Welcome facade of San Mateo (photo courtesy of wikipedia.org)
For the span of 300 years, the people of San Mateo can prove that the municipality has been blessed under the guidance of Our Lady of Aranzazu. It is believed that San Mateo was established by the Augustinians during 1500s. Since San Mateo is surrounded with mountains, the Augustinians sent their younger missionaries who can easier climb the town through horses and reach the Aetas who were then located around the place. The Augustinians wanted to teach the Aetas with the sacrament and catechism. It was the Augustinians who managed the San Mateo until they had a problem with the Jesuits.
The Augustinians filed a complaint against the Jesuits for having missionary in their area. The then archbishop of Manila, Fr. Fray Pedro Payo, a Dominican, favored the Augustinians. The Jesuits appealed to the Real Audiencia of the Philippines which is considered as the Supreme Court before. As opposed to the first decision, the King of Spain favored the Jesuits and the Augustinians generously accepted the decision. The Augustinians gave the San Mateo back to the Jesuits.
According to recorded history of San Mateo, Fr. Juan de Echazabal brought the devotion for Our Lady of Aranzazu to San Mateo on 1705 and because they witnessed the strong devotion of the people of San Mateo, the Jesuits decided to establish a church in the town which was fully furnished by the year of 1716. This was also the time when the church was blessed along with Aranzazu who was blessed as the patroness of San Mateo. Fr. Echazabal and the rest of the Jesuit missionaries were more than satisfied upon the construction of the church especially when they saw the undying devotion of the people of San Mateo for Aranzazu. They considered these things rewarding after all the problems and issues they had against the Augustinians.
The shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu in Oñate, Spain is surrounded with mountains, one characteristic of the place that is very much alike with San Mateo which is surrounded by Sierra Madre; it is believed as one of the reasons why Fr. Echazabal chose San Mateo where he would bring the devotion for Aranzazu.
Going back to the origin of San Mateo, we can see how strong the devotion that the people has for Aranzazu since the beginning. San Mateo which was known for its mountains is now surrounded with various commercial establishments; almost ready to become a city. Though surroundings may change; the people of San Mateo proved that through the years; may it reach 300 years things won’t change if love and faith are consistent. It is the love for the mother of the town of San Mateo, our ever-loving and protective mother, Our Lady of Aranzazu. (Camille Fernandez Cabal)
