MANAPLA, LAND OF ORO, PLATA, MATA
In the middle of the vast sugarcane fields of Northern Negros stands a stately manor built by one of the pioneering haciendero families - the Gastons. It is located in Hacienda Rosalia in the town of Manapla.
Photo by Michael Ocampo
The ancestral home belongs to one of the sons of Yves Leopold Germain Gaston, Jose Gaston and wife Consuelo Ascona. Yves Germain was a Frenchman who settled in Negros Occidental and was instrumental in modernizing the sugar industry in Negros.
Photo by Michael Ocampo
In the 1970s the mansion was prominently featured in the classic movie of Peque Gallara, "Oro, Plata, Mata." Photo by Michael Ocampo
Photo by Michael Ocampo
Photo by Michael Ocampo
But it is not only the Gaston Mansion that makes visiting this place worthwhile. Hacienda Rosalia is also home to the Chapel of the Cartwheels.Photo by Michael Ocampo
According to Joey Gaston, the cartwheel, which is very common in many haciendas, symbolizes many aspects of the Catholic faith. Photo by Michael Ocampo
If I remember correctly, the inner circle symbolized the Holy Father, the spokes are of the Holy Spirit and the outer circle is the Son. The Son, Jesus Christ, gathers the people and through the intervention of the Holy Spirit will lead us all to the Holy Father. I thought this was a very cool representation.Photo by Michael Ocampo
The roof of the chapel is shaped like a salakot, a native hat. This is because Msgr. Gigi Gaston (one of the sons of Jose Gaston) was a member of the panel of Vatican 2. This was the time when the Pope told the priests around the world that as much as possible, the teachings of Holy Catholic Church should be localized- from traslating the bible and homily into local dialects and into incorporating indigenous materials and symbols when building churches. This way, the flock can have a better understanding and at the same time feel more comfortable with the teachings of the church.One thing for sure, the Chapel of the Carthwheels is like no other.