Attending a Priestly Anniversary in Masantol, Pampanga

I had the opportunity to revisit the town of Masantol when my classmate, Fr. Roland “Bogs” Moraleja, invited me to attend the celebration of his 40th priestly anniversary. Instead of holding the Mass in his parish church, he chose to celebrate both the Mass and the reception at the Masantol Civic Center, located at the town's entrance. The decision was made primarily due to the limited parking space at the parish church, which could not accommodate the expected number of guests.

After the reception, I made my way to the town proper to take some photos of the church. Masantol is known for frequent flooding, not only during the rainy season but even during high tides. Fr. Bogs shared that he had already raised the floor of the church by a few  meters, yet it was still inundated during the most recent rains. Driving through Macabebe and Masantol, I passed by houses partially submerged in water, a striking reminder of the area's vulnerability.

          Since Macabebe lies just before Masantol along the route, I also took the opportunity to visit its parish church—a quiet but meaningful stop along the way. 

The ground floor of some houses along the way to Masantol are under water. 

With my classmate Fr. Bogs Moraleja

The Masantol Civic Center where the 40th anniversary of Fr. Bogs was celebrated. It is surrounded by water. 

Fr. Bogs in the center with contemporaries from UST Central Seminary. 

St. Michael the Archangel Parish (F-1893)
Masantol, Pampanga

The church, which was painted green during my first visit, had since been repainted white. I also noticed that the altar had been renovated—the retablo now spans the entire backdrop of the sanctuary, giving it a fuller and more striking presence.

San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish (F-1575)
Macabebe, Pampanga

I did not notice any changes in the church since my last visit, except for the fading paint.

Note the sunken base of the pulpit, which proves that the flooring has been raised. 

For the previous post on Masantol and Macabebe churches, click here.