We managed to visit 7 churches during our pilgrimage in Bulacan last 2022. After visiting Bulakan Church (Check: Our Lady of Assumption Parish), we went to 5 more churches (the first being the Obando Church). The next three churches, however, were already featured in this blog as I have visited them prior to this pilgrimage. These include the historic Barasoain Church and the Minor Basilica and Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Malolos and the Diocesan Shrine of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon in Bocaue.
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After the Saint Kim Taegon Church, we went to another church that was recently elevated as a Minor Basilica. Located in Santa Maria, Bulacan is a church dedicated under the patronage of La Purisima Conception (La Purisima and Inmaculada Concepcion are basically the same title – Before the term “Inmaculada” was used after the dogma was defined, the Filipino faithful would refer the Virgin as “La Purisima”.).
Before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, Santa Maria was just a vast wilderness, inhabited by wild animals and covered by thick and lush rainforests. Aetas and Dumagats are also known to inhabit the place a long time ago. Santa Maria was founded as an independent town by the Franciscan Fray Francisco Dominguez Javier on November 26, 1793. He began constructing the church which was completed in the early 1800s by Fray Tomas Marti. The construction of the church was viewed as the foundation of the spiritual crusade in the said locality.
The first church structure was made of light materials such as bamboo and nipa. As the Catholic population grew and the town developed, the church was eventually rebuilt using more durable materials. The church was renamed Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción. The late Pope Francis granted a Pontifical decree of coronation to the enshrined Marian image on March 28, 2019. He later raised the shrine to the status of Minor Basilica via decree on March 21, 2021. It became the nineteenth minor basilica in the Philippines and the second in the Diocese of Malolos and Bulacan province.
The basilica follows the Baroque architectural style, with a simple yet dignified façade and a bell tower. Unlike the church in Bulakan, Santa Maria Church is less ornate and is primarily of adobe stone. Adjacent to the church is a convent.
(there are multiple niches and rose windows with grills and stained glasses)
There is really nothing much going on with its facade but you can really appreciate the beauty of its simplicity. You can, however, spot a notable bas relief of the La Purisima Conception on its triangular pediment.
The bas relief of the Virgin Mary
The side part of the church
Adjacent to the church is a multi-tiered bell tower, also made of adobe and stone. The top level is octagonal with a dome-like roof and cross.
An up-close shot of the bell
The ornate windows of Santa Maria Church
The facade of the church has a marker dated 1939 from the Philippines Historical Committee, now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. The marker bears the name “Church of Pandi”. The nearby town of Pandi has its own church, dedicated also to the Immaculate Conception, and is located about 5 kilometers from the minor basilica in Santa Maria, Bulacan.
Contrary to its simple exterior, the interior of Santa Maria Church is absolutely grand.
The retablo is seemingly made with marble and gilded with gold along with carved floral and vine motifs, gold leaf accents.
There are also Latin inscription near its dome.
The stunning dome is probably one of the church’s prominent features. The dome features a remarkable fresco images depicting Biblical figures including the Archangels and the Apostles. You can also find different prominent Marian titles including the Our Lady of Salambao, Nuestra Señora de Asuncion, Virgen Del Carmen to name a few. 
The center of the Retablo enshrines the image of La Purisima Concepcion. The image is believed to be miraculous. There are two local legends as to how the image arrived in Santa Maria: first is that it was brought to the town by the Franciscan Friars, second is that it was sculpted out of wood from a galleon. The image has been stolen in the 1930s and was retrieved in Nueva Ecija by a man named Teofilo Ramirez who claimed that the Virgin Mary appeared in his dream and gave instructions as to where the image can be found. The image was returned to the town on a February and the townsfolk accordingly adjusted their feast day to the first Thursday of February except when its falls on February 2 (the feast of Our Lady of the Candles). On March 28, 2019, Pope Francis granted the canonical coronation of the image of La Purisima Concepcion. This coronation took place in 2020.
Enshrined beside the image of Mary are statues of her parents Saint Joachim and Saint Anne
Saint Anne
The side altars are equally beautiful
Resurrection of Christ
Side altar
Saint Joseph
Santo Domingo de Guzman
Our Lady of Assumption
This post is part of my Bulacan Pilgrimage 2022 series. Feel free to revisit my previous articles
You might also want to visit my articles about other churches in Bulacan
Other places to visit in Bulacan
