Written by Bro. Delfin Victor delos Reyes
Translated and annotated by James Benedict Malabanan
Before the arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippines, Los Baños was known for its former name “Ma-i-nit”. In 1570, St. Pedro Bautista, the famed Custos of the Franciscans in the Philippines, priest and martyr, went to the place for a canonical visit on the shore of Laguna de Bay. He discovered many hot springs with the waters were mixed with sulfur which gives its curative properties. He immediately established a hospital in 1593 yet due to lack of funds, it wasn’t completed. He however built a temporary shelter for priests near the hot springs to administer the place.
Los Baños was established initially as a “visita” of the town of Bay, then known as “San Nicolas de Tolentino” that was administered by the Augustinians since 1589. The town of “Baños de Bay” in 1602 while in 1604, Governor General Pedro de Acuña gave permission to establish the hospital, the church and a convent and was placed under the administration of Rev. Fr. Diego de Santa Maria. The hospital was named “Hospital de Nuestra Señora de Agua Santa de Maynit” which was administered by the parish priest of Bay.
From 1613 up to 1727, there wasn’t a church built in Los Baños and the parishioners would attend Mass at the Chapel of the Francisan Hospital dedicated to the Immaculate Conception – Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas. The Parish of Nuestra Señora de la Immaculada Concepcion was established in 1613 and the town came to existence two years later. It was during this time that “Maynit” became known as “Los Baños”. The first strong edifice of the church dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Immaculada Concepcion was built in 1671 yet it was destroyed by fire in 1727.
The stone church was rebuilt during the tenure of Padre Domingo Mateo, OFM in 1790. He was also responsible for the restoration of the wooden parts of the church, the roof, the installation of two bells and a sacristy in 1851.
The chapel was caught on fire in 1727 and it was decided to build the church in honor of the Virgin that was initially constructed from bamboo and nipa. The present stone church was built in stone in 1790 during the administration of Rev. Fr. Domingo Mateo and in 1851, the church was renovated by Rev. Fr. Manuel Amat by installing tiles, the construction of the bell tower, the sacristy, a convent for priests, a primary school and other key infrastructures of Los Baños. He also took the reins to repair the parish and the convent of Los Baños in 1852 yet it was destroyed once again due to a strong earthquake in1863 that two priests, Rev. Fr. Manuel Rodriguez and Rev. Fr. Guillermo Martin took over the repairs.
The people from other pueblos began to move to Los Baños as the news of the hot springs came about to the point that even Europeans and Indians would visit the place to seek cure for their illnesses.
There are two images of Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas make it in this town. The first image is believed to have come from Spain. The second image has a story of its own. Sometime in 1800, a fisherman who was about to alight from his boat found an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Conception on the shoreline. Thinking that she was the one venerated on the parish, he took it and brought it to the church. Upon reaching the place, he was taken aback by surprise for he saw the other image on the altar. And when he tried to lift the statue that he brought along, he discover that he could no longer carry it alone. At present, the two statues are usually carried by three or four men when they are transferred from the shrine.
A cave was then constructed by Rev. Fr. Juan de Carrillo, as an oratory for the Virgin in 1849 which was later demolished and would become the present site of Splash Island.
It is not known who brought these statues to the country. But the first one is believed to have been brought to this town by St. Pedro Bautista. Both statues are made of carved wood. The hands are detachable and painted blue and white, but dresses are made fitted to the images and adorned with gold and silver threads. Their heads are crowned with silver studded with precious stones and circlets of twelve stars.
There were numerous miracles of Nuestra Señora de Agua Santa that are kept and perpetuated by the devotees of the Virgin as she continues to manifest them up to the present.
Locals would recount the unusual phenomenon surrounding the image of the Virgin from her vestments were always soaking wet covered with amor seko burs, wet footsteps to her altar as some would testify that would see a young woman bathing in the waters of Los Baños and would leave stones and traces leading to the altar of the Virgin. Other phenomena were the change of her facial expressions on different occasions and a woman that resembles the Virgin wandering to the neighboring towns of Los Baños to ask for a vestment or visit her shrine.
One of the most frequent phenomena surrounding the Virgin was the unusual change of weight of the image of the Virgin. Such recorded incident was when during the Philippine Revolution of 1898, Rev. Fr. Francisco Patino planned to bring the image of Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas to Calamba for safekeeping. However, once they are about to Calamba, the image became unusually heavy that it cannot be lifted, until the image was returned to her altar in Los Baños.
During the Second World War in 1944, a Japanese soldier attempted to burn the church of Los Baños, until a mysterious woman, introducing herself as “Maria San”, came to him pleading to stop his plan that he mysteriously complied with. The soldier returned to Los Baños in 1977 and was able to recognize the image of the Virgin as the same woman who pleaded to stop his plan.
At present, the devotion to Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas continues to thrive to this day, with her feast is celebrated every December 8 with much devotion and the Flores de Mayo tradition continues to flourished and observed which concludes with a procession of the Virgin.
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas of Los Baños, Laguna, stands as a timeless testament to its enduring significance. Through the years, this devotion has held a special place in the hearts of the faithful, symbolizing faith, hope, and profound spiritual connection. As the devotion continues to thrive, it reminds us of the importance of unwavering dedication, fostering a sense of community, and preserving our rich cultural heritage for generations to come.
References:
Aviado, Lutgarda, “Madonnas of the Philippines”, Manlapaz Press, Quezon City, 1972.
Cinco, Maricar, “Healing bath’ also a matter of faith”, Philippine Daily Inquirer, October 15, 2011.
Huerta, Felix de, “Estado geográfico, topográfico, estadístico, histórico-religioso”, Binondo: Imprenta de M. Sanchez y Ca., 1865.
“Laguna’s old churches await pilgrims”. Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 24, 2005.
Platero, Eusebio Gomez, “Catalogo Biografico de los Religiosos Franciscanos de la Provinica de San Gregorio Magno de Filipinas.”, Manila, Imprenta del Real Cloegio de Santo Tomas, 1880.
Photos:
Immaculate Conception Parish- Los Baños
Innocencio, Glenn
delos Reyes, Delfin Victor
Special thanks to Mr. Delfin Victor delos Reyes for his work on the preservation of the history and devotion to Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas of Los Baños, Laguna.
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