Palm Sunday

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. Masses are heard at different churches in San Antonio and other areas in the Philippines. As usual, hundreds of people packed the churches, with palm fronds on their hands. During this occasion, the mass usually starts with the blessing of the palm branches and part of the Passion of the Christ is read.

As far as the meaning and origin of Palm Sunday is concerned, I guess only few of the San Antoniohanons know about it. I, myself, knew little about it and that has something to do mainly with the fact that Palm Sunday signals the opening of the Holy Week.

However, a few years ago, I found an article that explained Palm Sunday. Based on what I read, the day is celebrated to commemorate the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem in the days before his execution.

The people gave Jesus the honor of covering the path of someone thought worthy of the highest honor by spreading palm branches and even their clothing on Jesus' path as He entered Jerusalem, thus this quote:

They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:7-9)

Palm branches, from the ancient times, were symbols of victory and triumph. The Romans used to reward their champions of the games with palm branches, and in military triumphs, you probably have noticed that the celebrations of victory were observed with palms.

I think, the Jews followed the same custom of carrying palm branches on their festive occasions and this is what happened during the solemn entry of Jesus into the Holy City before his last passover.

Today, to continue to honor Jesus for His triumphant entry to Jerusalem, San Antoniohanons wave palm branches. The day somehow reminds us that by entering the Holy City on Palm Sunday, Jesus Christ voluntarily accepted His passion and death for our salvation, and that the triumphant procession with palm branches heralded His glorious resurrection.

And, now by carrying blessed branches in our hands, we Filipinos and Christians wish to associate ourselves with Christ in order that we also may participate with Him in the joy and happiness of His resurrection.

A blessed Holy Week to all of you San Antoniohanons! =)

Kudos to you graduates!

For graduates who hail from San Antonio:

The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match. Each one of you is a fuse. ~Edward Koch

Graduating from college is what most people dreamed of, but sad to say only few of the thousands out there were able to make it. Some were deprived of the right to support school, and some just don’t mind the challenge, thinking they can make a difference without wearing togas. Well, for those who believe that what lies within us are bigger and more important matters than what lies behind us, my congratulations!

Achieving a degree or a diploma is no easy process, but as what an unknown author wrote, “The tassel’s worth the hassle!”


- Manoglaya

Rediscovering Dalupiri

I was browsing through the net, hoping to find fresh and interesting information about the island of San Antonio when I stumbled into one of Inquirer's multiple pages. The entry on that page is what caught my attention, although it was first posted way back in 2007. It's all about finding and discovering pristine islands in the province of Northern Samar. San Antonio was covered on that entry, and that simply shows how worthy the island is of all those praises.

here's what the writer of that entry wrote:

...The last island we visited was Dalupiri (or San Antonio), where the water is pristine, the white sand beaches deserted and spotless, and where weary psyches battered by urban stress recharge instantly, and the balance between man and nature is regained...

To read the full story, click HERE.

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By the way, I'm asking you to submit your own stories about San Antonio if you have any. You can send photos with captions, or any suggestions or comments you can think of. Drop me a line through this email: manoglaya@yahoo.com

Thanks much for passing by! =)

San Antonio Photos

Here are photos of the island of San Antonio... These are also posted at the gallery section.



Thanks for viewing! =)

Things to Enjoy!

Visitors of the island of San Antonio will be delighted by a number of things.

Adventurers, for instance, can enjoy trekking, mountain climbing, rock climbing, cave exploration, or just fishing.

To those who love the beaches, Haven of Fun Resort is there to welcome you with its white sandy beach and crystal clear waters. There is also the Crystal Sand beach and Sunrise Beach. These are located just minutes from the island proper.

Other things to do in San Antonio are the following:

• Biking or cycling
• Fishing
• Jet skiing

Enjoy your vacation and see for yourself what San Antonio has to offer.

How to Get There

The island of San Antonio is situated along San Bernardino Strait, between the island of Capul and the mainland Samar. It is one of the municipalities of Northern Samar, but can be accessed easily through the following:

BY BOAT:

From LUZON:

If you are traveling from Luzon by bus, take a boat trip from Matnog, Sorsogon to Allen, Northern Samar. From Allen, take a jeepney drive to Victoria. The trip will take not more than 30 minutes. Pumpboats are waiting at Victoria for passengers heading to San Antonio. The boat trip will take about 30 minutes.

From CEBU:

Visitors from Cebu can travel via Calbayog. A trip from Cebu to Calbayog is scheduled every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening through the service of Palacio Shipping. The boat will depart from Cebu at 7:00 p.m. The trip will take about 14 hours, excluding the land trip from Calbayog to the municipality of Victoria. You can find jeepneys and buses traveling from Calbayog City to the municipality of Victoria.


BY BUS:

From SOMEWHERE in LEYTE:

If you are traveling from Leyte and other areas in the western and eastern Part of Samar, just take a bus or jeepney heading to Catarman. The municipality of Victoria, where pumpboats are waiting to take passengers to the island, is located before the municipality of Allen.

BY PLANE:

Plane trips are available only at Catarman and Calbayog City. You can reach San Antonio from these places either by bus or by jeepney.


TRAVELING TIP:

The easiest way to reach the island of San Antonio, especially if you're a first timer, is to ask people who can be trusted. You can ask bus or jeepney drivers, for instance. Most people from nearby provinces know where San Antonio is located. So don't panic. Reaching the island is that easy!

Have a good trip! =)

Barangays of San Antonio

The Island of San Antonio is composed of several barangays; each boasts a variety of wonders that are all worth exploring.

In the island proper, you'll be amazed as to how beautiful the beaches are. The Haven of Fun Beach Resort is just one of the many white sand beaches that can give you the ultimate vacation experience you can imagine.

History churches and other landmarks can also be found at the island proper. The people living in the area are friendly enough to welcome you.

From the proper, you can take a 20-minute ride to Barangay Vinisitahan, where another line of pristine beaches are there for you to visit. Most of these beach resorts are privately owned.

Few kilometers away from Vinisitahan is Sitio Egang. This is just a small area where most of the residents rely on fishing and farming as their main source of living.

The barangay next to Egang is Dalupirit. Several stories have it that this barangay was considered before as the island proper, but due to its limited land area, the title was transferred to what is now the island's main thoroughfares. It is here where you can find the San Antonio Agricultural and Vocational School (SAAVS) where 80% of the island's population take their high school.

A kilometer away from Dalupirit is Barangay San Nicolas, so named because of its patron Saint, San Nicolas. This, too, is small, but it has its own church, municipal hall, and auditorium.

Next to San Nicolas is Barangay Rizal. This is one of the less developed barangays in San Antonio, but it is here where you can find the island's famous solar spring. A cave can be found here.

Barangay Manraya comes next. Like the rest of the barangays, this has a small land area that visitors can tour the whole barangay in just a matter of minutes.

Then, there is Barangay Pilar. This area is famous for seashellers or those who gather seashells for food.

After Pilar comes Barangay Burabod. This part of the island is so named because of the abundance of a flowing body of water that locals call as "burabod". You can also find beautiful beaches here.

The road from Burabod will lead you to the island proper.

Note that San Antonio proper is divided into three small barangays, namely: Ward I, Ward II, and Ward III. Adding these three, San Antonio has ten (10) barangays.

Fast Facts

Here are some facts about San Antonio:

• According to the 2000 census, San Antonio has a population of 7,915 people in 1,667 households
• Electricity is available from 12 noon to midnight
• No banks, or ATMs
• No vegetable or fruit market
• No landline for calls
• No Internet access
• Slippers, shorts and shirst are allowed in most public places
• Sunscreens are needed if you'll stay on the beach, or during summer days

Note that this information is not updated, so there would be new developments. Will keep you posted... =)

Knowing San Antonio

Established in 1904, San Antonio is a 5th class municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines. Several stories have been told that the place was named three times before it was called San Antonio.

In the start of 19th century, San Antonio is known as a sanctuary of fish and birds, which is why settlers from the mainland of Samar found this place an ideal ground for fishing and hunting. They come to the island to catch fish and hunt birds, and go back after a handful of catch.

People from Bohol and Cebu came to the island in the second half of the 19th century and introduced a method of catching fish using net, commonly known as "laya". With its introduction, the name "Manoglaya" was born, which literally means "mano nga paraglaya" or fishermen using laya.

As new settlers came and built new communities, they changed the name to "Sugod-sugod", a Cebuano derivative meaning "just to start or begin".

The name was changed to "Matabia", but no one knows exactly why it was changed that way. Some people claimed that the word has probably something to do with the knife-like shape of the island.

Having no particular preference to immortalize the name without great significance, Christians decided to change the name to San Antonio and set Saint Anthony of Padua as their patron saint.