About UIC

The RVM Community

This page enables us to look into the past...a past that brought us pride in the present. This serves as an immense honor for the nobility of the institution's foundress, Mother Ignacia Del Espiritu Santo. As you take a glimpse of the events of the past, you'll understand how the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM) was founded. Let's unfold the story behind the existence of the RVM congregation as well as the life of its foundress.

In the 17th century, a group of native women (yndias) in Manila establishes a religious community dedicated to the service of God. The foundress of this community is Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, a Chinese mestiza from Binondo. Against the will of the king of Spain and with little support from church athorities, these women stand for what they believe in and defy any attemp to stifle their original inspiration.

The religious community, called the beaterio, becomes a center for spiritual enlightment of yndias, mestizas and even Spanish women of nobility at the time when women are denied of education, political power and a chance to be equal to men in the hispanized society. Despite wars, revolutions and suppression brought about by a patriachal society, the beaterio flourishes until the present time when the religious community takes the form of the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM).