Complex sentence: Vengco based this claim on personal research in Mexico, where he said the wood was a popular medium in the period the statue was carved, and likened it to Our Lady of Antipolo, of similar provenance and appearance.
Split into simpler sentences: Vengco based this claim on personal research in Mexico, where he said the wood was a popular medium in the period the statue was carved. He also likened it to Our Lady of Antipolo, another popular image of similar provenance and appearance.