This visit was a bit of a side quest, since I can't really say for certain my parents spent any time at this destination. Earlier this week, my studio assistant & I went on a little excursion to Pindangan Ruins. This is somewhere I'd always seen nearby in my Google Maps, but kept forgetting about it. My studio assistant & I recently went to a pasalubong (souvenir) shop at the San Fernando town plaza that gives out free travel guide booklets. I was reminded again of this destination when I was reading through this helpful travel guide!
According to La Union Tayo!, Pindangan was the original name of the City of San Fernando. Pindangan is derived from the Ilokano word pindang, a method of sun-drying & salt preserving meat, referring to San Fernando as a destination heavy in this type of delicacy. Due to its close proximity to the sea, the original church was at constant risk of attacks from foreign invaders (ironic, since I would consider the Spanish foreign invaders themselves). Originally built by Spanish priests in 1764, the church was eventually moved to the town plaza after a couple of other previous relocations, & it is now known as the Cathedral Parish of Saint William the Hermit. However, the ruin site has a Carmelite monastery, which does have its own small church.
While this visit isn't directly related to my family's history, it's still part of my study on contemporary San Fernando & integral to its timeline. Being an Ilokana in the Californian diaspora, I'm particularly interested in the parallels between Filipinos & California Natives. We share the same colonisers — both Spain & the so-called United States — & remnants of the Spanish colonial era still exist in both places.
As some of you already know, I did a recent photo documentary series on the celebration of the Santo Niño in contemporary Philippines & the diaspora for my project Venerating an Icon, as part of my recent residency at the Minnesota Street Projects in San Francisco. This project is still in-progress, but I'm aiming to tie up loose ends before the end of this year! The project examined a centuries old Spanish icon that is still glorified throughout the islands & diaspora, & I was especially interested in its context within California, another former colony of Spain when it was part of what was known as New Spain.
Without further adue, here are some photos from our outing to the Pindangan Ruins. All photos below are from my Nikon ZF using a Pocket Dispo lens.
View from a computer for the full experience. Click any image to enlarge.
According to La Union Tayo!, Pindangan was the original name of the City of San Fernando. Pindangan is derived from the Ilokano word pindang, a method of sun-drying & salt preserving meat, referring to San Fernando as a destination heavy in this type of delicacy. Due to its close proximity to the sea, the original church was at constant risk of attacks from foreign invaders (ironic, since I would consider the Spanish foreign invaders themselves). Originally built by Spanish priests in 1764, the church was eventually moved to the town plaza after a couple of other previous relocations, & it is now known as the Cathedral Parish of Saint William the Hermit. However, the ruin site has a Carmelite monastery, which does have its own small church.
While this visit isn't directly related to my family's history, it's still part of my study on contemporary San Fernando & integral to its timeline. Being an Ilokana in the Californian diaspora, I'm particularly interested in the parallels between Filipinos & California Natives. We share the same colonisers — both Spain & the so-called United States — & remnants of the Spanish colonial era still exist in both places.
As some of you already know, I did a recent photo documentary series on the celebration of the Santo Niño in contemporary Philippines & the diaspora for my project Venerating an Icon, as part of my recent residency at the Minnesota Street Projects in San Francisco. This project is still in-progress, but I'm aiming to tie up loose ends before the end of this year! The project examined a centuries old Spanish icon that is still glorified throughout the islands & diaspora, & I was especially interested in its context within California, another former colony of Spain when it was part of what was known as New Spain.
Without further adue, here are some photos from our outing to the Pindangan Ruins. All photos below are from my Nikon ZF using a Pocket Dispo lens.
View from a computer for the full experience. Click any image to enlarge.
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My studio assistant getting some practice with composition. :')
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My fav easter egg I got to encounter during this visit was finding the kusikus pattern on the door frame of this small chapel (I'm assuming that's what the structure was). The kusikus is very Ilokano-specific & refers to whirlwind patterns found on abel ules, or woven inabel blankets. The kusikus comes in many variations, but this is probably the most popular version of it. Woven on blankets slept with at night, the pattern was intended to confuse & scare off bad spirits.
While I'm not an authority, I feel like this should go without saying, but it doesn't — I see many non-Ilokanos without Ilokano heritage, or folks with no connection to the region, appropriating this pattern in their artwork, just because it looks "cool" or matches an aesthetic. As Filipinos, we need to understand that the so-called Philippines is a diverse archipelago consisting of several ethnicities. Just because we are Filipino or our parents are Filipino in nationality, does not mean we are entitled to all aspects of the various cultures throughout the islands. IE: Non-Bisayans should not receive Bisayan tattoos, & seeing that headhunting has been illegal for a long time, none of us should have Kalinga chest tattoos reserved only for headhunters either... Just my two cents, because the diaspora is especially notorious for appropriation & making it incredibly corny & embarrassing. You can blast me in the comments if you want, I don't really care who I upset by naming this. 🙃
Anyways, I digress... Make sure to enlarge the images to check out that kusikus doorframe! Unfortunately, that was as close as I could get, as the property was fenced off & not accessible.
While I'm not an authority, I feel like this should go without saying, but it doesn't — I see many non-Ilokanos without Ilokano heritage, or folks with no connection to the region, appropriating this pattern in their artwork, just because it looks "cool" or matches an aesthetic. As Filipinos, we need to understand that the so-called Philippines is a diverse archipelago consisting of several ethnicities. Just because we are Filipino or our parents are Filipino in nationality, does not mean we are entitled to all aspects of the various cultures throughout the islands. IE: Non-Bisayans should not receive Bisayan tattoos, & seeing that headhunting has been illegal for a long time, none of us should have Kalinga chest tattoos reserved only for headhunters either... Just my two cents, because the diaspora is especially notorious for appropriation & making it incredibly corny & embarrassing. You can blast me in the comments if you want, I don't really care who I upset by naming this. 🙃
Anyways, I digress... Make sure to enlarge the images to check out that kusikus doorframe! Unfortunately, that was as close as I could get, as the property was fenced off & not accessible.
Some misc bougainvillea compositions. I love the dual juxtapositions of organic & colorful with grey distressed manmade structure. I also recently found out that bougainvillea is the official provincial flower of La Union. I learnt this through the travel guide booklet I picked up at the pasalubong shop, haha.
Being that it is Semana Santa here in the Philippines, you will usually find images of Jesus & crucifixes covered in purple veils. Starting during the Passiontide, or the last two weeks of Lent, they cover Jesus to observe the last days of his life up until his resurrection on Easter, when he is then unveiled. In the Philippines, his unveiling is considered a way of celebrating his resurrection & Easter. The veil is purple to represent royalty, reminding believers that "Christ is King".
Just a friendly reminder that I don't believe in any of this shit, LOL. I just find it interesting, so don't come at me!
Just a friendly reminder that I don't believe in any of this shit, LOL. I just find it interesting, so don't come at me!
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More blog posts on the work I've been producing during my residency will be published in the coming weeks! Make sure to keep checking this space, follow me on Instagram or subscribe to my YouTube channel for updates on my posts. All updates on my residency will be tagged under Balay da Judge.
If you've read this far, thank you! Please feel free to share your thoughts or any questions in the comments.
If you've read this far, thank you! Please feel free to share your thoughts or any questions in the comments.
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