KAMBAL NA KRUS: THE HISTORY BEHIND ITS MIRACULOUS SALVATION
By: Bro. Eijay Valerio de Paz
Public Relations Officer,
Pamunuan ng Kambal na Krus Chapel
In the Catholic Doctrine, the Holy Cross is an instrument of God’s salvation for us. It was the instrument of God’s profound mercy and compassion for us, he gave his only begotten son to free us from our sins, Jesus Christ our savior, his most pre
cious one. We often use this Cross, in the start of our day, from the rising of the sun up until its sunset, and before and after the graces of each meal. We implore blessings everytime we do the sign of the cross. In the heart of Tondo, lies a visita: The KAMBAL NA KRUS CHAPEL situated along Raxabago Street. Joseph de Gagalangin Parish, and covers seven barangays such as: Barangays 147, 149, 150, 151, 154, 157, 158 and 160. Its feast day is celebrated during third Sunday of March under the prerogatives of the parish priest. The Kambal na Krus was founded by a young laborer named, Crispino Lacandaso who was chopping a wood from a felled, hundred year-old Sampalok tree on an empty lot at 1885 Juan Luna St. Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila. Lacandaso initially had difficulty in cutting the trunk, but upon finally, cleaving in twain, he saw a dark cross on the base, imprinted on both halves of the wood. The pieces of wood were subsequently encased in glass, and devotees from other parts of the city flocked to the site, and a small chapel was later build to enshrine the wood. The 2009 renovation completely altered the Chapel, adding a second altar and two more floors to the structure. On the second floor is the new choir loft, while a rooftop area and bellcote are on the third. The altar was also overhauled, and the Chapel received a new set of liturgical vessels. In 2013, the façade of the first storey was redesigned to appear as though it was built in the 19th Century,. The two crosses outside changed into a wooden cross, while the wall was changed into adobe. (www.wikipedia.org)
During the fiesta, many people go to the Chapel to venerate the crosses, showing gratitude for the past year's blessings. On Maundy Thursday, many people from provinces and other cities in Metro Manila select the Chapel as a station as they perform the traditional Visita Iglesia pilgrimage. The Chapel's Discovery Day is on 23 March, but the actual celebration is held on the third Sunday of March. A triduum of Masses precedes the day of the fiesta. On the feast day itself, two Masses are celebrated: one in the morning which is the Misang Maringal, usually celebrated by the parish priest and one in the afternoon, followed by a procession. The fiesta commemorates the alleged miraculous properties of the chapel's twin crosses. (www.wikipedia.org)
