Our Lady of the Pillar Church in Morong, Bataan is over 400 years old and stands as one of the oldest churches in the entire province. Founded in 1607, it has long been an important part of the town’s history, serving as one of the earliest centers of Christian worship in the area.

It was in the early years of this parish that devotion to Nuestra Señora del Pilar began. Local tradition recounts that two captured Moro raiders once told the town’s leaders that, as they were preparing to attack Morong, they saw what appeared to be soldiers guarding the area, led by a woman dressed in queenly clothes. Because of what they saw, the attack did not proceed.

While the church was still being built, a Spanish priest showed the captives several images of the Virgin Mary and the saints. When the image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar was presented, they identified her as the woman they had seen. After this, the church was placed under her patronage, and devotion to the Virgin of the Pillar gradually became part of parish life.

We were able to visit the church ourselves, and it was fortunate that it had just reopened on December 28 after being closed for a year due to renovation. Seeing the church soon after its reopening gave us a chance to appreciate both its long history and its renewed place in the community.

In 2018, the Church formally recognized this long-standing devotion. By virtue of a Papal Decree issued on March 23, the image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar of Morong was granted a Canonical Coronation. The coronation rites were held on October 10, 2018, followed by the Episcopal Coronation on October 12.