In the rising suburb of Imus, Cavite where commerce is flourishing, there lies the seat of the Catholic Faith of Cavite. The Diocese of Imus, created in 1961 by Pope John XXIII, selected the Parish of Nuestra Senora del Pilar as the seat of the Diocese and placed it under the Patronage of the Blessed Mother.
Cavite is known as the “Tierra de Maria”, the Land of the Blessed Virgin Mary since almost every town and district of Cavite, the Blessed Mother is their chosen Patroness. In the area of Imus, Cavite, the Imuseño enjoys the protection of their beloved Nuestra Señora del Pilar, or more popularly known in her affectionate name “Nana Pilar”.
The image
The venerated image of Nana Pilar is that of a de tallado image (image carved with vestments) of the Blessed Virgin with the Child Jesus standing in a Pillar. However, as years passed by, the image is vested with real clothes.
Unlike the common depictions of the Virgin of the Pillar where the Blessed Mother is holding her dress while holding her Son, the image is unique for the image is was tilted and her left arm is outstretched, as if showing that she is there ready for someone in need.
History
The origins of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus is uncertain, yet there were at least two narratives that explains the origins of the image, one recorded in the annals of the Order of the Augustinian Recollects and an oral traditon that has been passed for centuries.
According to the written annals of the Augustinian Recollect Order, in 1623, Fr. Martin Lumbreras Sanches Perez Peralta, OAR, originating from Zaragoza, brought with him the devotion to Nuestra Señora del Pilar as recorded in the annals of the Augustinian Recollect Order. The first image of the Virgin of the Pillar was brought to the church of San Nicholas de Tolentino in Intramuros, Manila, where it was enshrined on a small altar. The devotion to the Virgen del Pilar grew among the residents of the Walled City, leading to the formation of the group “Obras Pias de la Nuestra Señora del Pilar.”
Fr. Martin was later martyred in the Japanese Missions, where he served as one of the Spiritual directors of Sta. Magdalena de Nagasaki. He was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II along with Bl. Melchor de San Agustin.
On May 28, 1694 the Recollect Friars decided that the image of the Virgin of the Pillar be transferred from her small altar in the San Nicholas de Tolentino Church to the Casa Hacienda de Imus and placed the image temporarily in the infirmary. In March 13, 1766 the Recollect friars approved a plan to construct a new church in the Hacienda in honor of the Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus.
On September 27, 1779, the Church of Our Lady of the Pillar in Imus was completed (under the jurisdiction of St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Kawit, Cavite) and the image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar was enshrined. In 1795, the parish beacame independent and it was placed under the patronage of Nuestra Señora del Pilar and St. John the Baptist.
On the other hand, an oral tradition of the arrival of the image recounts that the image arrived during the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade and it is said that there were two galleons bearing different trades and goods
from Spain. One galleon brought the image of San Miguel Arcangel of Bacoor and the other have the image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus.
Don Ambrocio Palma I saw the image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar on a galleon’s arrival and was given the image for free after he promised to take care of it. He brought it to his house in Imus, and when he enthroned it in an altar, a strange phenomenon happened where the image appeared to be engulfed in a bright light. Don Ambrocio saw this as a sign that the Virgin wanted her image to be placed in a church for more people to venerate her. The Palma family, after five generations, still takes care of the image which was enthroned in the newly built church in 1779.
On November 25, 1961, Pope St. John XXIII established the Diocese of Imus and the Church of Our Lady of the Pillar became the Seat of the Diocese with the Nuestra Señora del Pilar as its
Titular Patroness.
St. Ezekiel Moreno and Nana Pilar
Not know to most people, a Saint once served the Parish of Imus. He is St. Ezequiel Moreno OAR. It was in 1892 that Fr. Moreno was sent to be the Administrator of the Hacienda de Imus and to help the parish priest Fray Jose Maria Learte, OAR with the Cholera epidemic that greatly affected the Hacienda. It is said that Fr. Moreno often prayed in front of the Image of Nana Pilar and ask for the cessation of the Epidemic; the outbreak did kill 3,200 Imuseño, but with the grace of God and intercession of the Blessed Mother it did stop.
Fr. Moreno served Imus from 1882 to 1885. He was canonized on October 11, 1992, coincidentally on the eve of the feast of the Virgin of the Pillar, by Pope John Paul II.
The Miracles
Over the centuries, numerous miracles were attributed through the intercession of Imus’ Nana Pilar that gained the image’s popularity over the years.
One of the earliest recorded miracles of the Virgin when the stone church was ruined by a powerful earthquake that struck Imus between 1822 and 1824, the image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar, remained unharmed from the destruction.
In the late 1940s as the Japanese soldiers were about to leave the county they had a plot to bomb the Isabel bridge near the Cuartel, but this never materialized because a mother carrying her son had stopped them from doing so. Later on when the Japanese soldier went by the church, he marveled at the countenance of the Virgin in the altar for he knew that he had seen the face before. He called the other soldiers and asked them to come and see for themselves the image of the Virgin in the altar. It was then that they all agreed that the Virgin in the Altar is the same woman who stopped them from bombing the Isabel bridge near Cuartel.
Imuseños are familiar with the story of finding cakemud and sand on the hem of the Virgin’s clothes, which happens several times and is interpreted as a sign that the Virgin roams around Imus town to maintain peace and order. People also claim to have seen a beautiful lady on the Church bell tower during times of calamities and typhoons, which is believed to be Nana Pilar overseeing her people as their Queen, ensuring their safety and wellness.
In the recent times, the maternal protection radiated by Our Lady of the Pillar to Imuseños is frequently felt, be it through actual miracles or ones that are spiritual felt by her devotees, Nana Pilar’s guidance and love has always reign in the hearts of the people of Imus.
Ms. Vida Ramirez Corral shared two miracles involving her mother. In 2002, her mother suffered a stroke, and doctors found a clot in her brain requiring immediate surgery. However, the clot mysteriously reduced in size, and the operation was no longer necessary after her mother claimed that Nana Pilar had visited her. In 2003, her mother was diagnosed with gallstones and scheduled for surgery, but the stones disappeared days before the operation. Her mother attributed this to Nana Pilar visiting her in her dreams and touching the affected area.
In 2001, Conrad Merdeguia, a seminarian at Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol Seminary, was diagnosed with severe Dengue. Then Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle, asked Conrad’s co-seminarians to dance during the Karakol, petitioning Nana Pilar’s intercession for Conrad’s healing. Miraculously, he recovered from Dengue and was out of danger after the Karakol. Today, Conrad is a Theology professor in Masbate, Philippines.
Ecclesiastical Recognition
With the miracles of Nana Pilar that she performed to her devotees, Pope Benedict XVI granted the Canonical Coronation of the image. The Canonical Coronation was carried out on December 3, 2012 in Imus Cathedral by Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle in celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese. It was originally scheduled for November 26 but the elevation of Archbishop Tagle into a Cardinal by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI necessitated the move.
On December 3, 2020, the Cathedral Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar of Imus will be declared as the Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus.
The Devotion at present
The Feast of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus is celebrated every 12th of October, the Liturgical Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar. However, the celebration lasted for two days because the Fiesta celebation begin with the Caracol on the Visperas of the Fiesta, October 11. In the Caracol, the Virgin is carried in a flower decked Andas and being danced around Imus with much rejoicing and on the day of the Feast day, the Solemn Procession took place.
During the second week of September until the feast day, the “Dalaw Patron” is held in the parish. This involves bringing the image of the Virgin to different communities within the jurisdiction, where vigils, prayers, and hymns are held. A “Nobena sa Kapitbahayan” is also recited, which uses themes related to current events. The novena prayers are revised annually to remain relevant. These holy visits strengthen devotion and make the Virgin an intimate part of Filipino family life. The image may also visit hospitals, chapels, prisons, marketplaces, government buildings, and private homes.
The image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar would also participate in the celebration of the Solemnity of St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse which is capped with a solemn procession.
To further propagate and foster the devotion to Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus, the Servants and Handmaids of Our Lady of the Pillar was formed in 2009 to serve as stewards and propagators of the devotion.
The Imuseños will always be grateful to Nana Pilar for they always held this belief that Imus is being overseen by its Mother and Queen. Calamities and misfortunes are minimized or eventually eliminated because of the loved being shown by the Virgin of the Pillar. Just like the Blessed Apostle James, in time of despair, Imuseños immediately run to their mother, Nana Pilar to ask for her intercession; in times of sickness, the also turn to Nana Pilar for her help and guidance, while some are healed others who are still in their beds with illness are given strength and the ability to accept the will of the Lord.
References:
Carceller, Manuel ORSA, “Boletin de la Provincia de San Nicolas de Tolentino, Filipinas, Año XXXIX” num. 443, Orden de San Agustin, September 1949.
Castañeda, Roberto, “Imus”, pp 23- 26, Imus, Cavite, Philippines, 2009.
Servants and Handmaids of Our Lady of the Pillar, “Documents for the request of the Canonical Coronation for the image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar of Imus, Cavite, Philippines”, Cathedral and Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar, Imus, Cavite, 2010.
Photos:
Innocencio, Glenn
Malabanan, James Benedict
Naval, Wilfred Jason
Servants and Handmaids of Our Lady of the Pillar
Special thanks to Mr. Jan Gideon Papa Ventura of the Servants and Handmaids of Our Lady of the Pillar for great help on making this article possible.
+AMDG+ +AMPSPC+
Pintakasi 
Today, November 7, 2020 Bishop Reynaldo G. Evangelista granted the request for the Imus Cathedral to be Declared as The Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Pialr de Imus this Solemn Declaration will held at December 3, The Year of the Lord 2020 at The 8th Year of The Canonical Coronation of Nana Pikar
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