Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Bulakan - The Graceful and Glorious Mother of Bulakan, Bulacan

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Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Bulakan
In the historic town of Bulakan, Bulacan, one of the most prominent municipalities on Bulacan province because of its rich history - both national and religious - is the centuries old Parish of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion of Bulakan, Bulacan where its miraculous patroness became the silent witness and guiding star in the fate and history of the people of Bulakan, Bulacan that would later play a role to shape national and religious history of our country.


Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Bulakan
Images

 There were three images of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion that is venerated in this historic parish in Bulakan, Bulacan. First is the stone image of the Virgin of the Assumption enthroned at the facade of the Church. The image is that of the Virgin standing with her hands on a prayer position, wears a white dress and blue cloak, sports a long and wavy hair falling gracefully on her shoulders and wears a crown.

The Second image is the famed de vestir image of the Blessed Virgin Mary where she is depicted on the moment of her glorious assumption into heaven. One of the most iconic look of this image is the way her vestment flows and arranged as if the wind is blowing her cloak.

Her face shows a lovely and heavenly expression with her smiling eyes looking upwards to heaven. The beholder would see her right hand raised up to the heavens and her left arm is raised slightly raised. The image would often wear a veil and a crown at times while there were times she wouldn't yet the diagnostic doce estrellas is constantly present.

The First image of Nuestra Señora de la
Asuncion de Bulakan enthroned at the facade
of the parish
History


 The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Bulakan began when the parish and the first church was established by the Augustinian Fathers in 1575 as a sub-parish of Tondo. In 1578, the town of Bulakan was proclaimed a separate parish from Tondo. It was during this time that the first image of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion was placed at the facade of the church and it is said that numerous miracles were reported through her help and the first feast in her honor was held that same year

According to church's historical marker, during the British invasion in 1762 the Bulakan Church was razed by fire yet the image survived. It is said that the Church became the quarters of Governor General Simon de Anda during the British invasion of the country and the people defended the exiled Spanish government from the invaders. The construction of the present church and convent was started in 1812 by Father Gaspar Folgar, OSA. The church was subsequently repaired after experiencing damages over the centuries.

The church is the site where Filipino general Gregorio Del Pilar secretly distributed the infamous "Dasalan at Tocsohan" pamphlets made by his uncle, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, a prominent member of the Propaganda Movement during the late 1800s. It is also said that when the Revolutionary forces headed by Gen. Gregorio del Pilar was burning the town, he ordered his troops to spare the Church out of respect to the Virgin. It was also in this parish that the Flores de Mayo tradition was introduced by Rev. Fr. Mariano Sevilla, who was assigned in this parish during the same time period.

The 1956 image of Nuestra Señora de la
Asuncion de Bulakan
There was an older altar image of the Virgin of the Assumption that was also brought by the Spanish friars in 1578 that was unfortunately lost during the early part of the 20th century with two probable reasons: First was the destruction of the image during World War 2 when the Japanese forces invaded Bulakan, Bulacan in 1942; Second was during the renovation of the parish altar in 1946 during the term of Rev. Fr. Silvestre Cruz and it is said that it was entrusted to a certain family and it got lost in oblivion as of this writing.

By 1956 the present venerated image of  Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion was commissioned from Talleres de Maximo Vicente. The 1956 image of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion became the most recognized image of the centuries old parish and the rest of Bulacan province. The devotion to the Virgin, most specifically to the elaborately vested 1956 image grew in a span of decades and miracles were also reported through her intercession.

The 1956 image became the altar and processional image for the longest time until a new ivory de vestir image of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion was controversially enthroned in 2013. The placement of the new image was deemed controversial because some of the lay leaders insisted on this move without census or consultation that met with resistance for years until it was settled in 2020 when His Excellency Bishop Dennis Villarojo ordered the re-enthronement of the well beloved 1956 image. The ivory image was returned to its donor and it is set for re-enthronement rites on September 8, 2020.

Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Bulakan
Miracles

In a span of centuries, numerous miracles were reported that are attributed to her miraculous intercession.  One of the earliest known miracles of the Virgin happened during the British Invasion where it is said that while the British forces are preparing for their meals near the vicinity of the church, the food suddenly turned into worms that the forces immediately flee from Bulakan.

During times of pandemics or pestilence, the faithful would brought out the image of the Virgin for a rogational procession to ask for her intercession to cease the plagues.

It is also noteworthy that since the month of August is within the rainy season in the country, rains would pour hard days before her fiesta yet it on the feast day itself, the skies were clear with no rain in sight.

Church Recognition

The Episcopal Coronation of  Nuestra
Señora de la Asuncion de Bulakan
Due to the numerous miracles attributed to her intercession and to the historical signifiance of the parish, in 2020, Bishop Dennis Villarojo, DD granted the image the honor of Episcopal Coronation and elevated the historic parish to the status of a Diocesan Shrine. 

The Coronation and Shrine elevation rites took place on November 28, 2020. The reception of this news was met with much joy and despite the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic parish was packed with devotees from the town and other parts of Bulacan and neighboring provinces.

The devotion at present

 The devotion to the Lady of the Assumption of Bulakan, Bulacan continues to develop, evolve and gaining much devotees over the years. A confraternity was established to systematized and propagate the devotion to the graceful Lady of Bulakan. The Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady in Bulakan, Bulacan is celebrated with much color and solemnity from a beautiful dance to the tune of the "Dalit ng Galak" and the chant of "Viva Asuncion!" in honor their beloved Patroness. The festivities would conclude with the solemn procession of the Virgin accompanied by the patron saints of different chapels under its jurisdiction - including the famed Santa Ines de Bulakan.

The Virgin continuous to be the gracious guiding star in Bulakan, Bulacan. We see in the history of the devotion to the Virgin of the Assumption of Bulakan how the Virgin became the silent witness of the evolving history of the Philippine Catholic Church and Philippine history itself.

References:

 Cofradia de la Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion, Pagkilala sa Mahal na Birheng Maria sa titulong Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion bilang Ina, Reyna, at Patrona ng Bayan ng Bulakan: Kasaysayan ng Nuestra Se164ora de la Asuncion ng Bayan ng Bulakan, Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, Bulakan, Bulacan, 2020.
Galende, Fr. Pedro, Angels in Stone: Architecture of Augustinian Churches in the Philippines. San Agustin Museum, 2007.
Alarcon, Norma, Philippine architecture during the pre-Spanish and Spanish periods. UST Publishing House, 2008.

Interview:

Cortez, Francisco, OSA
Hernandez, Lhenard Sam - Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, Bulakan, Bulacan
Mabanta, John Paul, OSA
Villaluz, Alex

Photos:

Castro, John Patrick
Daquioag, Michael
Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption Facebook Page


Special thanks to Rev. Fr. John Paul Mabanta, OSA and Rev. Fr. Francisco Cortez, OSA for the interview regarding the history of the image of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Bulakan, to Mr. Lhenard Sam Hernandez and Mr. Alex Villaluz for providing documents on the history of the parish, to Mr. Michael Daquioag and to the Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption Facebook Page for the photographs used for this blogpost.
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