Oral tradition says that Sariaya began as a Christian community in the year 1599, on the shores of what is now Barangay Castanyas, when Spanish Franciscan friars evangelized and converted the natives of the place. Since then, the church and consequently, the community itself, transferred locations three times more, due to destructive natural calamities, and the burning pillage of Muslim pirates from Southern Philippines as revenge to Spanish encroachments into Muslim Mindanao.

At its third town site called “ Lumangbayan “, now in Barangay Tumbaga, the Spanish friars petitioned King Felipe V of Spain for a replica of the crucifix of Burgos, Spain, which was granted, and the icon was enshrined in their stone church. Thereafter, the strong earthquake of 1743 toppled the church belfry and a succeeding flood of mud, water and stones from Mount Banahaw swamped the place. Oral tradition told of yet another attack by the Muslim pirates that burned “ Lumangbayan “ to the ground. When the surviving townspeople returned, they were astonished that their Santo Cristo was miraculously unscathed, so they wrapped it in white cloth and carried it on the shoulders of the men folk, in search of a safer place to build their church further up the slopes of Mount Banahaw. Pausing to rest, accordingly, they could not lift the icon again, which they took as a providential sign to build a church at the exact site, the present day church of Saint Francis of Assisi. Built with strong materials, it has withstood the test of time, just as the “ miraculous “ Santo Cristo De Burgos “ was permanently enshrined behind the intricate church Retablo, and became the subject of an every Friday pilgrimage and devotion among Sariayahins and its faithful devotees from other places, whom affectionately address it as “ Ang Mahal Na Senyor “.

Through the centuries, the church grew into what is now three parishes, the Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Sariaya Poblacion, the Immaculate Conception Parish in Barangay Lutucan and the Ninya Maria Parish in Barangay Castanyas. The church of Saint Francis of Assisi had recently undergone massive reconstruction and beautification, largely through the efforts of present parish priest Msgr. Melecio Verastigue. It now boasts of a newly renovated Patio, together with an exquisitely designed and awe inspiring convent now called the “ Residential Museum “.

The area recently vacated by St. Francis High School is being developed as a “ Devotional Park “, with statues of icons, a Lady of Lourdes Grotto, a Risen Christ or “ Resurreccion “, a life-size Last Supper, a wall frieze depicting the 15 Stations of the Cross, a Candle shrine and a fountain, together with two Mortuaries, Conference rooms and a Reception Area for weddings and other occasions. The old mortuary under the church convent has been converted into a Franciscan Museum called the “ Museo Ng Debosyon At Buhay “. On permanent exhibit are the three Franciscan Devotions, the first of which is the Eucharist, represented by a mini altar set-up complete with a mannequin dressed up as a priest. The Nativity devotion features a life-size “ Belen “exhibit of the Holy Family in a manger set-up with terra cotta sheep and rice straw hay. The crucified Christ devotion is represented by Sariaya’s “ Santo Cristo De Burgos “in tarpaulin form, together with another tarpaulin for the photograph of its Medieval original from Burgos, Spain. Also on display is a life size wooden Santo Cristo de Burgos carved from the fallen half of the once big centuries-old Acacia tree in the church patio that fell on October 2001,side by side with an old much smaller Santo Cristo used during erstwhile Good Friday ceremonies.A separate exhibit is devoted to another prominent patron of Sariaya, the “ San Isidro De Labrador “, the Spanish saint of farmers, together with tarpaulin scenes from the May 15th Agawan Festival. Tarpaulin scenes from recent institutionalized activities of the Sariaya Tourism Council related to the two other Franciscan devotions like the “ Belen Festival “ and the Holy Wednesday street play “ Santo Kristo : Isang Senakulo ‘, are likewise featured. Wooden images of Saint Francis of Assisi, together with Assisi, Italy photographs likewise in tarpaulin form can be found in the Franciscan corner. A curiosity for visitors of the museum is the Saint Francis of Assisi relic, a tiny fragment of his skeleton encased in the glass-covered center of a metal cross, which is said to be traditionally kissed by devotees every Monday.

Be awed and inspired by a town’s religious heritage… which shaped its life, history and culture for more than 400 years! Come and visit the Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church, and have your fair share of the Sariayahin experience!