Nicolas de Figueroa
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De Figueroa, Nicolas (c1654 – 1672). In 1668, as cited earlier, four intrepid Kapampangans joined Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores (1627-72) and Blessed Pedro Calungsod (c1654-72) to start a mission to the Marianas, formerly called the Ladrones Islands. The territory formed part of the Philippine colony and was the farthest outpost of the diocese of Cebu. Its main island was Guam. The oldest Kapampangan in the group was Don Felipe Songsong, 57 whereas the other three were described with Calungsod as "mozos de muy buenos alientos" ("very courageous youths"). In the vernacular, they would have been called "bagontao" (literally, "new men"). They were chosen for their spiritual as well as physical strength.
The youngest Kapampangan was Andres de la Cruz who was only about 10 years old when he left his country of birth. When he entered adolescence two years later, he was assigned with nine other lads to the Island of Buenavista or Tinian to restore peace between two warring tribes. The Christian soldiers had to bear the brunt of the hostilities of both sides. The latter resented their intervention preferring to resume the strife. To eliminate the peacemakers, one faction raided the Christian stronghold. In the process, it was the adolescent Andres who slew the chief of the tribe, which then retreated and left them in peace. The lives of the young missionaries were spared though they missed the palm of martyrdom, for some of the workers had to remain to continue to labor in the Lord's distant vineyard.
Nicolas de Figueroa was killed for his Faith the day before Blessed San Vitores and Blessed Calungsod also suffered martyrdom. Figueroa was most probably the grandson of his namesake from Bacolor who with his wife and another couple donated a capellania to the Augustinian order on December 20, 1610 or 5 days before Christmas. The trust fund consisted of 800 pesos worth of tilled lands. Its income would be applied to 6 sung masses and 6 recited masses a year "till the end of time" for their personal intentions and when they died, for the eternal repose of their souls.
Like Calungsod, Figueroa was also a young catechist who was eager to baptize children and newborn babies. On April 1, 1672, in search of a Mexican colleague who turned out to have been murdered, Nicolas - in the company of a Tagalog youth, Damian Bernal, a Spaniard, Manuel Rangel and a local convert, Ambrosio Hagman - encountered a band of 20 ferocious natives who tried to ambush them. Though outnumbered, they fought back in self- defense and in the process, the natives speared their Spanish companion to death. On the other hand, the fearless Nicolas aimed his cutlass at the headman (like Andres de la Cruz before him), killing him instantly. To scare away the followers, Nicolas further beheaded the vanquished whereas Damian chopped the chief to pieces. Their enemies trembled and fled and the two Filipinos escaped to the hills in separate directions. Nicolas ended up in the village of Ipao where a friendly looking native welcomed him with the traditional embrace. But it turned out to be Judas' kiss. Nicolas was too tired and trusting for the art of subterfuge which the villagers seemed to have perfected. The treacherous host suddenly seized the catechist, dragged him to the edge of a cliff and flung him over. Below waited the other assailants who ganged up on their Christian victim and slew him with their lances.
The following morning, April 2, it was San Vitores' and Calungsod's turn to be martyred together in the village of Tumhon. Later on the same day, unaware of the preceding tragedies, Damian, Nicolas' lost companion, took refuge in the same village only to meet the same holy fate. Their local colleague, Ambrosio survived the ordeal to tell their story of fidelity and bravery to the tribunal, which conducted the first beatification inquiry in Guam the next year.
The news of the martyrdom of San Vitores and his youthful assistants reached Manila the following month. To celebrate and commemorate the joy and sorrow of their supreme sacrifice for the Faith, a Te Deum was fervently sung at the Manila Cathedral on May 3, 1672.
Santiago, Luciano P. R. The Cornerstone: Kapampangan Pioneers in the Catholic Church (1592 – 2001). Angeles City: Center for Kapampangan Studies, 2002.
