Santisima Trinidad of Malolos, Bulacan

About an hour and 15 minutes drive away (via NLEX and Tabang Toll Gate) from the Most Holy Trinity of Balic-balic, Sampaloc, Manila, can be found the Santisima Trinidad Barangay of Malolos, Bulacan.  The origins of Barangay of Santisima Trinidad goes back to the Spanish colonial period when it was called Barrio Santisima Trinidad. The 1903 Census of the Philippines Islands listed a Barrio Santisima Trinidad under Barasoain, Bulacan with a population of only 299, the smallest among all the barrios (compared with population of 6,111 according to 2007 Census). According to an interview with Christopher Cunanan, old time residents of Santisima Trinidad recalled that prior to the 1981 renovation of the old church of Santisima Trinidad, a marker showing the 1863 can be found in the main door of the church.  With this long history of devotion to the Santisima Trinidad, one will not be surprised to find out that there are four devotional images of the Santisima Trinidad in this community. During the fiesta of Santisima Trinidad, processional images of the Santisima Trinidad are paraded starting from the bisita of Santisima Trinidad (the former church of the Santisima Trinidad prior to the erection of a new church located a few hundred meters away).

Until Trinity Sunday this 2012, three images can be found in one place as a rare exception to the rule that these  images should be taken cared of by separate hermanos. The residence of Hermano mayor (2011-2012) Abraham Santos of Barangay Pinagbakahan houses three images where devotional prayers and songs are celebrated every first Sunday of the month (in the morning) and everyday in the afternoon.

Novena for Santisima Trinidad in House of Hermano Mayor Abraham Santos

The photo above shows the three processional images with the center image, called Santisima Trinidad de Mayor, claimed to be the oldest of the three. According to the devotees, the back of this particular image contains the reference to the year 1500.  The waiting list of hermanos for this Santisima Trinidad mayor images goes up to the year 2055. According to Cunanan, Nicanor Tiongson dates the Santisima Trinidad de Mayor of Malolos ( a colored image can be seen in http://www.flickr.com/photos/44214398@N06/6237201746/) and a sepia image can be found at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/pepeng/5907477110/) to be the same era as that of the 16th/17th century Santa Elena de  Hagonoy, Bulacan (see image of Santa Elena de Hagonoy at http://www.flickr.com/photos/20345375@N08/4580336379/.

This particular image of the Santisima Trinidad shows the identical Christ-like representation of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Interesting enough, we have God the Father holding a scepter instead of the traditional globe while the God the Son has both hands outstretched as if wanting to show His wounds to the whole world.

~ by Martin Gaerlan on December 10, 2011.