Malolos Cathedral

Malolos Cathedral
Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in Malolos Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepción en Malolos
Location	Malolos City, Bulacan,
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Former name(s)	Malolos Church and Convent
Founded	1580
Founder(s)	Mateo Mendoza OSA
Consecrated	1817
Past bishop(s)	Rolando J. Tria Tirona
Architecture
Status	Minor basilica
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Roque Barrionuevo
Architectural type	Church
Style	Neoclassical
Groundbreaking	1673 (first stone church) 1814 (present church)
Completed	1700 (first stone church) 1817 (present church)
Demolished	1814 (first stone church)
Specifications
Number of domes	1
Materials	Stone
Bells	12 (8)
Administration
Diocese	Malolos
Province	Manila
Clergy
Archbishop	Luis Antonio Tagle
Bishop(s)	Jose Francisco Oliveros
Rector	Pablo Legaspi Jr.
Priest(s)	Romualdo C. Go; Gino Carlo B. Herrera

The Malolos Cathedral, also known as the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception (Spanish: Basilica Menor de la Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepción), is a historical church in the Philippines located in City of Malolos, the capital of the province of Bulacan. The Cathedral is also the ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Malolos, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Manila.

Beginnings

The Spanish conquistadores Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Martin de Goiti and Juan Salcedo first arrived in Malolos in November 14, 1571 and conceded it as an Encomienda under Don Marcos de Herrera,on the following year in April 1572 Altag was conceded to Don Jeronimo Tirado. In the same year 1572 Calumpit,Hagonoy,Malolos,Bangkal (also in Malolos) Magong (now Paombong) and Atlag were unified under a single Encomienda vis-a-vis Pueblo under the Town of Calumpit.

Sometime in 1572-1575 the Augustinian Order through Fray Diego Ordoñez de Vivar a native of Guadalajara, Mexico established and accepted Malolos as a mission chapel where he Christianized and baptized the natives of Lihan. The settlement was annexed as one of the visitas (sub-parishes) of the Calumpit in Bulacan Eight years later in June 11, 1580, Malolos was recognized as a separate town and parish having three visitas namely Paombong,Matimbo and Mambog with Fray Matheo de Mendoza OSA as its first Curate (Conquistas delas Islas Philipinas of Fr.Gaspar de San Agustin) while Binto 'y Quingua on the other hand according to Galende's Angeles in Stone, included later as its visita in May 21, 1599 but earlier date appear according to a report to the King of Spain made by Governor General Luis Perez Dasmariñas in June 1591 appears Binto as visita of under Malolos Convent. In January 3, 1582 the council fathers authorized the provincial to grant Malolos to have its voting power to the provincial chapters. The Catalogo of 1591 indicates Malolos had one convent with three thousand six hundred (3,600) souls. In 1599, San Agustin Monastery asked Malolos prior was asked to contribute an annual rent of fifteen pesos,twenty bushels of rice and sixty chickens.

Due to the frequent flooding of its first and second location, they moved the church to a higher location from time to time.

The hermitage was initially built made of light materials in early 1572-1575.Transferred later in 1576-1578 at the site now called Barrio San Agustin-Caingin area and in 1580 it was transferred to the present site formerly called Calumpang became Poblacion in sometime in 1673. The hermitage later enlarged in 1590 under the curacy of Fr.Cristobal Tarique, OSA and Fr. Roque de Barrionuevo started the construction of the bigger church in 1599 made of wood.

The Estado of 1612 mention that Malolos convent had two (2) priest and two thousand and one hundred (2,100) souls. In 1630, Fr. Mateo de Braceros started to build a church made of stone and it was continuously built under Fr.Agustin Carreno in 1635, Fr.Juan de Trezo in 1638, Fr.Andres Jimenez in 1639, in the same year Fr.Jimenez donated 2 bells weights 39 kilogram and 2- kilograms from the campaign of General Corcuerra against Muslims (Galende). Construction continued by Fr. Sandro Moncada, Fr.Cristobal Enriquez but slightly interrupt construction due to Revolt of Pedro Ladia in 1640. Fr.Lorenzo Figueroa continued construction from 1641 to 1653. It was nearly finished in 1669 under Fr.Francisco Martinez. In 1671, the church was near finish by the time of Fr.Ildefonso Tellez in 1672 and Fr. Jaime Balzac (restored as Malolos curate) and Fr.Francisco Lopez applied the finishing touches and the first stone church of Malolos was finished in 1673. In 1732 Malolos convent has four thousand four hundred ninety-one souls, in 1760 had seven thousand six-hundred twenty-four souls. The Intermediate Meeting of Augustinian Order of 1763 was held in Malolos Convent establishing the town of Pulilan.

However, both the church and the convent were destroyed by fire in 1813.

Construction of the present church

The pre-1863 lithograph photo of Malolos Church before the earthquake that toppled the clock tower to the left in 1863

The construction of the present church was started in 1814 and completely finished in 1817 under Fray. Melchor Fernández.An embossed stone marker was installed in the main portal of the church depicting ANOD1817.It was consecrated by Ilmo.Francisco Albán, Bishop of Nueva Segovia (Vigan) on October 18, 1826, the only stone church consecrated in the archiphelago at that time.Fray Fernandez also a prolific builder was also responsible for the addition of arches to the convent; the fortification of the belfry to accommodate the installation of a clock; and the construction of the stone bridge connecting Malolos with Barasoain. However, the convent were destroyed and the main church with minor damages by a strong earthquake in 1863. Fray. Ezekiel Merino and Don Luciano Oliver, a prominent Manila architect at that time undertook the reconstruction of the interior and collapsed structures which lasted until 1872.

Another severe earthquake took place in 1880 which destroyed the convent. Fray Juan Tombo began the restoration of the convent in 1883. It was completed in 1884 by Fray Felipe Garcia.

The convent as the presidential palace

The Malolos Cathedral convent served as the presidential palace of Emilio Aguinaldo, during the First Philippine Republic from September 15, 1898 to March 31, 1899. Aguinaldo used the convent as his office.

During the Philippine–American War, the US Army decided to strategize their "Northern Campaign" by moving the US soldiers forward to Malolos in order to defeat the Filipino forces in town. Aguinaldo and his men decided to escape before the American Army arrived in the capital. While escaping to San Fernando, Pampanga, Aguinaldo ordered General Antonio Luna to burn down the Malolos Church, as part of his scorched earth policy so that anything left would be rendered useless.

Church rebuilding

File:Burning of Malolos Cathedral.jpg

Burning of the Malolos Cathedral in 1899

From the ashes of war, the church was rebuilt from 1902 to 1936. Starting in the mid 20th-century major changes were made to the church beginning in the 1950s when the entrance to the church was made into three doors. Prior to this renovation, the structure had only one door at the center.

Under the curacy of Msgr. Pedro Abad, the baptistery was built and blessed by the Archbishop of Manila Rufino Cardinal Santos on February 28, 1954. The pews were acquired in 1957 by Msgr. Marcelino Montemayor and the roof was replaced during the time of Msgr. Francisco Domingo.

Elevation to a cathedral

The Malolos Church became a cathedral with the creation of the Diocese of Malolos and the installation of its first diocesan bishop, Most Reverend Manuel del Rosario D.D., in March 1962.

Other renovations

With the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, Msgr. Virgilio Soriano commissioned a new altar in 1967.

Another major renovation of the Cathedral happened in 1970. Prior to this renovation, the Cathedral's bell tower was a topped with a triangular cone, as seen on the old picture taken mostly during the Philippine–American War from 1898-1899. In 1970, the triangular cone that previously topped the bell tower was removed and replaced by a concrete statue of the Immaculate Conception, donated by Amparo Bautista-Julian.

When the cathedral together with the new bishop palace was again consecrated by Papal Nuncio Bruno Torpigliani DD on December 4, 1976, the communion rail was dismantled and the sanctuary was renovated with stained glass windows. The old convent was reconstructed and expanded to accommodate the bishop's residence, chancery office and parish convent. During the incumbency of Msgr. Macario Manahan, the St. Joseph Social Hall was built; the old baptistery was transformed into a mortuary chapel; and a crypt was constructed below the main altar.

Elevation to a Minor Basilica

When Rolando Tria-Tirona O.C.D., DD became bishop and moderator of the Team Ministry, renovations and repairs were undertaken like the Diocesan Hall being refurbished into the Mary Magdalene Hall. It was under the tenure of Bishop Tirona that the cathedral was elevated into the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on December 4, 1999. The present bishop, Jose Oliveros DD continues to make improvements especially with the church patio and its environs. The statues under the Kalayaan tree, the memorial cross fronting the Basilica and the Presidential Gate constituted different phases which are connected with the Patio Development Plan.

Style and design

The predominant feature of the Cathedral-Basilica is the semi-circular arch in its lower part. The ornamentation is moderate; the massing is well balanced and the symmetrical movement of the columns and openings are almost neoclassic. The facade is divided by single and coupled Doric columns in three segments, and is dominated by large semi-circular arches of the openings in the first level, and the smaller ones superimposed on the second level which are alternately semicircular and segmented. The triangular pediment strongly outlined by heavily projecting broken cornices is topped by a sort of acroteria in the center and torch-like finials. A statued niche flanked by fluted pilasters topped by a segmented canopy crowns the silted frame of the center window. Triglypha decorate the frieze and a stylized Augustinian emblem decorates the center of pediment. The over-all impression is one of the neatness of line, counterbalanced by the dramatic circular of the openings.

The image of the Immaculate Conception at the main altarpiece

According to reliable information, the statue of the Immaculate Concepcion was made before the Second World War. The work is attributed to Donding Ople, a gifted artist who was orphaned at a very tender age. The original work is kept in an undisclosed place but the statue at the high enclosure behind the main altar is the perfect replication of the original. Many of the devotees flock to the image of the Immaculate Concepcion.

The miraculous image of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

The miraculous image of Our Lady enshrined at the main altar was carved by a certain Donding Ople in 1950. Due to the miracles attributed in devotion to the Immaculate Conception, the Malolos curate decided to produce some replicas. An elite replica of the said statue was first displayed at the right of the Sanctuary, at the middle, and beside the statues of Saint Joachim at Saint Peter patriarch.

The devotion to Immaculate Conception seems to be very effective and so to enrich the faith of the Maloleños, a set of stairs was attached to the altar so the people may go and touch the statue. This action was made under the time of then rector, Msgr. Jojo Galvez with Fathers Ron Cristobal and Francis Protacio S. Cortez III as members. Also around this time, the statue was officially named "Virgen Inmaculada Concepcion de Malolos" (Our Virgin of Immaculate Conception of Malolos).

In their tenure, a replica of the image was placed in front of the Adoration Chapel's Capella Sanctorum (Chapel of the Saints). The statue is placed in the middle of the highest elevation and is connected down with a set of stairs. Next to the entrance stair is a "Prayer Requests" book where devotees write their prayers. Next to the exit stairs is the "Answered prayers" book where devotees were write their own experiences of divine intervention through the said statue.

The Canonical Coronation and the 50th Golden Jubilee

Due to popularity of miraculous attributes, a petition was made for the Canonical Coronation of the image at the main altar of Malolos Cathedral. In May 2009, the Vatican granted the petition for the canonical coronation through a papal bull. The Solemn Canonical Coronation held last March 10, 2010.

During the time of Msgr. Jaime Garcia and Fr. Conrado "Badong" Santos, Jr. and Renato "R.J." Brion, [2009–present] renovations and refurbishments inside and outside the cathedral and its patio were started in preparation for the Canonical Coronation and the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese of Malolos. When Msgr. Jaime Garcia died on June 4, 2011, Fr. Pablo S. Legaspi, Jr. replaced him as rector, continuing and completing the needed refurbishments in preparation for the diocese's Golden Jubilee.

File:Kalayaan Tree.jpg

The Historical Kalayaan Tree

The Kalayaan Tree

The Kalayaan Tree (locally called Siar, a Yellow flame tree) is located at the patio of the Cathedral. It is not certain that Aguinaldo planted this tree because it is already mature Siar tree when the First Philippine Republic was established. The historical significance of this tree is that it is a living witness to the Malolos Republic. Aguinaldo and his Cabinet have conducted many political discussions there. Under the tree, a monument was placed symbolizing the meeting of Filipino revolutionaries, represented by Gen. Gregorio del Pilar and Gen. Isidoro Torres; Don Pablo Tecson, an erudite legislator; Padre Mariano Sevilla, a nationalist leader of the church and Doña Basilia Tantoco, portraying a woman freedom fighter.

• Malolos Cathedral interior.jpg

  Interior of the Cathedral

• Malolos Cathedral sanctuary.jpg

  The Cathedral Presbytery

• Conventofficesjf.JPG

  Lobby of the Diocesan Chancery

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  The new cathedra at the side of the sanctuary

• Maloloscathedraljf.JPG

  Image of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception of Malolos at the Chapel of the Saints

Parish priests 1580-1961

From 1580 up to the present time, Malolos Cathedral has a long list of parish priests who administered the church. The list includes priests from the Augustinian Order and from the Archdiocese of Manila. Due to the antiquity of Malolos Church, the list of parish priests from 1580 to 1680 came from the catalog of Augustinian Province archive.

Parish Priest	Year assigned
Fray Mateo Mendoza OSA	1580-1584
Fray Diego Muñoz OSA	1584-1585
Fray Pedro Tristán OSA	1585-1590
Fray Cristobal Tarique OSA	1590-1591
Fray Francisco Bustos OSA	1591-1600
Fray Andres Ibarra OSA	1600
Fray Roque de Barrionuevo OSA	1600-1605
Fray Juan de Valderrama OSA	1605-1609
Fray Francisco de Castramonte OSA	1609-1611
Fray Antonio Marquéz de Figueroa OSA	1611-1614
Fray Fernando de Santa María Trujillo OSA	1614-1618
Fray Pedro de Salcedo OSA	1618-1623
Fray Diego Robles OSA	1623-1626
Fray Mateo de Braceros OSA	1626-1635
Fray Agustin Carreno OSA	1635-1636
Fray Juan de Trezo OSA	1636-1639
Fray Andres Jiménez OSA	1639-1641
Fray Sandro Moncada OSA	1641-1650
Fray Cristobal Enriquez OSA	1641-1653
Fray Lorenzo Figueroa OSA	1653
Fray Jeronimo Ramos OSA	1653-1656
Fray José de Mendoza OSA	1657-1659
Fray Diego Arellano OSA	1659-1662
Fray Jerónimo de León OSA	1662-1665
Fray Diego Gutíerrez de la Fuente OSA	1665-1669
Fray Francisco Martínez OSA	1669-1671
Fray Jaime Balzac OSA	1671-1674
Fray Ildefonzo Téllez OSA	1674
Fray Diego Alday OSA	1675
Fray Jaime Balzac OSA	1677-1680
Fray Juan de San Nicolás OSA	1680

The list below is from the Malolos Cathedral Archive. Note that the Malolos Church was burned down in 1899, and records are incomplete. Malolos Cathedral recorded the list of priests only from 1673.

Parish Priest	Term
Fray Francisco López OSA	1673-1734
Fr. Yniguez OSA	1734-1736
Fray Manuel Cortezar OSA	1740-1741
Fray Josef de Viaz OSA	1742-1743
Fray Manuel Sacus de Nicolás OSA	1744
Fray Josef de Victoria OSA	1745
Fray Bernardo de San Guillermo OSA	1746
Fray José de León OSA	1749
Fray Manuel Cortezar OSA	1750-1752
Fray Josef de Viaz OSA	1753-1755
Fray José Montero OSA	1756
Fray Domingo Deovides OSA	1757
Fray Gregorio Gener OSA	1758
Fray Biaz Aguirre OSA	1759
Fray José Mediavilla OSA	1760
Fray Antonio Miranda OSA	1760-1768
Fray Manuel Ortega OSA	1768
Fray Pedro Cordojuela OSA	1769-1770
Fray Diego Pérez OSA	1770
Fray Matiaz Nubia OSA	1771
Fray Antonio de San Prospero OSA	1772-1774
Fray Carlos Manrivero OSA	1774
Fray Joaquín Maturana OSA	1775-1801
Fray Benito Santillán OSA	1801-1800
Fray Juan Crespo OSA	1801-1802
Fray Andres Vigil OSA	1802
Fray Dionisio Santa María OSA	1803-1815
Fray Cayetano López OSA	1815
Fray Melchor Fernández OSA (the urban planner of old Malolos, he built the Malolos Bridge and the present building of Malolos Church)	1816-1840
Fray Francisco Miro OSA	1840-1858
Fray Feliciano Concepción OSA	1858
Fray Juan Tombo OSA	1859-1885
Fray Rafael Canlapán OSA (Canlapan Street in Malolos named after him)	1886
Fray Felipe García OSA (opponent of the famous women of Malolos)	1887-1889
Fray Agustín Fernández OSA	1890-1895
Fray Moisés Santos OSA	1895-1898
Fray Juan de la Rosa (the last Spanish Augustianian curate of Malolos expelled by the Filipino revolutionaries)	1898
Fr. Gregorio Crisóstomo (the first Filipino parish priest of Malolos Church)	1899-1900
Fr. Osmundo Lim (assigned to Barasoain)	1900
Fr.Alejandro Carlos (start of American Occupation)	1900
Fr. Magdaleno Castillo (started the rebuilding of the Malolos Church)	1901-1911
Msgr. Jose N.Jovellanos	1911-1917
Fr. Máximo Ma.Jovellanos	1919-1922
Fr. Bartolomé Zabala	1922
Msgr. Vicente Fernández	1922-1937
Fr. Nicanor De Guzmán	1937
Fr. Simeón Gutierrez	1937
Fr. Enrique Reyes	1937-1946
Msgr.Pedro Abad	1950-1955
Msgr. Francisco V.Domingo	1955-1961-
Msgr. Marcelino Montemayor	1961-1965-
Msgr. Virgilio V. Soriano	1970-1975-
Msgr. Macario Manahan	1980-1985-

Diocese of Malolos Era

Malolos Parish Church became the cathedral church of the Diocese of Malolos in 1961. The pope designates the prelates who shepherd the faithful within the See of Malolos.

Bishops	Term	Post	Notes
Most Rev.Manuel P Del Rosario D.D	1961-1977	First Resident Bishop	from Samar, Emeritus Bishop of Malolos now lying in rest at Malolos Cathedral's crypt.
Most Rev.Leopoldo Arcaira D.D	1966-1988	Auxiliary Bishop of Malolos
Most Rev.Ricardo J.Vidal D.D	1971-1973	Coadjutor Bishop of Malolos	now Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu
Most Rev.Leoncio Lat D.D	1980-1985	Coadjutor Bishop of Malolos
Most Rev. Cirilo Almario Jr., D.D	1977-1996	Second Resident Bishop of Malolos	from Cavite,now Emeritus Bishop of Malolos
Most Rev. Deogracias Iñiguez, D.D	1985-1989	Auxiliary Bishop of Malolos	Meycauayan, the first Bulakenyo priest became bishop of Malolos as its Auxiliary. Now Bishop-Emeritus of Caloocan
Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, D.D.	1996-2003	Third Resident Bishop of Malolos	from Cavite, now Archbishop of Caceres,in his term Malolos Cathedral became Minor Basilica in 1999
Most Rev. Jose F. Oliveros, D.D	2003–Present	Fourth Resident Bishop of Malolos	from Gumaca, Quezon. In his term Dioces of Malolos celebrated its 50th Golden Jubillee and Immaculada Concepcion de Malolos was canonically crowned

External links

• Official Malolos Cathedral website