Historical Background
Roots of Faith and Civilization
The town of Santa Maria is geographically situated in the eastern part of the province of Bulacan, about thirty kilometers from the capital city of Manila. It used to be a part of the town of Meycauayan, the first town or pueblo established in Bulacan by the Spanish colonizers in the year 1578. Under the pueblo of Meycauayan are the territories now known as the towns of Bocaue, Valenzuela (Polo), San Jose del Monte, Obando, Marilao, Pandi, and Balagtas (Bigaa).
When Bocaue was established as a separate pueblo and the Convent of Saint Martin of Tours was founded in the year 1606, Santa Maria became one of its barrios or capilla. In the year 1792, it was created as an independent town and was named Santa Maria de Pandi. All the aforementioned towns were placed under the supervision of the discalced Franciscans who arrived in the colony in the year 1576 to start the mission of evangelization in the provinces of Bulacan and Bicol. The parish of Santa Maria de Pandi was placed under the care of Fray Francisco Javier, its first parish priest, while Andres dela Cruz became its first mayor.
It has been said that the town of Santa Maria used to be a hilly and forested place where the residents lived far away from each other. During the colonial period, Santa Maria was first utilized as an estancia used by Dominican friars as a pastoral land for goats and sheep, like what was done in the towns of Pandi, Bocaue, and Marilao. Later, it was organized as a hacienda. Due to its temperate climate and rich soil, varieties of rice, corn, sugar cane, watermelon, monggo, squash, tamarind, melon, potato, cassava, turnips, cotton, coffee, coconut, and mangoes were planted and harvested in the town.
While the infrastructure of the town was being developed, the Franciscan friars recognized the need to place the town under the process of reduccion, where the residents were relocated to live near the town center. The friars noticed that the native population preferred to live near the riverbanks, among which is the Santa Maria River that flows from the Rio de Meycauayan, the river system that also separates the towns of Santa Maria and Bocaue. This way of life, where residents lived near the riverbanks in order to have easier access to food, water, and modes of transportation, also became one of the reasons why the early residents were called Tagalog, from the words “taga-ilog” which means “from the river”.
From the perspective of the Franciscan missionaries, it is difficult to evangelize the native population if they continue to live in the riverbanks or in the hills and mountains. For this reason, they made the decision to place the town under the process of reduccion. Fray Juan de Plasencia, also a Franciscan friar, became the first to use this process, thereby earning him the recognition of being the “Father of Reduccion”. He convinced the native population to leave their residence near the riverbanks, hills, and mountains, and live in an orderly manner near the church that was under the care of the friars. The friars also improved the agricultural technology being practiced by the native population.
Colonization Period and World War II
Oral history further acknowledged the many intercessions that have been attributed to La Purísima Concepción. It was been said that the Blessed Virgin has protected the town from the hands of bandits during the extended period of Spanish colonization. In the year 1880, the church was damaged by an earthquake, and in 1899, the town was destroyed by a huge fire caused by the Philippine-American War. During this time, it was said that the image of La Purisima disappeared for thirty years. During its lost, a local priest named Father Cirilo Abela thus commissioned the creation of another image in place of the original. Later, it was said that the original image was found in the town of Gapan in the neighbor province of Nueva Ecija in the year 1930, by a certain Teofilo Ramirez. He claimed that the Blessed Virgin appeared in his dream and gave instructions as to where the image can be found. The faithful believed that the Blessed Virgin returned to Santa Maria to continue guiding and caring for her children in the challenging times ahead, most notably the Second World War from 1941 to 1946.
Bicentennial Celebration
The town of Santa Maria celebrated its 200th foundation year in 1992, during the term of Rev. Fr. Celerino G. Gregorio as parish priest. The parish actively participated in all the festivities, including brass band festivals, serenatas, concerts, dances, and variety shows in addition to the nine-day novena in honor of the Blessed Virgin. The highlight of these festivities was the procession of the venerated image in all the main thoroughfares of the town, accompanied by numerous brass bands and thousands of faithful.
On December 8, 1992, a massive flock of parishioners and devotees converged at the church patio to celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in a Holy Mass presided by then Archbishop of Cebu, His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal. The image of La Purísima Concepción was symbolically crowned by the good cardinal to highlight the event. It was also the first time that the entire church patio was adorned with fiesta decorations to link the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception to the town fiesta in February.
1999 Burglary
In the morning of December 7, 1999, stunned parishioners learned of the distressing news that the original image of La Purísima Concepción was stolen from the altar. The locals mobilized themselves and appealed for assistance from local and national officials, and law enforcement agencies. Devotees flocked to the parish church and mournfully participated in the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 1999 without the venerated image.
After nine days, with the prompt action of law enforcers under the directive of then senator Blas F. Ople, a native of Bulacan, the venerated image was traced and found in an antique shop in Manila, ready to be shipped to an unknown destination abroad. The retrieval of the image brought much relief and joy to the Catholic faithful of Santa Maria, and its homecoming was warmly welcomed by thousands of devotees through a procession from the town’s boundary to the church. The image, once again adorned with her regal vestments, was placed on the altar in the wee hours of December 17, 1999 amidst the tears and applause of the faithful. A Thanksgiving Mass was presided by then parish priest, Rev. Msgr. Jaime S. Garcia, P.C.
Modern Times
The lavish love and deep devotion that the people of Santa Maria bestow on our Blessed Mother are but a mere fraction of the grace, mercy, and blessings obtained by the devotees through Mary’s intercession. This town is filled with honor through her children who have become priests and religious, most notable of whom are the Most Rev. Protacio G. Gungon (+), the first Bishop of Antipolo, Rizal, and the Most Rev. Bartolome G. Santos, Bishop of Iba, Zambales. At present, more than a dozen priests and religious trace their roots to this town named after the Blessed Virgin, and attribute the development and deepening of their religious vocations to the intercession of La Purísima Concepción.
On the other hand, the miraculous image of La Purisima Concepcion has proven the immense and profound devotion to the Blessed Mother, through the various recognition granted the patroness of Santa Maria. March 3, 2018 when the Diocese of Malolos granted the image with an Episcopal Coronation. Two years later, February 1, 2020, the Holy Father recognized the deep devotion of the people to the La Purisima Concepcion and granted the image with a Pontifical Coronation. Aside from the coronations bestowed to the miraculous image, the Church of Santa Maria itself has been recognized by the Catholic Church though the elevation to the dignity of a Minor Basilica last November 27, 2022. The Basilica Menor de la Purísima Concepción is the 18th Minor Basilica in the Philippines.
The rich history of the town of Santa Maria is a living testament to every miracle, healing, and guidance obtained by the devotees through their lavish and deep devotion to La Purísima Concepción, further enriched by divine providence and mercy imparted by the Lord through the intercession of His Blessed Mother.
