Malicboy Church

Malicboy Church
(St.Anne Parish and Diocesan Shrine)

N13°58.8240' E121°47.3570' Elev: 17m 

The St. Anne Shrine is visited by devotees and pilgrims with their faith that attending the Novena in this church answers their prayers. Novenas are held every Tuesday and there is a particular dedication/blessing depending on which Tuesday it is:

First Tuesday of the month: For those wanting to conceive and have children Second Tuesday of the month: For Pregnant Women Third Tuesday of the month: For Babies and Children Fourth Tuesday of the month: For Couples in love Fifth Tuesday of the month: For the Whole Family

St. Anne Shrine facade as seen from the Highway	Interior of the Saint Anne Shrine
Image of St. Anne at the church altar	Image of St. Anne in the candle garden

How to get there?
From Pagbilao, just follow the National Highway going to Atimonan. Go past the Y-junction at Binahaan by taking the left branch. After KM post 148, notice that the road goes straight for a long stretch. Go past Locohin Bridge (Binahaan Bridge). In the vicinity of where KM post 149 used to be is a right turning curve. Along this curve is Malicboy Bridge. After the bridge, the road goes straight again for as far as you can see. Then the road comes with a a left turning curve.

Along this curve, find St. Anne Shrine on the left side. Also in the same vicinity is the Barangay Hall of Silangang Malicboy which you would find to your right. You must exercise extra caution when driving to the parking area or walking across the road , since this part of the highway is a "compound curve", meaning after the left turning curve, a right turning curve immediately follows. It other words, be cautious of incoming vehicles and the ubiquitous motorcyles. 

History
The St. Anne Parish was officially established on 17 March 1958. But as early as 1908, in a place in Malicboy where there is a group of houses called "Grupo", the yearly celebration of the fiesta was started.

The very first church (ermita) measured 6m x 10m had no walls though it had tin roof. It was built on the lot owned by Silverio Merluza.
 
The Grupo led by Pio Dimalaluan and Enrique Glorioso agreed to seek the help of Lino Castro, who is from the town proper and owner of the farm cultivated by Pio. Lino was the one who would invite a priest to say mass for their fiesta. Father and daughter Lino and Ana then arranged that the fiesta mass on their farm be held on Ana's birthday which is July 26. On that day Ana Castro brought the picture of her patron saint St. Anne. From then on, Ana brought the picture every year until she had it enshrined in the ermita under the care of Pio.
Through the years, the ermita became dilapidated and was later destroyed by a strong typhoon. The picture of St. Anne was also damaged.

Before World War II, the elected Barrio Captain Vicente Batilo, together with his constituents built a new ermita on top of a hill to make it nearer to the community. People started building new houses around the then newly constructed train station. During these times, Ana hired an artist from Lucban, Lucilo Empamano, who decorated the ermita every year during the fiesta.
 
During the war, the ermita was in this location and the yearly celebration was never missed. The sorrounding area was even used as a cemetery during the hostilities. Until such time that the structure was destroyed by termites, Malicboy had no permanent church. For quite a long time, the yearly mass celebrations was held under a temporary bamboo frame erected wherever they could arrange for space.
 
In 1948, another ermita was built in Sitio Magsaysay on a lot owned by the Marquez family, But it was again damaged only after a year.
 
Later, on a lot inherited by Angel Glorioso from his father Enrique, a new wooden ermita with tin roof was built. This area used to be situated behind the houses and a warehouse owned by a Chinese businessman.

St. Anne Church in 1950s Photo lifted from 25th Anniversary (1958-1983) Souvenir Program

St Anne Church prior to the 1993 renovation Photo lifted from Church Dedication Program 15 July 2000

The couple Angel and Canding (Catapat) went on to have the ermita built. The structure was made sturdy with wooden walls. That was in 1952. In April of that year, a stranger had his car broke down near the railroad crossing which is near the couple's house. The occupants are from Pampanga and were selling Chist the King images. The strangers stayed in the couple's house for the night. By next day, an order was placed for an image of St. Anne based on the picture left behind by Ana Castro-Martinez. In May of that year, the new image was delivered. The image did not have an infant Mary yet because the picture on which it was based from could be representing the time that St. Anne is still single.

With the image of St. Anne, the people were inspired to improve the ermita. Many contributed wooden planks for the walls. Dr. Rafael Borja donated the lacking wooden planks to have the walls completed in time for the fiesta of 1952.

A few months after the fiesta of 1957, with advise from Rev.Fr.Vicente Urlanda, the people requested from Most Rev. Bishop Alfredo Ma.Obiar for St.Anne Church to have their own priest. With the arrival on 17 March 1958 of Rev.Fr.Severiano G. Salvania as the first parish priest, the Parish of St.Anne was founded and under it were Barangays Ilaya & Ibabang Binahaan, Ilaya & Ibabang Pulo and Silangan & Kanlurang Malicboy. From then on, the parish improved with a convent built in 1959. Also, the lot was elevated to avoid getting flooded

In 02 July 1960, the corner stone was laid for the new parish church. As years passed, the construction was continuing and the parish was able to acquire adjacent lots with generous help from parishoners. The church was completed and blessed in 25 July 1983. With the increase of parishoners, including devotees and pilgrims from other areas, the church renovation started in 1993 and was completed in 14 July 2000 together with the Evangelization Hall, candle stands, comfort rooms, fencing, patio and priest's residence. The church was blessed and dedicated in 15 July 2000.

In 04 January 2000, in the year of the Great Jubilee, the St.Anne Shrine was dedicated by Most Rev. Ruben T. Profugo as a "Jubilee Pilgrim Church".

References used with permission:
- Parish of St. Anne 25th Anniversary (1958-1983)Souvenir Program
- Church Dedication Program 15 July 2000
50th Anniversary

On 15 March 2008, the St.Anne Parish, under parish priest Rev.Fr. Raphy Tolentino, celebrated its 50th anniversary as a parish. The guest of honor was no less than the President of the Republic of the Philippines. It is a very rare and unusual occasion that the President would grace an event like this. More photos by Gerry Lontok of the President's visit may be viewed at www.pagbilawin.com - a website maintained by US-based Glenn Maningas. If your browser requests for password, please click here: www.pagbilawin.com

The St. Anne Parish is being served (since February 2009) by parish priest Rev.Fr. Ruel V. Abuel, a native of Atimonan and previously assigned at St. Jude Thaddeus Shrine, Cotta, Lucena City. photo: Judy Lontok-Simbajon

See St.Anne Shrine Vicinity Map featured at WaypointsDotPH

Photos and Narratives by 

Engr. Gerry B. Lontok ©2005