REMEMBERING RIZAL and BALIWAG BUNTAL HAT

REMEMBERING RIZAL 

and 

BALIWAG BUNTAL HAT

closer shot of the unique Rizal Monument in Baliwag, Bulacan

The town of Baliwag  located at the northern part of Bulacan is well known for its grandiose celebration of the Holy Week (Semana Santa) featuring 85 carrrozas (floats) depicting vaious scenes of Christ's ministry, passion and death. 

During the early 1900s, the buntal hat industry flourished. As a matter of fact it became a major cottage industry until the early 1980s. These hats were sold as far as London, Madrid and Paris.  The "Bali-hat" became an endangered industry and few Baliwagenyos know how to weave (lala) this buntal straws to create fine hats. Baliwag Transit Inc.immortalized this long forgotten icon as their company logo.

*************************************************************************************************************

The famous triumvirate photo of Rizal, Plaridel and Naning

One of the notable landmarks in this first class municipality is the statue of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal standing approximately 35-40 feet including the pedestal the statue faces the town plaza and the public market. Before the erection of the clock tower and when the old Plaza Naning still stands, this memorial can be seen from afar as if reminding everyone that Baliwag is loved by Rizal. One of his friends in Madrid, Dr. Mariano "Naning" Ponce was photographed with him the the famous triumvirate photo with Marcelo "Plaridel" H.Del Pilar.

The first Rizal statue now located at Baliwag North Central School, a few blocks away from the Church.

The first Rizal Monument was unveiled during the 1905 Rizal Day Celebration. It was a typical statue casted out of "hulma'. By 1925, the current municipal council decided to erect a more fitting statue for the hero. They commissioned this work to a local artisan in the name of Roman Carreon from Sabang Baliwag Bulacan. He is now buried in the local Catholic Cemetery and a simple figure of a weeping woman adorns his sepulcher. The total cost amounted to 1,000 pesos, a huge amount during that time. It was unveiled during the Rizal Day Celebration of 1925 and then Senate President Manuel Quezon led the said ceremony. 

A full shot of the Rizal monument minus the Magdalo and Magdiwang guards

The sculpture is an allegorical representation of the Philippines during the peace time (pistaym), The mother country holding a lyre hugs Rizal as if saying something to him, a request perhaps to unite her children. the national hero in a stiff position is seen holding the Noli and Fili. Right below them are words inscribed in Spanish "Ama  A Tu Patria" ---loosely translated "Love thy country". Three ladies in 'Balintawaks' decorate the left, right and center pedestals. At the center, the lady is holding a bolo on her right hand and a flagon the left symbolizing revolution. The lady seated on her right holds a heart (for love for country) and the one seated on her left clutches a book (for knowledge and independence---some say this stands for the Malolos Congress). Before the whole monument was elevated from the ground ---3-4 steps if i am not mistaken---but thanks to the local politician's development and beautification project, this round pedestal where famous people like Quezon, Aguinaldo, Marcos and other state leaders once stood was crashed by a pay loader right before my very eyes...good job sir! I was an elementary student that time and as a helpless kid, all I did was give a big sigh.

A photo having a wrong tag (Santa Barbara Church). the American photographer might have mistaken this as Santa Barbara for the first chapel in Baliwag was called Sta. Barbara after the English Patroness. A chapel now stands on the "Santa Barbara" church located 3kms from this Church of San Augustin (photo from Flickr)

The statue was flanked by two revolutionaries which I assume stands for Magdalo (the sporting a rifle) and Magdiwang (the 'manong' ready to pull his 'itak' anytime. Two sphinxes also add to the beauty of this landmark as they also act as guardians of this hallowed 'obra maestra'.

Now that we are celebrating the sesquicentennial celebration of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, I am calling all my 'Kababayang Baliwagenyos' to pay, even a simple homage to his image in our town plaza. Try reading the blurry inscriptions on the marble plaque beneath the statue containing the names of those who contributed for this wonderful project. I am also calling the attention of the local government to restore the old look of this statue. Meaning not to totally cover it with thick amount of paint (as it already covered most of the details of the figures) just to show that they care for it or just putting a crown of flowers tucking on it their names written on fancy ribbons. The next time you pass by Rizal's statue say hi to him and thank him for the freedom we are enjoying today. Happy 150th Birthday Doc.J!