Our Lady of Candelaria Parish Church (Silang)

historical marker installed in 2008 The Franciscans started evangelizing Silang in 1585 with the permission of Cristóbal de Salvatierra. After ten years, the parish was established on February 3, 1595, and they built a small chapel made of light materials dedicated to Saint Diego of Alcalá alongside a small school. The Franciscans ministered to Silang until 1611 The first Jesuits in town was Diego Sánchez and Diego de Santiago. The first two Jesuits were followed by Luis Gómez, Francisco Almerici, Pedro Chirino, and Leonardo Scelsi. When the Jesuits were expelled from Spanish lands, the parish was taken over by secular clergy in 1788, the Augustinian Recollects in 1849, again by secular clergy in 1868, then the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) in 1910, the seculars for a third time in 1913, and Columbans in 1936. The church has been administered by secular clergy since 1978. == Features ==

Unlike other Jesuit churches like Antipolo and Tanay built under the auspices of Salazar, Silang church is a typical baroque church without any elaborate and magnificent ornamentation on its simple façade. Huge stone walls were built to protect the church from bandits. Like its exterior, the interior of Silang is also simple. There are no ornamentation on its pilasters and small windows are placed high on walls. == Devotion to the Virgin of Candelaria ==

, Patroness of Silang, Cavite Andres, an indio from Silang discovered a box containing an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the mountains of Silang in 1640. Upon the advice of the Jesuit rector, he ordered the people to make vigil, bring the image to the church in festive mood. From then on, the image was permanently placed in the retablo of the church of Silang. Until now, the same procession and festive mood is still celebrated in Silang from February 1 to 3 every year that coincides with the feast of the Virgin of Candelaria every February 2. == Notes ==