BAHAY NA TISA-SAMPLE IMRAD FORMAT (HISTORICAL QUALITATIVE RESEARCH)

 

VIATICO PUBLICO AND ITS RELIGIOUS CONTEXT: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE TECH FAMILY OF PASIG CITY

ABSTRACT

Almost 200 years of existence, Bahay na Tisa also known as “Bahay na Bato”, built along P. Gomez St. in Pasig City plays a significant role in the rich history of the present highly-urbanized metropolitan. Portrayed in many films and TV shows as dauntingly horrifying due to its external appearance and the terrors brought about by the 2nd World War, its walls has still something to tell. Every Sunday after Easter, the annual Viatico Publico was held by the Tech family where at least a hundred elders and companions will receive the confession and Holy Sacrament.

Qualitative and Historical Research was utilized in the study where the researcher conducted an interview with two of the descendants (6^th and 7^th generation) last March 19, 2021 at Bahay na Tisa thru the coordination with Pasig City Museum. The sampling technique was Purposive Sampling since the primary consideration of the study was based on the narratives and existing historical documents. The Interview Guide Questions were approved under the mentorship of  Dr. Henelito A. Sevilla Jr. PhD, the course Professor in PS 201 and an expert in Middle-Eastern Studies. Based on the interview, the Techs claimed that it was their ancestors who established Viatico Publico and Bahay na Tisa witnessed that from 1846 to 2001. The way the family sees it, it was their way of keeping up a Roman Catholic community. Viatico Publico is a proof that traditions die and some are of “unnatural” death. It was when Dean Carlos Tech had a personal conflict with Msgr. Sunga, the former Parish Priest of Immaculate Conception. According to Mr. Angelo Noel Rivera, “the church killed Viatico Publico”.

Statement of the Problem

            The study aimed to discuss the Religious Context of Viatico Publico. Specifically, it intended to answer the following questions:

1.      How does the Viatico Publico inter-connected with the Tech Family?

2.      What is Viatico Publico as perceived by the following institutions:

2.1  Tech Family Descendants

2.2  Existing Historical Documents (c/o Pasig City Museum)

3.      What is the cultural significance of Viatico Publico in the religious context?

4.      What are the challenges faced by the Tech family descendants in keeping the tradition of hosting the annual Viatico Publico?

Results and Discussion

                        How does the Viatico Publico inter-connected with the Tech Family?

According to Mrs. Marie Antoinette Simplicia Leticia Rosalinda Victoria Eugenia “Nette” Tech-Mendoza, the 6^th generation of the Tech family who currently owns and resides at Bahay na Tisa, It was her late father, former Dean Carlos Tech entrusted her the 174 year-old ancestral house. Its namesake was due to its red ‘tisa’ or chalk that was mainly used in the construction of the house. Teniente Primero Cecilio Tech perhaps inherited the land from its mother, Saturnina dela Cruz whose mother is Fabiana Chiangco. Existing documents preserved by the family stated that Fabiana, although illiterate had vast properties across Pasig City and her wealth yielded from farming and trading. Fabiana’s last will and testament written using a quill pen and dated in 1824 opening statement started with a prayer, a proof of her religiosity as a Roman Catholic woman.

Pedro Tech, grandfather of Ms. Nette who worked as a butcher and a farmer during his days was a religious leader too. He seriously took charge of Santo Entierro in January of 1945, most especially during the Holy Week’s procession. On his deathbed, he has given his son, Dean Carlos to take his responsibilities to the church and the community to carry out Viatico Publico despite of his demise. Until this moment, Ms. Nette claimed that the members of the family are remained Roman Catholics and conversion to other religion or sect will never be an option.

            What is Viatico Publico as perceived by the following institution: Tech Family Descendants

            Hanging from the floor-landing of Bahay na Tisa is an emblem of the Viatico Publico; a bleeding Pelican whose feeding its chicks using her own blood which is a representation of Jesus Christ. During the annual Viatico Publico, the image was hanged in the façade of the Bahay na Tisa and the informants claimed that this object is as old as the house. The tradition has been passed on from one generation to another.

A memoir of Mrs. Marie Antoinette Simplicia Leticia Rosalinda Victoria Eugenia “Nette” Tech-Mendoza on her recollection of Viatico Publico

            Dean Carlos Tech transferred the full responsibility of the house as well as the family tradition to her only child, Ms. Nette the way his father Don Pedro did when it was his time to go. As far as she can remember, little Nette was in charge of paying the tricycle ride of the elders and their companions who will attend the Viatico Publico- a two days and one night event intended for the elderlies, not necessarily sick but those who cannot receive the confession and communion. It was consisted of a hundred participants including the companions of the elderlies and it will start on a Saturday afternoon after Easter and will last until a day after. Her family is responsible for the expenses from transportation, food and lodging. She remembered that a lot of ‘banig’ was spread across their house for the guests to sleep. At Sunday morning, the Blessed Sacrament will be administered by the local Parish Priest. She reminisced what a certain Alejandro Roces perceived the Viatico Publico, in his words; “Visa papuntang Langit”.

A recollection from a younger scion, Mr. Angelo Noel Rivera

            Sir Angelo is in charge of preserving the original documents of the family that existed from the late 1800’s including Fabiana Chiangco’s “Apunte ng Lahat ng Pag-Aari Buquid Solar at Bahay ni Da. Fabiana Chiangco” and “Testamento Fabiana Siangco”.

            The 7^th generation of the Techs recalled in one of the Viatico Publico’s in Bahay na Tisa, he was talking to a particular Priest whose Sutana was stained by menudo, one of the dishes  being served. As a child in those years, he is in charge of entertaining the guests and helping the elderlies climb up the steep stairs either on the azotea or at the “grand staircase”.  

Existing Historical Documents (c/o Pasig City Museum)

            There were very few published documents involving Viatico Publico, in fact, one article on the Internet discussed about this topic somewhere in Iloilo and was practiced by the Jalandonis’ and Ledesmas’. In the case of Viatico Publico in Pasig City, most articles were published by Dean Carlos Tech in the latter years of his life and how they were related to some of the most prominent families in the City. It talks about the practice of taking care of the elderlies a week after Easter Sunday and eventually receiving confession and the Blessed Sacrament.

What is the cultural significance of Viatico Publico in the religious context?

            Roman Catholics believed one of the sacraments that should be received is the anointing of oil for the sick. Viatico Publico at some point is related in that practice by administering the sacrament most especially for the elderlies and the sick who are at the twilight of their lives. As what was claimed by the family, it is not the (Roman Catholic) church that started the tradition, it was their family who initiated it. The local Priest from the Immaculate Conception Church in Pasig has been closely coordinated with the family in executing this tradition until 2001.

            Viatico Publico in religious sense strengthens the faith of the Roman Catholic believers and in the tradition of receiving the communion most especially to those who are already on the latter days of their lives. Moreover, it fortifies the accountability of that certain family to be one with the community in living the Roman Catholic way of life.

What are the challenges faced by the Tech family descendants in keeping the tradition of hosting the annual Viatico Publico?

“The church killed Viatico Publico”

            Mr. Angelo Noel Rivera is one of the cousins of Ms. Nette Tech-Mendoza who is hands-on in preserving their family’s heritage. The informant stated that his family is fully capable of continuing what was the elders of their family had instructed them to do and to carry over most especially the Viatico Publico being the  “Sarado Katoliko”  as they claimed to be. Ms. Nette recalled the story of his late father when the local Parish Priest in the persona of Msgr. Sunga, requested Dean Carlos’ presence in the church in which he declined. As the story goes, the Sacristan was sent by the Priest to the Bahay na Tisa and was told by the Dean, “Bakit ako ang pupunta, eh sila ang may kailangan?”. It can be inferred that there is already an ensuing conflict between the then-head of the family and the former head of the church. It is unclear among the descendants on the root cause of that conflict. Some years later, the family was demanded by the church to refrain from doing the almost 200 years of Viatico Publico. Being the good Catholics that they are, obeyed. Mr.Rivera stated during the interview, “The (Roman Catholic) Church killed the Viatico Publico”.

            Ms. Nette started to organize the Senacle Rosary in February 2018 at Bahay na Tisa. It happens every second Sunday of the Month. It is indeed very far from the practice of the Viatico Publico but it is the least thing she can do to carry on what was started by her ancestors.

            The properties that stayed within the family over the years were sold most especially during the Martial Law Era at a low-price as there were no other options. Regardless, the family is still capable of funding the tradition.

            Viatico Publico met an “unnatural” demise due to the unclear conflict by two affluent parties; the Head of the family and the Head of the Church. Whatever the exact reasons were, it will remain unknown since both of them were already gone. The articles that were published and the oral history that the descendants are passing on will be a living proof that their family has played a vital role, not only the historical significance but also in strengthening the Roman Catholic faith of those who were old and sick. When the church ordered them to stop whatever was passed on to them, they surrendered everything with open arms.

*THE ACTUAL SAMPLE WAS SUBMITTED BY THE AUTHOR AS A REQUIREMENT FOR HER GRADUATE STUDIES DEGREE