OUR LADY OF GRACE PARISH

Mabalacat is the only town in Pampanga that is not serviced by Augustinians. The Augustinian
Recoletos, the final religious order to arrive in the Philippines, were tasked with founding missions
in northern Pampanga and Tarlac. It soon became essential to build a more permanent church for
the community as Mabalacat was the primary focus of missions. Although Mabalacat Church was
purportedly founded in 1768, the early 1830s would be a more realistic historical period. The oldest
bell in the parish was cast in 1835. The second bell is a dedication to Nuestra Señora de Grasia and
bears the year 1846. The Nuestra Señora de las Gracias has always been a source of early devotion
for the Recoletos. During Fr. Felipe Roque tenure, the magnificent statue of the sitting Mater
Divina Gratiae (Mother of Divine Grace) was added to the main altar, in one of his visits to Rome,
he beheld the similar image in San Giovanni Rotonda and was inspired to have a copy carved after
the original image. The Virgin is surrounded by the statues of San Joaquin and Sta. Ana, which
sponsored into place by Doña Paz vda. de Wijangco and Doña Maningning de Naguiat
respectively.

MORALES MANSION
The two-story ancestral home of the Morales, is a 98-year-old concrete and wood construction
with an architectural design that pays homage to the bahay na bato era while including geometric,
art deco features that were deemed "moderne" at the time. The initials of Quentin Morales and
Paula Guzman, parents of owner Don Rafael Morales, a lawyer, hacendero, and consejal of
Mabalacat, were formerly engraved on the wrought iron grill fence and located in Barangay Sta.
Ines. The building was done by Betis carpenters working under master woodworker Felix Guiao.
The home has a straight, solid façade that displays a linear, straightforward grandeur. Cobalt blue
and white glass panes distinguish the tall windows, and the building year—1925—is carved into
the cutwork above the double doors with glass handles. The ante-sala's transoms are decorated
with cutwork depicting agricultural and legal symbols which are set up to resemble the elements
of family crest since the Morales fortune was built on agriculture and legal profession. The Morales
Mansion served many occasions such as the Mabalacat’s Party in 1933 which happened on October
01 Sunday and was hosted by Atty. Rafael Guzman Morales to commemorate the 5th year death
anniversary of his father Don Quintin Morales. Also in 1972 shooting of the Vilma Santos-Dante
Rivero-Charito Solis war-themed movie, “Mga Tigre ng Sierra Cruz” and as late 1970s, the
spacious paved grounds and courtyard were used for gatherings, soirees, and basketball games.
The mansion was left in the care of family members and a series of caretakers after the Moraleses
moved to Manila and also served as residence of the San Fernando-based Dominican sisters'
convent.