Santa Maria Church (Ilocos Sur)

This article is about the church in Ilocos Sur. For the church in Santa Maria, Laguna, see Nuestra Señora de los Angeles Parish Church (Santa Maria). For the church in Santa Maria, Bulacan, see Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Santa Maria).

Santa Maria Basilica Shrine
Minor Basilica and Archdiocesan of Our Lady of the Assumption
Basilika Menor ken Santuario ni Santa Maria, Birhen ti Asuncion (Spanish)
The church in September 2013
Santa Maria Basilica Shrine Location in Luzon Santa Maria Basilica Shrine Location in the Philippines
17°22′0″N 120°28′59.2″E
Location	Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Minor Basilica, Archdiocesan Shrine, Pro-Cathedral
Founder(s)	Augustinian Friars
Dedication	Our Lady of the Assumption
Dedicated	1765
Consecrated	1765
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	National Historical Landmark; World Heritage Site; National Cultural Treasure
Designated	January 14, 1974; December 11, 1993; 2015
Architect(s)	Augustinian Friars
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Earthquake Baroque
Groundbreaking	1765
Specifications
Capacity	800
Length	99 meters (325 ft) wide.
Width	22.7 meters (74 ft)
Number of floors	2
Number of towers	1
Number of spires	2
Materials	Bricks, Granite
Bells	6
Administration
Archdiocese	Nueva Segovia
Deanery	St. Lucy
Parish	Our Lady of the Assumption
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Marlo M. Peralta, D.D.
Rector	Fr. Ernesto A. Juarez Jr. Fr. Ramelle J. Rigunay
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Church of Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion
Part of	Baroque Churches of the Philippines
Criteria	Cultural: (ii)(iv)
Reference	677bis-002
Inscription	1993 (17th Session)
Extensions	2013
National Historical Landmarks
Official name	Santa Maria Church
Designated	August 1, 1973
Reference no.	No. 260, s. 1973

The Minor Basilica and Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Assumption, commonly known as Santa Maria Church, is a Roman Catholic Basilica in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. The church was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 11, 1993, as part of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, a collection of four Baroque Spanish-era churches. It is currently the Pro-Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia while the Vigan Cathedral is undergoing repairs.

The Santa Maria Church is an attraction to tourists and Catholics in Ilocos Sur. It is a reminder of the four centuries of Spanish domination over the area, and is a unique structure with a diverse architectural design of bricks and mortar. It was built on top of a hill a lookout and a citadel as well as a religious center during the early administration of the region by friars and soldiers of Spain.

Side walls of Santa Maria Church with bell tower

Chronicle Timeline of Santa Maria Church

Date	Event
1610	Establishment as Visita - Began as a chapel-of-ease (visita) under the jurisdiction of Narvacan, serving the initial Filipino settler population in the area.
1700	The twin chapels of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur were established during the late 18th century by the Augustinian missionaries as part of their expanding evangelization efforts. These chapels served as satellite places of worship for communities distant from the main church. The northern chapel is dedicated to Santa Maria Milagrosa (Nuestra Señora de la Asunción) and is locally and lovingly known as “Apo Baket”. This chapel holds special significance due to the local legend of the wandering image of the Virgin, believed to have appeared on a guava tree in this area—an event that led to the decision to build the main church on the hilltop. The southern chapel is dedicated to Señor Santo Kristo Milagroso, a deeply venerated image of the Crucified Christ known as "Apo Lakay" for miraculous intercessions. Together, these twin chapels symbolize the deep-rooted faith and religious heritage of the people of Santa Maria.
Pre 1765	Legend—the Wandering Image - Locals recount that the statue of the Virgin Mary kept disappearing from Bulala and was always found perched on a guava tree atop the hill, prompting relocation of the church to that site
1765	Ground breaking and the beginning of construction - Augustinian missionaries initiated the building of the present hilltop church to honor Our Lady of the Assumption
1767	The earliest recorded baptism in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur dates back to the year 1767.
1767	Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur was established by the Augustinian missionaries as a mission center for Abra. From this strategic location, they launched evangelization efforts into the interior regions of Northern Luzon, particularly reaching out to the indigenous communities in the mountains of Abra.
1769	Officially canonically established as a parish dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the Assumption title.
1769	Became Independent Parish
1801	Major Renovation by Fray Juan Cardaño - Fr. Cardaño strengthened the structure with massive buttresses, and enhanced the convent and bell tower—solidifying its fortress-like appearance.
1810	Bell Tower Constructed - A separate, octagonal pagoda-like belfry was built at a distance from the church to mitigate earthquake damage
1811	The year 1811 marked the arrival of the six church bells in Santa Maria namely Nuestra Señora dela Asuncion (biggest located at the central part of the belltower), Sto. Niño (smallest), San Jose (center facing north), San Agustin (topmost facing west), Sto. Kristo (Lower) and Sta. Barbara (topmost facing south).
1863	Defensive Walls added - A thick retaining and protective wall encompassing the church complex was erected, reinforced with buttresses every ~10 m to withstand seismic activity.
1863	Cemetery Added - The cemetery and its brick chapel (simborio) associated with Santa Maria Church date back to 1863. During that year, Fray Lorenzo Rodriguez, OSA, oversaw the construction of the protective walls and the cemetery complex at the foot of the hill below the church. Access to the cemetery was provided via a grand staircase and brick walkway, now in ruins and overgrown, leading down from the church
1893	Major Renovation of Convent - The convent building in front of the church was significantly refurbished, modernizing the complex.
1898	Church Taken Over by the Philippine Independent Church - In 1898, following widespread resentment toward Spanish friars and fueled by the Philippine Revolution, members of the Philippine Independent Church (PIC) seized control of many Roman Catholic churches in the Ilocos region—including Santa Maria Church
1898	Santa Maria Church as a Fortress During the 1898 Philippine Revolution - During the Philippine Revolution of 1898, Santa Maria Church in Ilocos Sur played a dual role—not only as a religious center but also as a fortified refuge and stronghold for local Katipuneros and revolution supporters.
1900's	Early 1900s travelers (like Henry Savage Landor in 1900) described the structure as grand and castle-like, perched atop a hill with broad stairways and convent terraces.
1934	The Benedictine Nuns came to Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur in 1934 and took residence in the old convent beside the church. They used it as a monastic enclosure and served as a contemplative community dedicated to prayer, Eucharistic adoration, and spiritual support to the local faithful.
1970	National Historical Landmark - Declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, recognizing its cultural and architectural importance.
1993	UNESCO Inscription - Designated part of the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, reflecting its unique hybrid of European-Baroque and local adaptation.
2010	Watch and Restoration - Listed on the 2010 World Monuments Watch as endangered; removed after conservation efforts and local protection laws enacted
2015	Santa Maria Church joyfully celebrated its 250th year as an independent parish. The milestone also marked 250 years of steadfast Christian faith and devotion in the community.
2015	Santa Maria Church was elevated by the National Museum of the Philippines to National Cultural Treasure, under Republic Act No. 10066, recognizing its outstanding cultural, historical, and architectural importance
2021	Santa Maria Church underwent significant restoration to preserve its structural integrity and historical value. The project aimed to maintain its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a treasured religious landmark in Ilocos Sur.
August 15, 2022	Santa Maria Church was officially elevated to the status of an Archdiocesan Shrine in time for the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption. The recognition highlighted the church’s deep Marian devotion and historical importance in the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia.
February 12, 2023	Along with its elevation as an Archdiocesan Shrine, Santa Maria Church also held the rededication of its altar and retablos. This solemn rite symbolized the renewal of faith and reverence for its sacred heritage.
2023	Santa Maria Church was not only elevated as an Archdiocesan Shrine and had its altar and retablos rededicated, but it was also designated as the Pro-Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. This designation affirmed its vital role in the spiritual life and leadership of the archdiocese during a significant transitional period.
October 7, 2024	It was officially announced that Santa Maria Church would be elevated to the status of a Minor Basilica by Pope Francis, making it the second Minor Basilica in the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. This distinguished honor highlights the church’s rich history, cultural heritage, and enduring role as a center of Marian devotion and faith.
August 15, 2025	Santa Maria Church was elevated and officially declared as a Minor Basilica by the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles John Brown. This historic event marks its formal recognition as the second Minor Basilica of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia, coinciding with the Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption, the church’s patroness.
Present	There are ongoing plans for the Pontifical Coronation of the image of Apo Baket (Nuestra Señora dela Asunción). The venerated image of Apo Baket, known for miracles and intercessions, is central to local devotion.

History

The parish of Santa Maria started as a chapel-of-ease (visita) of Narvacan, its neighboring town to the north, in 1567. The influx of the settlers after the full conquest of the Ilocos Region by the Spaniards greatly increased the population of Santa Maria. The chapel became an independent ministry in 1769 and was dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Assumption. Besides economic progress, evangelical missions were expanded. The mission at Santa Maria, located on a narrow flat plain between the sea and the central mountain range of Luzon, close to the interior settlements, made Santa Maria as the center of both the religious and commercial activities.

According to the legend, before the Santa Maria Church was built on its present site, the Virgin Mary was enshrined at a different place called Bulala. The frequent disappearance of the Virgin Mary from her previous place of enthronement only to be found perched on a guava tree that grew where the present church is located, had led the townspeople to move the church to its present location.

Father Mariano Dacanay, the Ilocano parish priest from September 1, 1902, to May 27, 1922, has another variation of this legend which he assures, was gathered from reliable sources. He relates that the Blessed Virgin was enthroned in another chapel that was formerly erected below the present church and what is now the Sta. Maria East Central School compound. Father Dacanay adds, that from this chapel, the Virgin Mary made her peregrinations to that guava tree on the knoll.

This version of Father Dacanay of the legend gains greater probability if not credence for today, one of the twin structures bearing the features and architectural designs of what could have been a chapel or a church by then obtaining standards remains intact in said school compound and presently used as a classroom for grade school pupils.

Numerous and varying legends or stories about the Virgin Mother have long become part of Philippine religious lore. And if any one of them could be accepted as truth, then it is the blessed Virgin herself who manifested in a miraculous way her preference of a site for her permanent home.

Construction of the present church was started in 1765. In 1810, the bell tower was built during the renovation of the church and furnished with a bell the following year. During the renovation of church complex in 1863, the protective wall around the sides of the hill was constructed. After the bell tower was remodeled the same year, its foundation must have gradually settled down making the imposing structure slightly leaning or tilting as it appears today. The convent was greatly renovated in 1895.

Many foreigners who traveled to the north and saw the church were much impressed by its size and setting calling the church as a cathedral. Henry Savage Landor, an English painter, writer and explorer who visited the Philippines in 1900, says:

At Santa Maria a most picturesque church is to be found, reached on an imposing flight of steps. An enormous convent stands beside the church, upon a terrace some 80 feet above the plaza. There are a number of brick buildings, schoolhouses and office, which must have been very handsome but are tumbling down, the streets being in the absolute possession of sheeps [sic], goats and hogs. A great expanse of level land was now well-cultivated into paddy fields and across it is a road fifteen feet wide, well-metalled and with a sandy surface. Barrios and homes were scattered all around the plain.

The church was listed as one of the most endangered monuments in the world by World Monuments Fund in the 2010 World Monuments Watch, along with the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras and San Sebastian Church, Manila. All of the sites were taken off the list in 2011 after the passage of the National Cultural Heritage Act.

The parish church was elevated to an archdiocesan shrine on August 15, 2022.

On November 18, 2024, Pope Francis declared the archdiocesan shrine as a minor basilica, making it the second basilica of the province.

Design

Unlike other town churches in the Philippines, which conform to the Spanish tradition of sitting them on the central plaza, the Church and Convent of Our Lady of the Assumption in Santa Maria are situated on a hill surrounded by a defensive wall on all sides like a fortress. The church can be reached by climbing an 85-step stairway of granite rock. The grand three-flight stairway leads to a courtyard in front of the church doorway where a sweeping view of the lower plains and the town of Santa Maria may be made. A narrow roadway coming from the back of the church also leads up to the courtyard but is only used on special occasions.

Façade

Santa Maria Church façade

The church brick façade has one large portal with three windows. The recessed arched entrance is flanked by a pair of rectangular pilaster dividing the façade into three well-defined planes. The whole façade is then framed on the sides by heavy circular buttresses topped by urn-like finials.

An open pediment in the upper façade is topped by a small cupola. The curvilinear shape of the pediment serves as a graceful finish to the upward movement of the pilasters and the arch entrance. The blind niche, urn-shaped pinnacles and even proportions-overlooking at the top are decorative devices of the upward movement.

Nave

Nave of Santa Maria Church in 2021

The church follows the standard Philippine layout with the façade fronting a long single nave rectangular building. The church measures about 99 meters (325 ft) long and 22.7 meters (74 ft) wide. The thick outer walls have delicately carved side entrances with few openings. The eastern and western side of the outer walls are reinforced by thirteen huge rectangular buttresses each typical of Earthquake Baroque architecture. The first buttress from the front is adorned by a huge relief retelling how the statue of Our Lady of Assumption was found on top of a tree. The relief is visible as one ascends the front stairway. The middle buttress on the eastern wall (back) is built like a staircase for easy maintenance of the roof back when thatched roof was the norm in Philippine churches, before the advent of corrugated galvanised iron (CGI). The lighter CGI roof is also preferred in earthquake-prone areas than tile roof.

Bell tower

The bell tower is freestanding, constructed separate from the church and not parallel to the façade but situated about a third of the wall from the front. The octagonal four-story tower was built wide, with each level narrowing till it reaches the top, typical of earthquake baroque church towers. The top floor is covered by a dome that is capped by cupola. A cross above the cupola tops the structure. Blank walls are arranged alternately with open windows. Other decorative devices, like single pilasters, finials and balustrades indicate that this form is of later vintage. A clock on the third level faces the stairway for the churchgoers to see. Six bells are hung, five are seen from the outside, and a big bell can be found inside.

• 
  The relief of Our Lady of Assumption on a tree on the first front buttress
• 
  The pagoda-like bell tower
• 
  The elevated walkway connecting the convent to the church
• 
  The stairway leading to the church courtyard

Convent

In front of the church is the convent, partly blocking the frontal view of the façade of Santa Maria Church. The placement of the convent in front of the church and not adjacent is another unusual characteristic of the building, probably dictated by the long narrow hill on which the church is located. It is accessible from the church by an elevated stone walkway. In the early days of the colonization, the convent was the seat of the ecclesiastical administration as well as home of the church clergies. Under the elevated walkway is a gate that leads to the back courtyard with a commanding view of the back countryside.

Cemetery

Another wide stairway, similar to the front, leads down from the courtyard to a brick walkway that leads to an old abandoned cemetery evergreen with brush and weeds. Within the brick fence of the square-shaped cemetery are the ruins of an old brick chapel and old graveyards.

Historical designations

National Historical Landmark

Church NHI historical marker installed in 1982

The National Historical Institute (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines) installed a marker next to the door of Santa Maria Church following Executive Order Nos. 260 on August 1, 1973; 375 on January 14, 1974; and 1515 on June 11, 1978, declaring the Santa Maria Church as a National Historical Landmark.

National Cultural Treasure

With Republic Act No. 10066 - National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 in place, all structures 50 years or older, structures with historical markers, and all structures designed by National Artists (regardless of age) are now presumed to be declared and cannot be demolished or altered without the permission of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). This is an attempt to compile all lists of formally declared cultural and historical structures and sites in the Philippines and make it available to the public via the Internet since the National Museum (NM) and National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), both under the NCCA, maintain their own lists. Santa Maria Church Complex and Cemetery was declared one of the National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines in 2015 by the National Museum.

Miraculous image of Our Lady of the Assumption

The statue of Apo Baket is made of wood in ornate sculptural style with ivory face and hands. It is 112 centimeters (44 in) tall. Her hands are extended wide, and her head is looking upward portraying her assumption into heaven. Her blue cape is decorated with silver floral designs and her white dress is embroidered with gold thread motif. She stands on a pedestal of cloud surrounded by angels’ heads. This image, along with her bejeweled dress, was kept in an elaborate carved wooden chest believed to have been used for cargo in galleon ship. Her feast day is August 15.

Apo Baket of Santa Maria: The Wandering Lady of Ilocos

How a Town Was Shaped by Her Presence - Before there was a grand stone church on a hill or a bustling town beneath it, there was only the sea, the shore, and a quiet village in what is now Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur.

After a storm had passed, the villagers found a wooden chest (which is still can be seen kept at the parish convent) washed ashore along the coast. They opened it and discovered a beautiful image of a woman — the Blessed Virgin Mary. No one knew where the image had come from, but her gentle face and peaceful presence immediately touched the hearts of those who saw her.

Seeing it as a gift from heaven, the villagers built a small bamboo chapel at the center of their settlement. It was humble, made of local materials—bamboo, nipa, and wood—but it stood with great faith, for inside was enthroned a most precious treasure. There, they enshrined her and began to pray. This would become the beginning of a devotion that would change the story of the town forever.

Not long after, Augustinian friars from the nearby town of Narvacan arrived. They were evangelizing the area and, upon witnessing the people's growing devotion, they offered guidance. With their help, the villagers built two sturdier chapels — one for Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, and the other for the Señor Sto. Kristo Milagroso. These became known as the Twin Chapels of Santa Maria.

The image of the Virgin Mary was enthroned in the northern chapel, and the devotion to her grew stronger with each passing year.

The Lady on the Hill - But then something mysterious began to happen. Despite being safely kept inside the chapel, the image would disappear — only to be found again, not far away, but always on a hill just east of the chapels, a hill covered in wild guava trees.

Sometimes she was seen resting against a guava tree. Other times, she stood silently, gazing down upon the town below. The villagers were puzzled at first, but as it happened again and again, they began to understand: The Virgin was asking for a new home. She had chosen the hill as her dwelling place. The Lady wanted to be enthroned on top of the hill—high above the town—to watch over her children with loving eyes and to shield them with her mantle of protection.

Once more, under the guidance of the Augustinian friars, the people began building a church — much larger than any they had ever built before. This church would be five times the size of the twin chapels. It was constructed slowly, carefully, and lovingly at the exact spot where the Virgin had been found — where the guava tree once stood.

There, they enthroned the Virgin Mary, never to be moved again. The people affectionately began calling her Apo Baket, meaning Venerable Old Woman in Ilocano — not to imply age, but to express deep respect and maternal reverence.

Apo Baket's Miracles Through the Years -Throughout the centuries, many miracles have been attributed to Apo Baket: She is said to have protected the town from invading forces, with enemies unable to damage the church or enter the town; During storms, townspeople would climb the hill and pray, and winds would calm, rains would stop, or lightning would strike elsewhere; The sick have been healed, and the desperate have found hope in her silent, maternal gaze; Her presence brought the people faith, unity, and strength — shaping not just a church, but the soul of a community.

Santa Barbara: The Defender Against Nature - Because the church stood on an elevated hill, it became vulnerable to frequent lightning strikes. At the same time, the town of Santa Maria, located in a lowland area, often suffered from seasonal flooding.

To protect the town and the church, the people decided to enthrone Santa Barbara, the patroness against lightning and storms, on top of Apo Baket at the main retablo. With her image placed at the side of the Virgin, Santa Barbara was honored as the Secondary Patroness of Santa Maria — a heavenly defender who would watch over the town against the forces of nature. Every December 4, the faithful gather again to celebrate the feast of Santa Barbara, their beloved defender, also with a nine-day novena and traditional festivities. Her role as protector continues to live in the hearts of the people, especially during the stormy season.

The Devotion Today - Now, generations later, the story of Apo Baket continues to live on. Her image still rests on the very spot she chose, surrounded by candles, prayers, and devotion.

Every August 15, during the Feast of the Assumption, the town of Santa Maria is filled with pilgrims and townsfolk. They offer flowers, sing hymns, attend Holy Mass, and join processions — honoring the Lady who came from the sea, wandered through guava trees, and chose a hill to be her throne.

And beside her, as always, stands Santa Barbara, ready to shield her people from storms and floods. From a wooden chest on the shore to a hilltop sanctuary known around the world, Apo Baket has written her story in the hearts of her people — a story of miracles, protection, and unending love.

But the story doesn’t end with stones and structure — it lives on in the hearts of the people.

External links

• Media related to Santa Maria Church (Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur) at Wikimedia Commons
• Santa Maria Church on Facebook
• Baroque Churches of the Philippines - UNESCO World Heritage Site