Besides being blessed with beautiful, fertile lands, Malolos City in the province of Bulacan is prominent in the nation's history and religion as it also has many churches of dating back many years but still preserve their splendor and are still servicing the needs of the faithful. The most prominent of these is the Minor Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
Malolos Cathedral, also known as the Basilica Minore dela Nuestra Señora de Inmaculada Concepcion in Spanish or Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in English, is the ecclesiastical seat of the Diocese of Malolos in the Philippines.
The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is also a spectacular piece of architecture, the predominant feature of the Cathedral-Basilica is the semi-circular arch in its lower part that boasts of its Baroque design. The ornamentation is moderate; the massing is well balanced and the symmetrical movement of the columns and openings are almost Neo-Classic. The facade is divided by single and coupled Doric columns in three segments, and is dominated by large semi-circular arches of the openings in the first level, and the smaller ones superimposed on the second level which are alternately semicircular and segmented. The triangular pediment strongly outlined by heavily projecting broken cornices is topped by a sort of acroteria in the center and torch-like finials. A statued niche flanked by fluted pilasters topped by a segmented canopy crowns the silted frame of the center window. Triglyphs decorate the frieze and a stylized Augustinian emblem decorates the center of pediment. The over-all impression is one of the neatness of line, counterbalanced by the dramatic circular of the openings.
During old times, the Malolos Cathedral's bell tower was a topped with Triangular Cone, it may be seen on the photos exist mostly on war times in 1898-1899. In 1970, during the major renovation of the Cathedral, the triangular cone at the top of the bell tower was removed and replaced by a concrete statue of the Immaculate Conception, donated by Amparo Bautista. The said statue still exists as of the present time.
Previously, the cathedral only had one door at the center. It was made into three doors in 1950's
Other interesting historical sites that are well worth the visit and are very near the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception are the Casa Real Museum, the Bautista Mansion, and the Malolos Municipal Hall, places to complete one's journey into history. These are all within reach of the Town Plaza of Malolos City, Bulacan.
To visit this spectacular piece of history, one needs to go north of Metro Manila via the NLEX headed northbound, then turn at Tabang Exit, then to Malolos Junction headed to Malolos City proper.