I have been searching for the right term to use for “a person who loves churches” but can’t find in Google. The closest is “ekklesiaphilia” which I first heard from a sister. Or did she coin that word? I love visiting churches, aside from these being the houses of God, I also look at them like museums, housing collections that define the history of many communities. There is wealth from church history.
One such church i the Church of Abucay in Abucay, Bataan. We went there on a late afternoon on a weekday, and the church was closed. Only the small blue chapel beside it is open for praying. I knelt down, said my prayers and made a wish for the heavens to send somebody to open the church for me so I can take a good look inside. As all wishes are granted for first-time visitors, a campanero offered to tour me inside this 400 year-old church. I would have loved it more if the campanero was legendary-like, like a hunchback bell ringer for a real good story to write but I guess that was too much to ask for. Besides, I didn’t wish for that. But there’s always a next time…

 

“The spiritual ministration of Abucay was entrusted to the Dominicans in 1588. A fierce battle between the Dutch invaders and the Pampango defenders was fought in this court on June 23, 1647. Nearly two hundred Pampangos were put to death, and forty others, together with Spanish Alcalde mayor and two Dominican priests were taken prisoners to Batavia. The present church was badly damaged by the earthquake of 16 September 1852. It is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. Feast Day of St. Dominic (Abucay; last Sunday of October).”

  The campanero warned me before we went up the five-story bell tower for me to carefully follow his steps since the floors have holes and the tower is so old, it can only hold up to two people. I never knew earlier that there is a science for bell ringing. My campanero tour guide told me a bit about Campanology and the ’rounds’ he did to ring the bells, depending on the occasion. There’s a smaller bell for the death of a woman, another bell is used for a man’s death. The main bell is for Christmases and weddings. The pitch, number of times the bell is rung and the sequence all varies depending on what’s going on inside the church. I thought it was complicated, but amusing just the same.
  If the second printing press in the Philippines can be found in Pila, Laguna, the first printing press in the country, which outdates the oldest printing press in the United States, was established in Abucay. The church’s museum keeps the first printing machine.
  I am very thankful that I got my wish right away, and to the campanerong kuya who requested for me to not mention his name here. He was indeed sent by the heavens as a recognition to ekklesiaphilia.