| Our Lady of Maulawin Nuestra Señora de Maulawin Virgen sa Maulawin | |
| Location: | Sta. Cruz, Laguna, Philippines |
| Witness: | Tomas Delos Santos Hipolito Pimentel |
| Type: | Wooden statue |
| Date: | June 4, 1910 |
| Approval: | June 4, 1911, Canonically granted by Obispo Máximo Gregorio Aglipay |
| Venerated In: | Iglesia Filipina Independiente |
| Shrine: | Cathedral of Our Lady of Maulawin, Sta. Cruz, Laguna |
| Attributes: | Marian Imprint on Molave wood |
| Feast Day: | June 4 |
| Patronage: | Sta. Cruz, Laguna |
The Our Lady of Maulawin (Spanish: Nuestra Señora de Maulawin, Filipino: Mahal na Birhen ng Maulawin) also known as the Virgin of Maulawin (Spanish: Virgen de Maulawin) and Virgin of Molave (Spanish: Virgen de Molave) is an Aglipayan title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus venerated by the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, one of only two images of the Virgin Mary (the other the Our Lady of Balintawak) to be indigenous to the nationalist church from the Philippines.[1]
Maulawin is the Tagalog name of the hardwood species Molave (Vitex parviflora). The tree, native in Asia, Central America and South America,[2] is valued in the Philippines for its dense, termite-resistant lumber used in construction of wooden structures and furniture.[3]
In 1921, the Novena sa Virgen Maulawin ñg Katagalugan: na pinipintakasi sa Iglesia Flipina Independiente sa Sta. Cruz, Laguna, K. T. (Kapuluang Tagalog) was published by L. Reyes, which recounts what could be the definitive hagiography of this Marian title.[4]
In May 1909, A group of loggers went to Mt. Sembrano (on the Jalajala side[5]) to select and cut lumber, with hopes that the wood be sold in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Upon inspection, Telesforo Cruz- a man they offered the logs to, deemed that the wood not to his liking.[6]
The group then brought the logs in Daang Malusak (now Mabini St.) where Tomas "Tomeng" Delos Santos bought the lumber to be used for a storage house. The wood sat for one year, unused (as was customary for newly cut logs) till June 4, 1910, when Tomeng decided to start building, eliciting the help of carpenter Hipolito "Poleng" Pimentel.[7] Poleng, in his preparation, sawed of a crooked piece of the log and discovered the image of Our Lady imprinted on it. Cutting more of the wood revealed more imprints. The first of the imprints were placed on the storage house, which eventually became a chapel. Visitors and curious onlookers travelled to this pilgrimage site hoping for miracles and healing. On the other hand, Mt. Sembrano, now remembered as a Santong Lugar (Holy place) became a pilgrimage site as well for Aglipayanos to remember the source of the wood.[8]
On June 4, 1911, a year after the discovery, a mass was celebrated by Obispo Maximo Gregorio Aglipay on the chapel that would eventually be the Cathedral of Our Lady of Maulawin (Filipino:Katedral ng Birhen Maulawin) .
Slices of original image are venerated in a which contains a side chapel of the cathedral which also functions as a gallery of church practices over the years.[9] One of the slices is also found in a chapel at the Santong Lugar site in Mt. Sembrano. Another can be found in chapel in Marikina.[10]
Fluvial and traditional land processions are done by devotees during her fiesta and during special events.[11]
In September 2024, the cathedral was declared the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Maulawin by the Supreme Council of Bishops (SCB) of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.[12]