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The Journey of the Church of Manaoag

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Located on a hilltop in Manaoag, the Minor Basilica and Parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Manaoag is known as one of the most visited churches in the country. The church is home to the miraculous image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag and is known for its rich history.


Photo reference: Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag (Facebook page)

The History of Manaoag Church

The Christian mission in Pangasinan started in 1575 when the Augustinians arrived and built missions in Lingayen, Dagupan, and Santa Monica-the former name of Manaoag. However, because many locals resisted conversion, they eventually left the area.


Although not well documented, other missionaries are said to also serve in Pangasinan, while the Franciscans later attempted to continue the mission. Despite their efforts, they were unable to successfully convert the local population.


It was only in 1587 that the Dominican Order firmly established a mission in Binalatongan (now San Carlos City), placing it under the patronage of their founder, Saint Dominic de Guzman.


Prior to the arrival of the Dominican Order the Augustinians had already built a small chapel in Manaoag, which was later turned over to the Dominicans in 1605. The first Dominican assigned there was Fr. Juan de San Jacinto. 


In August 1925, Pope Pius XI approved the petition of Fr. Rodriguez for the canonical coronation of Our Lady of Manaoag. The Marian image was formally crowned on April 21, 1926, by Guillermo Piani, acting on behalf of the Pope.


Recognition by the Holy See

On October 11, 2014, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag was declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis. Its Solemn Proclamation Mass took place on February 1, 2015.


Later that year, on December 23, 2015, the National Museum of the Philippines recognized the shrine as a National Cultural Treasure, marking another significant milestone in its history. The official unveiling of its marker was subsequently held on February 14, 2018.


The Minor Basilica recently marked the 100th anniversary of the canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Manaoag. During the event, the image was briefly brought outside the church, allowing the thousands of devotees attending the celebration to venerate the Blessed Mother. 


Click here to view quick facts about this parish church.


References

Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag. (n.d.). The basilica. https://www.manaoagminorbasilica.org/the-minor-basilica-of-manaoag

Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. (n.d.). History of the Devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag. https://lingayendagupan.org/our-lady-of-manaoag

Serquiña, M. C. (2026, April 19). 5 must-know facts about Our Lady of Manaoag. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/984233/our-lady-of-manaoag-facts/story/

Serquiña, M. C. (2026, April 22). Manaoag Minor Basilica marks 100th anniversary of Marian image’s canonical coronation. GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/984991/manaoag-minor-basilica-100th-anniversary-canonical-coronation-marian-image/story/

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