“San Nicolasi, San Nicolasi” a desperate cry once echoed. This call saved a merchant from a fearsome fate. Today we stand before the Ermita de San Nicolas de Tolentino. It is a Roman Catholic chapel with a history woven with faith and legend.
This chapel is located along J.P. Rizal Avenue Extension in Taguig. It falls under the Archdiocese of Manila. The San Nicolas Chapel has witnessed centuries of change.
Let’s journey back to its origins. Augustinian Friar Buenaventura de Bejar initiated the chapel’s construction in 1686. Four years later Friar Diego de Yepes completed it. The original structure featured stone walls and a cogon roof.
Now let’s delve into the legend. The Pasig River was teeming with caimans. These crocodiles posed a threat to those who traversed the waters. One day a Chinese merchant faced imminent danger. He refused conversion to Christianity. A caiman lunged to devour him. In desperation he cried out “San Nicolasi, San Nicolasi”. Miraculously the crocodile turned to stone. The merchant converted to Christianity. He then erected an ermita near the petrified caiman as thanks.
This miracle led to grand fluvial processions. Chinese devotees would celebrate with fervor. Augustinian historian Fray Joaquin Martinez de Zuñiga noted the immense scale. Over a thousand kilos of candles were offered during these devotions.
Sadly time took its toll. The buayang bato was cemented over in the 1970s. The old ermita was demolished. The image of San Nicolas was moved to the monastery in Guadalupe.
But the story does not end there. The 300-year-old ermita has been restored. It now operates under the Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish.
The Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino in Intramuros was the main headquarters for the Augustinian Recollect Order in Asia. The Recollects, a reformed branch of the Augustinians arrived in Manila in 1606. This church formerly housed the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno. This is also known as the Black Nazarene. The Recollects brought it to the country in 1606. People often compared the church to the San Agustin Church because of its stately ambiance.
Located along Calle Cabildo the Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino was known for its beautiful interiors. It had a five-tier belfry and an elaborately carved facade. The church’s facade had a four-story bell tower of diminishing dimensions. It stood to the left of the church. The church was cruciform with a crossing tower. This covered the intersection of the main nave and transept.
Inside the main altar was in the Baroque style. Divided into niches and stories the gilded retablo alternated images and painted canvases. Fray Diego Cera the builder of the Las Piñas bamboo organ also built a massive pipe organ here. Some pipes were ingeniously hidden so the walls seemed to sing. Figurative drawings adorned the church walls in the 19th century.
World War II brought devastation. The church was heavily damaged. The Black Nazarene was moved to Quiapo Church. The Augustinian Recollects relocated to the San Sebastian Church. The ruined shell remained until 1959. Then it was totally demolished. In 1976 Manila Bulletin bought the lot. They then built their offices there.
Today only two remembrances of the Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino remain. There is a historical marker at the corner of Recoletos and Muralla streets. Also there is the Black Nazarene image which was once enthroned in the church.
The transfer of the Black Nazarene from San Nicolas Tolentino Church to Quiapo Church on Jan. 9, 1787, is commemorated every year. This is the country’s most sensational Catholic procession.
From a tale of miraculous salvation to its enduring legacy the San Nicolas Chapel stands as a testament to faith. It also reminds us of the rich tapestry of Filipino religious history.