MARAGONDON’ CHURCH

FRANZINE MELODY NICOLE A. GARANO

BSTM 1E
Before 1611 Maragondon was established as a separate town from
Silang by the Jesuit Angelo Armano. Before this year the Franciscans
were already actively evangelizing the area. In 1630 a second church
with more elaborate furnishings was completed. During this year
hacienda in Looc, straddling the boundaries of Batangas and Cavite,
bequeathed to the Jesuits’ Colegio de Manila, was added to
Maragondon's jurisdiction. In 1633 a new and bigger church was built to
replace the older and smaller one, the church stone for some time
between 1646 and 1649. The government ordered its demolition for fear
that the Dutch, who were at war with Spain, would use it and other
churches near Manila for fortification. The orders were apparently
implemented because on May 16, 1650, a license was given to the
Jesuits to build a house and church of wood in Maragondon to replace
the one that had been demolished.

Repairs were made on the convent between 1666 and 1672. In 1687
another church was begun although the construction was interrupted;
only in 1714 was it completed. The church was repaired a number of
times but data on the renovation are sketchy. After 1860 the Recollect
added windows with colored glass panes, and set these in a wooded
frame decorated with a quail on a plate, the attribute of San Nicolas de
Tolentino.

The secular priest de los Reyes also did some repairs probably during
the convocation of the second Vatican Council which was
commemorated in the Philippines with a jubilee year. To commemorate
the event, a roof beam was emblazoned with inscriptions.