during our “town fiesta”.  There were these “moro-moro” shows back then, there were parades, open houses, basketball tournaments, carnivals or “peryahan”, and mass celebrations.

I was born in Malvar, a barangay near to the “centro”.  Our house was dwarfed by the Navarro Compound to the left and the Kaunlaran Palay Buying Station to the right.  There used to be a PC (Philippine Constabulary) Company in front directly across the street.  We also had a house in Baptista Village in Calao.

I spent my whole preparatory years (Kinder to Grade 6) at La Salete Elementary.  During my elementary days, I was a sakristan at the St. James Parish Church beside our school.  Being a sakristan ’compelled’  me to visit the far-flung barangays of Santiago back then.  I was very active serving Sunday masses and holidays. Thus naturally, I was always at church serving during feast days.  Sometimes twice in a day.

It is therefore not surprisingly that despite being away from Santiago for quite some time now, I can recall vividly its feast day.  July 25.  Look it up.  I cannot miss this date.  I should not.

Our family moved to Baguio in 1983. For the next ten years, I occasionally come back to visit my Lolo and Lola until both of them died in a span of some couple of years.  I hardly go to Santiago now.  For the last twelve years or so, I’ve only been there twice, but just to visit the cemetery where my Dad and my grandparents were buried six feet under.

By the way, about the houses, the one in Baptista Village was later on sold and the one in Malvar was razed by fire in 1985 and later sold as well.

I wish to come back and visit Santiago with my family one of these days.  They have not seen my birthplace yet.  And then some of Isabela as well.  My good friend Bong (www.awonderfulblog.com) is also from Isabela, in a town called Alicia.

Aside from seeing it for myself for a few hours during those two All Saints’ Days’ visits, I heard a lot of good stories about Santiago from old friends.  How it improved dramatically over the years.  How it became a city in 1994.  How beautiful it is.

Maybe it’s the consequence of its geographical location.  Maybe it’s her people.  Maybe it’s because of St. James the Apostle perpetually guiding this town.  Whatever it is, it’s worth celebrating and honoring the Patron Saint who once saved this town even just once a year.  On his feast day.  On July 25.

Incidentally, today is our 10th year wedding anniversary.

 

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