The Our Lady of Snows Parish in El Salvador City strikes an imposing presence along the highway with its beautiful facade. But do you know what it looked like in the old days? An old photo of the parish taken in the 1990s recently won the Timeless Portraits Photo Contest by the City Government of El Salvador.
A picture from the past that really captures an important moment in history. This image reflects the past better than words; we didn’t know at the time how precious this day was, and nothing is lost so long as we remember it. This is what the days of old looked like. Our Lady of Snows Parish taken during the 1990s.
Mariane A. Diango – Zone 3, PSB
Here’s an even older photo taken in 1964.
Etched at the heart of El Salvador City is the Our Lady of the Snows Parish. The church magnets the eyes of every passerby with its blue and white painting, and the stained-glass window of the Blessed Virgin Mary that glimmers the brightest at the zenith of the sun. It is very noticeable, not only for its colorful glow but also for its location along the highway.
Aside from being a known landmark in the city, the 272-year-old church is rich in history. Back when it is still not called “Our Lady of the Snows Parish” yet but still adhered to its Spanish and Tagalog origin with “Birhen de las Nieves”, the folks in this photo were still in their 20s, and the year was 1964. The road only consisted of two lanes instead of six, and you could take a photo from across the street without fear of possible accidents. The coconut tree leaves danced in harmony with the sea breeze, worshippers could smell the ocean while listening to the sermon, and the church resided along the shore. The subject, Anecito Tan at the left, Arlene Bautista at the middle, and their friend at the right were taking a picture in their Sunday’s best outfits. The couple and their friend would spend their Sundays going to church. The couple took custody of my mother from her childhood until she graduated from college. The Lady of the Snows had extended her helping hand through the magnanimity and compassion of her believers.
By being the town’s foundation for morals and values, the parish is one of the reasons for the abundance of the city by permeating the essence of humanity and kindness with one another.
Francis Rhey Batutay – Zone 3 Poblacion
all images and text courtesy of LGU El Salvador City
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