Last December 8, 2020, Our Holy Father Pope Francis declared the “Year of St. Joseph” to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church by Blessed Pius IX in 1870. The Holy Year is set from December 8, 2020 – December 8, 2021 and the Apostolic Penitentiary issued guidelines on how to obtain Plenary Indulgence on this Holy Year. This came as a surprise to the Catholic World for it was the first time in history that a holy year was dedicated to St. Joseph.
Why him? Saint Joseph is one of the important yet silent figure in the lives of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary despite the fact that little was written about him in the canonical Gospels. Yet through the centuries, St. Joseph emerged as a key figure in the life of the Church that numerous saints and Pontiffs acclaimed him and numerous shrines, churches, basilicas and congregations were established under his name.
In our country, numerous chapels, mission stations, parishes, shrines and cathedrals were dedicated to St. Joseph and several devotions and traditions were developed and continuously practiced through the centuries from the dawn of Christianity in the country. Although there were many shrines dedicated to him, the devotion to St. Joseph seems to be quiet, just like him, yet it produces good fruits and became part of the cultural fabric and history of different towns in the country.
For this blogpost, we are going to look on the devotion to St. Joseph in the Philippines and its significant rise in modern times which it seems like God has His ways to save the world.
The Life of St. Joseph
El Glorioso San Jose of La Naval de Manila Processions
The Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke only mentioned a few episodes in the life of St. Joseph and usually begin with a presentation of Jesus’ genealogy of Jesus showing St. Joseph’s ancestry from David. Numerous mystics would provide some information of his early and later life based from their visions from the likes of Ven. Maria Agreda, Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich, St. Bridget of Sweden among others. In their mystical accounts, they noted that St. Joseph was gentle and already possessed a profound wisdom of the divine that he resolved to be chaste at a young age and he was very devout and prayed fervently for the coming of the Messiah.
The Gospels also mentioned that he works as a carpenter. St. Joseph’s description as a “tekton” (τέκτων), as written in the origial Greek texts of the Gospels, has been traditionally translated into English as “carpenter”, but is a rather general word that could cover makers of objects in various materials. The Greek term evokes an artisan with wood in general, or an artisan in iron or stone.
The venerated image of the Espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph of Mandurriao, Iloilo
The Scriptures didn’t record exactly when Mary and Joseph met and got married, but the first chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel describes the circumstances. Verse 18 speaks of them being “betrothed … before they came together.” In the writings of the mystics, they gave a vivid description on how their espousal took place. She wrote that God willed the Blessed Virgin Mary to be betrothed and get married despite her vow to be chaste for life. A priest saw a vision, and that the forefinger of his hand was laid upon the passage of Isaiah in the scroll: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse; and a flower shall rise up out of his root.” [ Is. 11.1.] When the old priest came to himself again, he read this passage and apprehended something from it. Then from here, he sent messengers throughout the land and all unmarried men of the line of David summoned to the Temple. When these were assembled in large numbers at the Temple in festal garments, the Blessed Virgin was presented to them and among them was St. Joseph. The high priest handed a branch to each of the men present, and commanded each to inscribe his branch with his name and to hold it in his hands during the prayer and sacrifice. As St. Joseph was was about to lay this on the altar before the Holy of Holies, a white flower like a lily blossomed out of the top of his branch, and I saw over him an appearance of like the Holy Ghost. Joseph was now recognized as appointed by God to be the bridegroom of the Blessed Virgin, and was presented to her by the priests in the presence of her mother. Once the two met, the Virgin was pleased to know that St. Joseph was also a chaste man and dedicated it to God and St. Joseph offered himself to protect the Blessed Virgin Mary and to resolve to keep their promises to God to live a chaste life.
His role in the Incarnation and Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ
The Belen of San Guillermo Parish, Bacolor, Pampanga
The time finally arrived for the arrival of the Messiah when Our Lord sent the Angel Gabriel to Nazareth where he visited the Blessed Virgin Mary to announce the coming of the Redeemer and she will be His mother thru the power of the Holy Spirit. A moment later, Mary, with the Child in her womb, visited her cousin St. Elizabeth to accompany her as she was to gave birth to St. John the Baptist – the Precursor of Our Lord. Upon Mary’s return, St. Joseph, noticed that Mary was pregnant. Thought that she was pregnant from another man, he decided to divorce her quietly until the Angel of the Lord appeared in his dream to discontinue his plan and explained that the Child is of the Holy Spirit and He is the promised Messiah. He did what the angel instructed him to do and took the responsibility as the Child’s earthly father in fulfillment of the prophecy that the Child will come form the lineage of King David.
The Holy couple went to Bethlehem for a census as commanded by Caesar August and at that time, Jesus was about to be born and later settled on a stable since there was nowhere for them to stay in the town. The infant was laid in a manger while angels announced his birth to a group of shepherds who worshiped him as Messiah and Lord. Eight days later, the Infant Jesus was circumcised and the Magi visited the Child to adore Him. One night, the angel visited St. Joseph in a dream warning about Herod’s plan to kill the Child Jesus that he need to take the child and his mother to Egypt and remained there until Herod died. The Holy Family later moved to Nazareth and later presented at the Temple where the Prophet Simeon prophesied the mission and the future suffering of the Child and His Mother. The Holy Family then returned to Nazareth. There “the child grew and became strong, and was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, and when Jesus was twelve years old they found him in the Temple listening to the teachers and asking questions so that “all who heard him were amazed”. His mother rebuked him for causing them anxiety, because his family had not known where he was, but he answered that he was in his Father’s house. After the episode in the temple, nothing was read or heard about the life of the Holy Family and Jesus will once again resurfaced in the Gospels years later performing his public ministry.
His Death
La Muerte de San Jose attributed to Damian Domingo
The circumstances of Joseph’s death are not known, but it is likely that he died before Jesus’s ministry began, and it is implied that he was dead before the Crucifixion. Our Lord Jesus and Our Lady comforted him and promised protection and life to everyone who did good in the name of Joseph. With those assurances, Joseph was able to die in peace and contentment – a happy death. By the 17th century, many Catholic groups had developed a special devotion to St. Joseph for those desiring a happy death.
The Gospels were also silent on what happened to the mortal remains of St. Joseph since there were a few relics associated to him. Some mystics wrote that he was buried somewhere in Bethlehem while others wrote and believed that he was also assumed into heaven which is open for further discussion and debate on this matter.
The Veneration of the Church
San Jose de Barras of St. Joseph Parish, Barras, Rizal
Far from being ignored or passed over in silence during the early Christian ages, St. Joseph’s prerogatives were occasionally praised by the Fathers; these eulogies bear witness that the ideas and devotion expressed therein were familiar not only to the theologians and preachers, but must also have been readily welcomed by the people. The earliest traces of public recognition of the sanctity of St. Joseph are to be found in the East. His feast was kept by the Church of Alexandria as early as the beginning of the fourth century. It is certain that a feast in honor of St. Joseph was kept in the Byzantine church as early as the eighth and ninth.
In the West, the name of the foster-father of Our Lord (“Nutritor Domini”) appears in local martryrologies of the ninth and tenth centuries, and we find in 1129, for the first time, a church dedicated to his honor at Bologna. The devotion, then merely private, as it seems, gained a great impetus owing to the influence and zeal of such saintly persons as St. Bernard, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Gertrude (d. 1310), and St. Bridget of Sweden (d. 1373). Although the Feast was already observed as early as the 10th century, it was formally inserted into the General Roman Calendar for celebration in 1621 by Pope Gregory XV and it would later be observed as a Solemnity in 1870 by Blessed Pius IX. As centuries passed, by 1969, Episcopal Conferences may, if they wish, transfer it to a date outside Lent. Even if it occurs inside Lent on the usual date of March 19, it is still observed as a Solemnity.
From that time, the devotion acquired greater and greater popularity, the dignity of the feast keeping pace with his steady growth. Further, Benedict XIII, in 1726, inserted the name into the Litany of the Saints.
The Crowned altar image of San Jose de Mabolo of Mabolo, Cebu
This one feast in the liturgical year was not enough for many Christians of the world, and so other local feasts were permitted. It is interesting to note that the reformed Order of Carmelites into which St. Teresa had infused her great devotion to the foster-father of Jesus, chose him, in 1621, for their patron, and in 1689, were allowed to celebrate the feast of his Patronage on the third Sunday after Easter. This feast, soon adopted throughout the Spanish Kingdom, was later on extended to all states and dioceses which asked for the privilege and later became universal in 1847. However, by 1955, the feast was removed by Pope Pius XII.
Pope Leo XIII, by his encyclical “Quamquam Pluries”, had the purpose of promoting the practice of imploring divine help by means of prayer, joining to the intercession of Mary that of St. Joseph, that God might be more willing to grant our petitions and that he might aid his Church more promptly and generously. Leo XIII therefore attached to his encyclical a special Prayer to St. Joseph ordering that it be added to the recitation of the rosary every year in perpetuity, during the month of October. He also recommends dedicating to the holy Patriarch the month of March, with daily exercises of piety in his honor, and to observe at least a triduum of prayers preceding the Feast of St. Joseph. It was Pope St. Pius X who approved, in 1909, a Litany in honor of him whose name he had received in baptism.
San Jose de Navotas
No devotion, perhaps, has grown so universal, none seems to have appealed so forcibly to the heart of the Christian people, and particularly of the laboring classes, during the nineteenth century, as that of St. Joseph that in 1955, Pope Pius XII established May 1 as the “Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker” to counter the Communists’ May Day. Having died in the “arms of Jesus and Mary” according to Catholic tradition, he is considered the model of the pious believer who receives grace at the moment of death, in other words, the patron of a happy death.
On December 8, 1870, Joseph was declared Patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX. In 1962, Pope John XXIII inserted the name of Joseph in the Canon of the Mass, immediately after that of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 2013, Pope Francis had his name added to the three other Eucharistic Prayers. On December 8, 2020, in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as “Patron of the Universal Church”, Pope Francis declared “Year of St. Joseph” thru his apostolic letter “Patris Corde”.
St. Joseph the Patriarch of the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Joseph, San Jose, Batangas
The devotion over the centuries
With the developments of the Church’s veneration to St. Joseph over the past centuries, the devotion to St. Joseph grew because he is the “Saint of Every man” due to the fact that he led a holy life with Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary that he became a model for workmen to sanctify their labor, an example of a contemplative and prayerful life for men and women religious of different religious orders and congregations, (he was even declared the protector and patron of these Orders like the Carmelites, the Augustinian Family, the Oblates of St. Joseph among others) and a model parent for families.
The Church approved Sacramentals of St. Joseph
It is from these circumstances that numerous forms of devotion sprung over the centuries to ask for his intervention that continues up to this day. Wednesdays and the 19th of the Month became known as the devotional day in honor of St. Joseph for it is believed that it was on this day that he was either born or died and the Wednesday devotion was endorsed Pope Benedict XV. Novenas to him in different forms sprung from the 9 days preceeding his feasts, the 7 Sundays devotion honoring his Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys as he revealed to two Franciscan Friars in the 16th Century in a vision and the 30 day Holy Cloak novena became widely practiced. Numerous sacramentals became known and widely used from the Scapular of St. Joseph (approved by the Church in 1893), the numerous chaplets and rosaries in honor of St. Joseph propagated by the Carmelites and the Oblates of St. Joseph, the Holy Chord of St. Joseph (originated in Belgium in 1657 were a religious was cured from her illness after wearing this 7 knot chord) that would later became part of uniforms of different confraternities and sodalities in his honor, the ring of St. Joseph also became known as an aid to ask for St. Joseph’s help on the virtue of chastity. In 1908 the superior generals of the Calced and Discalced Carmelites were authorized to delegate their own confreres to bless rosaries and rings in honor of St. Joseph. In 1960 Vilaseca’s Josephite Missionaries received a five year permission to bless cinctures, rings, rosaries, scapulars, candles, and water in his honor.
The Canonically Crowned inage of San Jose de la Montaña in Spain
Devotion to St. Joseph has also been expressed officially by formally authorized crownings of his images as early as the 1700s and Pope Pius IX authorized coronations in his name to take place different parts of Europe and the Americas. In the archives of the Congregation of Sacred Rites there is a ritual for crowning a statue or painting of St. Joseph, written sometime between 1870 and 1893, but without any indication whether or not it was officially approved. On July 14, 1920, the Sacred Congregation did approve the “Rite to be Observed in Crowning Images of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” This rite was used for the 1921 crowning in Kermaria. However, with the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, a Ruling dated 1973 states that only images of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be given such honor and not images of saints or blessed.
The life sized Sleeping St. Joseph venerated at the Diocesan Shrine of St. Joseph in Quezon City
In the recent years, new forms of devotion to St. Joseph are on the rise, the image of the Sleeping St. Joseph which was introduced by Pope Francis thru his speech in the Philippines during his Apostolic Visit in 2015 which immediately became popular at that time, the devotion to the Chaste Heart of St. Joseph and the 33 day Consecration to St. Joseph developed by Rev. Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC thru his book about it published in 2020.
The Chaste Heart of St. Joseph
In the devotion to St. Joseph, the faithful would insert a slip of paper where their intentions were written and be placed beneath the image and ask for his intercession on that particular petition. The devotion to the Chaste Heart of St. Joseph dates back in the 19th century as a form of private devotion to the religious and there were movements who already propagated it by the Alliance of the Two Hearts in the modern era. It was n’t until the 20th century that there were reported apparitions of St. Joseph, particularly to Sister Mildred Mary in the United States and more recently in Brazil to different visionaries (which some received local approval). In the reported visions, St. Joseph revealed allegedly to have the devotion to his Chaste Heart be known as a way to imitate his virtues and hasten the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He also desired to honor his Chaste Heart every First Wednesdays of the Month and a Feast to be set every Wednesday after the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As of this writing, the devotion to the Chaste Heart of St. Joseph is popular in Brazil and some diocese are now observing the feast.
The most recent in the cannon of devotion to St. Joseph is the 33 day consecration to St. Joseph which was developed by Rev. Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC and it’s book was published in 2020 and became a worldwide phenomenon and translated to different languages as of this writing. The Consecration program was patterned after that of St. Louie Marie de Montfort’s 33 day consecration program to the Blessed Virgin Mary and each day, the reflection and reading on invocations from the Litany of St. Joseph is done. The consecration program was a response to the growing turmoils in our modern society, especially to the attacks on the family and the Church.
Apparitions of St. Joseph
Although in the Gospels shows the silence of St. Joseph, interestingly, there were reported apparitions of St. Joseph that were reported through centuries. In the lives of the saints, we would encounter the in the lives of St. Gertrude the Great, St. Teresa of Avila, Blessed Catherine of St. Augustine and Venerable Maria de Jesus of Agreda their visions of St. Joseph recorded in their biographies and writings which initially helped on the strengthening of the devotion to St. Joseph. It wasn’t until the later centuries from 1660 that St. Joseph would also appear in different parts of the World beginning in Cotignac, France to a shepherd to search for a miraculous spring which became center of pilgrimages over the centuries. From then on, St. Joseph would notably participate in the approved Marian apparitions in Knock, Ireland in 1879, on the last day of the Fatima apparitions on October 13, 1917 and in the Divine Mercy apparitions to St. Faustina Kowalska in 1936 and 1937. His appearances would later occur in Indiana, USA in 1956 and 1958 to Sister Mary Mildred Ephrem and to Larissa Baptista in Manaus, Brazil from 2007 – 2019. Both the appearances of Sis. Mary Mildred Ephrem and Larissa Baptista would give emphasis on the devotion to the Chaste Heart of St. Joseph.
The Philippines and St. Joseph
The Philippines have also kept a special devotion to St. Joseph, although not as much publicized or hyped like those of the Santo Niño, The Black Nazarene and the Blessed Virgin Mary, yet there were numerous parishes, shrines and cathedrals were dedicated to St. Joseph all over the country. The name “Joseph”, “Jose” and it’s derivatives were also notably popular, most famous of them is the nation’s national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. There were also institutions that that were named after St. Joseph, the Colegio-Seminario of San Jose established by the Jesuits then in Intramuros in 1601 (now located within Ateneo de Manila University grounds in Quezon City) and Hospicio de San Jose established in 1782 and currently administered by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louis de Marillac. The devotion to St. Joseph might seem to be quiet and not that much known, yet we still give him a high regard as a patriarch where most of the faith mostly associate him with the devotion to the Holy Family among others.
The Philippine Iconography of St. Joseph
El Glorioso San Jose of Phrygian Perez Almeda and family
In the Philippines, the popular iconography of St. Joseph is that of St. Joseph depicted as a middle aged father with tith dark or brown hair, facial beard and mustache on both de tallado and de vestir images of him and he is often seen wearing a green robe with yellow, orange or golden brown tunic often drape his shoulders and holds a walking staff with a sheaf of lilies on top in allusion of the pious legend of his bethrothal to the Blessed Virgin Mary and also a symbol for his purity. There were at least three popular depictions of St. Joseph that are commonly seen in our churches and shrines: First is that of St. Joseph accompanied with the Child Jesus where he carries a staff with a sheaf of white lilies, a symbol of purity while the Child Jesus would often carry a toolbox, a small cross or none at all to accompany His Earthly Father and Guardian. Second is that of St. Joseph carrying the Child Jesus in his arms and Third is the La Muerte de San Jose where the moving scene depicts St. Joseph in his old age, bedridden with the Blessed Virgin Mary and Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The devotion in the Philippines
The devotion to St. Joseph was introduced by the Spanish missionaries in the islands with the establishment of several churches and altars that are dedicated to St. Joseph. As present, numerous confraternities and pious associations like those in Laguna, Las Piñas, Bulacan and other provinces observe either Tuesdays and Wednesdays in his honor and some devotees were seen wearing green dresses and yellow rope. With the arrival of the Oblates of St. Joseph in 1915, the devotion to St. Joseph further helped on propagating the devotion to St. Joseph, especailly on their mission stations in Batangas and Mandaluyong CIty.
The image of El Glorioso Patriarca San Jose of Old San Nicolas Church in Intramuros that was unfortunately destroyed during the Second World War
Before the Second World War, the center of the devotion to St. Joseph was at the the Old San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Intramuros, Manila where the Archconfraternity of St. Joseph is located. Before Wednesdays are associated to Baclaran, it was then known as the day dedicated to St. Joseph in Manila. The Recoleto church was also an important shrine to San Jose, and throughout the year, several celebrations were held in his honor. There was a March devotion to the saint, and from November 18-26, the Recoletos came up with their biggest fiesta of the year, the solemnity of San Jose, highlighted with a pageant to honor the nuptials of Mary and Joseph. Regular masses were dedicated to the him every Wednesday attended with the members of a cofradia dedicated to San Jose and devotees wearing green dresses or shirts with a yellow rope belt or cincture on their waists. When San Nicolas and the altar and processional statues of St. Joseph were destroyed, the devotion to San Jose in Old Intramuros died down yet it is still kept alive in their current mission parishes and the intonation of “Ioseph Filii David” after a mass or novena services.
The image of El Glorioso Patriarca, Señor San Jose of the National Shrine image of St. Joseph, Mandaue, Cebu which is the oldest dated venerated image of St. Joseph in the Philippines.
The current center of the devotion to St. Joseph is at his National Shrine located in Mandaue, Cebu where the image is said to be the oldest dated venerated image of St. Joseph in the Philippines where it was carved sometime in the 1600 in a study made by a Jesuit historian Fr. Rene Javellana, SJ. The Church was established in 1601 by the Jesuits and it was declared as the National Shrine of St. Joseph on April 6, 2001. The Feast of El Glorioso Patriarca, Señor San Jose de Mandaue are celebrated in March 19 and the town Patronage fiesta every First Sunday of May. San Jose de Mandaue would also take part of the Sinulog festivities where he would join the images of Santo Niño de Cebu and Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu in both terrestrial and fluvial processions.
Aside from these centers, numerous shrines were also dedicated to St. Joseph that are also known as centers of the devotion in each perspective dioces all over the country like those in Quezon City, Las Piñas City, Romblon Island, Balanga, Bataan, Tagbilaran, Bohol among others.
La Muerte de San Jose of St. Joseph Parish, Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila
One interesting devotion to St. Joseph in the Philippines is the popularity of the La Muerte de San Jose which this image can be found in numerous Spanish era established churches and chapels all over the country. The popularity of the La Muerte de San Jose was due to the local popular belief that March 19 is the day St. Joseph entered in paradise and he was assisted by Our Lord and Our Lady in his last agony which is why he is invoked as the Patron Saint of Happy Death. Although March 19 is now celebrated as a Solemnity and the celebration of his office as the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the devotion to La Muerte de San Jose continues to be observed in some parts of the country where the devotion is rooted like in Tondo, Manila; Navotas City; Bulacan, Laguna among others.
El Glorioso San Jose of Cathedral Shrine of St. Joseph, Balanga, Bataan
The festivities in honor of St. Joseph are celebrated every months of March and May. For the towns like Barras, Rizal, Romblon, and other modern parishes and shrines like in Quezon City, Mandaluyong City, Batangas among others have March 19 as the major festivity while in Las Piñas; Navotas; Mandaue, Cebu celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph every First Sunday of May in honor of his Patronage while in Mabolo, Cebu and Gagalangin, Tondo, Manils they celebrate his Patronal feast every third Sunday of May (apart from March 19). In the Cathedral – Shrine of St. Joseph in Balanga, Bataan, they celebrate two major feast days: the Liturgical Feast every March 19 and the “Pistang Bayan” every April 28 as it is inscribed in the old Dominican breviary which is dedicated to the Patronage of St. Joseph since the order administer the faithful of Bataan province.
The RIte of vesting of the cape to the image of San Jose de Quezon City
Aside from the proliferation of pious movements, popular devotions and festive fiestas there were also unqiue traditions that are being practiced in some shrines in the country. Most notable of them is the grand procession of the life of St. Joseph in Balanga Cathedral Shrine in Bataan province which began in 2007 thru the initiative of Bishope Socrates Villegas, DD, then Bishop of the Diocese of Balanga (now Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan) to teach the faithful the life of St. Joseph to the faithful. In Cubao, Quezon City, the image of San Jose de Quezon City of the Diocesan Shrine of St. Joseph have this tradition of vesting the image on several occassions within the year where the capes and other ex votos are given by devotees in thanksgiving to all the graces they obtain through the help of St. Joseph. In the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar in Imus, Cavite, the image of St. Joseph is honored with a procession and a caracol (a dance procession) with the canonically crowned image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus accompanying her beloved spouse both on the feasts of St. Joseph’s every March 19 and Nuestra Señora del Pilar on the eve of her Liturgical Feast which is October 12. In Navotas City, the apart from the Pistang Bayan held every First Sunday of May, the image of Tata Bukot (as he is fondly called) would visit Malabon to meet the image of La Inmaculada Concepcion de Malabon during her three day festivities and the she in turn would visit Navotas to pay homage to her chaste spouse.
Year of St. Joseph in the Philippines
The “Dalo Balen” of Señor San Jose, Sto. Cristo del Perdon and Virgen de los Remedios de Pampanga in a church of Pampanga Province
When the Year of St. Joseph was declared ion December 8, 2020, numerous dioceses in the Philippines prepared numerous activities for this celebration which coincided with the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines which includes the National Consecration to St. Joseph which is set to be performed on May 1, 2021 – Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, following the 33 day consecration program of Rev. Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC.
Other Diocese also come up with pious activities that would help invigorate the devotion to St. Joseph to the faithful. In the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga, the image of Señor San Jose joins the images of Señor Santo Cristo del Perdon and the Canonically Crowned Virgen de los Remedios de Pampanga for the Dalo Balen where the three images would visit all parishes and towns of Pampanga to reach out to the faithful in line with the longstanding tradition of the Cruzada de Penitencia y Caridad which helped eradicate the presence of communism and socialism in the province when it was established in 1952. In the Diocese of Parañaque, the three main images of St. Joseph venerated at the Diocese: San Jose de Las Piñas (or Tata Hosep) of the Bamboo Organ Church, St. Joseph of Tambo Parish and St. Joseph the Worker of Mariposa in Parañaque City. The Archdiocese of Manila on the other hand initiated the 33 day Consecration program where San Jose de Trozo Parish in Manila as the center of the activities.
At Present
Señor San Jose de Imus and Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus
The devotion to St. Joseph may seemed to be quiet in the Philippines yet as we discover these notable rich traditions to honor St. Joseph, we see how it was actually the opposite, the devotion to the Foster Father of Our Lord is alive and it became part of each town or city’s historic and cultural heritage that shaped their everyday lives and development.
We can understand St. Joseph’s role in today’s society by appreciating the contribution he made to the sacred humanity of Christ, and thus, to the mystery of the Incarnation. In our society that is marred with so much chaos, we need a father figure that would help us in this earthly pilgrimage as our role model and beacon as we continue on with our path to holiness.
As we conclude this blospost dedicated to St. Joseph, here is a prayer written by Our Holy Father of St. Joseph in his recent encyclical “Patris Corde” which can also be our prayer to St. Joseph in these trying times we are in today:
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.
Glorious St. Joseph, Chaste Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Earthly Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Patron of Fathers, Workers and of the Universal Church, pray for us!
References:
Belmonte, Leonarda, “Ang Buhay at Kadakilaan ni San Jose”, National Bookstore, Mandaluyong City, 2006. Binet, Pere, SJ, “Divine Favors granted to St. Joseph”, Retrieved from http://www.saintsbooks.net/books/Pere%20Binet,%20S.J.%20-%20Divine%20Favors%20Granted%20to%20St.%20Joseph.pdf on March 1, 2021. Calloway, Donald, MIC, “Consecration to St. Joseph. The Wondere of Our Spiritual Father”, Marian Press, Stockbridge, Massachusets, 2020. Darang, Josephine, “A Purely Personal book of Miracles – A Collection of columns published by Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sound Publishing Corporation, Makati City, 2006. “Church grants plenary indulgence for year of St. Joseph” Retrieved from https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-12/apostolic-penitentiary-plenary-indulgence-year-st-joseph.html on December 14, 2020. “Devotion to St. Joseph”, Retrieved from https://www.sistersofcarmel.com/devotion-to-st-joseph/ on March 10, 2021. Everett Ferguson, Michael P. McHugh, Frederick W. Norris, “Joseph” in Encyclopedia of early Christianity, Volume 1, p. 629, 2000. Lodi, Enzo, “Saints of the Roman Calendar Including Feasts Propers to the English Speaking World.”, St. Paul’s Publishing, Makati City, 2013. Miller, Jennifer Gregory. “The Oases of Lent: Celebrations of St. Patrick, St. Joseph, Annunciation and Family Days”. http://www.catholicculture.org. Retrieved 8 March 2021. Perrotta, Louise B. “Saint Joseph: His Life and His Role in the Church Today”, Our Sunday Visitor Publishing. pp. 21, 110–112., 2000. “Pope Francis proclaims “Year of St Joseph””, Retrieved from https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-12/pope-francis-proclaims-year-of-st-joseph.html on December 14, 2020. Roriguez, Jose, “St. Joseph – Messages of the Heart. The Virgin Father of Christ speaks to humanity”, Ad te Beate Joseph, Ontario, Canada, 2020. Rodriguez, Jose, “The Book of Joseph – God’s Chosen Father” (First Edition), Ave Maria Centre of Peace, Ontario, Canada, 2017. Wilson, Carolyn C., “St. Joseph in Italian Renaissance Society and Art”, Saint Joseph’s University Press, 2001.
Interviews:
Almeda, Phrygian – Cofradia de San Jose, Los Baños, Laguna Malixi, Michael
Photos:
Almeda, Phrygian – Cofradia de San Jose, Los Baños, Laguna Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Joseph,, Batangas Facebook page Bernardo, Fritz Rinaldi Daquioag, Michael – Buen Viaje PH Galera, Kharl – Pitiki Ilonggo Malabanan, James Benedict St. Joseph Parish, Barras, Rizal Facebook page St. Joseph Shrine, Quezon City Facebook page Vidanes, Lawrence Villanueva, Earl Francis
The Philippines is now in its celebration mode this 2021 with the big commemoration of the 500 Years of Introduction of the Catholic faith in the country that took place in 1521 in Cebu, despite the hardship brought by the pandemic that is still wreaking havoc worldwide. We are all familiar with the famed account of the gifting of the image of Santo Niño de Cebu to Hara Humamay, baptized as “Juana” and the unfortunate demise of Ferdinand Magellan from the hands of the armed natives led by Lapu-Lapu in the Battle of Mactan. Interestingly, there were other images that were given to the baptized leaders of Cebu aside from the Santo Niño de Cebu: the bust image of El Ecce Homo and the lost Nuestra Señora de los Remedios (also known as Birhen sa Cotta).
Although I have made a blog post on the other gifts of Ferdinand Magellan, for this blog entry, we are going to give the spotlight to the image of the El Ecce Homo of Cebu and its significance to the history of our Catholic faith.
El Ecce Homo of Cebu at present
The image
The image of El Ecce Homo de Cebu is a bust image of Our Lord Jesus Christ in his suffering, His head tilted on the side, while His eyes was evokes a sorrowful expression. The image sports the traditional Tres Potencias and a carefully placed Crown of Thorns.
Ecce Homo by Abraham Janssens
The Ecce Homo in art
To understand the devotion and iconography of the “Ecce Homo”, we need to have an understanding of how it all began that led to the popularity of this depiction of the Suffering Christ. The Latin term “Ecce homo” (“behold the man”) is the word used by Pontius Pilate in the Vulgate translation of the Gospel of John, when he presents a scourged Jesus Christ, bound and crowned with thorns, to a hostile crowd shortly before his Crucifixion. The scene has been widely depicted in Christian art. A scene of the Ecce Homo is a standard component of cycles illustrating the Passion and Life of Christ in art. It follows the Flagellation of Christ, the Crowning with thorns, and the Mocking of Christ, the last two often being combined: The usual depiction shows Pilate and Christ, a mocking crowd which may be rather large, and parts of the city of Jerusalem.
The Miraculous images of Ecce Homo of Valletta, Malta and Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres of Azores, Portugal
But, from the 15th century in the West, and much earlier in the art of the Eastern church, devotional pictures began to portray Jesus alone, in half or full figure with a purple robe, loincloth, crown of thorns, and torture wounds, especially on his head, and later became referred to as images of the Ecce Homo. These images of the Ecce Homo from paintings and statues would later gain much devotional following like those venerated Valletta, Malta, and Azores, Portugal. In the Philippines, the image of the Ecce Homo are commonly seen as part of the lineup of Holy Wednesday and/or Good Friday Procession either depicting the scene where Pilate presents Christ to the crowd or a solitary image.
The discovery of the image of El Ecce Homo of Cebu
History
The image of the El Ecce Homo of Cebu was in fact one of the three gifts Ferdinand Magellan gave to Hara Humamay, later baptized as “Juana”, aside from the now famous image of Santo Niño de Cebu and Nuestra Señora de los Remedios (currently, its whereabouts were unknown) in 1521. History was silent on what had happened to the images after Magellan was slayed in the Battle of Mactan.
A few decades later, On August 20, 1572, a certain Juan de Castilla was making a foundation for his house, he accidentally found the image of the Ecce Homo at the burial site identified as that of Rajah Carli which was later identified as Rajah Humabon and it was enshrined at the Basilica afterward. Since the rediscovery and enthronement of the image, numerous miracles were reported through the image of the Suffering Christ and His feast day was celebrated every August 20th to commemorate the founding of the image. However, when the Second World War erupted, the image was said to be kept for safety years later.
A replica of El Ecce Homo of Cebu enshrined at San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila
The arrival in Manila
The image of El Ecce Homo was brought to Intramuros, Manila in 1965 when the Augustinian friars were celebrating the 400th Year of Christianization of the Philippines and stayed there for decades at that time, the Augustinian Fathers’ lone main headquarters was in the famed San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila. When the original image was returned to Cebu in 2011, a replica was enshrined at San Agustin Church as a reminder of the image’s stay and for the veneration of the faithful.
Homecoming
When the Augustinians later established a new and separate Philippine Province of the Santo Niño de Cebu, after forty-six years the image returned to its home in Cebu on August 20, 2011. Today, the image is currently enthroned to his own altar at the Basilica Minore de Santo Niño de Cebu and efforts are being made to restore the devotion to the suffering Christ that he enjoyed before the Second World War.
El Ecce Homo of Cebu
The devotion at present
Since the return of the image and its enthronement in a special altar dedicated to Him, the devotion to El Ecce Homo of Cebu is gradually gaining a following in Cebu. There were two feast days dedicated to El Ecce Homo at the Basilica, the Feast of the Discovery of the image every August 20 and recently every Shrove Tuesday (Tuesday before Ash Wednesday).
In 2018, the Augustinian Fathers began celebrating the Feast of the El Ecce Homo of Cebu on the Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus where the liturgical and devotional connectedness of the image and its feast belongs closely to the Lenten Season. The Feast seems to be appropriate and practical in a sense since the August 20 feast falls with the Novena in honor of St. Augustine and the devotion calls for repentance from sin and also gives a reflective moment of prayer in gazing at the image of the Suffering Christ as a good way to start the Lenten season.
Now that we have learned about the historical account of this silent image from Ferdinand Magellan, what was then the significance of this image as we celebrate 500 Years of the introduction of the Catholic Faith in the country? We see here that there was more in our history that the majority didn’t learn or taught that much and this poses a question of how much research work was done to tell the story of our nation that would help define our identity as a Filipino. If we are going to look at this piece of history in the eyes of faith, we see that the image of the Suffering Christ is also a visual way from Our Lord to teach our people the life of Christ – The Word made flesh that dwelt among us and took our human nature, except sin, died for us to be redeemed and resurrected – the Truth that we hold on for 500 years.
In the historic and progressive district of Baliuag, Bulacan, known for it’s commercial development, the centuries old San Agustin Parish and its famous Holy Week Procession – the biggest and longest Holy Week Procession in the country, so far as of this writing. Apart from this, the locals of Baliuag would fondly mention an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary enshrined at the church’s patio which for centuries became a focal point of devotion for decades and continues to capture the hearts of devotees today.
The Lady of the Patio
La Purisima Concepcion de Baliuag
The beautiful image of La Purisima Concepcion de Baliuag is a metal statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Conception wearing a long veil which reaches her feet, a beautiful crown, her head leaning sideways yet looking downwards as a sign of her humility, standing on globe stepping on a serpent and a crescent moon. The Virgin’s face is serene looking downwards to the beholder as if she is giving a loving gaze and her rosy cheeks added to her beauty. Her hands are in a prayer position and a glimpse of her hair is flowing graciously even though it was covered by her long blue veil. Her long veil is designed with estofado stars and gold trimmings and wears a nicely folded white robe.
The image is currently enshrined at her shrine at the patio with a dome roofing supported by pillars, a candle station and a staircase so devotees and pilgrims could see her upclose and offer prayers and votive offerings.
History
An old photograph of St. Augustine Parish of Baliuag with La Purisima Concepcion de Baliuag dated 1910
The metal statue of La Purisima Concepcion of Baliuag, Bulacan was enshrined at the patio of the old San Agustin Parish in Baliuag, Bulacan between 1877 – 1899 when the parish was being repaired due to an earthquake that damaged the church in 1880. The image of La Purisima Concepcion was ordered in France along with the other materials needed for the Church repairs hence it’s similarities with the image of the Virgin enshrined at the Oura Church in Nagasaki, Japan.
The image of the Immaculate Conception venerated at the Oura Church in Nagasaki, Japan which was produced in France where the Baliuag image also originated.
The image was placed at the patio of the church where once stood a miraculous well that was then flocked by pilgrims called “Fuente de la Purisima Concepcion”, hence the current title of the image. The miraculous well was then a popular site in the parish until it dried up sometime later due to rising developments in the district. There was an attempt in 1992 to move the statue to a different location, yet as the workers were about to lift the image by a crane, the statue cannot move. It was taken as a sign that the Virgin wanted to stay on her chosen spot. Over the years, numerous developements were made to the shrine of the Virgin due to accomodate devotees and pilgrims, most notably the altar and a candle station in the 1965 and a staircase for pilgrims in 2003.
La Purisima Concepcion de Baliuag
The devotion to the Virgin of the Patio developed over the years as the faithful of Baliwag would flock her shrine to pray and offer candles and flowers and numerous prayers were answered through the Virgin’s intercession.
Church Recognition
In January 1, 2021, it was formally announced that granting of the Episcopal Coronation of the image of La Purisima Concepcion de Baliwag by Bishop Dennis Villarojo, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Malolos. The Coronation rites took placon February 1, 2021.
La Purisima Concepcion de Baliuag
The devotion at present
The devotion to La Purisima Concepcion de Baliuag continues to be strong and fervent over the years. As time went by, the Virgin is gaining more devotees and pilgrims and it became part of everyday life of the people within and nearby Baliuag, Bulacan. Masses are also held at the Patio Shrine every September 8, Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, and December 8, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
As we discover the origin of the devotion to La Purisima Concepcion de Baliuag, we see once again how the Lord willed to send His Mother to shower graces and protection in a place where the people are out and about on their daily task. Her inviting presence at the church’s patio makes the people pause for a few moments from their busy life to ask for her help and guidance while she in turn invites them to her Son, waiting for them inside the Church, in the guise of bread and wine – something that became part of everyday life for the people of Baliwag, Bulacan.
La Purisima Concepcion de Baliuag, pray for us!
References:
Buzeta, M. Bravo, F. O.S.A., Diccionario geografico , estadistico, historic de las Islas Filipinas. Madrid, 1850, 2 vols. El Oriente, August 26, 1977, courtesy of Filipinas Heritage Library. Evangelista, Mark James, La Purisima Concepcion de Baliuag, (unpublished manuscript), 2021. Locsin, Benjamin, A Tourist Guide to Notable Philippine Churches, by, 2007, New Day Publishers, Pasig City, Philippines. Status of the Philippines in 1800. Translated by Vicente de Carmen, Manila, 1973. Villacorte, Rolando E., Baliwag: Then and Now, Philippine Graphic Arts, Inc., Caloocan City, 1970, 1985 * 2001 editions. pp. 5–111, 353-360 (2001 edition); and pp. 392–396 (1985 edition).
Interview:
Evangelista, Mark James – St. Augustine Parish, Baliuag, Bulacan
Photos:
Ang Batingaw Facebook page Evangelista, Mark James Faithographia Facebook page
Special thanks to Mr. Mark James Evangelista and Bro. Kendrick Panganiban for the valuable information and photographs of La Purisima Concepcion de Baliuag.
From a painful tragedy to rising with a new hope – this is how Pandacan is at this point in time, months after the unfortunate burning of the Parish and the original centuries old image of Santo Niño de Pandacan that devastated not only Pandaceños, but also his faithful devotees throughout the country. It may be difficult to bear but the people and the faithful kept the faith and striving to move forward and rebuild what was lost. This attitude became more evident when the new image of Santo Niño de Pandacan was donated and introduced to the people of Pandacan from the Manila Cathedral which helped on strengthening the devotion to the beloved Little King of Pandacan.
For this blogpost, we are going to feature the introduction of the new image of Santo Niño de Pandacan as we look forward to the future as Pandacan continues to rise from the ashes.
The Tragedy
The last known photograph of the original image of Santo Niño de Pandacan before the fire of 2020.
On July 10, 2020, the Parish of Santo Niño de Pandacan was caught on fire that afternoon that burned the church and its adjacent convent. It is reported that the original image of Santo Niño de Pandacan went missing. On July 12, 2020, Rev. Fr. Sanny de Claro, confirmed in his official statement during that day’s Sunday Mass that the image was not spared from the fire and only the part of the Potencias, the globe, the andador and remnants of the vestments were found. Interestingly, the Sacred Host that was inside the burnt parish was miraculously spared spared from the fire – reinforcing the reality of the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
An artwork depicting a vision from one of the firemen during the fire by Daryll Tuleda where according to a fireman’s account, he saw a dark skinned Child wearing a long dress running away from the burning parish.
The news devastated Pandaqueños and devotees of the Santo Niño de Pandacan in the country that numerous social media tributes and support poured in to help Pandacan rise again. Devotees would even put puto seko on the gates of the burnt parish in the hopes of the return of the Nino.
The images of Sto. Niños of Mercedes (Samar), Malitbog, and Limasawa visiting the parish before heading to Leyte and Samar.
A few months later, on November 26, 2020, the images of Sto. Niño de Mercedes, Sto. Niño de Limasawa and the recovered image of Sto. Niño de Malitbog visited the parish to give hope to the people of Pandacan before heading to their respective Churches in Southern Leyte and Samar days later.
From the ashes, the new seeds of faith will grow
On January 15, 2021, a few days before the Liturgical Feast of the Santo Niño in the country, the Manila Vathedral annouced thru social media the donation of the new image of Sto. Niño de Pandacan to the parish of Pandacan in time for the Santo Niño Fiesta later that Sunday.
The original finger from the original image that was placed at the reliquary of the new image.
It was later revealed that the intiative came when Rev. Fr. Reginald Malicdem and Rev. Fr. Kali Llamado, Rector and Vice Rector of the Manila Cathedral respectively, visited the devastated parish the day after the fire and decided to have a new image be produced and donated. The wood that was used for the image came from the debris of the burnt parish and a theca was added at the chest of the image where a finger of the original image will be placed which was kept when the image was damaged years before the fire happened. The new image was carved by Mr. Joseph Magcalas, a renowned Santo carver from Pampanga, painted by Mr. Jayson Maceo and vested by Dr. Raffy Lopez. The carver of the image relates that he this project was sentimental because it was revealed later that on the day the parish was burned, it was the birthday of their son who died years ago and this image would be his tribute to the Holy Child of Pandacan.
The new church image of Santo Niño de Pandacan donated by the Manila Cathedral
Introducing the new image
On January 16, 2021, Eve of the Feast of the Santo Niño, the Cathedral became the center of the introduction of the new image of Santo Niño de Pandacan with the vesting rites took place there while praying the novena in honor of the Holy Child of Pandacan. A brief introduction was given about this noble gift followed by the vesting rites. After the image was vested with it’s new vestments, metal accesories, wig among others, the image was blessed by Bishop Broderick Pabillo, DD, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila and a brief veneration of the image followed to give the attendees a chance to venerate the new image.
The Vesting of the new image of Sto. Niño de Pandacan at the Manila Cathedral
The coming of the new image to it’s home
After the vesting rites and a brief public veneration of the image, Bishop Pabillo, the Manila Cathedral clergy and the makers of the new image went to the Parish of Santo Niño de Pandacan where a simple welcome rites to the image took place followed by the offering of the Holy Mass for the Eve of the Feast of the Sanro Niño. The new church image revieved a warm welcome from the people of Pandacan with devotees broight along with them their images of the Santo Niño de Pandacan and other Santo Niños they kept in their homes and it’s arrival was just in time for the liturgical feast of the Santo Niño later that day.
Bishop Pabillo presenting and blessing the people with the new church image of Santo Niño de Pandacan
After the offering of the Holy Mass, the new church image was palced on a special altar on a makeshift balcony for the veneration of the faithful – especially for the Santo Niño festivities later that day. Devotees from within and outside Pandacan paid homage to Our Lord through this new image of the Santo Niño de Pandacan and asked for His guidance as they continue to rebuild His home and to start all over.
A New Beginning is on the rise
The new church image of Santo Niño de Pandacan on its special altar on a makeshift balcony for veneration of the faithful of Pandacan
With the new image of Santo Niño de Pandacan, we see how this gesture from the Manila Cathedral shows the solidarity of our Church to the people who are in the midst of rising from the ashes of tragedy until it rises up triumphantly with a new beginning. Although things may never be the same, the devotion to the Santo Niño de Pandacan continues to intensify and it helped strengthen the devotees and the people of Pandacan to face the future.
As we end this blogpost dedicated to the Santo Niño de Pandacan, here are some lines from the beloved age old hymn dedicated to the Santo Niño de Pandacan which shows the reslience of the devotion and it’s people.
Poon naming Santo Niño Kaming mga Kristiyano Ay nagmamahal sa ‘Yo Kahit sa malayong dako Aming ipinagdarasal Kapwa sa lahat ng gulang Halimbawa Mo’y tularan Sunod sa Iyong kautusan
Reference:
Manila Cathedral, “Ang Maringal na pagbibihis ng bagong imahen ng Santo Niño de Pandacan” [Video], Retrieved on January 27, 2021 from https://youtu.be/IRAkiXl3nlg.
Photos:
Lazaro, Romain Santo Niño de Pandacan Facebook page Santos, Maricar for the Archdiocese of Manila Tuleda, Daryll
Special thanks to Mr. Romain Lazaro for the photographs of the new image of Santo Niño de Pandacan.
Santo Niño de Kalibo of Cathedral Parish of St. John the Baptist, Kalibo, Aklan
Written by Rev. Fr. Jude Isidro A. Rebaldo
Blogger’s note: While writing and doing additional research on my article on a synthesis of the Santo Niño devotion in the Philippines, I stumbled upon this interesting article regarding the devotion to the Santo Niño de Kalibo and its famous Ati-Atihan Festival of Aklan which gives out a clarification on how the Ati-Atihan Festival came about. I do personally wanted to know more about this miraculous image of Kalibo Cathedral yet the sources regarding it’s history is somehow scarce and most news features would attribute the origins of the devotion and the festivities to the fabled Maragtas account which was already proved to be a myth. I am forever grateful to Rev. Fr. Jude Isidro A. Rebaldo for granting his permission to have his eye-opening article be featured in this blog with the intention to set the record straight on the history of the Ati-Atihan celebration and to the longstanding devotion to Santo Niño de Kalibo.
The article below is written by Rev. Fr. Rebaldo and with some annotations:
In Iloilo City, it has been said that in November 1967, “Ati-Atihan” began at the San Jose Parish Church at Plaza Libertad through the initiative of Fr. Ambrosio Galindez who was inspired by the “Ati-Atihan” in Kalibo as a devotion to Señor Sto. Niño. His parishioners danced on the streets, their bodies covered with soot and ashes while carrying images of the Sto. Niño just like how the Kalibonhons used to celebrate the feast of Sr. Sto. Niño every third Sunday of January.
Santo Niño de Kalibo – The Focal point of the Ati-Atihan Festivities
When the late President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the various regions of the Philippines to come up with festivals or celebrations that could boost tourism, the local government of Iloilo City began to carry out the running of the annual Iloilo “Ati-Atihan” which was renamed later by a non-Catholic to what is now known –the “Dinagyang” which means “merry-making”.
From this little fact, we can cull out two themes: the celebration of the feast of Sr. Sto. Niño by the Church and then the celebration of the feast of Señor Sto. Niño as adopted by the local government but with some innovations for socio-cultural, economic and tourism reasons.
Kalibo’s celebration of the Ati-Atihan, there is no doubt, is focused on the devotion to Señor Sto. Niño. No one seems to bother about this until the true meaning of the celebration is about to fade in the mind and heart of Kalibonhons.
In the early 1950’s, there was no “Ati-Atihan”. The oldest surviving folks of Kalibo did not mention the word “Ati-Atihan”. But every January, there has always been a celebration in Kalibo. It was the feast of the Sto. Niño. Every Kalibonhon referred to this event as the Sto. Niño: “Viva, kay Señor Sto. Niño!” In other words, what many people now call the “Ati-Atihan”, the old and native Kalibonhons still call the Sto. Niño. For the true-blooded, born and bred, Kalibonhons, the annual January event is still the Feast of the Sto. Niño, and they call it by no other name.
The Present day Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan
It happened in 1975, the then Mayor Federico O. Icamina requested the local church authorities of the Parish of St. John the Baptist to celebrate the mass in honour of Sr. Sto. Niño at the Kalibo Town Plaza which was graced by the presence of the then President Ferdinand Marcos and first lady Imelda Marcos. Prior to this, the celebration of the mass on the feast of Sr. Sto. Niño was held inside the parish church.
The following year (1976), the said parish church (of St. John the Baptist) in Kalibo was elevated to a Cathedral when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalibo was erected and Bishop Juan N. Nilmar was made the first Bishop of Kalibo. It was during the time of Bishop Nilmar that the celebration of the Holy Mass in honour of Sr. Sto. Niño was held at the town Plaza which also became a yearly tradition with the active involvement of the local government of Kalibo.
The local government of Kalibo, spearheaded by the then Mayor Federico O. Icamina, recreated the celebration of the feast of Sr. Sto. Niño for national as well as for international tourist attraction. Since then, the celebration has become more popular all over the world under its name “Ati-Atihan”.
In 1993, when Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes assumed his office as the Bishop of the Diocese of Kalibo, year after year, he pastorally reminded the faithful to bring back the true meaning of the celebration – a devotion to the Sr. Sto. Niño. He even considered the Cathedral a Shrine of the Sto. Niño during the reconstruction of the Kalibo Cathedral in 1993. He would refer to the celebration of the mass at the town plaza as Pilgrims’ Mass. He also exhorted the local government of Kalibo to name the celebration, “Kalibo Sr. Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival”.
Cathedral Parish of St. John the Baptist, Kalibo, Aklan
In 2005, a shooting occurred after the mass in honour of Sr. Sto. Niño was held at the Pastrana Park. Despite the fact, the then Bishop Jose Romeo O. Lazo of Kalibo led the grand procession of Sr. Sto. Niño. People could still hear the sounds of the drums and the lyre during the procession but at that moment, it was done more solemnly. Most of those who joined the procession held an image of the Sto. Niño instead of a beer, rum or whiskey.
In 2006, the then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo made the strongest promotional pitch to boost tourism in Aklan as she declared the Kalibo “Ati-Atihan” as the “Mother of all Philippine native festivals.”
What makes “Ati-Atihan” the mother of all Philippine native festivals?
The Barter of Panay which has been associated with the secular origin of the celebration, and was believed to date from 1212, gave “Ati-Atihan” a cause to bear the title as the country’s oldest festival. However, in 1968, the Maragtas, the book which contained the story of Barter of Panay, was classified as a book of legends rather than a historical fact by William Henry Scott. Then recently the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and the National Commission on the Culture and the Arts confirmed there is no Barter of Panay that ever happened. Does this mean that “Ati-Atihan” has been celebrated for nothing? No! Homegrown Kalibonhons know that “Ati-Atihan” as a festival exists because of the celebration of the feast of the Sto. Niño and not because of the Barter of Panay.
So how the annual celebration of the devotional feast of the Sto. Niño got started in Kalibo? Well, no one in this time can say with authority. Kalibohons have not archived any old historical records about the Sr. Sto. Niño unlike that of the Sto. Niño of Cebu. In the written event related to the Sto. Niño of Cebu, the only contact of Panay was in building the Church for the latter.
Santo Niño de Kalibo
It was said that on April 14, 1521, Rajah Humabon, the ruler of Cebu, asked to be baptized after hearing from Spanish Conquistadores about Jesus Christ. He was named Carlos, after King Charles V of Spain. On the same day, his wife and some Cebuanos were baptized by Magellan’s chaplain. The event marked the beginning of the Christianization of the Philippines. The wife of Humabon was named Juana, after the mother of King Charles V. Magellan presented her with an image of the Child Jesus as a baptismal gift. Queen Juana installed the image in her royal mansion.
On April 27, 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi reached Cebu but met with resistance from the natives of Cebu. The Spanish ships fired their cannons, causing much damage to the town. In one of the damaged houses, a Spanish soldier named Juan Camus found an unscathed image of the Child Jesus (now known as Sto. Niño de Cebu). The image was believed to be the one which Magellan presented to Rajah Humabon’s wife in 1521. On May 8, 1565, Legazpi and his men allotted a place for the church where the Sto. Niño image had been found. The present Church, built with stones carried by banca from Panay, was started on February 29, 1735.
But speaking briefly here of Panay in relation to the Sto. Niño proves nothing except that the stones for the construction of the church were carried by banca from Panay. The word Panay is also broad enough to refer only to Kalibo just to establish a hint that the history of the Sto. Niño of Cebu has something to do with the Sto. Niño of Kalibo.
In looking for the foundational story (origin) of the Sto. Niño of Kalibo, the book, Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas (1565-1615) by Gaspar de San Agustin, OSA. was used by some local historians as reference to tell that in year 1569, one thousand natives of Kalibo were baptized in mass. To celebrate the great event, the natives and the Spaniards went around the place beating drums, singing and dancing, shouting and greeting each other with “Viva kay Señor Santo Niño! Viva!”
But this is far from what was written in Spanish which states:
“Fue Aclan antiguamente tan grande que el solo tuvo mil tributaries, y por esto se llama el pueblo Calibo, que significa mil, porque el nombre de Aclan es del rio.”
In the original Spanish text, the one thousand (1000) refers to the number of tributes (to the King of Spain) and not to the number of baptized natives. The book is even silent about the Sto. Niño or a presence of an “Ati” in Kalibo.
Due to the difficulty of reconstructing the origin of the Sto. Niño of Kalibo, a plausible explanation to fill the gaps could be found from the early writing of the then Parish Priest of St. John the Baptist Parish of Kalibo, Msgr. Jose Iturralde. In 1975, Msgr. Iturralde published his work under the title “Historia sang Santo Niño Cag Ate-Ate” which had not gained much popular acceptance among Kalibonhons. Local historians of Kalibo had never mentioned about it in any of their writings related to the “Ati-Atihan” and it was not even referred to in the “Recuerdo”, a Souvenir Book published by the Catholic Church herself on the occasion of the Sto. Niño Festival, on January 16, 1994. But now that Kalibo is deprived of its time-honored belief of the historical foundation of the Sto. Niño “Ati-Atihan Festival”, the hour has come to turn to this oldest manuscript which deals directly with the origin of Sto. Niño and “Ati-Atihan”. A surviving copy only came out when a researcher borrowed it from a Kalibonhon and a relative of the monsignor who kept it together with her several documents about “Ati-Atihan”.
The “Historia sang Santo Niño Cag Ate-Ate” speaks of the two stories of origin of the Santo Niño with Ate-Ate: one is that of Ibajay and the other is that of Malinao and of Kalibo. With regard to the first, it is beyond contestation for it takes root in Ibajaynons’ collective memory: “Suno sa tradicion o con pa-alinton nga suguid sang mga catigulangan sa banwa sang Ibajay”. But with regard to the second, particularly on the origin of Santo Niño with Ate-Ate in Kalibo, it cannot stand without raising more questions on the mind and heart of Kalibonhons. If the “Narracion” purportedly unfolded the origin of “Ati-Atihan” and the Sto. Niño in Kalibo, then who could prove its (Narracion) existence? This kind of question does not attempt to blacken the memory of the deceased but to apprise Kalibonhons of that previous mistake in perpetuating the story of Barter of Panay as historic in relation to “Ati-Atihan” without verifying the reliability or authenticity of the primary source and in unfaithfully transmitting the works of Fr. Gaspar de San Agustin, OSA. Moreover, old generations of Kalibonhons who were born, lived and died in Kalibo and even those who are still alive today would neither confirm nor deny what the “Historia sang Santo Niño Cag Ate-Ate” stated about the Sto. Niño of Kalibo.
For the true-blooded, born and bred, Kalibonhons, when they speak of the origin of the Sto. Niño and “Ati-Atihan” which is an expression of devotion to the Sto. Niño, it is better left a mystery just as the Childhood of Jesus remains a mystery.
The newly established chapel of Santo Nino de Kalibo
In the absence of a written record or since immemorial, the Sto. Niño has served as an important religious-historical part of Kalibonhons’ lives. During the celebration of the devotional feast to the Sto. Niño, Kalibonhons show their culture and tradition. No matter how chaotic the celebration seems to look like, Kalibonhons remain calm and peaceful, focusing more on to their devotion to the Sto. Niño. Only a stranger behaves otherwise.
Furthermore, the celebration of the devotional feast to the Sto. Niño in Kalibo is one remarkable event to feature in celebrating the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines. Kalibo has played a major part in the new evangelization, and Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival is a “panaad” (panata) to the Sto. Niño, whereby devotees make a unique form of public worship. Unlike others who perform their panata by making some sacrifices (penitencia), “panaad” in Kalibo is a live worship where dragging one ‘s feet (sadsad) expresses one’s joy found in God’s only Son –Jesus, the Sto. Niño.
Even though the feast is given a secular name (Ati-Atihan), the celebration is distinctive and memorable in the sense that those who come to Kalibo as tourists, they go home as devotees of the Sto. Niño. If the “Ati-Atihan” attracts tourists, it is the Sto. Niño who makes those tourists devotees. Tourists do not just stand as spectators but freely participate and join the “sadsad” in honor of the Sto. Niño.
On January 8, 2021, it was timely for the celebration of the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines, Bishop Jose Corazon T. Tala-oc blessed and declared open the sacred haven for the devotees of the Sto. Niño of Kalibo. Instead of using one’s time in looking for the history of the Sto. Niño of Kalibo, Bishop Tala-oc uses his time to make a brand new start for the devotees to let the Sto. Niño continuously work in the salvation history.
In festive mode, all Kalibonhons shout out loud, “Viva, kay Señor Sto. Niño!”
By the way, this Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival 2021 reveals one thing: there can still be a devotion to the Sto. Niño without the celebration of the “Ati-Atihan”.
References:
de la Cruz, Roman A., “Town of a Thousand” 1993 de San Agustin, Gaspar, OSA, “Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas (1565-1615)”. Diocese of Kalibo (1976-2001), “The Vintage Years”, Kalibo, Aklan. “Recuerdo (Souvenir Book published on the occasion of the Sto. Niño Festival)”, Cathedral Parish of St. John the Baptist, Kalibo, Aklan January 16, 1994.
Special thanks to Rev. Fr. Jude Isidro A. Rebaldo for granting the permission to share his work in this blog to shed light on the history of the Santo Niño de Aklan and the Ati-Atihan Festival.
The re-enactment of the Pontifical Coronation of Nuestra Señora del Sanstisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila during the Centenary celebration of the said event
“All Generations to come shall call me blessed,” prophesied Our Lady in her Magnificat during her visit to St. Elizabeth. These words were not spoken out of vanity but as a recognition of her divine election as the Mother of the Son of God, the King of Kings, a role she humbly accepted along with the profound sufferings she would endure for our sake. Her unwavering commitment to God as the Mother of the Redeemer earned her the sublime title of the Queen of Heaven and Earth.
Throughout history, the faithful have acknowledged the regal dignity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, recognizing her as the Mother of “The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” Early Church Fathers, Doctors of the Church, and Popes have authoritatively affirmed this truth, echoed in the magnificent works of art and profound teachings of the liturgy. Theologians have also underscored the fitting nature of the title “Queen” for the Mother of God, emphasizing her intimate involvement in the redemptive mission of her Son and her role as Mediatrix of all graces. This profound recognition has inspired the devotional practice of crowning Marian images worldwide, a tribute to her royal Queenship.
The Pontifical Coronation of the Virgin of La Naval de Manila in 1907. The first ever in the Philippines and in Asia
For centuries, the Church has honored the Blessed Virgin Mary through various devotions, including the granting of a Pontifical Coronation to certain miraculous Marian images (and historically, to Images of the Child Jesus and St. Joseph). A Pontifical Coronation is a solemn act of the Pope, typically enacted through a Papal Bull or Decree, whereby the Church officially recognizes the cultus (veneration) of a Marian Image under a specific title in a particular locality. During this ceremony, the image is crowned “in the name and by the authority of the Pope.”
This act, alongside the presentation of the Golden Rose, signifies the highest honor bestowed upon miraculous Marian images worldwide. It serves as a testament to the Church’s reverence for the Blessed Virgin Mary and acknowledges the profound spiritual significance and devotion associated with these sacred representations.
The Practice of Crowning of Images
The Pontifical Coronation of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Jaro was performed by Pope John Paul II which makes it the only Pontifical Coronation in the Philippines done by the Pope.
The tradition of crowning images of the Blessed Virgin Mary dates back to the Post-Tridentine era and gained prominence during the Counter-Reformation. Fray Girolamo Paolucci di Forli, a Capuchin priest, played a significant role by initiating the practice of crowning Marian images after his homilies as part of his preaching efforts. His influence extended to Alessandro Sforza Cesarini, Marquis of Piacenza, and Count of Borgonovo, who in his will dated 1636, dedicated funds for crowning the most revered Marian images worldwide. This initiative later gained official recognition from the Vatican Chapter and grew to around 300 coronation ceremonies in the Papal States by the 19th century.
Prior to 1989, the authorization of Pontifical Coronations for religious images, including those of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Child Jesus, and St. Joseph, was typically conveyed through handwritten papal bulls on parchment. These bulls formalized the recognition and approval of specific devotional titles associated with these images.
However, in 1973, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, (now called the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments) issued the decree “Pluris decursu temporis,” which brought clarity to the practice of Pontifical Coronations. The decree emphasized that “Only images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whether paintings or statues, may be crowned; the image of a saint or blessed may not.” The decree also states that“When an image portrays Mary with Our Savior Jesus Christ, both figures must be crowned.” This directive reinforced the Church’s intention to focus the honor of Pontifical Coronations primarily on Marian devotion, emphasizing Mary’s unique role in Christian faith and devotion.
The Pontifical Coronation of Nuestra Señora del Pronto Socorro de Boac in Marinduque officiated by Venerable Bishop Alfredo Ma. Obviar
The process of granting a venerable Marian image a Pontifical Coronation involves several rigorous steps. Firstly, the image must demonstrate antiquity, having a longstanding history that reflects its cultural and religious significance over time. Secondly, there must be intense and enduring devotion among the faithful, highlighting the image’s spiritual impact within the community. Documented miracles attributed to the image’s intercession further substantiate its spiritual efficacy. Petition letters, often endorsed by ecclesiastical figures and sometimes by local government authorities and devotees, detail these aspects and are submitted for review. Ecclesiastical authorities such as bishops and cardinals provide recommendations, emphasizing the image’s significance and the authenticity of its miracles. The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments at the Vatican then carefully assesses the gathered documentation, offering further insights and recommendations before submitting the case for the Pope’s approval. Upon approval, a Papal Bull or Decree is issued, officially granting the Pontifical Coronation. During the ceremony, a crown crafted from precious materials symbolizes the singular dignity of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth, honoring her central role in Catholic devotion and spirituality.
The Pontifically Crowned Marian Images in the Philippines
In the Philippines, among the hundreds of Marian images venerated throughout the country, approximately 58 and counting have received the prestigious honor of Pontifical Coronation. This recognition is bestowed in acknowledgment of documented miracles and the fervent devotion surrounding each image. These Marian images, known as “Coronadas,” often have this distinction added to their titles. The following list sequences the Pontifically Crowned Marian images in the Philippines according to the year of their Pontifical Coronation.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila
Nuestra Senora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila Provenance: National Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary – Sto. Domingo Church, Quezon City Coronation Date: October 5, 1907 Pontificate: Pope St. Pius X
The Governor General of the Philippines, Don Luis Perez Dasmariñas, commissioned a Chinese artisan to carve the miraculous image of Our Lady of the Rosary in 1593. Donated to the Dominicans in Intramuros, the image gained popularity due to reported miracles. Among these, the victory in the Five Naval Battles of 1646 was notable, where Spanish and Filipino forces vowed pilgrimage on foot to her shrine if victorious, leading to “La Naval” being added to her title. Pontifically Crowned on October 5, 1907, by Pope St. Pius X, it marked the first Pontifical Coronation in the Philippines. By Resolution No. 9645-S73 on August 21, 1973, the City Government of Quezon City designated “Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval” as the Patroness of Quezon City. St. Paul VI formalized this patronage on August 26, 1974, through the decree “Caelestium munerum conciliatrix”issued by the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship.
Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Naga
Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Naga Provenance: Minor Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, Naga, Camarines Sur Coronation Date: September 20, 1924 Pontificate: Pope Pius XI
The venerated image of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Naga is one of the most well-known and beloved images of the whole Bicolandia. The devotion began through the efforts of a Dominican Friar, Padre Caborrobias who is an ardent devotee of the Virgin of Peña de Francia of Salamanca, Spain. The Image was based on the painting of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia which is venerated in Paco, Manila, and the image was carved in 1710. Numerous miracles were attributed to the Ina of the Bicolanos up to the present. Most remarkably it was the end of a cholera outbreak that killed almost the entire region in 1882. It was this miracle that Pope Leo XIII proclaimed the Virgin of Penafrancia as the Patroness of the Diocese of Nueva Caceres. The Ina of Bicolandia received the Pontifical Coronation on September 20, 1924, at the plaza of Naga Cathedral.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Manaoag
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Manaoag Provenance: Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Manaoag, Pangasinan Coronation Date: April 21, 1926 Pontificate: Pope Pius XI
It is said that the Virgin of Manaoag appeared to a farmer and asked him to build a Church in her honor and the place of the apparition later to be known as “Manaoag” for it is said that the people would refer to the place as “The place where the Lady calls”. The statue of the Virgin of Manaoag was brought by Fr. Juan de San Jacinto, a Dominican friar to Manoag, Pangasinan for the veneration of the faithful that would later become the focal point of pilgrimage in the province of Pangasinan. Numerous miracles were reported over the centuries up to the present she received her Pontifical Crown on April 21, 1926, and decades later her shrine became a Minor Basilica on February 17, 2015.
Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Antipolo
Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Antipolo Provenance: Immaculate Conception Cathedral – The International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Antipolo, Rizal Coronation Date: November 28, 1926 Pontificate: Pope Pius XI
This brown image of the Immaculate Conception was brought by Governor General Juan de Tabora from Mexico in 1626 and initially enshrined in Intramuros before being transferred to Rizal Province. The Jesuits were led by the Virgin’s wanderings to a Tipolo tree where she rested, interpreting it as a sign of her desire to be venerated in that area. A church was promptly erected, later renowned for miracles, particularly in safeguarding galleons on voyages. These miracles led to her being honored as “Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje” (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage). The Virgin of Antipolo was Pontifically Crowned on November 28, 1926, at Luneta Park in Manila under Archbishop Michael O’Doherty. In 2023, the Antipolo Cathedral Shrine was designated as the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, marking a first in the Philippines, effective March 25, 2023, with formal rites on January 26, 2024. On February 26, 2024, the first Golden Rose in the Philippines was offered to Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje during the Misa de Gracia at the Antipolo Cathedral.
Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Piat
Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Piat Provenance: Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Our Lady of the Visitation, Piat, Cagayan Coronation Date: June 20, 1954 Pontificate: Pope Pius XII
The image of Our Lady of Piat was an image of Our Lady of the Rosary made in Goa, India out of wood and paper mache that is intended for missions in Macao. The image was brought to the Philippines in 1604. It was first placed in the old Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros until she was transferred to her current shrine in Cagayan Valley. The Virgin of Piat earned the title “Visitacion” due to the stories of her “nocturnal visitations” to her devotees over the centuries. Numerous miracles were attributed to her intercession, notably the pacification of warring tribes that led to peace in the Cagayan Valley. The Queen of Cagayan Valley was Pontifically Crowned at the Plaza of Tuguegarao on June 20, 1954, after the Diocesan Marian Congress conducted by the then Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi.
Nuestra Señora de la Regla de Cebu
Nuestra Señora de la Regla de Cebu Provenance: National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Regla, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu Coronation Date: November 27, 1954 Pontificate: Pope Pius XII
The image of Nuestra Senora de la Regla of Cebu was based on a painting brought by Father Francisco Avalle, OSA, an Augustinian priest, in 1735 in a parish in Opon (now Lapu-Lapu City), Cebu. The statue was commissioned years later to preserve the original painting from wear. Numerous miracles of healing were reported through her intercession and also noted for saving Cebu from the pestilence that threatened their livelihood and also the ravages of the Second World War. The Virgin of the Rule was Pontifically Crowned on November 27, 1954, as a fitting conclusion to the First Archdiocesan Marian Congress that opened days before the Coronation Rites.
Nuestra Señora de Caysasay
Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepcion de Caysasay Provenance: Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay, Labac, Taal, Batangas Coronation Date: December 8, 1954 Pontificate: Pope Pius XII
The image of Nuestra Senora de Caysasay was a foot-tall image that was fished out in the Pasinipit River by Juan Maningcad in 1603. It was first enshrined in a home altar of a matriarch in Taal but she disappeared for years until she was found on top of a tree near a well surrounded by Casaycasay birds by two women who were doing their menial tasks. A Visita was later built on the site near the well and numerous miracles were reported over the centuries. It is said that the Virgin of Caysasay appeared to two different women on two separate occasions it is considered the first reported Marian apparitions in the Philippines. The Queen of Batangas was Pontifically Crowned on her feast day, December 8, 1954, officiated by Fernando Cardinal Quiroga, Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela and Papal Legate to the Marian Congress of Manila.
Nuestra Señora de Guia
Nuestra Señora de Guia Provenance: Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia, Ermita, Manila Coronation Date: December 30, 1955 Pontificate: Pope Pius XII
The image of Nuestra Senora de Guia is considered the oldest existing Marian image in the Philippines. The image’s origin was unknown yet it was found by a soldier of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi on May 19, 1571, being venerated by the natives as a pagan deity. The image was first enshrined in a Visita in Ermita, Manila until she was enthroned in Manila Cathedral and returned to her original shrine centuries later. She was declared the Patrona Jurada de Manila (Sworn Patroness of Manila) by the King of Spain in 1758 and became a witness to the tragic yet colorful history of Manila. She won the affection of Manilenos due to the miracles that she wrought for them and she was Pontifically Crowned on December 30, 1955, at Plaza Ferguson (now part of Luneta) in Manila.
Nuestra Señora de Caridad de Bantay
Nuestra Señora de Caridad de Bantay Provenance: St. Augustine Parish – Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Charity, Bantay, Ilocos Sur Coronation Date: January 12, 1956 Pontificate: Pope Pius XII
The image of Nuestra Senora de Caridad of Bantay, Ilocos Sur is considered the oldest venerated Marian image of Ilocandia. The image of Apo Caridad was that of Our Lady of Consolation, the Patroness of the Augustinian Order who was assigned to the region for missionary work. The Virgin has showered innumerable favors among her Ilocano children over the centuries, saving them from imminent dangers and helping them with their necessities that she earned the title, Our Lady of Charity. The original Ivory head and hands of Apo Caridad were stolen in 1968 and a faithful replica was donated by the Archdiocesan Museum of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia that can be seen up to the present. Apo Caridad of Bantay was Pontifically Crowned on January 12, 1956.
Virgen de los Remedios de Pampanga
Virgen de los Remedios de Pampanga Provenance: Archdiocesan Chancery Chapel, San Fernando, Pampanga Coronation Date: September 8, 1956 Pontificate: Pope Pius XII
Communism spread widely in Pampanga after World War II, posing a threat to the Catholic faith in the province. In response, Bishop Cesar Ma. Guerrero founded the Crusade of Charity and Goodwill in 1952 to aid the needy and provide Catholic instruction. He borrowed the image of Virgen Delos Remedios from the parish of Baliti, Pampanga, which toured the province, fostering devotion to the Blessed Virgin and proving highly successful. When the original image returned to Baliti in 1954, the bishop commissioned a replica to continue spreading faith across the province. The Indu of Kapampangans was Pontifically Crowned on September 8, 1956, a tradition commemorated annually since.
Nuestra Señora de Pronto Socorro de Boac
Nuestra Señora de Pronto Socorro de Boac Provenance: Boac Cathedral – Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Boac, Marinduque Coronation Date: May 10, 1958 Pontificate: Pope Pius XII
The Virgin of Biglang Awa of Boac, Marinduque is an image of the Immaculate Conception that is acclaimed as the Queen of the Province of Marinduque. The Virgin of Prompt Succor of Boac was known for defending Marinduque from Muslim pirates, who threatened the island province by hoarding their goods and kidnapping their residents that would be sold as slaves. It is also said that the Virgen also appeared in these infidels on two occasions sometime in the 17th and 18th Centuries. She is also credited for the miracles related to maritime perils over the centuries and numerous cures, especially for eyesight were also reported. The Virgin of Biglang Awa was Pontifically Crowned on May 10, 1958, officiated by Venerable Bishop Alfredo Ma. Obviar, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Lucena.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Orani
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Orani Provenance: Minor Basilica and Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary, Orani, Bataan Coronation Date: April 18, 1959 Pontificate: Pope St. John XXIII
The image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, venerated in her shrine in Orani, Bataan, is believed to have been brought by Dominican missionaries in 1587. Since her enthronement, various miracles have been attributed to her intercession, including protection against rebel tribes, calamities, and pestilence, earning her the title “Virgen Milagrosa”. One notable miracle occurred during the Mount Pinatubo eruption in the early 1990s, when the Virgin was said to have descended from her altar to comfort and give hope to the victims and refugees, with her dress reportedly covered in lahar. The Queen of the Bataan Peninsula was Pontifically Crowned on April 18, 1959, at the plaza of Orani in front of the municipal hall, in a ceremony presided over by Archbishop Salvatorre Siino, the then Apostolic Nuncio. On December 12, 2019, the Shrine of the Virgin of the Rosary of Orani was elevated to the rank of Minor Basilica, the first in the Bataan Peninsula.
Nuestra Señora de Namacpcan
Nuestra Señora de Namacpacan Provenance: St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish – Shrine of Our Lady of Namacpacan, Luna, La Union Coronation Date: November 25, 1959 Pontificate: Pope St. John XXIII
The image of the Virgin of Namacpacan arrived in the Philippines in 1871, originally destined for a seminary in Vigan. However, due to a severe storm, the crew docked in Luna, La Union for safety. Despite several attempts, the image mysteriously could not be moved back onto the ship, which was interpreted as a sign that the Virgin wished to remain in Luna. Father Marcelino Ceballos made arrangements with the Augustinian Friars to keep the image there, and she was triumphantly welcomed to her chosen home. Numerous miracles have been attributed to her intercession over the centuries. One notable miracle involved natives who visited the shrine and recounted that a tall lady had come to them, provided food, and urged them to be baptized in the church in Luna. They identified the image as the lady who had visited them, leading to her being known as “The Lady who Feeds.” The Virgin of Namacpacan was Pontifically Crowned on November 24, 1959. During the coronation rites, the Papal Nuncio shared that the Virgin had appeared to Pope Pius XII days before his death, requesting to be honored in that area. Church officials were unaware of Luna’s location until the request for her coronation was submitted.
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zamboanga
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zamboanga Provenance: Shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar Coronation Date: October 12, 1960 Pontificate: Pope St. John XXIII
The miraculous bas-relief image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar in Zamboanga City enjoys veneration from both Catholics and Muslims. Fort Pilar was originally constructed in the 16th century and rebuilt in 1718, with the facade featuring the Virgin built in 1734. Over the years, numerous miracles have been attributed to the Virgin of the Pillar, including her appearances to a soldier and to Muslim pirates, defending the people of Zamboanga. The fort was eventually converted into a shrine, and the image on the facade was Pontifically Crowned on October 12, 1960.
La Virgen Divina Pastora
La Virgen Divina Pastora de Gapan Provenance: Three Kings Parish – Minor Basilica and National Shrine of La Divina Pastora, Gapan, Nueva Ecija Coronation Date: April 26, 1964 Pontificate: Pope Paul VI
The devotion to La Virgen Divina Pastora of Gapan, Nueva Ecija began in the 1700s when Doña Juana Valmonte had a dream in which the Virgin asked her to bring an image of her to the country. Following her father’s advice, they consulted a priest from Intramuros, who told them about the apparition of La Divina Pastora in Seville, Spain in 1703 and its growing popularity. Taking this as a sign, Doña Juana commissioned an image of the Divine Shepherdess for the family’s farm. When the image arrived in Intramuros, it was transported to Nueva Ecija, where it quickly gained love and veneration due to numerous reported miracles. The Queen of the Central Plains was Pontifically Crowned on April 26, 1964, in a ceremony officiated by Bishop Mariano Gaviola, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Cabanatuan, with a church-owned replica crowned for the occasion. The original image, under the custodianship of the Valmonte family, was also crowned and later donated to the shrine in 1986 when the Three Kings Parish was declared the National Shrine of La Divina Pastora. On April 26, 2024, the shrine was elevated to the status of a Minor Basilica.
Nuestra Señora de Salvacion de Joroan
Nuestra Señora de Salvacion de Joroan Provenance: Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Salvacion de Joroan, Joroan, Tiwi, Albay Coronation Date: August 25, 1976 Pontificate: Pope Paul VI
The image of the Nuestra Senora de Salvacion of Joroan, Tiwi, Albay was carved by Bagacumba from a mysterious kalpe tree trunk that was found in Buhi, Camarines Sur. The sculptor made three images out of the trunk: the statues of San Antonio de Padua for Buhi, Virgen de la Soledad for Tambo, and Virgen del Salvacion that were given to Joroan on August 25, 1776. Originally known as Virgen de la Luz, the Virgin is known for saving the people of Albay from Muslim pirates who threatened to rob and kidnap the residents the people developed their love and devotion to the Virgin she was later named “Salvation”. Pilgrims from all over Bicolandia and other parts of the country would flock to her shrine to pay homage to her and perform penances and devotion to Our Lady. The Virgen de Salvacion was Pontifically Crowned on August 25, 1976, and was proclaimed the Patroness of the Diocese of Legazpi.
Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Jaro
Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Jaro Provenance: Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Elizabeth – National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles, Jaro, Iloilo Coronation Date: February 20, 1981 Pontificate: Pope St. John Paul II
The devotion to Nuestra Senora de Candelaria of Jaro, Iloilo began when two fishermen found a stone image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1587. The image was a foot high yet it was unusually heavy yet it became light when it was decided to be brought to Jaro. With the foundation of St. Elizabeth’s Cathedral in Jaro, the image was placed on the rooftop pediment where devotees began the custom of lighting vigil lamps at its foot. It is said that the image grew larger as years passed by and as of this writing, the image was now four feet. Often items, some residents see the Virgin’s pediment empty and a woman with her Child bathing Him in a well nearby the Cathedral. With numerous miracles that the Virgin wrought on her Ilonggo Children, the Virgen de Candelaria was Pontifically Crowned personally by Pope St. John Paul II on February 20, 1981, during his first Apostolic Visit to the Philippines and declaring her as the patroness of Western Visayas. It was this singular event that made her the only Marian statue in the Philippines personally crowned by a Pope and a saint as of this writing.
Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Manila
Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Manila Provenance: Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Manila, P. Gomez St., Paco, Manila Coronation Date: November 10, 1985 Pontificate: Pope St. John Paul II
The image of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Manila arrived in the Philippines on May 14, 1651, reportedly found washed ashore after the sinking of the Caborrobias family’s ship. Initially housed at San Fernando de Dilao Parish but frequently disappearing, it eventually found a permanent home at its discovery site due to numerous reported miracles. This image became the basis and inspiration for the devotion to Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia in Naga. Recognizing its spiritual significance, she was Pontifically Crowned on November 10, 1985, marking a milestone that led to the evolution of the festive “Tatarin” dance. The Parish attained the status of Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Manila on May 14, 2022. On May 19, 2024, the City Government of Manila issued a resolution declaring Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Manila as the “Holy Queen Mother of Paco,” further affirming her esteemed role within the local community.
La Inmacaulada Concepcion de Malabon
La Inmacaulada Concepcion de Malabon Provenance: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of the Immaculate Conception, Concepcion, Malabon City Coronation Date: December 7, 1986 Pontificate: Pope St. John Paul II
The image of La Inmaculada Concepcion of Malabon was one of the most unique and beautiful images of the Immaculate Conception in the Philippines. The image is said to have been carved in Pampanga and it was later brought a Visita in Hacienda Tambobong (Now Malabon). However, the image and the shrine were sequestered by the Aglipayan Church during the Philippine Revolution yet were later returned to the Catholic Church in 1906 and the Aglipayans later commissioned their own image and shrine. With numerous miracles attributed to her intercession, Ynang, as she is called by her devotees, was Pontifically Crowned on December 7, 1986. The Parish was elevated to the status of a Diocesan Shrine on December 8, 2021.
Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Manila
Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Manila Provenance: National Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned, Sta. Ana, Manila Coronation Date; May 12, 1991 Pontificate: Pope St. John Paul II
The devotion to Nuestra Senora Delos Desamparados of Santa Ana, Manila began with the arrival of her image, an authentic replica of the Virgin of the Abandoned of Valencia, Spain via Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade in 1717 together with a replica of Santo Cristo de Burgos of Sariyaya, Quezon. She was called “La Gobernadora de Manila” since Archbishop de la Cuesta gave his Baston de Manto to the Virgin as an act of thanksgiving for his appointment as Interim Governor-General of the country. Many miracles, especially healing and answered prayers inundated the parish records that she received Pontifical Coronation on her feast day, May 12, 1991. The centuries-old Parish was declared the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned in 2020 by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Sebastian
Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Sebastian Provenance: Minor Basilica and Parish of San Sebastian – Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila Coronation Date; August 18, 1991 Pontificate: Pope St. John Paul II
The Image of Nuestra Señora del Carmen at San Sebastián Minor Basilica in Quiapo, Manila holds the distinction of being the first representation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the Philippines. It arrived in 1618 with Spanish Recoletos, led by Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel, as a gift from the Discalced Carmelite Sisters of Mexico aboard their ship bound for Manila, where it was revered as the ‘capitana’. The Augustinian Recollects initially spread devotion to the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel before the Carmelites arrived, and numerous miracles were attributed to the image. With permission from both branches of the Carmelite Order, a Confraternity was established to promote the devotion. The image is prominently featured in the Traslacion Fiesta of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of Quiapo every January 9. In recognition of its significance, the Virgin was Pontifically Crowned on August 18, 1991, coinciding with the centenary of the inauguration of the fifth all-steel San Sebastian Basilica.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Ubanon
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Ubanon Provenance: Parish and Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, Ubanon, Catbalogan, Samar Coronation Date: October 15, 1995 Pontificate: Pope St. John Paul II
The origins of the image of Nuestra Senora del Santisimo Rosario de Ubanon are unknown, but it is believed to have been carved by a Chinese sculptor from hamorawon wood. The image’s oldest known historical record is from Father Francisco Alcina SJ’s book “Historia de la Islas e Indios de Bisayas” published in 1668. In 1627, Captain Juan de Leon implored the Virgin’s protection before pursuing the Camucon pirates who had been raiding Samar Island. He vowed to use the booty he would take to fashion a crown for her and the Child Jesus. The captain was victorious and fulfilled his vow by offering the booty to the Lady. The Virgin was Pontifically Crowned on October 15, 1995, and her crowns were blessed by St. John Paul II during his Second Papal Visit for the World Youth Day in Manila.
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Manila
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Manila Provenance: Immaculate Conception Parish – Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation (San Agustin Church), Intramuros, Manila Coronation Date; September 4, 2000 Pontificate: Pope St. John Paul II
The arrival date of the image of Nuestra Senora de la Consolacion y Correa of Intramuros is uncertain. Still, it is believed that the image was already enshrined in San Agustin Church since the 17th century. The devotion to the Virgin began when she appeared to St. Monica of Tagaste, giving her a cincture as a sign of her maternal consolation and protection. A Cofradia was established in her honor for the propagation of her devotion, and the image was hidden during WWII. It was enshrined again after the war and stayed there since then. The original Niño was stolen in 2005, and a replacement was made from the San Agustin Museum. The Mother of the Augustinian Order was Pontifically Crowned on her feast day, September 4, 2000, during the Jubilee Year.
Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Parañaque
Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Parañaque Provenance: Cathedral of St. Andrew – Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Good Events, La Huerta, Parañaque City Coronation Date; September 8, 2000 Pontificate: Pope St. John Paul II
The ancient image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso of Parañaque was brought by the Augustinians from Spain in 1580, originally intended as a gift from the King to Filipino converts. Initially highly venerated, a larger replica was later commissioned, relegating the original to storage. Discovered years later by an Indio caretaker named Catig, who requested and faithfully cared for the dusty image, it was eventually entrusted to Rev. Fr. Juan de Guevarra of the Order of St. Augustine. Following Catig’s death, Fr. Guevarra witnessed the image emitting a mysterious light and heard angelic hymns, confirming its miraculous nature. Over centuries, numerous miracles were attributed to Our Lady of Good Events, culminating in her Pontifical Coronation on September 8, 2000. On November 29, 2023, during the Mass for the Traditional Feast of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso, His Excellency Bishop Jesse Mercado, DD, officially decreed Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso as the “Principal Patroness of the Diocese of Parañaque,” affirming her esteemed role in the diocese.
Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Marikina
Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Marikina Provenance: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned, Marikina City Coronation Date: October 23, 2005 Pontificate: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Scant records exist about the actual origin of the image, yet it is believed that the present image was carved sometime in 1902 to replace the older image which was destroyed, along with important documents regarding the devotion, during the Philippine-American War in 1898. Despite being the patron of the forsaken, her love and affection extend beyond what her sobriquet suggests. She is also the protector of the poor, the condemned, and the people of Marikina, having captured their hearts for years. The Queen and Patroness of Marikina, as declared by the City of Marikina in 2003, was Pontifically Crowned on October 23, 2005, in her shrine in Marikina City. The Canonical Coronation was the first in the Pontificate of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, as he approved the request a few days after his election to the Papacy.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu Provenance: Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu, Guadalupe, Cebu Coronation Date: July 16, 2006 Pontificate: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
The Virgen de Guadalupe image in her Archdiocesan Shrine in Cebu was found by Ricardo Ramirez in 1880 emanating a great light from a cave. The image was first enshrined in a hermitage until it was destroyed during the Philippine-American War and later transferred to the Church of San Nicolas, Cebu. The Virgin is known for performing numerous miracles, including stopping a cholera epidemic in 1902 after the Cebuanos invoked her intercession. In gratitude, an annual fiesta was established on July 16th, and the Virgin was Pontifically Crowned on the same date in 2006. The Coronation also marked the official recognition of Our Lady of Guadalupe of Cebu as the Patroness of Cebu through a pontifical decree issued on May 3, 2006, by the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
La Inmaculada Concepcion de Pasig
La Inmaculada Concepcion de Pasig Provenance: Cathedral of the Immaculate Concepcion, Pasig City Coronation Date: December 7, 2008 Pontificate: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
The image of La Inmaculada Concepcion de Pasig was carved sometime between 1902 and 1903 as a replacement for the original image that was destroyed during the Philippine Revolution. The image might have been patterned to a painting of the Immaculate Conception that was commissioned by St. Pius X for the Golden Jubilee of the Dogmatic definition of the Immaculate Conception at the same period. Numerous miracles have been recorded over the years. One of the most known miracles was when the Virgin was being restored for her Canonical Coronation, it is said that there was a choir of angels singing while she was restored and it was only the restorers who were in the room at that time and it is impossible that there were choirs in the area. The Queen and Patroness of Pasig were Pontifically Crowned on December 7, 2008, officiated by Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, then Apostolic Nuncio. The Crown was blessed by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI when the representatives of the Diocese of Pasig attended a Papal Audience in Rome months before the Coronation rites.
La Inmaculada Concepcion de Malolos
La Inmaculada Concepcion de Malolos Provenance: Minor Basilica and Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Malolos, Bulacan Coronation Date: March 10, 2012 Pontificate: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
The venerable image of La Inmaculada Concepcion de Malolos was carved by Doding Ople, a native of Barrio San Vicente, sometime before the Second World War and was enthroned in the main altar of Malolos Cathedral. The sculptor was inspired by the famous painting of Estaban Murillo’s painting of the Immaculate Conception. Miracles were reported through her intercession that on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese of Malolos, Bishop Jose Oliveros petitioned for her Pontifical Coronation and it was granted on May 11, 2011, and the Coronation Rites took place on March 10, 2012, officiated by Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines.
Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Paracale
Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Paracale Provenance: Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles, Paracale, Camarines Norte Coronation Date: September 1, 2012 Pontificate: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
The image of Nuestra Senora de Candelaria de Paracale of Camarines Norte is considered the oldest Patroness of Bicolandia with the arrival of the Franciscans in the 17th Century when they brought with them the Ivory image of Our Lady of the Candles. One unique feature of Inay Candi was her broken finger because she protected Camarines Norte from Muslim pirates who wanted to kidnap the residents and loot their goods. The Virgin appeared to the infidels with a sword in her hand and the enemies fled immediately out of fear. Many attempts were made to repair the damage but to no avail for the Virgin wanted to remain in that state as a reminder of her protection of the province. The Queen of Camarines Norte was Pontifically Crowned on September 1, 2012.
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus Provenance: Cathedral Parish and Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar, Imus, Cavite Coronation Date: December 3, 2012 Pontificate: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Two narratives exist on how the devotion and image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar of Imus arrived. The first was recorded in the annals of the Order of the Augustinian Recollects, which states that it was brought by Blessed Martin de San Nicolas from Spain in 1624. The second is an oral tradition that arrived from a galleon and was kept by Don Ambrocio Palma I. It was later enshrined in the Church of Imus after emanating bright light. The Virgin of the Pillar in Imus has been credited with numerous accounts of miracles through her intercession. St. Ezekiel Moreno was also one of her ardent devotees during his time in Imus. In 1961, with the creation of the Diocese of Imus, the Shrine of the Virgin of the Pillar became the seat of the Diocese and she was proclaimed as its Patroness. Nana Pilar was Pontifically Crowned on December 3, 2012, by His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, then Bishop of the Diocese of Imus. On December 3, 2020, the Cathedral Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar of Imus was declared the Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus.
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Libmanan
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Libmanan Provenance: Parish and Shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar, San Isidro, Libmanan, Camarines Sur Coronation Date: October 11, 2015 Pontificate: Pope Francis
Devotion to Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Libmanan began when Archbishop Leandro Legazpi established a Shrine dedicated to the Virgin in 1985, alongside the popular devotion to St. James the Apostle in the area. The Shrine quickly became a focal point for devotees and pilgrims, where numerous miracles were reported and documented over the years. Recognizing its significance, the Virgin was Pontifically Crowned on October 11, 2015, affirming her revered status and the deep spiritual connection she holds within the community.
Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu
Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu de San Mateo Provenance: Diocesan Shrine – Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu, San Mateo, Rizal Coronation Date: May 31, 2017 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The unique image of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu arrived in the Philippines in 1705, brought by Jesuit priest Father Juan de Echazabal, SJ. Its arrival sparked the beginning of devotion to the Virgin, leading to the town changing its patron from St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist to Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu. The image is revered for ensuring the safe passage of a ship and its passengers through a violent storm. Known as a protector against natural calamities, especially typhoons, the Virgin of Aranzazu would be brought out from her shrine during storms, with floodwaters reportedly subsiding wherever she was carried through San Mateo. The Queen and Patroness of San Mateo, Rizal was Pontifically Crowned on May 31, 2017, attended by thousands of devotees from San Mateo and across the Philippines, affirming her esteemed role in local spiritual life.
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila Provenance: Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar – Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, Santa Cruz, Manila Coronation Date: December 7, 2017 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar was brought to the Philippines by the Jesuits sometime before 1743. During that time, a confraternity dedicated to the Virgin of the Pillar already existed in the district, and the arrival of the image made the devotion official. As the patroness of the Sta. Cruz district, she was the object of prayers, mid-day Saturday Masses, Rosary prayers, and novenas, with many miracles reported through her intercession for centuries. The opulence of the people of what was then one of the most aristocratic arrabals of Manila is strongly evident in the appearance of the Virgin. The devotees lavished the Virgin with gifts as an act of thanksgiving for all the miracles she wrought for the people and for the thriving trade and commerce of the district, once called “The Cradle of Tagalog Aristocracy.” The Virgen del Pilar celebrates two feast days: the Liturgical Feast on October 12 and the Traditional Patronal Feast on the third Sunday of October. The image of La Pilarica of Manila was Pontifically Crowned on December 7, 2017.
La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc
La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc Provenance: Minor Basilica of St. John the Baptist – Shrine of La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, Badoc, Ilocos Norte Coronation Date; May 31, 2018 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The devotion to La Virgen Milagrosa of Badoc, Ilocos Norte began in 1620 when the people saw a large wooden box floating on the water, which the current was pushing towards the shore. They immediately threw a daclis (fishnet) to catch the box, and once caught, it was hauled to the shore. Upon opening the box, they found the images of Sto. Cristo Milagroso, later given to Sinait, and La Virgen Milagrosa, later given to Badoc, both perfectly dry. It is believed that the images were meant for the Japanese missions that were shipwrecked and arrived in Ilocos Norte by divine intervention. Immediately, miracles occurred upon the enthronement of the Virgen Milagrosa, who is also regarded as the Cause of their Joy. The Virgin of Badoc was Pontifically Crowned on May 31, 2018. The shrine was declared a Minor Basilica on February 5, 2019.
Maria, Auxiliadora de los Cristianos de Pangasinan
Maria Auxiliadora de Los Cristianos de Pangasinan Provenance: Mary, Help of Christians Minor Seminary, San Fabian, Pangasinan Coronation Date: August 22, 2018 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The Mary, Help of Christians Minor Seminary in San Fabian, Pangasinan was established in 1929. The image of Maria Auxiliadora was given by then Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop William Piani, a known devotee and propagator of the devotion to Mary, Help of Christians, to then Bishop Cesar Ma. Guerrero, then Bishop of the Diocese of Lingayen-Dagupan (which was later elevated to an Archdiocese) as a gift to the seminary. Since the enthronement of the image of Maria Auxiliadora, she helped nurture the seminarians to heed the call for the priesthood and helped them persevere in this calling. By the strength of the Papal Decree issued by the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on March 23, 2018, this image of Mary, Help of Christians received the honor of Pontifical Coronation. The Coronation Rites took place on August 22, 2018, at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in Dagupan, Pangasinan.
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Morong
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Morong Provenance: Our Lady of the Pillar Parish, Morong, Bataan Coronation Date: October 10, 2018 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The devotion to Nuestra Señora del Pilar in Morong, Bataan began with the establishment of the parish in 1607. The story goes that two captured Moro pirates revealed to the people and the civil and religious authorities of Morong that, as they were about to attack the town, they saw an army of soldiers led by a beautiful lady dressed in queenly robes, protecting the area. While the church was under construction, a Spanish priest showed the two captives various images of Our Lady and the Saints to identify the woman they saw in the vision. When they were shown the image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar, they immediately recognized her as the lady in their vision. Since then, the church by the seaside of Morong has been dedicated to the Virgin of the Pillar to commemorate this miraculous event. The devotion to the Virgin of the Pillar grew and strengthened over the centuries. The image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on October 12, 2018. Following a Papal Decree issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on March 23, 2018, the image of Our Lady of the Pillar of Morong, Bataan, received the honor of Pontifical Coronation. The Coronation Rites took place on October 10, 2018.
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga Provenance: San Roque Parish – Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga, Cavite City, Cavite Coronation Date: November 18, 2018 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The devotion to the Virgin of Solitude in Cavite started with an apparition to a soldier guarding Porta Vaga, followed by the discovery of a painting of the Virgin in Canacao Bay. A chapel was built in her honor, and she was later credited with saving Cavite from a cholera epidemic and other calamities. The Virgin was called the Queen of Cavite and “Luz de Filipinas” for the mysterious light that sometimes emanated from her chapel. Her image was moved to the current shrine, the parish of San Roque after her original chapel was destroyed during World War II. In 2018, the image was granted a Pontifical Coronation, and the San Roque Parish was elevated as the Diocesan shrine of Nuestra Senora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga. The image and its intangible cultural heritage were also declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Historical Commission.
Nuestra Señora de la Lumen de Cainta
Nuestra Señora de la Lumen de Cainta Provenance: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Light, Cainta, Rizal Coronation Date: December 1, 2018 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The devotion to Our Lady of Light was introduced in Cainta, Rizal in 1727 by the Jesuits. The original image, adorned with a gilded frame and crest, was enshrined in a side altar and became renowned for numerous reported miracles. Unfortunately, during the Philippine Revolution, the image was destroyed. The present image, painted in oil on canvas by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, now occupies its place of honor. Her feast day is celebrated on December 1, following St. Andrew’s feast, with a secondary feast observed on the Thursday after Pentecost Sunday. On December 1, 2018, her feast day, the image was honored with a Pontifical Coronation, coinciding with the elevation of her parish to a Diocesan Shrine. In 2022, the shrine was granted a Special Spiritual Bond of Affinity with the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, officially proclaimed on December 1, 2023.
Virgen de la Rosa de Makati
Virgen de la Rosa de Makati Provenance: Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Poblacion, Makati City Coronation Date: March 16, 2019 Pontificate: Pope Francis
In 1718, the Jesuits brought the image of Nuestra Señora de la Rosa from Mexico to the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Makati City. The image has a special reliquary containing a strand of hair of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Despite the loss of the original ivory parts and reliquary during the Philippine Revolution, the devotion to the Virgen de la Rosa continued to flourish, and she became known as the “Soberana Emperatriz” of Makati. Today, wooden replacements for the missing ivory parts are in place, and the tradition of “Baile de Arcos” is still performed on her feast day. In 2018, the Holy See granted the Pontifical Coronation of the Queen and Patroness of Makati City, which took place on March 16, 2019. The City Government of Makati issued the City Ordinance No. 2023-215 proclaiming the Virgen de la Rosa both as a tangible and movable cultural heritage and Patroness of the City of Makati in 2023.
La Purisima Concepcion de Sta. Maria
La Purisima Concepcion de Santa Maria Provenance: Minor Basilica and Parish of La Purisima Concepcion, Santa Maria, Bulacan Coronation Date: February 1, 2020 Pontificate: Pope Francis
There are two local legends as to how the image arrived in Santa Maria: first is that it was brought to the town by the Franciscan Friars, and second is that it was sculpted out of wood from a galleon. The image was stolen in the 1930s and was retrieved in Nueva Ecija by a man named Teofilo Ramirez who claimed that the Virgin Mary appeared in his dream and gave instructions as to where the image can be found. The image was returned to the town in February and the townsfolk accordingly adjusted their feast day to the first Thursday of February except when it falls on February 2. The image received Episcopal Coronation on March 3, 2018. On March 28, 2019, the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments approved the petition for the Pontifical Coronation of the image. The Coronation rites took place on February 1, 2020. On November 27, 2021, the parish was elevated to the status of Minor Basilica.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel of New Manila
Our Lady of Mount Carmel of New Manila Provenance: Minor Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, New Manila, Quezon City Coronation Date: August 15, 2020
It was in the year 1953 when both the Carmelites monasteries in Jaro and in the Archdiocese of Manila commenced. In 1954, a piece of property on Broadway Street was purchased to build the current shrine of New Manila. On December 30, 1954, the cornerstone of the Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was solemnly blessed by the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, and the image was carved by Maximo Vicente. The church was later declared as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in 2016 and granted a Spiritual Bond of Affinity with the Basilica of Sancta Maria Maggiore – one of the four major Basilicas of Rome and plenary indulgence for pilgrims in perpetuity on February 20, 2017. On that same day, the image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation. The shrine was soon elevated to a Minor Basilica in 2019. In 2020, Pope Francis granted the petition for the Pontifical Coronation of the image. The somber yet solemn Coronation rites took place on August 15, 2020 – The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Nuestra Señora de Lourdes de Manila
Nuestra Señora de Lourdes de Manila Provenance: National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Quezon City Coronation Date: August 22, 2020 Pontificate: Pope Francis
From February 11 to July 16, 1858, at the Grotto of Massabielle, the Virgin showed herself 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous. Under the title “The Immaculate Conception,” she called for penance and prayer for the conversion of sinners. The devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes in the country began when Manuel Flores carved two images of her for the Capuchin Church in 1892. Miracles were reported through the intercession of the Virgin of Lourdes, one of them is the protection of Manila and her shrine in Intramuros which earned her the title “Nuestra Señora de Lourdes de Manila”. When the Lourdes Church was destroyed, both the smaller and older image and the altar image were taken away and were first kept in the sacristy of San Agustin Church, then later at the University of Santo Tomas and Sta. Teresita Parish in Quezon City until finally to her present home in Retiro, Quezon City. The venerable altar image of Nuestra Señora de Lourdes de Manila was supposed to receive the honor of the Pontifical Coronation on May 2, 2020. However, due to the lockdown imposed by the National government due to the rising cases of COVID-19 victims, the coronation rites were postponed. The Canonical Coronation took place on August 22, 2020 – Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Quezon
Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de Quezon Provenance: National Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Dolores Quezon Coronation Date: March 25, 2021 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The origins of the image of Our Lady of Sorrows are unknown, with various theories and legends attempting to trace its history. Established in the 1800s, the shrine became a major pilgrimage site, especially during Lent and September. The “Pangkuan” rites are held every Friday, attracting devotees from neighboring towns to Dolores for Mass in honor of Mater Dolorosa. The yearly “Viernes de Dolores” features a holy Mass and a “Turumba” dance, similar to that of Pakil, Laguna. Declared a National Shrine in 2017, the shrine’s processional image received Episcopal Coronation on April 12, 2019. The original image was set for Pontifical Coronation on March 25, 2020, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The Canonical Coronation occurred on March 25, 2021, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lady.
Mater Dolorosa de Tarlac
Mater Dolorosa de Tarlac Provenance: Parish of Our Lady of Sorrows, Dolores, Capas, Tarlac Coronation Date: June 5, 2021 Pontficate: Pope Francis
The town of Dolores in Capas, Tarlac, named after the Virgin of Sorrows, has been dedicated to her since its founding in 1954. The Parish of Our Lady of Sorrows was established canonically in 1998, fostering a flourishing devotion. Numerous miracles attributed to Mater Dolorosa led to her Episcopal Coronation on September 15, 2018, by Bishop Enrique Macaraeg, DD. Pope Francis granted the image Pontifical Coronation, held on June 5, 2021. The Mater Dolorosa of Tarlac was also declared Mother and Protectress of the Province of Tarlac by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Nuestra Señora de la Merced de Novaliches
Nuestra Señora de la Merced de Novaliches Provenance: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Mercy, Novaliches, Quezon City Coronation Date: September 24, 2021 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Merced de Novaliches began with the establishment of the parish on September 24, 1856, under her patronage by the Augustinian Friars. An older image vanished during the Philippine Revolution, leading to the commissioning of “La Verdadera” by Ms. Macaria Sarmiento-Mendoza in the 20th Century, now housed in her chapel at the shrine. Additional images followed, including a processional de vestir by Rufino Rivera in 1985 and a large altar image by Wilfredo “Willy” Layug in 2001. Due to enduring devotion, the parish was elevated to Diocesan Shrine status in 2008 and named “Ina ng Novaliches” in 2021. In 2021, the Shrine was granted a Special Bond of Affinity with the Major Basilica of Sancta Maria Maggiore and honored with a Pontifical Coronation by Pope Francis on September 24, 2021.
Nuestra Señora, Patrocinio de Maria de Boljoon
Nuestra Señora,Patrocinio de Maria de Boljoon Provenance: Patrocinio de Maria Parish, Boljoon, Cebu Coronation date: April 23, 2022 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The image of Nuestra Señora, Patrocinio de Maria is the miraculous Patroness of Boljoon, Cebu since 1599 when the Augustinians established a chapel in Boljoon, located near Carcar. Since her enthronement, miracles began to be reported through the intercession of La Patrocinio saving them from Moro raids and calamities that threatened Boljoon, sparing Boljoon from the cholera epidemic, and the loving intercession and protection of the Virgin to her devotees. Due to the numerous miracles attributed to the Virgin of Boljoon and in celebration of the 421st anniversary of the festivities in her honor, the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Bohol was granted the honor of Episcopal Coronation by His Excellency Archbishop Jose Palma, Archbishop of Cebu in 2020. The Coronation rites took place on November 14, 2020. Years later, the image was granted the honor of the Pontifical Coronation on April 23, 2022, in line with the concluding ceremonies of the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines.
Mary, Help of Christians of Parañaque City
Mary, Help of Christians of ParañaqueCity Provenance: National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, Parañaque City Coronation Date: May 24, 2022 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The devotion to Mary Help of Christians in the Philippines began in 1922 when Salesian Archbishop William Piani brought the statue to Manila, gifted by Blessed Philip Rinaldi. Initially enthroned at the Manila Cathedral, it was later safeguarded at the Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto during the Japanese occupation in 1942. The Archconfraternity of Mary Help of Christians was established, fostering devotion through novenas and monthly masses. This devotion spread widely across the country, with many parishes adopting Mary Help of Christians as their patroness. The Parish of Mary Help of Christians in Better Living, Parañaque City, was established in 1975 and elevated to a National Shrine in 1985. In 1994, the venerable statue was moved to its present sanctuary. Marking a century since its arrival, the statue received the honor of Pontifical Coronation on May 24, 2022. The National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians was granted the Special Spiritual Bond of Affinity with the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome on February 2, 2024, publicly announced on May 21, 2024.
Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Maasin
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Maasin Provenance: Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Maasin, Southern Leyte Coronation Date: August 13, 2022 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The Cathedral of Maasin, Southern Leyte was established in 1770 and was later consecrated in 1771 and dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption. Two images were enshrined in the Cathedral; the wooden image and the ivory altar and the processional image. The Virgen de la Asuncion de Maasin is known as the Protectress of the city for there were several instances that the Virgin protects her children from different calamities and disasters. One of the most notable ones is when it is said that the Virgin appeared to stop an incoming storm and most recently during the ravages of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2014, a mysterious cloud hovered in Maasin City that acts as a protection from the eye of the storm that spared the city from the destructive typhoon and the people attributed this protection to their beloved Patroness. On the closing rites of the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese of Maasin, the ivory image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on August 15, 2018 – the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Maasin Cathedral was declared the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Assumption on August 14, 2020. On December 1, 2021, Pope Francis granted the petition for the Pontifical Coronation of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Maasin. The coronation rites took place on August 13, 2022.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Cardona – Virgen de Sapao
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Cardona – Virgen de Sapao Provenance: Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Cardona, Rizal Coronation Date: October 7, 2022 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The devotion to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Cardona, Rizal began with the arrival of the Franciscan missionaries in 1577 and established a visita in 1608 where an image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is venerated in Sapao, then the name of Cardona. The devotion to Our Lady of Sapao grew over the years that the parish was later established in 1872. Several miracles were attributed to the Virgin of the Rosary that Cardona became a center of the Rosary devotion in the Rizal Province from cures, childbearing, and protection of the town during the Japanese occupation. The parish was later elevated as a Diocesan Shrine on October 7, 2017, on the 145th anniversary of the foundation of the parish. The image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on September 27, 2018. On January 12, 2022, Pope Francis granted the Pontifical Coronation of the image, and The Coronation rites took place on October 7, 2022.
La Inmaculada Concepcion of Batangan
La Inmaculada Concepcion de Batangan Provenance: Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception – Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño de Batangan, Batangas City Coronation Date: December 8, 2022 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The devotion to La Inmaculada Concepcion of Batangas City dates back to 1581 when the parish dedicated to her was established. In 1868, her image was enshrined, and miracles have been attributed to her intercession. The Church also houses the dark-skinned miraculous image of the Santo Niño de Batangan. It was elevated to a Minor Basilica in 1948, the second in the country. In 2018, the image received an Episcopal Coronation, and in 2022, Pope Francis granted the Pontifical Coronation, both on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
Nuestra Señora de la Merced de la Ciudad Tarlac
Nuestra Señora de la Merced de la Ciudad Tarlac Provenance: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Mercy, Matatalaib, Tarlac City, Tarlac Coronation Date: February 24, 2023 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Merced of Tarlac started when a chapel was built in the area between 1945 to 1946. The chapel later became a parish in 1955 and was dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy. The Dayrit family of Angeles, Pampanga donated the beautiful image of Nuestra Señora de la Merced, which was carved by Maximo Vicente. The original image was stolen in 1993 but was thankfully returned in 2015. The shrine gained much renown due to miracles attributed to the intercession of the Virgin. In 2018, the parish was raised to a Diocesan Shrine, and in 2020, it received the honor of Episcopal Coronation. The city government declared the image as the Queen and Patroness of Tarlac City on the same day. The shrine was also granted the honor of Special Bond of Affinity with the Basilica of Sancta Maria Maggiore in Rome in 2021. The image was granted the honor of Pontifical Coronation, which took place on February 24, 2023, at San Sebastian Cathedral, Tarlac City.
Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Muntinlupa
Nuestra Señora delos Desamparados de Muntinlupa Provenance: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned, Muntinlupa City Coronation date: May 12, 2023 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The image’s origin is uncertain due to limited records. On February 14, 1863, the Archbishop of Manila, Most Rev. Gregorio Meliton Martinez863 issued a decree establishing a new parish in El Pueblo de Muntinlupa, with Our Lady of the Abandoned as its patroness. The Parish later became the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned and later became part of the Diocese of Parañaque in 2002. In 2013, Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Muntinlupa was declared the Principal Patroness of Muntinlupa City by the City Government of Muntinlupa. In 2022, the image was granted Pontifical Coronation and granted the Special Bond of Spiritual Affinity with the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The ceremony took place on May 12, 2023, during the 160th fiesta in honor of Muntinlupa’s Patroness.
Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Dauis
Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Dauis Provenance: Assumption of Our Lady Shrine Parish, Dauis, Bohol Coronation Date: August 15, 2023 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Dauis in Bohol was established by Jesuits between 1697 and 1720, but the origin of the image remains unknown. According to a local legend, a woman from Cebu asked for a boat ride during a storm, but disappeared upon arrival in Dauis, leaving behind her camiseta. The boatman found the image of the Virgin at the Dauis Church, and miraculous events have been associated with her since then, including a healing well and surviving a 2013 earthquake that destroyed many other historic churches in Bohol. In 2004, the Parish was declared a Diocesan Shrine, and in 2021, it was granted a Special Bond of Affinity with the Papal Basilica of Sancta Maria Maggiore in Rome, along with the shrines of Loboc and Loon. In 2022, Pope Francis granted the image its long-awaited Pontifical Coronation, the first for a Marian image in the Diocese of Tagbilaran and the Province of Bohol. The Coronation took place on August 15, 2023, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Turumba
Nuestra Señora delos Dolores de Turumba Provenance: St. Peter of Alcantara Parish – Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Turumba, Pakil, Laguna Coronation date: September 15, 2023 Pontificate: Pope Francis
In 1788, fishermen found a painted image of Our Lady of Sorrows in a sheet of tin in the waters of Laguna de Bay, which was later found by women in Pakil. The women could not lift the image, so they reported it to their priest who, with his altar servers and the community, was able to lift it. A new image was commissioned from Spain, and the “Turumba” dance tradition was born. The Virgin of Turumba is credited with numerous miracles, and she was Episcopally crowned in 1953. In 2016, she was declared the “Mother and Patroness of Laguna Lake” and the “Patroness of Laguna’s Environmental Stewardship”. Pope Francis granted her Pontifical Coronation, which took take place on September 15, 2023.
Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Valenzuela – The National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima
The National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima(Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Valenzuela) Provenance: National Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Fatima, Marulas, Valenzuela City Coronation date: February 25, 2024 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima, one of the original 50 statues blessed by Pope St. Paul VI, arrived in the Philippines in 1984. It gained prominence during the People Power Revolution of 1986, symbolizing the renowned unbloody revolt. The image continues to tour the archipelago, spreading the message given at Fatima to the three children. On February 28, 2011, she was proclaimed the Patroness of Valenzuela City. The National Pilgrim Image received Episcopal Coronation on May 13, 2017, officiated by Bishop Jose Oliveros D.D. On February 25, 2024, the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, this Pilgrim Virgin was honored with the Pontifical Coronation.
Our Lady of Fatima of Marikina City
Our Lady of Fatima of Marikina City Provenance: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Paul of the Cross, Marikina City Coronation date: May 12, 2024 Pontificate: Pope Francis
Since 2002, the image of Our Lady of Fatima has been enshrined in the parish under Fr. Ric Eguia. Under the tenure of Fr. Peter Julian Eymard C. Balatbat starting in 2009, devotion to Our Lady flourished, marked by various activities including processions and rosary movements. Despite initial approval for the episcopal coronation by Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes in 2010, the event was forgotten amid bishop transitions. On July 26, 2019, with the approval of Bishop Francisco M. De Leon, the decree for the coronation was received, with the anniversary set for October 17 annually. The decree was publicly announced on August 18, 2019, during a Mass for the visit of the National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima at the parish. The image received Pontifical Coronation on May 12, 2024.
Nuestra Señora de Caridad de Agoo
Nuestra Señora de Caridad de Agoo Provenance: Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Charity, Agoo, La Union Coronation date: TBA Pontificate: Pope Francis
The origins of Nuestra Señora de Caridad, venerated in her Minor Basilica in Agoo, La Union, remain largely unknown due to scant records concerning the image’s carving and arrival. However, the devotion to Our Lady of Charity in Agoo is believed to be derived from the devotion to the Virgin of the same title in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. The system of rotational assignments among early Augustinian missionaries in Ilocos could have brought one missionary from Bantay to Agoo, who then introduced the devotion there. Numerous miracles have been reported through her intercession, leading to her Episcopal Coronation on May 1, 1971, by Archbishop Carmine Rocco, then Papal Nuncio to the Philippines. Recently, on June 6, 2024, His Excellency, Most Rev. Daniel O. Presto, D.D., through a circular signed on June 5, 2024, announced the grant of the honor of Pontifical Coronation to Nuestra Señora de Caridad de Agoo. The Coronation rites are yet to be set.
Nuestra Señora de Loreto de Manila
Nuestra Señora de Loreto de Manila Provenance: Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Loreto, Sampaloc, Manila Coronation date: December 10, 2024 Pontificate: Pope Francis
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de Loreto of Sampaloc, Manila, began in 1613 when the Franciscans established the Parish in her honor. This devotion thrived over centuries, surviving adversities such as the Chinese uprising of 1639, the earthquake of 1880, and World War II, where the image was saved from destruction. In a significant development, Pope Benedict XV declared her the Patroness of Aviators in 1951, marked by annual festivities with educational institutions and the Philippine Air Force. On December 5, 2002, the Parish was declared “Archdiocesan Shrine,” solidifying its significance, and on March 23, 2023, it was officially declared the “Patroness of the District of Sampaloc, Manila” by the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Maynila. The venerable image of Nuestra Señora de Loreto of Sampaloc, Manila was granted the honor of Episcopal Coronation on December 1, 2023. The Patroness of Sampaloc District is set to receive the honor of Pontifical Coronation on December 10, 2024.
The Crowned King of the Philippines
Besides the Marian images mentioned earlier in the country, we also have another significant icon that has received a Pontifical Coronation: the famous Santo Niño de Cebu, the first religious icon in the Philippines to be honored in this way. The Santo Niño de Cebu is among five images of the Child Jesus worldwide to have received such a distinction, alongside the Santo Bambino di Aracoeli in Rome, the Infant of Prague of Arenzano in Italy, the renowned Infant of Prague in the Czech Republic and the Gesù Bambino Di Praga of Santa Maria Della Purita Pagani in Italy.
Santo Niño de Cebu
Santo Niño de Cebu Provenance: Minor Basilica of Santo Niño de Cebu, Cebu Coronation date: April 28, 1965 Pontificate: Pope Paul VI
The first religious image in the Philippines, brought by Ferdinand Magellan, was gifted to Humamay (later baptized Reina Juana) along with other images. After Magellan’s death in 1521, the image survived and was eventually venerated. In 1565, during Miguel López de Legazpi’s return, the Holy Child image was rediscovered in Cebu. This led to its widespread veneration, with miracles reported, and the devotion extended to Manila and beyond. The image was Pontifically Crowned on April 28, 1965, marking the 400th anniversary of its rediscovery and the Christianization of the Philippines by virtue of the Papal Bull “Cunabula Religionis.”
Conclusion
We acknowledge that the Blessed Virgin Mary has been crowned by the Most Holy Trinity as the Queen of Heaven and Earth, yet on Earth, we crown her to honor her reign alongside Christ as King. Some may misunderstand this tradition as mere display, but its origins in the Church reveal it as an act of profound reverence for God, honoring His Son and His Mother with the best and most precious we have to offer. This act also holds a penitential aspect, where we reject worldly vanities and boldly affirm the supremacy of Our Lord and Our Lady in our challenging modern times. When we witness the Blessed Virgin being crowned, it serves as a reminder of God’s greatness and our hope for sharing in eternal glory.
To conclude this blogpost, we are leaving you with the words of Pope Pius XII, from his encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam (To the Queen of Heaven), penned just four years after defining the Dogma of the Assumption in 1954, beautifully captures the significance of Mary’s reign as Queen: “Since the earliest times of the Catholic Church, whether in times of triumph or especially in times of crisis, the Christian faithful have turned to the Queen of Heaven with prayers of petition, hymns of praise, and acts of veneration. Their unwavering hope rests in the Mother of Jesus Christ, the Divine King, and their unshakable faith affirms that Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, reigns with maternal care over the entire world, as she is crowned in heavenly blessedness with the glory of a Queen.”
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope!
Maria, Regina Philippinorum, ora pro nobis!
References:
Aviado, Lutgarda. Madonnas of the Philippines. Quezon City: Manlapaz Press, 1972.
Barcelona, Mary Anne. “Ynang Maria: A Celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Philippines.” In Ed. Consuelo B. Estampa, Pasig City: Anvil Publishing Inc., 2004.
De Leon, Joel Alexander. Lambong: Alay sa Mahal na Birhen ng Orani. Quezon City: Bahay Limbagan ni Santa Veronica, 2009.
Delos Reyes, Michael P. Salve Regina: On Crowning Image of the Virgin Mary. Quezon City: Claret Communications Foundation Inc., 2015.
Sanchez, Francisco. La Virgen Maria Venerada en sus Imagenes Filipinas. Manila: Imp. De Santos y Bernal, 1904.
Three Kings Parish. Nobena sa Birheng Divina Pastora.
Paz, Lawrence. “Pagsisiyam sa Mahal na Birhen ng Bayang San Mateo Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu”. San Mateo, Rizal: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu, 2010.
Mahal na Birhen ng Aranzazu, Pintakasi ng Bayang San Mateo, Rizal [Pamphlet]. San Mateo, Rizal: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu.
Valmonte, Ramon. Ave Maria, La Divina Pastora: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Canonical Coronation and the 28th Anniversary of the Declaration of the National Shrine. Gapan: Three Kings Parish, 2014.
Valmonte, Ramon. “La Virgen Divina Pastora: Canonical Coronation Golden Jubilee, 28th Anniversary of the Declaration of Her National Shrine”. Gapan: Three Kings Parish, 2014.
A dancer holding a replica of the Santo Niño de Cebu for Sinulog Festival
Of all the popular devotions in the Philippines, one particular devotion stood out and enjoyed much popularity in our country – the devotion to the Santo Niño or the Child Jesus. In every Filipino Catholic household, establishment, moving vehicle of all types and in all places of devotion and worship in the country, there will always be an image of the Santo Niño that is enshrined or plastered on these locations made in different mediums from statues, paintings, posters, estampitas and even tattooed in the bodies of some devotees.
The devotion to the Child Jesus in the Philippines is one of the most distinct yet intriguing in the Catholic world for although the devotion to the Child Jesus is known throughout the world, none could match the intensity and cultu-historical significance in our country’s history and faith that makes our love for the Child Jesus stood out among the rest of the world. For this blogpost, we will look at the origins of the devotion to the Child Jesus, its development, how it arrived, grew, developed, and inculturated in our country, and its future.
The Nativity of Our Lord
The Divine Infancy and Childhood of Jesus
With the fall of our first parents Adam and Eve with the original sin, God immediately promised a Savior that would redeem the world. To prepare mankind for the coming of the Messiah, He sent out patriarchs and prophets to guide and watch over the people of Israel. Numerous prophecies were foretold by the prophets and cybils on how the Messiah will come to this world, His mission, death and resurrection.
The time finally arrived when He sent the Angel Gabriel to Nazareth to the Blessed Virgin Mary to announce the coming of the Redeemer and that she will be His mother thru the power of the Holy Spirit and gave her “Yes”. Later, Mary, with the Child in her womb, visited her cousin St. Elizabeth to accompany her as she was about to give birth to St. John the Baptist – the Precursor of Our Lord. Upon her return, her husband St. Joseph, a carpenter and a descendant of the House of King David noticed that Mary was pregnant. Though she was pregnant with another man, he decided to divorce her quietly until the Angel of the Lord appeared in his dream to discontinue his plan and explained that the Child is of the Holy Spirit and He is the promised Messiah. Joseph did what the angel instructed him to do and took responsibility as the Child’s earthly father in fulfillment of the prophecy that the Child will come from the lineage of King David.
When the time of the birth drew near, Caesar Augustus commanded a census of Roman domains, and Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem, the ancient city of David, as he was of the House of David. So it came to pass that Jesus was born in Bethlehem; and since there was nowhere for them to stay in the town, the infant was laid in a manger while angels announced his birth to a group of shepherds who worshipped him as Messiah and Lord. Eight days later, the Infant Jesus was circumcised and was named “Jesus” as the angel instructed.
The Magi from the east came to Herod and asked him where they would find the King of the Jews because they had seen his star. Advised by the chief priests and teachers, Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem, where they worshiped the child and gave him gifts. When they had departed, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him to take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, for Herod intended to kill him. The Scriptures were silent on how the Holy Family lived in Egypt, yet mystics and traditions from the African Church, Specifically in the Coptic and Ethiopian Churches would provide narratives on wonders that the Holy Child performed at such a young age. The Holy Family remained in Egypt until Herod died when Joseph took them to Nazareth in Galilee for fear of Herod’s son who now ruled in Jerusalem.
The Finding of Child Jesus in the Temple
In accordance with the Jewish law, his parents presented the infant Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem, where two people in the temple, Simeon and Anna the Prophetess, gave thanks to God who had sent his salvation and gave prophecies on the life of the Child. Joseph and Mary then returned to Nazareth. There “the child grew and became strong, and was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.” We would encounter the Holy Child once again twelve years later when they went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. When He was twelve years old, he remained in the temple and did not join the caravan which causes sorrow to His parents. After three days of search, they found him in the Temple listening to the teachers and asking questions, and “all who heard him were amazed”. His mother rebuked him for causing them anxiety because his family had not known where he was, but he answered that he was in his Father’s house. “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them, but his mother treasured all these things in her heart, and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
After the episode in the temple, nothing was read about the life of the Holy Family and Jesus will once again resurface in the Gospels years later performing his public ministry.
The saints of the Child Jesus: St. Joseph, St. Christopher, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Agnes of Montepulciano, St. Rose of Lima, St. Pio of Pietrelcina
The Development of the Devotion
The devotion to the Child Jesus is the devotion to the reality of the Incarnation – The Word Made Flesh. The fact is that our God did become truly human and entered this world as an infant, having humbled Himself by taking on human nature, subjecting Himself to all that flesh is heir to (minus the effects of original sin). This is how He chose to begin His saving mission on earth. St. Paul marvels at how Christ “emptied Himself” in the Incarnation and us who love Him marvel as well. That is why the Church celebrates His Holy Infancy alongside His Death and Resurrection; the former made the latter possible.
The Church celebrates the Divine childhood of Jesus Christ with a set of feasts from the most popular of all, Christmas Day to celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord. After Christmas, there is the Feast of the Circumcision on January 1 (In the Traditional Calendar, now the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God in the Novus Ordo Calendar), the Feast of His Holy Name, the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6 (Some countries celebrate it like in the Philippines every First Sunday of January), the Feast of the Holy Family (now celebrated in the Novus Ordo Calendar on First Sunday after Christmas), and the Feast of the Purification of Mary and Presentation of Our Lord (Candlemas) on February 2. Indeed, the entire month of January is dedicated to His Holy Name and His Holy Childhood.
Many of the saints had a special devotion to the Child Jesus, some even having been blessed by visions of Him as a boy. St. Christopher, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Agnes of Montepulciano, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Rose of Lima, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Pio of Pietrelcina among others that are particularly associated with the Divine Child and many are depicted with the Child Jesus in art. In the icons of Our Lord and Lady during the early years of the Church, the Child Jesus is always represented with His Mother and it is still can be seen in some Catholic shrines and Orthodox Churches in Europe, Africa, and West Asian countries where Orthodoxy is prominent. It was St. Francis of Assisi who clandestinely initiated the devotion to the Child Jesus when he began to set up a “creche” (more popularly known as the Nativity scene or “Belen” in Filipino) in 1224. Centuries later, numerous depictions of the Child Jesus outside of the Nativity scene were becoming popular. Most of these images would portray Him raising His right Hand in a gesture of blessing while His left Hand, He often holds a globus cruciger (symbolizing the world as his dominion), a book, a bird, or grapes (symbolizing the Eucharist) or a cross.
The Canonically Crowned images of the Child Jesus in the world: Santo Bambino di Aracoeli, Holy Infant of Prague, Santo Bambino di Arenzano, Santo Niño de Cebu
The Divine Child is adored in different countries in different ways: in Italy, He is the “Santo Bambino”; in Spain and its former colonies, He is the “Santo Niño” or “Divino Niño”; to the Germans, He is the “Christkindel.” Interestingly, there are particular devotions to the Christ Child due to an apparition or a cult of an image with a reputation to be miraculous, such as is the case with the Infant of Prague (Czech Republic), El Santo Niño de Atocha (Spain and Mexico), the Santo Bambino di Aracoeli (Italy), Holy Infant of Salzburg (Austria), El Divino Niño de Bogota (Bolivia) among others.
Some of the images of the Child Jesus gained much popularity that as of this writing, there are only four miraculous images of the Child Jesus in the world that received the honor of Canonical (Pontifical) Coronation granted by the Vatican namely: Santo Bambino of Aracoeli (1897), Bambino Gesu of Arenzano (1924) of Italy, Infant Jesus of Prague of Czech Republic (1924) and Santo Niño de Cebu of the Philippines (1965).
The Carmelite Order and the devotion to the Child Jesus
St. Teresa of Avila, Ven. Margaret of the Blessed Sacrament, Ven. Fr. Cyril of Mother of God and St. Therese of the Child Jesus
In the history of the devotion to the Child Jesus, aside from St. Francis of Assisi, one can notice the prominence of the Carmelite Order that shaped the modern-day devotion to the Child Jesus in the world. Some key Carmelite canonized and soon-to-be canonized saints are prominent in shaping and spreading the devotion to the Holy Child, namely St. Teresa of Avila and St. Therese of the Child Jesus, both Doctors of the Church, Ven. Margaret of the Blessed Sacrament, and Ven. Fr. Cyril of Mother of God.
St. Teresa narrates in her writings a story where she came upon a beautiful child on a stairway. The little child asked, “What is your name?” St. Teresa answered, “I am Teresa of Jesus.” Then she asked the little child his name and he replied, “I am Jesus of Teresa!” It was from this event that she developed her devotion to the Child Jesus that it is said that she brought images of the Child Jesus in all her foundations and these images are dressed as a King. It is also believed that she once owned the image of Infant Jesus of Prague.
Centuries later, Ven. Fr. Cyril of Mother of God became associated with the devotion to the famed Prague Child for he was the one who found the image in its damaged state then Child Jesus appeared to him and asked him to repair the image and said to him: “The more you honor me, I will bless you.” It took a while until the image was restored and exposed for public veneration which gained much worldwide acclaim.
Venerable Marguerite of the Blessed Sacrament was receiving visions and inspiration from the Child Jesus when she entered the Carmelite Order. One of them she received in 1636 the devotion to the Child Jesus by means of a chaplet honoring the first twelve years of His life on earth.
The chaplet of the Child Jesus
St. Therese of Lesiuex’ association with the Child Jesus began when one Christmas Eve of 1886, she noted in her autobiography that when she looked at the image of the Child Jesus in the manger, she experienced her little miracle “to make me grow up in an instant … On that blessed night … Jesus, who saw fit to make Himself a child out of love for me, saw fit to have me come forth from the swaddling clothes and imperfections of childhood” years later, she took the religious name Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face and this inspired her to formulate her “Little Way” that earned her title as “Doctor of the Church”
The arrival and growth of devotion in the Philippines
The gifting of the Santo Niño de Cebu to Queen Juana by Carlos “Botong” Francisco
As one priest would put it: “Magellanus venit, Legazpi vidit, sed Puer Jesus vincit!” (Magellan came, Legazpi saw, but Santo Niño conquered!) – the phrase that best describes the history of the Santo Niño devotion and the Catholic faith in the Philippines.
The devotion to the Santo Niño is the oldest devotion in the Philippines for it was the image of the Santo Niño was brought by Ferdinand Magellan and his crew in 1521 and this image, now known as the famed Santo Niño de Cebu, was given to Queen Juana as a baptismal gift. Forty-four years later, when the Spaniards returned to the Philippines in 1565 headed by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Fray Andres Urdaneta, OSA, the image was discovered by Juan Camus, one of Legazpi’s soldiers and the devotion to the Santo Niño was formally inaugurated with the establishment of its Cofradia and the construction of its church (now a Basilica Minore) that would later spread all over the country. From that point on, the devotion to the Child Jesus spread throughout the islands and it became one of the tools for the success of the Conquista and the conversion of the Filipinos to the Catholic Faith. Numerous churches were erected in honor of the Child Jesus and stories of its arrival or finding of an image became a catalyst of the devotion to certain places like those in Manila, Iloilo, Bohol, Aklan, Romblon, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Batanes, Batangas among others.
Even after the Spanish conquest, the centers of devotion to the Child Jesus continues to grow and it is still happening up to the present with the establishment of religious organizations like the Santo Niño de Malolos Foundation Inc., Congregacion del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, and others that further promote the cult of the Santo Niño with exhibits and processions which would later be imitated by other parishes and organizations.
One Child, with different looks
A Santo Niño Exhibit in Cebu
The image of the Santo Niño is arguably the most flexible iconography in religious art for the depiction of the images of the Santo Niño varied from a Child wearing a simple robe, sash, and tunic, to a royal monarch, to a Child with different occupations, to a wandering street child or a dressed in a sando and shorts holding numerous things from a globus cruciger, a scepter, a rosary, a scapular, toys, doves, grapes, a Cross fashioned as a walking stick. These depictions of the Santo Niño are prominent in different home altars, shops chapels, churches and shrines all over the country which led to its ubiquity.
The variation of Santo Niño’s iconography is due to the ways the Holy Child depicted in art as part of the tableaux of the Holy Family, his association with St. Joseph in art, and most common of all is His association with different Marian apparitions and devotions from Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of Mercy, Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture among other where the Holy Child is garbed with a habit of different religious orders and holding specific sacramentals propagated by these orders. Centuries later, during the Spanish “Siglo de Oro” and the Counter Reformation, we see the Child Jesus started to be dressed as a King initiated by St. Teresa of Avila that would present the Child Jesus as a Powerful ruler. We would see that these circumstances led to the flexibility of His iconography which adapts to the different needs of their time period and would resonate still up to this day. This type of flexibility lends to the prevailing forgiving attitude to this devotional whimsy where we love seeing children play dress up shows our caring nature – and it is also evident to the Santo Niño.
The Santo Niño Fiesta Celebration
The images of Santo Niños of Cebu, Tondo (Manila), Arevalo (Iloilo), Pandacan (Manila), Ternate (Cavite), Tacloban (Leyte), Romblon, Batangan (Batangas), Ibajay (Aklan)
The devotion to the Santo Niño varies in different parts of the Philippines which were the result of its history and culture of different localities that the Feast of the Santo Niño varies on dates and seasons. The Feast of the Santo Niño began in Cebu where the Feast of the Santo Niño where it was then celebrated every April 28 in commemoration of the finding of the image. However, that date falls either within the Lenten or Easter season that it was moved by Pope Innocent XIII in the 17th century to the Third Sunday of January with the Mass propers of the Holy Name of Jesus assigned for this feast only in the Philippines. (WIth the Liturgical reforms for the Second Vatican Council, the Feast of the Santo Niño would now have its own Mass propers and office).
The January feast of the Santo Niño would later be observed nationally as the devotion to the Santo Niño spread in other parts of the country like in Manila, Cavite, Leyte, Bulacan, Batanes, Iloilo, and Davao among others. As years passed as the devotion grew, numerous dates for the feasts of the Santo Niño varied in different provinces and cities across the country that would later form the current Santo Niño fiesta cycle that would last for months starting as early as December and would end on the first week of Lent and other extra celebrations of some Santo Niños in different liturgical seasons.
The Santo Niños of Indang (Cavite), Kalibo (Aklan), Praga (Mendiola, Manila), Malolos (Bulacan), Nombre (Violago, Quezon City), Providencia (Las Piñas), Muntinlupa, Pasion of Makati and Navotas
The Santo Niño fiesta cycle starts when Simbang Gabi begins either on December 15 or 16, not only as the preparation for the Christmas Celebration but also for the Feast of Santo Niño de la O of Pangil, Laguna which is celebrated on Christmas Day. During the novenario, the Pag-Oo ritual or the pounding of the pole where the image is placed took place while chanting the Latin “Dic mihi” and families would wait in line for years to do the pounding rites because it is considered an honor for the family to do it for the Santo Niño de la O. On Christmas Day, the tradition of kissing the Newborn King took place after every mass and the faithful would line up to kiss its feet.
On the last two days of the year, the “Paligo” or the bathing rituals of Santo Niños of Indang and Ternate in Cavite took place respectively. The “Paligo” of Indang happens at the home of the recamaderos of the image and later would go on a procession to the historic San Gregorio Parish of Indang. On the other hand, the bathing rites of Santo Niño de Ternate occur in between the Holy Mass where the priest and the recamaderos’ family would publicly bathe the Child and the water and the cotton used for the rite would be distributed to the faithful for it is known that there were cures that were attributed to water that was used on bathing the Holy Child of Ternate.
The Ritual “Baptism” of the Santo Niño done in Lumban and Pagsanjan, Laguna
Once the month of January began the celebrations of the Santo Niño now in full swing. While most Santo Niños were celebrating the Third Sunday of January, like those in Cebu (the center of the Santo Niño devotion in the country), Tondo, Parañaque, and the rest of the country, some locales would celebrate it on different dates.
In Pagsanjan and Lumban Laguna, the Santo Niño season opens with a traditional “Pagbibinyag” to a centuries-old image of Santo Niño where it is brought to the church where it goes to a special rite of “Baptism” akin to an actual baptism of infants days after their birth. From here, the Santo Niño festivities begin as early as January 6 with the Feast of Santo Niño de Ternate, January 14 for the “Pistang Dakila” or the Traditional Fiesta of Santo Niño de Pandacan, January 15 for Santo Niño de Malitbog of Southern Leyte and Holy Infant of Prague of Davao, January 16 for Santo Niño de Batangan of Batangas and, the Second Sunday of January for Santo Niño de Romblon among others.
On the Third Sunday of January, here we witness the grand celebrations in honor of the Santo Niño from the Sinulog of Cebu, Lakbayaw of Tondo, and Buling Buling of Pandancan in Manila, Ati-Atihan of Kalibo, Aklan, Salibanda of Paete and Pakil, Laguna and many other festivities, grand or small scale, observed nationwide followed by the Dinagyang of Iloilo the following Sunday. It was also in this month that numerous Santo Niño exhibits were mounted nationwide which began in Malolos, Bulacan in the 1970s by the Santo Niño de Malolos Foundation Inc. and later by the Congregacion del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus in the 1980s which would culminate in grand Santo Niño processions.
As time went by, more cofradias, congregations, hermandades dedicated to the Santo Niño were established to take charge on the festivities like those in Santa Maria, Baliwag and Hagonoy, Bulacan; Malibay, Pasay City; Kawit, Cavite and in other parts of the country.
The Santo Niños of Santa Maria (Bulacan), De la O of Pangil (Laguna), Sabtang (Batanes), Parañaque, Malibay (Pasay), Malitbog (Southern Leyte), Tribunal of Paete (Laguna), El Capitan General (San Sebastian Basilica, Manila), El Conqistador (Intramuros, Manila)
As days progressed and the annual Third Sunday of January fiesta nationwide ended, more Santo Niño festivities would occur starting on January 27 for the lachrymation (oil weeping) anniversary Feast in honor of Santo Niño de la Providencia in Las Piñas that took place in 1992 that led to numerous unexplained cures and on the last Sunday of January for the festivities in honor of Santo Niño de Praga of San Beda University in Mendiola, Manila, Santisimo Nombre del Niño Jesus of the Congregacion del Santisimo Nombre del Niño Jesus in Roxas Boulevard and the Santo Niño de Malolos of the Santo Niño de Malolos Foundation Inc. in Malolos, Bulacan.
The Santo Niño festivities would continue in the month of February with the Dinagsa festival dedicated to the Santo Niño de Muntinlupa held on Sunday before Ash Wednesday and Sto. Niño de Guagua in Pampanga every last Sunday of February.
The Santo Niño fiesta season would end with the celebration of the Santo Niño de Pasion of Poblacion, Makati City held every Second Sunday after Lent and Passion Sunday for the Santo Niño de Pasion of Navotas to signal the upcoming penitential nature of Lent and Holy Week to remember and reflect of the Passion, death, and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Batanes, they have a tradition where the image of Santo Niño de Sabtang is used for the Salubong procession because the Niño symbolizes new life and a new beginning after darkness. Unfortunately, the practice discontinued in recent years.
Interestingly, there were Santo Niño festivities that were celebrated outside the festive cycle as commemorations of significant events in the history of the devotion in different parts of the country. The special feasts outside the festive Niño season are the :”Pistang Sunog” of Santo Niño de Pandacan held every Second Sunday after Easter (now Divine Mercy Sunday) to commemorate the miracle of the Niño’s protection of Pandacan from a great fire centuries ago, the “Kaplag” of the Santo Niño de Cebu every April 28 to commemorate the finding of the image by Juan Camus in 1565, June 30 fiesta for the Santo Niño de Tacloban as thanksgiving for saving Leyte from the cholera epidemic in 1889 and August 2 for the Santo Niño de Tondo in thanksgiving for the recovery of the image when it was stolen in the 1970s.
A transcendent devotion
The images of the Santo Niño that are commonly found in almost every Catholic home in the country
The devotion to the Santo Niño reached leaps and bounds and became a catalyst of the Catholic faith in the Philippines and became the most popular devotion in the country consequently. Over the years, numerous practices (pious and superstitious) have grown surrounding the devotion to the Holy Child from novenas, masses, votive offerings from vestments and ex-votos, dances, bathing rituals, celebrations (grand or simple), granting of patronage and titles (e.g. El Gobernadorcillo, El Capitan General, El Conquistador), dressing the image in different professions and other domestic and ecclesiastical devotional practices among others.
These honors that we gave to the Holy Child became intertwined with our culture and history because we simply love children – there was even a maxim that often we hear that “Ang mga anak ay ang kayamanan ng isang pamilya” because we do have prevailing strong family values that never changed and this kind of trait was also translated to the Santo Niño devotion where we treat the Child Jesus as our own member of the family, hence the numerous domestic practices that sprung up for the sake of honoring the Santo Niño. After all, he did say to Ven. Fr. Cyril of Mother of God: “The more you honor me, I will bless you.”
Another reason that the devotion to Santo Niño thrived in our country it is because we see him as an easy access to God which is rooted in our culture to love children that we shower our love and affection which helped our understanding of God’s accessibility by coming as a Child. We love children a lot and it is in our culture to shower them with gifts and love and children reciprocate it with their trust and love without any inhibitions. We also see this kind of relationship with the Santo Niño for we Filipinos treat the Santo Niño as part of our family, not only as the image of God Incarnate but also as a repository of our dreams and aspirations, hence the popularity of the practice of vesting the Santo Niño based on the owner’s occupation. As if we say that we wanted the Holy Child to relate to our everyday struggles so that He continues to guide us to continue in our lives.
Sadly, the image of the Santo Niño became an object of superstition with the rise of images of the so-called “Santo Niño de la Suerte” (not to be confused with a Mexican image of the same name that was granted Ecclesiastical approval) where the image is depicted with a bag of coins, or a variety of fruits and treating it as a lucky charm like those statuettes of a Budhha, charm cat and other “lucky charms” that are peddled in different shops. In recent years, there were already cautionary guidelines that were made public, most specifically in the Archdiocese of Manila where it warned the faithful not to treat the Santo Niño as “lucky charms” for believing in such and possessing them are violations of the First Commandment because we deny God’s power and might by resorting to these seemingly innocent “practices” which led to cases of demonic attacks.
The future of the devotion
A devotee carrying their images of the Sto. Nino and Our Lady to participate in Lakbayaw 2020 at Tondo, Manila
So what lies ahead in the devotion to the Santo Niño as we now mark the 500th year of the Catholic Faith in our country. We have seen how the Church is being ridiculed and challenged by numerous radical “Christian sects” having a footing in social media and some officials ridiculing the faith. And let us not forget the scandals that are also plaguing the Church in recent years, which sadly involve children and attempts of doctrinal and moral distortion among others – where do we go from here?
Despite all these challenges that we faced, Filipinos still remain Catholic because we still have that Child-like faith that we have fostered for centuries and we see it evidently both in good times with all the festivities that we celebrate, holding the Santo Niño and in bad times where we see images of refugees from typhoons, earthquakes and other disasters holding on to their beloved Santo Niño. It was through the Santo Niño that we received the grace to have a child-like faith in God that we have fostered through Our Lord Jesus Christ – the Word made Flesh.
It seems that Our Lord has this grand design to evangelize our country that He used our child-loving nature by sending His Son as a Child to win and conquer the hearts of the Filipinos and to have the Catholic faith flourish up to this day – a grace that we should be all thankful for.
An image of the Santo Niño carrying an emblem of His Holy Name (from a Private Collection)
“The more you honor me, I will bless you.”, he said to Ven. Cyril of Mother of God in Prague seems to be His message to our people who are faithful to Him for centuries. And He indeed blessed us with a faith that kept this nation alive and unique that is now intertwined with our own history and culture as we have seen in my recent blogs documenting numerous devotions in our country.
He continues to watch over us, guiding us and protecting us from the adversities the nation is facing – with a smile – and we in turn reciprocated it with our undying love and faith with a smile on our faces – Something that we will always be known for the rest of our lives.
Delos Reyes – Torres, Niki, “Garbed in Rainments of Light, A collection of patterns for the Philippine Santo Vestments”, Alterier Sibol Electronic Publication, 2012.
Mojares, Resil, “The Feast of the Santo Niño: An Introduction to the history of a Cebuano devotion”, University of San Carlos Press, Cebu, 2017.
Saa, Carlo, “Magellanus venit, Legazpi vidit, sed Puer Jesus vincit! Magellan came, Legazpi saw, but Santo Niño conquered! – From the Sermon of Fr. Saa, Feast of the Santo Niño, Our Lady of Victories Church, Facebook, January 17, 2021, Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/1429175717147263/posts/3782821188449359/ on January 17, 2021.
Interview:
Celso, Derrick Richard Lacbay, Jose Alfredo
Special credits to the owner of the photographs utilized in this blogpost +AM+DG+
This blogpost is dedicated to the Santo Niño de Pandacan whose original image perished in a fire in 2020 yet despite this tragedy, the love and devotion remains. Habang buhay kang mananatili sa aming puso, O Mahal na Santo Niño de Pandacan.
The colorized photo of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of Old San Nicolas Church in Intramuros. Colorized by Jeremy Pius Gonzales
Whenever the Feast of the Black Nazarene is coming, the discussion of its origins is always brought up on social media due to erroneous reports that are perpetuated in the mainstream media and other platforms. In one of my previous blogs, I have featured the story of the Black Nazarene and have constantly updated its history based on the studies that were conducted in an attempt to trace its origins. In those studies, all of them would trace the Quiapo’s origin to the older Nazareno image that was then enthroned in the old San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Intramuros that was unfortunately destroyed during the Second World War. The arrival of this image is still a mystery given that most of the valuable records about it were destroyed, save for the few that survived which at times were used to determine the origin of Quiapo’s Nazareno prudently or otherwise.
For this blogpost, we are going to place our attention on the lost Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of the old San Nicolas Church of Intramuros that was administered by the Order of the Augustinian Recollects during the Spanish period. We are going to base our narrative on the extant records available pertaining to this Nazareno and its Cofradia to have a glimpse of the Nazareno devotion of the Walled City.
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of Intramuros
The Visage of the Intramuros’ Nazareno
The image of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of Intramuros as seen in one of the few extant photographs is quite different from the one in Quiapo. The Quiapo Nazareno faces the front while the Intramuros Nazareno faces sideways. It is said that this image is known to have a set of jewels of precious stones on its regalia from diamond-encrusted Tres Potencias, silver shoes, a silver carroza and purple robes embroidered with gold thread (purple dye was costly back in the day). This image was enshrined in his own side altar of San Nicolas where devotees would venerate this beautiful image.
Origins
The origins of the Nazareno of Intramuros are still uncertain due to the lack of records pertaining to its origins yet it is usually connected to the year 1606 with the arrival of the Recollect friars in the Philippines. Although the year 1606 was the commonly cited year of the image’s arrival, further studies would show otherwise since the Order of the Augustinian Recollects in the country affirms that they did not bring an image of the Nazareno in their first missionary voyage in 1606 and they only brought images of San Nicolas de Tolentino and Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa that was enshrined at the Old San Nicolas Church in Intramuros (both casualties of the Second World War).
The images of San Nicolas de Tolentino and Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa were the ones brought by the Recollects Friars in 1606 to Intramuros
Although one thing is certain, the first Nazareno image was brought to San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Intramuros before April 20, 1651 with the establishment of the Cofradia de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno where the existence of the Nazareno of Intramuros was mentioned. The Cofradia was placed under the Patronage of St. Lucy – one of the saints venerated in San Nicolas Church and met Papal approval by Pope Innocent X. The image of the Nazareno in Intramuros gained popularity in Manila and a second image was commissioned from Mexico and was placed in the sacristy. The sacristy image would later be known as the image of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of Quiapo after the image was transferred from Intramuros to Quiapo in 1787 by Archbishop Basilio Sancho y Santas Justa y Rufina.
The retablo menor dedicated to Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno de Intramuros
The Cofradia and the Palm Sunday Processions
The Holy Week rites in the Walled City begin with the Palm Sunday procession organized by the Order of the Augustinian Recollects and by the Cofradia de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of Intramuros. Pope Innocent X also gave 60-day indulgence for the members of the Cofradia and the for the participants of the procession. The Palm Sunday processions were considered as the Feast of the Nazareno de Intramuros for the procession was one of the much-awaited in the Walled City and the only time the image would come out from his altar.
The image of Nazareno is accompanied by images from different scenes of the Passion from the Agony in the Garden (La Oracion del Señor), The arrest of Christ (Señor Prendimiento), the Scourged Christ (Señor Azoado), Christ fainted in exhaustion (Señor Desmayado), the miraculous Señor de Paciencia), Señor Condenado (Christ sentenced to death) and the Santos of the Passion from Sta. Veronica, Sta. Maria Magdalena, San Juan Evangelista and Nuestra Señora de los Dolores.
The image of “La Oracion del Huerto” carved by Sotero Garcia
The image of Señor Azotado
The Miraculous image of Señor de la Paciencia
Aside from the Nazareno, the image of Señor de la Paciencia is also popular in Intramuros because of the miracles that were attributed to the Sorrowful Savior. The dark image of Señor Santo Cristo de la Pacencia was brought by the Recoleto Fathers from Mexico on an unknown date and was venerated in the Old San Nicolas Church. Sculpted by Juan de Araus of Aragon, Mexico, this image depicts a dark-skinned Christ, seated right after he was scourged and crowned with thorns with his hands on his chin contemplating on his passion and death. In the annals of the Order, they mentioned on some occasions with one about his enthronement in San Nicolas as a replacement image of Nuestra Señora de la Salud when the image returned to her own Church in San Juan de Bagumbayan. However, the image of La Salud later returned to the Walled City in 1762 when the British troops destroyed San Juan de Bagumbayan and stayed in San Nicolas for the next centuries until the Second World War.
The Señor de Pacencia enjoyed a cult following, along with the Señor Nazareno of the same church that both images were once the center of attention and devotion especially on the Palm Sunday processions in Intramuros. The cult of the Señor de la Pacencia became widespread in the islands that almost all parishes, oratories, and home altars had an image of the La Pacencia and became one of the staple images that can be found in Holy Week processions across the country.
It may seem that it will last as centuries passed by, yet all of these pious practices and images would perish when the Second World War broke out and the church and the images, except for the Virgen de la Salud, were destroyed.
Some thoughts
The Fiesta Procession of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of Quiapo during the Post War years
In recent years, the memory of the Nazareno of Intramuros comes alive whenever the Feast of the Black Nazarene comes up by first week of January leading up to the Traslacion fiesta every January 9. We would notice that the Intramuros image was often labeled as the “Nazareno ng Mayaman” or the “Nazareno of the Elites” because of the opulence of the image and it’s festivities on Palm Sunday on the account that Intramuros was inhabited by the elites of the Spanish colony and only the friars, the members of the Cofradia and other organizations can accompany the Señor of Intramuros.
On the other hand, the Nazareno of Quiapo is subsequently and loosely labeled as the “Nazareno of the Masses” or the “Nazareno ng masa” (often “Nazareno ng mahirap”) which seems to be misplaced since the fiesta of the Señor of Quiapo was once a solemn one as evident in the prints, paintings and the old photographs from the Spanish regime up to the Pre War era. It was only in the latter part of the Post War years, then during the modern age up to the present that the devotion and its celebration became a public spectacle with millions of devotees joining the rowdy yet surprisingly organized procession of Quiapo’s Señor.
It is just proper that we should not make such comparisons between the two Nazarenos since the loose comparisons do not hinder the fact that the devotion to the suffering Lord shows that all of us are equal in the eyes of the Lord. It so happened that we have different ways of expressing our faith and devotion to Our Lord the Nazarene and because of His miracles that these expressions of devotion exist because it is our instinct to give what is best of our ability to give thanks whether it would be a solemn festivity with all its pomp and glamour or a brave expression that defies societal expectations.
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of Quiapo
When we remember the older image of the Nuestro Padre Jesus de Nazareno of Intramuros, we should remember the image as the forerunner of the Nazareno devotion in Manila simply because without this image, the Quiapo devotion wouldn’t exist up to this day. That way, we are showing our gratitude to Our Lord for allowing us to have this beautiful yet often misunderstood devotion to the Quiapo Nazareno which truly shows who we are as Filipino Catholics – something that we can be proud of and something that we need to nourish.
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, kaawaan mo po kami!
References:
Abriol, Jose, “Pagsisiyam sa Pooong Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno,” Aklatang Lunas, Manila, 1992.
Delos Reyes, Michael, “Prusisyon: Paghahanda at Pagdoriwang” – Pinaunlad na edisyon, Claret Communications Foundation, Inc. Diliman, Quezon City, 2012.
Joaquin, Nick, “Almanac for Manileños” Mr. & Mrs. Manila, Manila, 1979.
Rubia, Rommel, OAR, La Salud: the Black Virgin of Health, Recoletos Communications, Order of Augustinian Recollects, Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno, Quezon City, 2016.
The Episcopal Coronation of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Bulakan
In recent years, the Philippine Catholic Church has seen a surge in images of the Blessed Virgin Mary receiving the honors of Pontifical and Episcopal Coronations, frequently reported in the news and on social media. This phenomenon reflects the growing recognition of Marian devotion both universally, through Canonical Coronation, and locally, through Episcopal Coronation in modern times. This trend underscores a deepening commitment to honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary and highlights the enduring importance of Marian devotion in the spiritual life of Filipino Catholics.
In today’s blog feature, we are focusing on Episcopal Coronations: their meaning, process, and implications, along with the current list of venerated Marian images in the Philippines that have received this honor.
The Act of Episcopal Coronation
First, let us define what is an Episcopal Coronation. An Episcopal Coronation is an act performed by the local Bishop or Archbishop of a diocese or archdiocese, formally expressed through a Decree of Coronation issued by the local diocesan Chancery. This decree acknowledges the veneration and devotion of a Marian image under a specific title within a particular locality. While an Episcopal Coronation is not a prerequisite for Canonical Coronation or shrine elevation, it often serves as a stepping stone towards such goals as implemented or practiced in some (arch) dioceses as of late.
The Episcopal Coronation of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Pagsanjan by Venerable Bishop Alfredo Obviar
Understanding the significance and requirements of an Episcopal Coronation can shed light on its importance in the life of the Church and the local community’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The requisites for a Marian image to be granted an Episcopal Coronation are similar to those for a Canonical Coronation. The image must be venerated in places of public worship like chapels (governed by the parish), parishes, cathedrals, shrines, or basilicas. Additionally, factors such as the image’s antiquity, the devotion surrounding it, the longevity and intensity of this devotion, and any recorded miracles are considered. Documents detailing the narratives and documentation of the image’s cultus, along with petition letters signed by eminent ecclesiastical persons and devotees (often including local government officials), are submitted to significant ecclesiastical authorities (e.g., bishops, cardinals). These authorities review the documents and, upon approval, issue a Decree to grant the Episcopal Coronation of the Marian image. The crown used in the coronation should be fashioned from precious materials (authentic gold, silver, precious stones, etc.) to symbolize the singular dignity of the Blessed Virgin as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
The act of Episcopal Coronation can be seen as an exercise a local Ordinary (Bishops) can perform. According to the Code of Canon Law’s Book IV, Part II: The Other Acts of Divine Worship, Title I: Sacramentals, Can. 1169 Sentence #1 states, “Those marked with the episcopal character and presbyters permitted by law or legitimate grant can perform consecrations and dedications validly.” Sentence #2 adds, “Any presbyter can impart blessings except those reserved to the Roman Pontiff or bishops.” Can. 1171 further states, “Sacred objects, which are designated for divine worship by dedication or blessing, are to be treated reverently and are not to be employed for profane or inappropriate use even if they are owned by private persons.”
Considering these canons, the Episcopal Coronations can be viewed as an act by bishops to recognize “sacred objects designated for divine worship.” As part of this process, a signed decree from the bishop or archbishop shall be released as a document of reference.
In earlier times, there were instances when images of the Child Jesus and St. Joseph were also given the honor of a Pontifical or Episcopal Coronation. However, with the issuance of “Pluris decursu temporis” on March 25, 1973, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments stressed that “Only images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whether paintings or statues, may be crowned; the image of a saint or blessed may not.” The decree also states that“When an image portrays Mary with Our Savior Jesus Christ, both figures must be crowned.” The norms set by this decree also apply to Episcopal Coronations.
For this blog feature and documentation, we are presenting a list of venerated Marian images that were granted Episcopal Coronation. This includes some images that received such conferment before the 2000s, where some official decrees may not be available. However, substantial documentation—such as official programs related to the rite of coronation and photographs of the prelate crowning the image—attests to these acts and is recognized by the local diocese at present. The issuance of coronation decrees from the local dioceses has become the proper norm in recent years, especially from the 2010s to the present.
We will also include in this list the images that were granted Episcopal Coronation and later conferred the honor of Pontifical Coronation. You may click the link on the date of the Pontifical Coronation to see the list of Pontifically Crowned images and check their brief historical profiles.
Nuestra Señora de la O de Pangil
Nuestra Señora del la O de Pangil Provenance: Nativity of Our Lady Parish, Pangil, Laguna Coronation Date: December 17, 1949
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la O in Pangil, Laguna began when the original image of the Virgin along with the Sto. Niño de la O was brought to the town in 1759 by King Carlos III of Spain. King Carlos III was then a prince when sent to the country and stayed in the Franciscan Convent and Church of Pangil sometime in 1724. The town’s menfolk, wearing their traditional headdresses or bandanas welcomed the images. The original image of Nuestra Señora de la O, however, was destroyed during the Second World War yet the Niño was kept safely. A replacement image of the Virgin was immediately commissioned that can still be seen and venerated up to this day. Numerous miracles were attributed to the intercession of the Nuestra Señora and Sto. Niño de la O to this day. A tradition of “Pag-Oo” to the Santo Niño de la O is done during Simbang Gabi where they chant the “Dic Mihi” and jiggle the Sto. Niño de la O mimicking how the pregnant Nuestra Señora de La O comforted her son who was in her womb. In commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the arrival of the two images, The miraculous image of the Virgin was granted the honor of Episcopal Coronation on December 17, 1949, officiated by the Venerable Bishop Alfredo Ma. Obviar.
Nuestra Señora de Katipanan of Nabua Provenance: Holy Cross Parish, Nabua, Camarines Sur Coronation Date: July 28, 1963
The devotion to the Nuestra Señora de la Limpia Concepción, now known as Nuestra Señora de Katipanan, can be traced back to the establishment of the parish in 1578. However, it was in 1711 when a devastating earthquake struck Nabua that the people made a covenant with the Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary. This covenant involved perpetually narrating the miracle, celebrating the feast annually, and offering alms and thanksgiving. Miraculously, the earthquake ceased after the people made their promise. Since then, the people of Nabua have faithfully honored their pledge, celebrating the feast of Nuestra Señora de Katipanan on July 28 or the nearest Sunday. The neighboring parishes and devotees also partake in the festivities, offering their own vows of gratitude. In recognition of the devotion and miracles attributed to the Virgin of Katipanan, the image was bestowed with the honor of Episcopal Coronation on July 28, 1963.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Iloilo
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Iloilo Provenance: St. Joseph’s Parish, San Jose, Iloilo Coronation Date: October 11, 1970
This image of Our Lady of the Rosary was found in 1616 on the shores of Iloilo, not far from its fortress, while excavations were being made to prepare trenches for the defense of the City against an invading Dutch squadron under the command of Admiral Spielberg, which attacked the island on September 28, 1616. The discovery of this image so inspired the defenders under the leadership of Don Diego de Quiñones that they hurled back the invaders in the battle that ensued. Today, after surviving more than three centuries, this image is venerated in the parish church of San Jose, in Iloilo. Simple but beautiful, it shows our Lady with the Child Jesus in one hand and holding out a long silver Rosary in the other. She is depicted standing on a pillar of cloud with angels attending at her feet. The image was Episcopally Crowned on October 11, 1970.
Nuestra Señora de Visitacion de Guibang Provenance: National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang, Gamu, Isabela Coronation Date: May 26, 1973
The devotion to Nuestra Senora de la Visitacion de Guibang began when a poor young man from Gamu, Isabela propagated the devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary as early as 1905 by carrying the image from house to house in the area. One day, it was scheduled to stay in the Noble household. The Noble couple was reluctant for they can’t give any alms to the Virgin due to their poor living conditions, yet they still welcomed the Virgin to their humble home. One night, the couple was amazed by a sweet unusual fragrance that filled the household and it was discovered that the perfume came from the image of the Virgin the news spread like wildfire in the town that a Chapel was built to accommodate pilgrims. The Image was crowned on May 26, 1973, and the church became a National Shrine in 1986.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – Reina de Caracol
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, Reina de Caracol Provenance: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Rosario, Cavite Coronation Date: October 10, 1995
The origins of the image are unknown yet the image was said to be painted sometime between 1810 and 1820. It is believed that it was found one stormy night when the crew saw the image that gave them a little light of hope for safety. The crew begged the Virgin to spare their lives and with the promise that they would build a chapel in her honor as soon as they landed on the shore. The Virgin must have heard his prayers for they were all saved. The image was entrusted by the crewmen to the people of the Mojon. The crew of the boat left a legacy, which became an undying tradition – the town fiesta in honor of the Virgin of the Most Holy Rosary. The image was crowned on October 10, 1995.
Nuestra Señora del Santismo Rosario de Cebu
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Cebu Provenance:Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Cebu City, Cebu Coronation Date: December 13, 1995
The parish of Our Lady of the Rosary in Cebu City was established in 1933. The beautiful image of the Virgin of the Rosary was carved by a local sculptor known only by the surname “Alcoseba” and became the focal point of the Rosary devotion in the city. During the Second World War, the parish of Our Lady of the Rosary was miraculously spared during the bombings of Japanese forces in the area. The parish later became the Pro-Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Cebu when Cebu Cathedral was damaged and then rehabilitated. The parish of Our Lady of the Rosary of Cebu City became a spiritual oasis in the city’s downtown with devotees flocking to the parish to attend hourly masses and offer their rosary devotions to the Virgin. In line with the anniversary of the miraculous protection of the Virgin in her parish and also the anniversary of the Rosary Crusade in the same parish, the image was episcopally crowned on December 13, 1995, by Archbishop Roger Michael Cardinal Mahoney, then the Archbishop of Los Angeles, California.
Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Maragondon (Birheng Nakatayo)
Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Maragondon Provenance: Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, Maragondon, Cavite Coronation Date: December 14, 1997
The origins of the devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Maragondon began in 1611 when the townsfolk of Maragondon bought an image of Our Lady of the Assumption made of woof and ivory for their visita. When the chapel became a parish, the current altar image was commissioned sometime in the 1700s which will be later known as “Birheng Nakatayo” Then years later the seated processional image known as “Birheng Nakaupo” was commissioned. Unfortunately in the 1980’s the ivory head of the image of “Birheng Nakaupo” was stolen and its whereabouts are still unknown. Since the enthronement of the image of Nuestra Señora dela Asuncion in Maragondon, numerous miracles were attributed to her miraculous intercession and from granting favors to her devotees, healing the sick, and helping childless couples to have children. The Virgin and the Church of Maragondon also became silent witnesses of some key events in our history, especially during the Philippine Revolution. Due to the numerous miracles attributed to her intercession, the altar image (Birheng Nakatayo) of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Maragondon was episcopally crowned on December 14, 1997.
La Inmaculada Concepcion de Dasmariñas Provenance: Immaculate Conception Parish, Dasmariñas, Cavite Coronation Date: December 7, 2002
The image of La Inmaculada Concepcion of Dasmariñas, Cavite is acclaimed as one of the most beautiful images of the Immaculate Conception in the Philippines. The origins of the devotion date back on October 21, 1866, when Queen Isabela II signed a royal decree granting the creation of the parish in Dasmariñas, Cavite under the administration of the Augustinian Recollects. The image of the Virgin was carved by Espeiridion Arevalo in Sta. Cruz, Manila, and it was enthroned in 1867. Numerous miracles were attributed to the Virgin of Dasmariñas over the centuries that the image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on December 7, 2002, on the eve of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
Nuestra Señora de Salambao
Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepcion de Salambao Provenance: San Pascual Baylon Parish, Diocesan shrine of Nuestra Señora de Salambao, Obando, Bulacan Coronation Date: December 12, 2004
On June 19, 1763, two fishermen named Juan and Julian de la Cruz were busy fishing along the shore of Hacienda Tambobong, (present-day Malabon), when they unexpectedly caught an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in their salambao. The fishermen decided to bring it to the nearest church in Tambobong. As they began to row towards Tambobong, the salambao grew heavy as if the image wanted to be venerated in a different location that she desired. The fishermen then switched directions and began heading towards Obando, Bulacan. To their astonishment, the salambao became lighter and they managed to reach the shore of Obando safely. The Virgin, along with Sts. Clare of Assisi and Pascual Bailon became the focal point of the devotion of the “Obando Fertility Rites”. The Lady of Salambao received an Episcopal Coronation on December 12, 2004.
Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Las Piñas
Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Las Piñas Provenance: Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Philam Village, Las Piñas City Coronation Date: October 13, 2007
From May 13, 1917 until October 13, 1917, Lucia de Santos and her two cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto reported six apparitions of Mary, who identified herself as “Our Lady of the Rosary.” Mary urged prayer of the rosary, penance for the conversion of sinners, the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart, and the devotion of the Five First Saturdays in reparation for the outrages that the Immaculate Heart of Mary received from mankind. The Parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Philam Village in Las Piñas City was established on March 17, 1975, when Philam Insurance Company donated a parcel of land to the Archdiocese of Manila (now part of the Diocese of Parañaque) to establish a chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Fatima to nurture the faith of the people in Philam Village. The image received Episcopal Coronation on October 13, 2007.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Bacoor
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Bacoor Provenance: St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Bacoor, Cavite Coronation Date: May 02, 2009
The devotion to Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Bacoor began in 1830 when the image was found in a salt storage room owned by Mrs. Ontang Malabanan. Initially enthroned in her home, it was later enshrined in the parish in 1885 under Rev. Fr. Juan Gomez’s administration. Rev. Fr. Gregorio Florencia further propagated the devotion, establishing the Hermandad de la Virgen Maria and the Cofradia de la Santisimo Rosario in 1913. Through their efforts, many returned to the Catholic faith. The image was crowned on May 2, 2009.
Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Binakayan
Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Binakayan Provenance: Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Binakayan, Cavite Coronation Date: May 13, 2009
The image of Nuestra Señora de Fatima venerated in Binakayan, Cavite dates back its origins in 1966 when Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Connely, an American couple, brought a beautiful image of Our Lady of Fatima from Portugal to propagate the devotion to the Virgin of Fatima in Cavite. The image toured around the Diocese of Imus in 1968 to further propagate the devotion to the Holy Rosary and the messages of peace and conversion as what the Virgin gave to the three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. The image was later enshrined in her own parish in Bantayan in 1970 until it was later transferred to its present site in Binakayan in 1996. The image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on May 13, 2009. The crown used for the coronation rite was the crown donated by the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.
Nuestra Señora de Lourdes of Quezon City
Nuestra Señora de Lourdes of Quezon City Provenance: National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Quezon City Episcopal Coronation date: August 14, 2010 Pontifical Coronation date: August 22, 2020
Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Marikina
Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Marikina Provenance: St. Paul of the Cross Parish, Marikina City Episcopal Coronation date: October 17, 2010 Pontifical Coronation date: May 12, 2024
Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Labangon
Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Labangon Provenance: Our Lady of Remedies Parish, Labangon, Cebu Coronation Date: December 7, 2010
St. John of Matha together with St. Felix of Valois founded the Trinitarian Order which received Papal approval in 1198 and whose principal mission would be to go to the slave markets, buy the Christian slaves, and set them free and place the order under the protection to the Virgin of Remedies. The devotion to the Virgin was patterned from a similar devotion to that in Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. Numerous miracles were attributed to the Virgen de Los Remedios and the devotion to her flourished in L. Lopez, Labangon, Cebu City. The strength of the devotion was truly evident when a nomination for the patron of the community of Labangon between San Roque and the Virgen de Los Remedios, it was the latter who received the majority of the vote. The Feast of the Virgin is celebrated every Second Sunday of December. The image received Episcopal Coronation on December 7, 2010.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Olongapo
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Olongapo Provenance: Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish, Olongapo, Zambales Coronation Date: December 11, 2011
It is said that the print image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was kept at the Parish office for the longest time. It wasn’t until 2005 that the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe shone forth to the parish when the youth leaders of the parish were introduced to the Virgin’s image and story by a nun during a retreat by narrating its history and distributed holy pictures and prayers to La Morenita. The parish youth leaders were moved by the account of the apparition that the devotion formally began with the celebration of the first Guadalupe fiesta held in 2005. Numerous miracles were attributed to her intercession the devotion grew over the years and the youth organization of the parish became the prime promoter of the devotion. On December 11, 2011, Bishop Florentino Lavarias, DD, then Bishop of Iba granted the Episcopal Coronation of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and was named as the Mother, Queen, and Patroness of Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish, Olongapo, Zambales.
Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Antimonan
Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Atimonan Provenance: Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Atimonan, Quezon Coronation Date: August 2, 2012
The devotion to Our Lady of the Angels of Atimonan, Quezon began sometime in the 1600s with the arrival of the Franciscans in Quezon province and it is said that there were two images of the de los Angeles, the original ivory image and a wooden processional image that was unfortunately destroyed during the Second World War. After the War, a new image was commissioned that is currently enshrined in the parish. The devotion to the de los Angeles heightened during the Moro attacks in Atimonan where it is said that the Virgin with wings and her Son appeared that the invaders fled out of fear. Her feast day is celebrated with a joyful Tagultol Festival that is held every August 1 and 2 which includes a fluvial procession to commemorate the miracle. The Winged Madonna and Child received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on August 2, 2012.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Pagsanjan Provenance: Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pagsanjan, Laguna Coronation Date: December 12, 2012
The first ever shrine in the Philippines dedicated to Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe of Mexico was established on November 12, 1687, by Franciscan missionary Father Agustin de la Magdalena in Pagsanjan, Laguna. The original image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was donated by Father Agustin when the parish was first established and was installed at the main altar on December 12, 1688. Numerous miracles were attributed to her intercession, specifically, the protection of Pagsanjan from bandits, and an arch was built as a reminder of the miracle. The original image was destroyed during the War, and two new images arrived in Pagsanjan as replacements, one is the altar image that was carved by Maximo Vicente, and later in 1958, Mexican Catholics contributed a life-sized image of Our Lady of Guadalupe sculpted by Ramon Barretto of Toluca, Mexico. The Maximo Vicente altar image was crowned on December 12, 1947, by Servant of God Bishop Alfredo Ma. Obviar of the Archdiocese of Lipa while the Mexican processional image was Episcopally Crowned on December 12, 2012, along with the declaration of her parish as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Ina Poon Bato of Zambales
Ina Poonbato de Zambales Provenance: St. Monica Parish, Shrine of Ina Poonbato, Zambales Coronation Date: January 23, 2013
The origins of the image are unknown yet it is believed that a native named Djadig found the image of Ina Poonbato during his hunting activities. In 1607, shortly after the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries, arrived in Zambales, they heard stories of the Miraculous Lady of the Aetas. Thinking this to be part of their “anito worship”. Upon seeing the image, the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries were amazed that it hastened the conversion of the people of Zambales. The original image was later sequestered by the Aglipayan Church during the Philippine Revolution and in 1976, the present image was commissioned by Rev. Fr. Patrick Duggan to Maximo Vicente. The image received Episcopal Coronation on January 23, 2013.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Malabon
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Malabon Provenance: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Dampalit, Malabon Coronation Date: October 7, 2013
The devotion to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary began sometime between 1770 to 1860 when the image arrived in Barangay Dampalit, Malabon City. It is said that the devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary was engrained in the people of Dampalit that it is accustomed that the hymn “Dios te Salve” will be sung and will go to her altar to touch the image or cut pieces of her wig and keep it as relics. Numerous miracles were attributed to her intercession and the devotion grew stronger over the centuries. Her feast days are celebrated every January 1, her traditional feast day, and October 7, the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. The beautiful image of the Virgen Del Rosario de Malabon received an Episcopal Coronation on October 7, 2013.
Nuestra Señora de Lourdes de Cabiao Provenance: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija Coronation Date: February 2, 2014
The estampa image of Nuestra Señora de Lourdes of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija is a print or a “Verdadero Retrato” of the Virgin of Lourdes venerated in Cabetican, Pampanga. When some of its inhabitants moved to Cabiao, they built a chapel in honor of their patroness and became a center of the faith in the town. Numerous miracles were reported, including inexplicable miraculous cures from incurable diseases, through the intercession of “Apo Lourdes” over the years since the enthronement of the Estampa. The image of Apo Lourdes received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on February 2, 2014, during the first day of novena in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Virgen de las Flores de Pasig
Virgen de las Flores de Pasig Provenance: Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pasig City Coronation Date: May 10, 2014
The Virgen de las Flores is the focal point of the devotion for the Flores de Mayo rites during the month of May nationwide. The Youth organization of the then-parish of the Immaculate Conception in Pasig City was established in 1904 and organizes the annual Flores de Mayo flower offering rites in Pasig Cathedral and Catechism classes to the children of the diocese. On the centenary of the foundation of the Youth Organization of Pasig Cathedral, the image received Episcopal Coronation on May 10, 2014. As of this writing, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Pasig City is the only Church where a Pontifically Crowned (La Inmaculada Concepcion de Pasig) and an Episcopal Coronation (Virgen de las Flores de Pasig) are enshrined in one church in the Philippines.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Pasig Provenance: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Pasig City Coronation Date: October 13, 2014
The unique image of Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario of Pasig City is venerated in a parish located along a known highway going to Antipolo. The Chapel of the Virgin was established in 1955 by Rev. Fr. Victor Clerck to nourish the faith of the residents of the area who were excelling in their livelihood and helped develop progress in the city. The chapel was elevated to a parish on February 23, 1963, by Rufino Cardinal Santos, then Archbishop of Manila. Since the enthronement of the image of the Virgin of the Rosary, numerous miracles have been reported and duly recorded through her intercession, and the devotion developed over the years. On the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the parish, the image was granted the honor of Episcopal Coronation on October 13, 2014.
La Inmaculada Concepcion del Pueblo de Sta. Maria, Isabela
La Inmaculada Concepcion del Pueblo de Sta. Maria Provenance: Immaculate Conception Parish, Sta. Maria, Isabela Coronation Date: December 8, 2014
This beautiful and miraculous image of the Immaculate Conception is currently enshrined in the Parish of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Sta. Maria, Isabela. The devotion to the Immaculate Conception became popular in the area in 1878 and became the center of the devotion to the Immaculate Conception in the province of Isabela. Pilgrims flock to her shrine, especially on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the womb of St. Anne. The image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on her Feast day, December 8, 2014.
Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Odlot
Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Odlot Provenance: Nuestra Señora de los Remedios Parish, Odlot, Cebu Coronation Date: December 14, 2014
The devotion to the Virgen de Los Remedios of Odlot, Cebu began in the 1930s when a plank of wood was caught by a fisherman on the shores of Odlot and later appeared an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The devotion to the Virgin of Remedies immediately began and three more images were yielded years later: the first image that wept in 2000, the altar image where a honeycomb was seen in an image when the town experienced a difficult situation, and a processional/pilgrim image. Numerous miracles were attributed to the Virgin of Odlot including cures for incurable diseases and other mysterious phenomena that surrounds the Virgin of Odlot. The altar image of Virgen de Los Remedios de Oldot received an Episcopal Coronation on December 14, 2014.
Nuestra Señora del Santo Rosario de Dipolog
Nuestra Señora del Santo Rosario de Dipolog Provenance: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral – Parish, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte Coronation Date: October 7, 2016
The devotion to Nuestra Señora del Santo Rosario de Dipolog began in 1834 when a small image of Our Lady of the Rosary, was brought by Fray Francisco de Sta. Ursula Augustino, OAR, was enshrined in a chapel and garnered much veneration from the people of Dipolog. Although this original image was lost after being taken to Manila by Antonio Acevedo, the chapel became a parish on June 30, 1896. In 1916, Rev. Fr. Francisco Garcia, SJ, brought and enthroned the present altar image of Our Lady of the Rosary from Madrid, Spain. Numerous miracles have been attributed to her intercession, especially the protection of the city during World War II. When Dipolog was elevated to a Diocese in 1967, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary became the Titular Patroness of the Cathedral Parish and the Diocese, and a processional image was introduced. In celebration of the centenary of the enthronement of the miraculous altar image of Nuestra Señora del Santo Rosario de Dipolog, she was honored with an Episcopal Coronation on October 7, 2016.
Nuestra Señora de Lourdes de Punta Princesa Provenance: Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Punta Princesa, Cebu Coronation Date: February 11, 2017
The devotion to the Virgin of Lourdes in Punta Princesa, Cebu began in 1930 when the Atillo family brought the image of the Virgin from Manila for family devotion. Soon afterward, miracles began to take place and the news of these miracles spread out throughout Punta Princesa that a chapel was set up then later to accommodate devotees. One of the most renowned miracles of the Virgin happened when the daughter of Don Pablo Atillo fell off the porch of the mansion where the Virgin was. The family pleaded with the Virgin for help and miraculously, the girl was unscathed as if nothing happened. The chapel later became a parish in 1956 then later declared a Diocesan Shrine. The “Rayna ug Señora” was Episcopally Crowned on her feast day, February 11, 2017.
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Manila Provenance: Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Parish, Camba, Binondo, Manila Coronation Date: July 8, 2017
Though not much is known of the image due to the scant records of her origin, it is said to have been honored since 1884. Yet is believed that the image already existed even before 1884 and it is also believed that it was brought by the navigators from Manila – Acapulco Galleon Trade since the chapel was built near the port area of Pasig River and a spot near its banks, called “Postigo de Nuestra Señora de Soledad” was also believed to be named after her. The Feast of the Virgin is celebrated every January 1 and the Manto Festival is held on the eve of the Feast. The image received Episcopal Coronation on July 8, 2017, officiated by then Archbishop of Manila, Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Extremadura de Loboc
Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Extremadura de Loboc Provenance: St. Peter the Apostle Parish – Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe of Extremadura, Loboc, Bohol Coronation Date: May 24, 2018
The replica of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Extremadura, one of the most famous Marian images in Spain, arrived on the shores of Loboc, Bohol in 1843. At that time, a cholera outbreak was plaguing Loboc, Bohol for some time that took the lives of many. The arrival of the image seemed to be providential in that as soon as the image arrived, the cholera outbreak ceased. The Shrine of the Virgin was destroyed in the earthquake of 2013 yet the image was miraculously spared from the disaster. On the 390th anniversary of the arrival of the image, the image received Episcopal Coronation on May 24, 2018 – the first Marian image in Bohol that received a formal ecclesiastical coronation rite.
Maria Auxiliadora de los Cristianos de Marinduque Provenance: Mary, Help of Christians Parish, Brgy. Balimbing, Boac, Marinduque Coronation Date: September 23, 2018
The devotion to Mary, Help of Christians of Marinduque began in an unlikely fashion. The Chapel of Brgy. Balimbing, Boac, Marinduque was first dedicated to St. Joseph and celebrated his fiesta strangely every May 29. It was through the initiative of Rev. Fr. Alfredo Cordero who corrected the townsfolk thoroughly and later introduced the devotion to Mary, Help of Christians, celebrated her feast every May 24, and took her as their patroness. The chapel was later established as a parish by Servant of God Bishop Alfredo Ma. Obviar of the Diocese of Lucena on September 23, 1952, under the patronage of Mary, Help of Christians. Since the enthronement of her image in Brgy. Balimbing, numerous miraculous cures, and answered petitions were attributed to her intercession that her feast day is celebrated with floral offerings and a solemn procession. The image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on September 23, 2018, the Anniversary of the establishment of the parish.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Cardona – Virgen de Sapao
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Sorsogon Provenance: Our Lady of the Pillar Parish, Pilar, Sorsogon Coronation Date: October 12, 2018
The devotion to Our Lady of the Pillar became part of the history and culture of Pilar, Sorsogon. Finding Villa de Sto. Nino (former name of Pilar) and the nearby coastal village of Panlatuan were hospitable places and ideal sites for an ”astillero” or shipyard during the Spanish era, it was developed as an important area of commerce and paved the way for increased commercial activities in the area, resulting in rapid population growth. On December 28,1859 the villages of Sto. Niño and Panlatuan including other adjoining smaller villagers formally petitioned for their separation to its parent town and it was granted on August 16, 1861. A year later, the town’s parish was established with Our Lady of Pillar as its titular patroness. The image of the Virgin was donated by the very first gobernadorcillo, Don Sabas Melissa, and was formally enthroned that same year. Numerous miracles were attributed to her intercession and her feast day is celebrated through the colorful Parau festival that lasted for 20 days. On October 12, 2018, the image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation and her parish will be elevated to the status of a Diocesan Shrine simultaneously.
Maria Inmaculada de Salawag
Maria Inmaculada de Salawag Provenance: Mary Immaculate Parish, Salawag, Dasmariñs, Cavite Coronation Date: December 8, 2018
The image of Maria Inmaculada de Salawag of Salawag, Dasmariñas, Cavite, carved in Paete, Laguna, was donated by a pious family of the barangay to the chapel of Salawag in 1987, then dedicated to San Isidro Labrador. With the arrival of the Congregation of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate in 2002, the congregation took over the administration of the Chapel and became the stewards of the faithful of Salawag. After years of struggle, the chapel became a parish on April 19, 2003, and was dedicated under the Patronage of Mary Immaculate. Since her enthronement, numerous miracles were reported through her intercession from answered petitions, unexplainable cures for different incurable diseases, and other strange phenomena like the miracle of the dancing sun. In line with the fifteenth anniversary of the establishment of the parish of Salawag, the faithful petitioned for the Episcopal Coronation of their beloved Patroness and it was granted in 2018 by Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Imus. The Coronation rites took place on December 8, 2018 – The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
La Inmaculada Concepcion de Batangas – La Batangueña
Our Lady of the Poor of Taguig Provenance: Our Lady of the Poor Parish, Tenement, Western Bicautan, Taguig City Coronation Date: December 29, 2018
The image of Our Lady of the Poor of Taguig City was based on the series of eight apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Mariette Beco from January 15 until March 2, 1933, in a small hamlet in Banneaux, Belgium. The Blessed Mother introduced herself in these apparitions as “The Virgin of the Poor” and gave a series of messages concerning the poor and the sick and these appearances were formally approved by the Church in 1949. The devotion to the Virgin of the Poor in Taguig began in 1993 when the Parish located in FB Tenement, Western Bicutan, Taguig was formally dedicated to the Virgin under this title though the image arrived from the actual apparition site in Banneaux, Belgium in 1999. Since her enthronement, she became their consoler in their trying times as she promised Mariette in one of her visits “I came to relieve the suffering.” Numerous miracles were attributed through her intercession in line with the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the parish, The Virgin of the Poor received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on December 29, 2018.
Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Silang
Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Silang Provenance: Our Lady of the Candles Parish, Silang, Cavite Coronation Date: January 31, 2019
The origins of the Virgin of the Candles of Silang, Cavite recounts how the image was found in the mountains by a man. It is said that he kept the image in his hut and prayed to Mary through it. But the image was lost and was not found and was not discovered until the parish priest suggested he would find a place in his church where it could be venerated by all. The church of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Silang was built by the Franciscans on February 3, 1595. After it was built, the whole church caught on fire on August 30, 1603, and the administration of the parish was later handed over to the Jesuits, the Augustinian Recollects, the Congregatio Immaculatae Cordis Mariae, the Columban Order, and later to the Diocesan clergy. The church and retablo of the Our Lady of Candelaria Parish were declared as National Cultural Treasures on February 3, 2017. Numerous miracles were attributed to her intercession and the Virgen de Candelaria of Silang received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on January 31, 2019.
Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Quezon (Processional image)
Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de Quezon (Processional image) Provenance: National Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Dolores Quezon Coronation Date: April 12, 2019
The origins of the arrival of the image of Our Lady of Sorrows are unknown yet several theories and legends sprung up over the years in an attempt to trace its origins. The shrine was established in the 1800s and it became a major pilgrimage site in the province, most especially during Lent and the month of September. The “Pangkuan” rites are held every Friday of the week. Devotees and pilgrims from the neighboring towns come to Dolores to attend the mass in honor of the famed Mater Dolorosa. It is also known for the yearly “Viernes de Dolores” which falls either in March or April with a Holy Mass and a “Turumba”, a dance praising the town’s patron saint which is said to be taken from Pakil, Laguna where the similar patroness is also flocked. The parish was later declared a National Shrine in 2017 and received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on April 12, 2019, Viernes de Dolores. The Episcopal Crown was given to the Processional image. The altar image on the other hand received Pontifical Coronation on March 21, 2021.
Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Sebastian de Pulong Buhangin
Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Sebastian de Pulong Buhangin Provenance: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Pulong Buhangin, Santa Maria, Bulacan Coronation Date: September 8, 2019
The image of Nuestra Señora deL Carmen of Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan is the first known replica of the oldest image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the Philippines – Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Sebastian. According to the records, the Virgin visited Kunino, a townfolk to ask for an image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to be enshrined in their area and have a chapel dedicated to her honor. The image was donated by the Augustinian Recollect Friars on February 9, 1885, and since the enthronement of the image, numerous miracles were attributed to her intercession. The Virgin celebrates two feasts, the July 16 liturgical feast and the Traditional February fiesta to commemorate the arrival of the image in Pulong Buhangin. The image was granted the honor of Episcopal Coronation by a decree signed by the Diocese of Cubao Bishop and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Malolos, Bishop Onesto Ongtioco, D.D. in 2019. The Coronation took place on September 8, 2019 – Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes de Catbalogan
Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes de Catbalogan Provenance: Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy, Mercedes, Catbalogan, Samar Coronation day: September 24, 2019
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes of Mercedes, Catbalogan City, Samar began in 1881 when the image of the Virgin was brought by the Chacon couple in Samar and was later given to Doña Barbara Cinco – Domanguerra in 1884 before leaving for Spain. A chapel was later constructed in her honor and later gained devotees due to the miracles that she wrought for the people of Merced. Some of the notable miracles of the Virgin were duly recorded from where she saved the town from Moro raids, cured different sicknesses, protection of the town among others. Her feast was first celebrated in 1919 and later a cofradia was established to propagate the devotion to Our Lady of Mercy of Samar. In line with the celebration of the 100th Fiesta of the Virgin and the proclamation of her chapel as a pilgrim shrine, the image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on September 24, 2019.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Hagonoy
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Hagonoy Provenance: Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Hagonoy, Bulacan Coronation Date: October 7, 2019
The devotion to the brown-skinned image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Hagonoy began between 1770 – 1800 when a barrio folk found an image of the Blessed Virgin floating on the river near the barrio and believed that right after they found the image, the people have started their devotions through a lutrina, which is a nine-day candlelight procession. A chapel in front of the river where the image was found was later built to house the image of the Virgen which later became a parish in 1952. The devotion developed over the centuries with various devotional activities that became part of the devotion to the Lady of the Rosary from home visitations, the celebration of fiestas every October 7, and her traditional feast every Second Sunday of May, a fluvial and a fiesta procession and block rosaries among others. Numerous miracles were reported through the intercession of the Morena Virgin on June 29, 2019, Bishop Onesto Ongtioco, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Malolos, granted the decree of the Episcopal Coronation of the miraculous image. The Coronation rites took place on October 7, 2019 – her feast day. The crowning rites were officiated by His Excellency Bishop Dennis Villarojo, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Malolos
La Inmaculada Concepcion (La Pequeña) de Naga
La Inmaculada Concepcion (La Pequeña) de Naga Provenance: Immaculate Conception Parish, Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City, Camarines Sur Coronation date: December 8, 2019
The story of the devotion to La Inmaculada of Naga City dates back in the 1960s when the faithful found a petite image and folksy-looking image of the Virgin as the Immaculate Conception and placed it in their church and later the barangay took the name “Concepcion Pequeña” in her honor due to the strong cult following. Soon afterward, miracles were reported through the Virgin’s intercession and gained a strong devotional following The feast of the barangay’s patroness is celebrated with much solemnity. In line with the 55th anniversary of the parish, the image receives the honor of Episcopal Coronation on December 8, 2019 – The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the barangay’s patronal feast.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Amaya Provenance: Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Amaya, Tanza, Cavite Coronation Date: October 1, 2020
The origins of the venerated image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Amaya are unknown due to lack of records yet there was an oral tradition of a pious lady commissioned the painting of Our Lady of the Rosary flanked with Saint Dominic, the recipient of the Holy Rosary and St. Augustine, the Patron Saint of Tanza, Cavite and was surrounded with the mysteries of the holy rosary. A visita was established in 1930 in honor of the Virgin and it became a parish in 1960. The devotion to Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Amaya became popular in the area due to the numerous miracles that were attributed to her intercession. In line with the 60th anniversary of the parish, the Bishop of the Diocese of Imus, Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, DD granted the honor of Episcopal Coronation in 2020. The coronation rites took place on October 1, 2020.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Pamisaraoan
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Pamisaraoan Provenance: Holy Infant Parish, San Antonio, Zambales Coronation date: October 11, 2020
The devotion to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in San Antonio, Zambales began sometime in 1881 as a pledge of Juan Magsaysay and her husband Teodoro de Lara of a yearly observance of the La Naval fiesta that is held every Second Sunday of October in Intramuros and was later introduced in their town. The devotion grew not only in the Magsaysay family but also spread in their town in San Antonio and the Virgin gained more devotees as the years passed by. The Magsaysay clan would continue to celebrate La Naval festivities at their house at Balay iti Laud until the eve of World War II. During the war, in place of the traditional celebrations, the family opened a free kitchen for the townspeople that further helped spread the devotion to the Santo Rosario. At the end of World War II, the heirs dismantled the big house where the festivities for La Naval were held, and the image moved to the homes of the surviving heirs. In 2008, the family moved the images of the Santo Rosario and the Santo Nino Admiral to the Catholic parish church of San Antonio where the two images currently reside. Due to the numerous miracles attributed to her intercession, the image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on October 11, 2020, officiated by Bishop Bartolome Santos Jr., DD, Bishop of Iba.
Madonna Salus Infirmorum of Bulakan, Bulacan Provenance: San Isidro Labrador Parish, Bambang, Bulacan, Bulacan Coronation Date: November 16, 2020
The image of Madonna Salus Infirmorum or “Ina ng Kagalingan ng mga Maysakit” was a replica of the venerated image of Our Lady venerated at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Campo Marzio in Rome, the generalate house of the Camillian Order. The image was painted by a local artisan named Ricardo Lunod Sr. in 1969 upon the request of Fr. Melchor Barcelon. The image was immediately enshrined at San Isidro Labrador Parish in Bambang, Bulakan, Bulacan, and became the Secondary patroness of the said parish. The devotion grew over decades and she became known in some parts of Bulacan. The blue scapular of Madonna Salus Infirmorum also became well known as an instrument of healing due to the reported miracles from those who wore it and asked for the help of Our Lord through Our Lady. In line with the 50th-anniversary celebration of the commissioning and enthronement of the image, Bishop Dennis Villarojo, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Malolos granted the petition for the image’s Episcopal Coronation in 2020. The coronation rite took place on November 16, 2020.
Nuestra Señora de las Flores de Bocaue
Nuestra Señora de las Flores de Bocaue Provenance: St. Martin of Tours Parish – Diocesan Shrine of the Holy Cross of Wawa, Bocaue, Bulacan Coronation Date: November 21, 2020
Although the date or year of the Flores de Mayo tradition in Bocaue, Bulacan is uncertain, it was only in 1984 that the current image of Nuestra Señora de las Flores of Bocaue was commissioned during the administration of Rev. Fr. Miguel Paez and an elaborate tradition in her honor was formed. Unfortunately, due to numerous circumstances, the tradition was put to a halt and the image was kept in a room for more than 15 years. With the change of the Shrine administration, aside from the revival of the famed fluvial procession of the miraculous “Mahal na Krus ng Wawa”, the Flores de Mayo and reintroduction of the image of Nuestra Señora de las Flores de Bocaue commenced on May 1, 2014. The image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on May 2, 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid rise of its victims, the coronation rites were postponed until further notice. The Coronation rites took place on November 21, 2020 – Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Bulakan
Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion de Bulakan Provenance: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion, Bulakan, Bulacan Coronation date: November 28, 2020
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Bulakan began when it was established first as a visita of Tondo in 1575. The church of Bulakan, which is now under the administration of the Diocese of Malolos, is believed to have been completed by 1578 and was served by R.P. Fray Agustin de Albuquerque, OSA, and R.P. Fray Diego de Vivar, OSA. The Church played a significant role in our country’s history, especially during the British invasion, the Propaganda movement, and the Philippine Revolution. The Church also became the center of the Flores de Mayo traditions in Luzon that would later spread across the country with the publication of Rev. Fr. Mariano Sevilla’s “Flores de Maria” o “Marikit na Bulaklak na sa pagninilaynilay sa boong buwan nang Mayo ay inihahandog nang mga deboto kay Maria Santisima” in 1867 and subsequent the establishment of Hijas de Maria during his tenure as parish priest in Bulakan, Bulacan. The present altar image was commissioned in 1956 to Talleres de Maximo Vicente after the loss of the original altar image for unknown reasons. The devotion to Our Lady of the Assumption grew over the centuries with numerous miracles attributed to her intercession. In 2020, Bishop Dennis Villarojo, DD granted the image the honor of Episcopal Coronation and elevated the historic parish to the status of a Diocesan Shrine. The Coronation and Shrine elevation rites took place on November 28, 2020.
La Purisima Concepcion de Baliuag
La Purisima Concepcion de Baliuag Provenance: St. Augustine Parish, Baliuag, Bulacan Coronation date: February 1, 2021
The metal statue of La Purisima Concepcion of Baliuag, Bulacan was enshrined at the patio of the old San Agustin Parish in Baliuag, Bulacan between 1877 and 1899 when the parish was being repaired due to an earthquake that damaged the church in 1880. The image of La Purisima Concepcion was ordered in France along with the other materials needed for the Church repairs hence its similarities with the image of the Virgin enshrined at the Oura Church in Nagasaki, Japan. The image was placed at the church’s patio where a miraculous well once stood that was flocked by pilgrims called “Fuente de la Purisima Concepcion”. The shrine of the Virgin of the Patio developed over the years as the faithful of Baliwag would flock to her shrine to pray and offer candles and flowers and numerous prayers were answered through the Virgin’s intercession. On January 1, 2021, it was formally announced that granting of the Episcopal Coronation of the image of La Purisima Concepcion de Baliwag by Bishop Dennis Villarojo, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Malolos. The Coronation rites took place on February 1, 2021.
Nuestra Señora, Virgen del Mar Cautiva
Nuestra Señora, Virgen del Mar Cautiva Provenance: Holy Guardian Angels Parish, Santo Tomas, La Union Coronation Date: July 19, 2021
The devotion to Nuestra Señora, Virgen del Mar Cautiva began in 1845 when Rev. Fr. Santiago Romero, then parish priest, commissioned three images for the parish of Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Michael the Archangel, and the Holy Guardian Angel in Manila to propagate their devotion. In July 1845, the statues were packed in three boxes and sent to Sto. Tomas by the sailboat Matutina via the South China Sea. Near Bolinao, Pangasinan, the Matutina was attacked by Jolo sea pirates. Although outnumbered and wounded, the crewmen, who prayed for the Blessed Mother’s help, survived without fatalities. However, the pirates desecrated the Virgin Mary’s image by cutting off its left forearm and throwing the boxes into the sea. Miraculously, the box containing the Virgin’s image floated to the shores of Bolinao, where Christian soldiers found the statue dry. It arrived in Sto. Tomas, La Union, on July 19, 1845. Despite numerous attempts to repair the image, it was believed that the Virgin wished to keep the damage as a reminder of the desecration. Since then, numerous miracles, conversions, and cures, including safe childbirths, have been attributed to her intercession. In recognition of these miracles, the image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on July 19, 2021.
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Maquinaya
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Maquinaya Provenance: Immaculate Conception Parish, Barangay Barretto, Olongapo, Zambales Coronation date: August 22, 2021
It is not certain how the devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Maquinaya began yet it is believed that it was inherited from the migrant workers from Cavite City when the US Naval Base moved from Cavite City to Subic and settled in Maquinaya (now Barangay Barretto) in Olongapo, Zambales. In 1959, the Catholic Women’s Association in Barrio Maquinaya was formed for the upkeep of the Catholic faith and chose the Virgin of Solitude as the community’s Patroness and her feast to be celebrated every Second Sunday of November. The painting of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad was commissioned in 1959 by Mrs. Anita Crisostomo, then the president of the Catholic Women’s Association of Mquinaya, and it was painted in Cavite City – home of the devotion to the Virgen de la Soledad in the country – for the veneration of the faithful. When the parish of the Immaculate Conception was established in 1961, the image was enthroned there and the devotion was kept alive for decades. In 2019, initial plans for a cofradia were initiated and it was formally established in 2021 and set the last Saturday of the Month as the devotional day in her honor. In 2021, Bishop Bartolome Santos, Bishop of the Diocese of Iba, granted the honor of Episcopal Coronation of the image of the Virgin of Solitude of Maquinaya and the Coronation rites took place on August 22, 2021 – Memorial of the Queenship of Mary.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Olongapo
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Olongapo Provenance: Holy Rosary Chapel (Under the jurisdiction of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Columban), Olongapo, Zambales Coronation date: October 3, 2021
The image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary has been venerated in her chapel under the jurisdiction of St. Columban Parish in Olongapo, Zambales since 1956. The rosary devotion in the area prospered over the years and numerous favors were granted through her intercession. The image of Our Lady of the Rosary received the honor of episcopal coronation on October 3, 2021.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de San Marcelino
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de San Marcelino Provenance: Parish of St. William, San Marcelino, Zambales Coronation date: October 10, 2021
The image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary known as the Virgin of La Naval of San Marcelino was venerated on her own altar at St. William Parish in San Marcelino, Zambales. The Marian devotion, especially the rosary devotion, in the parish became part of the town’s life over the years and numerous favors were granted through her intercession. The image of Our Lady of the Rosary received the honor of episcopal coronation on October 10, 2021.
La Inmaculada Concepcion de la Virgen Maria de Cebu
La Inmaculada Concepcion de Cebu Provenance: Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Cebu Coronation date: December 8, 2021
The Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, with the original and complete title of the Metropolitan Cathedral and Parish of Saint Vitalis and of the Guardian Angels, is the ecclesiastical seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cebu in Cebu, Philippines. The wooden image of the Virgin as the Immaculate Conception was commissioned from Spain in the 1910s by the late Archbishop of Cebu, His Eminence, Bishop Juan Perfecto de Gorordo. The image is enshrined and venerated at the right retablo minor of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Cebu. Since her enshrinement, numerous miracles were attributed to her that gained her devotees over the years. The image was Episcopally Crowned on December 8, 2021 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
Nuestra Señora del Carmen – La Limpia de Cebu
Nuestra Señora del Carmen – La Limpia de Cebu Provenance: Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – La Limpia, Cebu City, Cebu Coronation date: January 8, 2022
The Parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Cebu City was canonically erected on January 1, 1971, by the late Cardinal Julio Rosales. However, its foundation dates back to as early as 1621 when the Augustinian Recollects Friars set foot in Cebu. Bishop Pedro Arce gave them a place outside the walls of the city, with a small chapel initially dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the early 1700s, the image was initially an image of the Immaculate Conception or “La Limpia Concepcion” in Cebu since the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception was not yet declared at that time until 1854. When the devotion to the Immaculate Conception was adopted by the Cebu Cathedral in the 1800s, the Marian image was renamed “Nuestra Señora del Carmen” since the Recoletos Church in Cebu became the center of the Brown Scapular devotion in the Visayas and Mindanao. Later in 1964, the old Recoletos Church was torn down and gave way to the construction of a more spacious and modern church that could accommodate more pilgrims. The image of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, La Limpia received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on January 8, 2022.
Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Biñan
Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Biñan Provenance: Parish of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Biñan, Laguna Coronation date: September 8, 2022
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje in Biñan, Laguna began with the establishment of the parish as a visita in 1867 which would later become a parish in 1967. One of the most notable chapters of the devotion’s history is the devotion of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal who was sent to Biñan, Laguna (the birthplace of his father) for early studies under the guidance of Justiniano Aquino Cruz. He frequently visits this chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage where he develops a strong devotion to her. Through the years, the devotion grew and the image at times would participate in the replica procession held at the National Shrine and Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo, Rizal. The image of the Virgin of Peace and Good Voyage in Biñan received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on September 8, 2022.
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Cuyo
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Cuyo Provenance: St. Augustine Parish, Cuyo, Palawan Coronation date: August 27, 2022
In 1622, a group of Augustinian Recollects friars under the leadership of Fr Juan de Santo Tomas, OAR, were assigned to Cuyo to plant the seeds of the Catholic faith in Palawan. According to the annals of the order, the faithful of Cuyo accepted the faith warmly. So successful were the Recollects that by 1850, there were already 2,000 Catholic families in Cuyo alone. The Parish of St. Augustine in Cuyo was established in 1622 under the patronage of St. Augustine and Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa and became the oldest church in Palawan. The image of Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Cuyo was brought by the Augustinian Recollect Friars in 1623 and gained much devotion to the folks of Cuyo. Local lore would frequently recount that they would see a woman with long hair with her child along the scenic shore of Capusan and would recognize the woman as the Virgin enshrined at the Cuyo Parish. The devotion to the Virgin of Consolation and Cincture became integral in the Catholic faith in Cuyo that she was fondly called “Nay Consol” and she became La Celestial Guardiana y Protectora del Pueblo de Cuyo (The Heavenly Guardian and Protectress of the town of Cuyo). In line with the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Catholic faith in the island province, the image of Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Cuyo received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on August 27, 2022 – the first Marian image in Palawan that received a formal ecclesiastical coronation rite.
Virgen del Rosario “Birhen sa Kota” of Cagayan de Oro
Virgen del Rosario “Birhen sa Kota” of Cagayan de Oro Provenance: St. Augustine Cathedral, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental Coronation date: October 7, 2022
The devotion to Virgen del Rosario in Cagayan de Oro began with the arrival of the Augustinian Recollect Friars in 1596 for the work of evangelization in the province and introduced the devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary. Due to constant Moro raids, the Recollects moved to the present site of St. Augustine Cathedral, built a fort, and placed the image of Our Lady of the Rosary which became known later as “Birhen sa Kota” (Virgin of the Fort) in 1626. One of the most known events related to the image is when Moros were about to invade the Cagayanon, the Blessed Mother with a fearsome mien saying “Why are you harming my people?” The Lady ordered them to desist from their assault and commanded respect which led to their conversion. The practice of Saturday devotions or “Sabadohan” became popular where the image is placed at the head of the faithful which leads to immediate cures from sickness. During the Second World War, the image was later kept at San Jose de Mindanao Seminary by Archbishop James T.G. Hayes, S.J., DD then later transferred to Museo de Oro of Xavier University for preservation in August 1967. The image was returned to St. Augustine Cathedral in 2008 and the devotion flourished further to this day. The image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation, the First in Cagayan de Oro, on October 7, 2022 – Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.
Our Lady of the Rosary of Malita
Our Lady of the Rosary of Malita Provenance: Santo Rosario Parish, Malita, Davao Occidental Coronation date: October 7, 2022
The devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary in Malita, Davao Occidental began during the 1800s as the elders of Malita would recall that the first mass was held in a makeshift chapel in Tubalan (Sitio Sulok North, now part of Barangay Buhangin) with the image of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary installed in the chapel. The image was safeguarded during the American retaliation in Davao in 1906 as the faithful fled to Malita. The Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish of Malita was eventually instituted by Bishop Clovis Thibault of Davao on June 8, 1947, with Father Alfred Tremblay, PME who became the first Parish Priest. The devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary of Malita continues to be a beacon of hope to the people of Malita as her rosary became an important devotion in the community up to this day as the traditional community prayer of the Holy Rosary is still being practiced. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the parish, Bishop Guillermo Afable, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Digos granted the Episcopal Coronation of Our Lady of the Rosary of Malita, and the coronation rites took place on October 7, 2022 – the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. This would be the first Marian image in the province and region of Davao that received a formal ecclesiastical coronation rite.
Our Lady of Hope of Palo
Our Lady of Hope of Palo Provenance: Palo Metropolitan Cathedral, Palo, Leyte Coronation date: November 8, 2022
Archbishop John Du, the Archbishop of the Diocese of Palo, commissioned renowned ecclesiastical sculptor Willy Layug to carve a Marian image that will be placed near the altar of the open-air Mass at the Tacloban airport during the Pope’s visit to Tacloban Airport on January 17, 2015. The image is intended to be a memorial of those who survived and perished in the tragic ravages of Typhoon Yolanda that took place on November 8, 2013. The image was also meant to immortalize numerous accounts of a mysterious lady helping the victims of the raging typhoon that the survivors related to Archbishop Du. The image is an amalgam of popular Marian iconographies, especially those of the Dolorosa, Santo Rosario, Perpetual Help, and Nuestra Señora de Salvacion. The Virgin of Hope of Palo was placed in the open-air altar at Tacloban Airport for the Papal Mass for the survivors of the devastating typhoon during the Papal Visit of His Holiness, Pope Francis on January 17, 2015, where he blessed and venerated the beautiful statue. The image gained immediate renown and was enthroned in a special chapel dedicated to the Virgin at the Palo Metropolitan Cathedral. The Virgin of Palo became the titular Marian image and Patroness of the Archdiocese of Palo and set November 8 as her feast. The image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on November 8, 2022.
Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Tondo
Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Tondo Provenance: Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of Santo Niño de Tondo, Tondo, Manila Coronation Date: November 18, 2022
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Tondo began when the Augustinians began their evangelization work in Tondo. The devotion was further established with the establishment of the Cofradia de la Purificacion with the approval of King Carlos IV in 1789 and the publication of the “Novena a La Nuestra Señora de Candelaria alias Purificacion” of Don Mariano Lopez in 1835. The original image of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Tondo was destroyed during the Second World War and the current image, commissioned by Msgr. Jose N. Jovellanos was blessed on January 18, 1946. The Tondo faithful hold a tradition that the celebration of the Feast of Santo Niño de Tondo concludes with the Feast of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria every February 2. On October 7, 2022, Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, OP, DD, Archbishop of Manila granted the petition for the Episcopal Coronation of the venerable image. The Episcopal Coronation rites took place on November 18, 2022.
La Inmaculada Concepcion of Davao City
La Inmaculada Concepcion of Davao City Provenance: Sta. Ana Shrine Parish, Davao City Coronation date: December 7, 2022
The image of La Inmaculada Concepcion is enshrined at Sta. Ana Shrine Parish, Davao City which the devotion to the Virgin is connected to the devotion of the shrine’s Patroness, St. Anne, the Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Sta. Ana Shrine is a place that became a site that helped foster the devotion to the Mother of our Blessed Virgin Mary and to the Virgin as well. The image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on December 7, 2022 – the Eve of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception to be officiated by the Archbishop of Davao, Archbishop Romulo G. Valles, DD.
Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepcion de Mataasnakahoy
Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepcion de Mataasnakahoy Provenance: Parish of the Immaculate Conception, Mataasnakahoy, Batangas Coronation date: December 8, 2022
The devotion to the Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepcion of Mataaasnakahoy, Batangas began when the Recinto family acquired an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Conception by the Liac-Recinto family in 1874. A chapel was constructed dedicated to the Virgin where the image was enshrined there which later became a parish on December 8, 1932. The devotion to the Patroness of Mataasnakahoy flourished over the years as numerous miracles were attributed to her intercession in protecting her flock from harm during the Second World War, fragrance emanating from the image among others. The image of the Virgin of Mataasnakahoy participated in numerous activities of the Archdiocese of Lipa and the local fluvial procession of Mataasnakahoy held every 27th of June since 2009 in thanksgiving for the bounty of Taal Lake. In 2022, in line with the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the parish, the image was granted the honor of Episcopal Coronation with the rites taking place on December 8, 2022 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Binangonan
Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Binangonan Provenance: Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Binangonan, Rizal Coronation Date: December 10, 2022
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Binangonan began in 1892 when Teniente Ambrosio Blanco saw a brilliant light in the wee hours of the morning and then he saw a print image of the Blessed Virgin Mary that he took home. Soon the print manifested with an unusual sweet fragrance and light emanated once again. When one of the fishermen saw the image, he related to the townsfolk of Pilapila that the image on the stamp has a likeness to that of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles, the patroness of Santa Maria, Laguna, which is on the other side of the lake. In 1892, the present statue of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles was commissioned by Juan de Plamenco in Malate, Manila and it took inspiration from the estampa. Soon, numerous were attributed to her intercession that her feast is celebrated with much solemnity in thanksgiving for all the graces they received from their beloved patroness. The image was granted the honor of Episcopal Coronation on December 10, 2022.
Our Lady of Lourdes of Tagaytay
Our Lady of Lourdes of Tagaytay City Provenance: Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Tagaytay City, Cavite Coronation Date: February 11, 2023
The devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes in Tagaytay City began when the Franciscan Capuchin friars acquired a piece of land in Tagaytay City, Cavite in October 1938 that would serve initially as their resthouse. Upon seeing the spiritual need of the faithful in Tagaytay, they opened an oratory dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, the Patroness of the Capuchin Missions in the Philippines. Upon the suggestion of the Archbishop of Manila, the friars established the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes which was canonically established on June 27, 1940, and later inaugurated on August 4, 1940. The devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes of Tagaytay grew over the years as the parish became one of the key pilgrimage sites in Tagaytay City. The image of Our Lady of Lourdes of Tagaytay City received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on February 11, 2023 – Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Our Lady of the Atonement of Baguio City
Our Lady of the Atonement of Baguio City Provenance: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Atonement, Baguio City Coronation Date: March 25, 2023
The devotion to Our Lady of the Atonement began when the Servant of God Father Paul of Graymoor, Founder of the Friars of the Atonement, had a long and deep devotion to the Blessed Mother, and he was the first to invoke her by this title. According to Fr. Paul, the title focused on the Blessed Virgin Mary at the foot of the Cross when Christ made her the mother of all humanity, and emphasized her work for unity and her intercession on behalf of all people with God, in Christ. The devotion was introduced to the Philippines when the iconic rose-colored Cathedral of Our Lady of Atonement was built by the Congregacio Immaculati Cordis Marriae (CICM) Missionaries first as a chapel dedicated to St. Patrick in 1920 initially at the heart of downtown Session Road and later moved to its present location years later. The Church was consecrated and dedicated to the Our Lady of the Atonement on July 9, 1936. The devotion to Our Lady of the Atonement flourished and one of its recorded miracles was the survival of the Cathedral from the ravages of the Second World War. The Feast of Our Lady of the Atonement is celebrated every July 9. The image of Our Lady of the Atonement received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on March 25, 2023, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Nuestra Señora del Pronto Socorro del Pueblo Buhi
Nuestra Señora del Pronto Socorro del Pueblo Buhi Provenance: St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Buhi, Camarines Sur Coronation Date: May 6, 2023
The origins of the image of Nuestra Señora del Pronto Socorro de Buhi are uncertain from its carving or enshrinement at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Buhi, Camarines Sur. The parishioners recall however that the image of Our Lady is already enshrined in one of the side retablos of the Church. The devotion to the Virgin of Prompt Succor of Buhi can be traced to the fervor of Msgr. Vicente Vargas has for it that he would have the image on his bedside when he was confined in Mother Seton Hospital. Countless miracles and answered prayers continue to be granted through her intercession. One of the most known miracles of the Virgin is that once the image went missing from her retablo, only to be found at one of the large window sills of the church looking in the direction of Albay when Mayon Volcano was erupting. Buhinons celebrate her feast day on the 8th day of January. The image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on May 6, 2023.
Virgen del Santisimo Rosario de Calmay
Virgen del Santissimo Rosario de Calmay Provenance: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Calmay, Dagupan City, Pangasinan Coronation Date: October 22, 2023
The devotion to the Virgen del Santissimo Rosario de Calmay began with the construction of a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary that helped nourish the faith of the people of Calmay, Dagupan City, Pangasinan. Soon afterward, the Parish of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Brgy. Calmay, Dagupan City was constructed in the year 1972-1975 and was inaugurated on January 21, 1973. Its establishment was the fruit of the devotion of all the faithful in Calmay to the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Holy Rosary. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Parish, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, DD approved the petition for the Episcopal Coronation of the miraculous image of Virgen del Santissimo Rosario de Calmay on July 25, 2023. The Episcopal Coronation rites took place on October 22, 2023.
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Tambo Provenance: Parish of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Tambo, Buhi, Camarines Sur Coronation Date: December 8, 2023
The image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad of Tambo, Buhi, Camarines Sur, was carved together with the image of Nuestra Señora de Salvacion in Joroan, Tiwi, and San Antonio de Padua from a single calpi tree by a man named Bagacumba. The Virgin of Solitude, unique for the presence of a galleon near the lady’s foot, carries a tradition dating back to the Spanish Era when devotees of Virgen de la Soledad de Porta Vaga of Cavite brought the image to bless galleons upon their safe arrival from Acapulco. The devotion to Nuestra Senora de la Soledad in Buhi has endured for over 240 years, believed to have been introduced by a Franciscan friar who ministered in Cavite, where the devotion originated. The image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Buhi is set to receive the honor of Episcopal Coronation on – along with the elevation of the parish as the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Tambo. The coronation and elevation rites took place on December 8, 2023.
La Inmaculada Concepcion de Capiz
La Inmaculada Concepcion de Capiz Provenance: Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Roxas City, Capiz Coronation Date: December 8, 2023
The devotion to the Immaculate Conception in Capiz originated with the establishment of the Church in 1707 and grew to become the central focus of devotion in the province. The parish church was later elevated to cathedral status with the creation of the Diocese of Capiz on January 27, 1951. Despite the city’s name changing to Roxas on April 11, 1951, the diocese retained the old name of Capiz. The altar image of La Inmaculada Concepcion de Capiz at Roxas Cathedral received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on December 8, 2023, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
Nuestra Señora de las Saleras of Aliaga, Nueva Ecija
Nuestra Señora de las Saleras of Aliaga Provenance: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de las Saleras, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija Coronation Date: April 20, 2024
The image of Nuestra Señora de las Saleras, the titular Patroness of the Parish of Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, established in 1849, is the only parish and image in the Philippines dedicated to this title. This dedication originates from a miraculous event during the Spanish era when a ship carrying an image of the Blessed Mother, caught in a storm, was saved after prayers, and the seawater on her gown turned into salt upon drying. Aliaga, prone to flooding, also attributes its protection to Our Lady. Despite the original church being destroyed during the Philippine Revolution, the Church was rebuilt, and the devotion persisted despite the theft of the original image in the 1960s. In celebration of the 175th anniversary of the parish’s establishment, Most Reverend Sofronio A. Bancud, SSS, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Cabanatuan, has graciously approved the Episcopal Coronation of the venerable image of Nuestra Señora De Las Saleras. The Coronation Rites took place on April 20, 2024.
Nuestra Señora del Carmen de Alava
Nuestra Señora del Carmen de Alava Provenance: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Sison, Pangasinan Coronation Date: July 16, 2024
Since its early days, the faithful of Sison, Pangasinan, has upheld devotion to Nuestra Señora del Carmen, with a visita established in 1868 administered by the Dominicans until the Philippine Revolution in 1896. The formal establishment of the parish followed a Royal Decree on November 20, 1896, initially located in Amagbagan under the Diocese of Nueva Segovia, with official inauguration in 1897. Relocated to Poblacion in 1909 due to revolutionary unrest, the parish saw enduring devotion to the Virgin, known affectionately as “Ina Carmel.” The venerable image of Nuestra Señora del Carmen de Alava is set to receive the honor of Episcopal Coronation on July 16, 2024, the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Madre de la Divina Gracia de Marilao
Madre de la Divina Gracia de Marilao Provenance: St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Marilao, Bulacan Coronation Date: July 23, 2024
The devotion to the Virgin Mary as Mother of Divine Grace in Marilao, Bulacan, was initiated by the Congregacion de las Hijas de Maria of Marilao, established in 1932, using the venerable image of Madre Divina Gracia for the Flores de Mayo tradition at St. Michael the Archangel Parish. Initially, the image participated in the Intramuros Grand Marian Procession through the Congregacion’s efforts until the parish took over. After the parish priest researched this Marian title and discovered its Carmelite feast, the parish began celebrating it every July 23, during the May Flores de Mayo, and in the Grand Marian Procession every December. Over the years, devotion to her has grown, with many reporting favors granted through her intercession. The venerable image of Madre de la Divina Gracia de Marilao was granted the honor of Episcopal Coronation by Bishop Dennis Villarojo, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Malolos. The coronation rites is set on July 23, 2024.
Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Paco
Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Paco Provenance: San Fernando de Dilao Parish, Paco, Manila Coronation Date: TBA
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de Candelaria of Paco is deeply intertwined with the history of Paco, which was founded by Franciscan missionaries. The first church, initially dedicated to La Purificacion de Nuestra Señora and made of light materials in 1580, was rebuilt of stone by Rev. Fr. Juan de Garrovillas from 1599 to 1601. In 1600, Lt. Don Cristobal Mercado commissioned an image of Our Lady of the Candles for the Church of Dilao, where the devotion flourished until the church was destroyed in 1603. Rebuilt in 1606, the church was rededicated, but the image was moved to the Hospital de Aguas Santas in Los Baños, and later to Mabitac in Laguna. Despite this, the devotion in Paco persisted, and a new image carved in the 1920s gradually reintegrated into parish life. Since 2014, the image has joined the Santo Sepulcro procession and later the Feast of St. Ferdinand of Castille. Restored and enthroned in 2017, the devotion was further strengthened with the establishment of a Cofradia in 2020 dedicated to Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. The venerable image of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Paco is set to receive the honor of Episcopal Coronation. The Coronation Rites is yet to be set.
La Inmaculada Concepción de Batanes
La Inmaculada Concepcion de Batanes Provenance: Sto. Domingo Parish – Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Basco, Batanes Coronation Date: December 8, 2024
The devotion to La Inmaculada Concepción de Batanes began in 1783 with the arrival of the image of the Immaculate Conception. Historically, Batanes was known as the Provincia de la Inmaculada Concepción, and she was proclaimed Patroness of the Province by the local government centuries later. St. Paul VI blessed the image during his 1970 visit to the Philippines at Nayong Pilipino. The image was restored in 2022 with the help of the Batanes Heritage Foundation, sponsored by the Provincial Government. The devotion is celebrated with a liturgical Solemnity on December 8 and a nine-day foot procession culminating in a Pontifical Mass on June 25, followed by a Mass on Batanes Day, June 26. A confraternity was formed in 2022 to honor her and propagate the devotion to the Province’s Patroness. The image is set to receive the honor of Episcopal Coronation on December 8, 2024.
A reflection
In contemplating the increase in Marian images receiving such honors in recent years, we find each coronation act holds profound personal meaning for those offering a crown. Whether it signifies a heartfelt petition or an outpouring of gratitude, each ceremony is an act of profound surrender and devotion. As we crown Mary as Queen, we also consecrate ourselves to her service, echoing the prayer: “My Queen, my Mother, I give myself entirely to you….”
This act of coronation is a tangible expression of our faith and devotion, symbolizing our recognition of Mary’s role as Queen and Mother. It deepens our spiritual connection and invites us to emulate her virtues in our lives. As this tradition continues to flourish, it enriches the spiritual lives of believers and fosters a stronger sense of community centered around love for the Blessed Mother.
O Maria, Reyna ng Bansang Pilipinas, Ipanalangin mo kami sa Anak mong aming Hari!
References:
Aviado, Lutgarda. Madonnas of the Philippines. Quezon City: Manlapaz Press, 1972.
Barcelona, Mary Anne. Ynang Maria: A Celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Philippines. Edited by Consuelo B. Estampa. P.D. Pasig City: Anvil Publishing Inc., 2004.
Cofradia del Santisimo Rosario. Coronation of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. Iloilo City, 1970.
Del Rosario, Onching. Maikling Kasaysayan ng Simbahan ng Mahal na Birhen ng Fatima. Kawit, Cavite: Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Binakayan, 1991.
Delos Reyes, Michael P. Salve Regina: On Crowning Image of the Virgin Mary. Quezon City: Claret Communications Foundation Inc., 2015.
Diocese of Pasig. Episcopal Coronation at 100 Taon ng Paalay sa Virgen de las Flores de Pasig. Pasig City: Immaculate Conception Cathedral, 2014.
Galende, Pedro G. Angels in Stone: Augustinian Churches in the Philippines. Manila: San Agustin Museum, 1996.
Lazo, Sylvia. Hail Mary: The Blessed Virgin Mary of the Incarnation and Other Shrines and Sanctuaries of Mother Mary in the Philippines. Antipolo, Rizal: Montessori Integrated School, 2010.
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish. Nuestra Senora del Santisimo Rosario de Malabon, Coronada Episcopal: Patrona at Pintakasi ng Nayon ng Dampalit. Malabon City, 2013.
Unabia, Teresita, and Victor Immanuel Cuarto. Cavite: Cultura e Historia. Cavite: Cavite Historical Society, 2002.
Zander, Pietro. Full of Grace: Crowned Madonnas from the Vatican Basilica. New Haven: Knights of Columbus Museum, 2011.
Interviews:
Anza III, Alexis Arthur. Interviewed by James Benedict Malabanan of Pintakasi, National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang, Gamu, Isabela.
Bacosa, Edward. Interviewed by James Benedict Malabanan of Pintakasi, Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary, Dampalit, Malabon.
de Los Reyes, Michael. Interviewed by James Benedict Malabanan of Pintakasi, Our Lady of Light Parish, Cainta, Rizal and Xavier School, Greenhills, San Juan City.
Enriquez, Rodel. Esculturas Religiosas en las Filipinas.
Madredijo, Arce. Interviewed by James Benedict Malabanan of Pintakasi, Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, Maasin, Southern Leyte.
Mendez, Ellis Manuel. Interviewed by James Benedict Malabanan of Pintakasi, Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu and Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Punta Princesa, Cebu.
Nadal, John. Interviewed by James Benedict Malabanan of Pintakasi, Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Joseph, Las Piñas City.
Narag Jr., Angel. Interviewed by James Benedict Malabanan of Pintakasi, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Binakayan, Cavite.
Panganiban, Bro. Kendirck Ivan. Interviewed by James Benedict Malabanan of Pintakasi, Diocese of Malolos.
Uy, Manuelito. Interviewed by James Benedict Malabanan of Pintakasi, Visita of Our Lady of Mercy, Samar.
The photographs that were used in this blog post are credited to their owners and photographers.
St. Sylvester, Pope – The Last Saint in the Liturgical Calendar
One of the most interesting prose written by the famed Quijano de Manola is an old tale of the Holy Mass of St. Sylvester that it is said he offered at the Manila Cathedral as the first Mass of the Year which can be an ode to the then destroyed Manila Cathedral during the Second World War.
To open their doors to the New Year, the Romans invoked the god Janus, patron of doors and beginnings, whose two faces (one staring forward, the other backward) caricature man’s ability to dwell in the past while speeding into the future.
In Christianity, the post of Janus has been taken over by another Roman: St Sylvestre, pope and confessor, whose feast falls on the last day of the year. At midnight of that day, the papal saint appears on earth and, with the Keys of his Office, opens the gates of all the principal archiepiscopal cities and celebrates the first Mass of the year in their cathedrals.
Manila has been a cathedral city almost from its foundation; for centuries it was one of only two cities in the orient (Goa being the other) to whose gates the New Year’s key-bearer made his annual visitation. For this purpose, St. Sylvestre always used the Puerta Postigo, which is—of the seven gates of our city—the one reserved for the private use of the viceroys and the archbishops. There he is met by the great St. Andrew, principal patron of Manila, accompanied by St. Potenciana, who is our minor patroness, and by St. Francis and St. Dominic, the guardians of our walls.
St. Sylvester, Pope
St. Sylvestre comes arrayed in cloth-of-gold and crowned with the tiara. Holy knights suspend a pallium above him; archangels swing censers and wave peacock fans; the book, the Mitre, the Staff and the Keys are borne before him by a company of seraphim; and cherubs flock ahead, blowing on trumpets. Below them swarm the Hours on fast wings. After them come the more sober Days—cryptic figures clad in silver above, in sable below—playing softly on viols. But behind the Pontiff himself, walking three by three, are the twelve splendid angels of the Christian Year.
The first three of these angels are clothed in evergreen and are crowned with pearls, and in their hands they bear incense, gold and myrrh—for these are the angels of the Christmas Season. And the next three angels are clothed in April violets and are crowned with rubies, and they bear the implements of the Passion—for these are the angels of the holy time of Lent. And the next three angels are clothed in lilies and crowned with gold, and they bear triumphal banners—for these are the angels of Eastertide. But the last three angels are clothed in pure flame and crowned with emeralds, and they bear the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost—Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Perseverance, Piety, and the Fear of God—for these are the angels of Pentecost.
Puerta Postigo of Intramuros
At the Puerta Postigo the heavenly multitude kneels down as St. Sylvestre advances with the Keys to open the noble and ever loyal city of Manila to the New Year. The city’s bells ring out as the gate opens and St. Andrew and his companions come forth to greet the heavenly embassy. The two bishops embrace and exchange the kiss of peace, and proceed to the cathedral, where the Pontiff celebrates the Mass of the Circumcision. The bells continue pealing throughout the enchanted hour and break into a really glorious uproar as St. Sylvestre rises to bestow the final benediction. But when the clocks strike one o’clock, the heavenly companies vanish—and in the cathedral, so lately glorious with lights and banners and solemn ceremonies, there is suddenly only silence, only the chilly darkness of the empty naves; and at the altar, the single light burning before the Body of God.
Those who have been favoured with glimpses of these ceremonies report that St. Sylvestre (like Janus) seems to have two faces—but these reports are too vague, too confused, and conflicting to be given credence. More respectable is the ancient belief that whoever sees and hears, in its entirety, this Mass of St. Sylvestre will see a thousand more New Years; and it is whispered that Messer Nostradamus succeeded (through black magic) in witnessing one such Mass, while most of Roger Bacon’s last experiments (according to Fray Albertus Magnus) were on a prism that should make visible to mortal eyes this Mass of Time’s kry-bearer. They also speak of a certain magus of Manila, who, like Nostradamus, intruded with black magic upon the sacred scene—and was punished for it.
The Pre-War Main Altar of the Manila Cathedral
This magus, who was known was Mateo the Maestro, lived in Manila during the early part of the 18th century and was feared by many as a sorcerer. He was equally famed as a musician, artist, doctor, philosopher, chemist, and scholar; and in his bodega on the street of the Recollects a crowd of apprentices laboured day and night at various arts—carving wood or chiselling stone, or narrating lives of the saints on canvas, or conjugating Latin, or choiring together in rehearsals of a solemn Mass or chanted Rosary. The Maestro—a small, very shrivelled ancient with white hair flowing down to his shoulders and a thin white beard—might look as frail as a mummy, but his eyes—and his temper—were still as sharp as a child’s. Because no one could remember him young he was believed to be hundreds of years old, surviving (some said) from the days before Conquista, when, being a priest of the ancient cults, he wielded great power, wearing his hair long and affecting the clothes and ways of women, but had hidden away from the Castilians in various animal disguises to plot a restoration of the old gods—those fierce and fearful old gods now living in exile on the mountaintops, and in dense forests, and out among the haunted islands of the south, but who steal abroad when the moon dies or when typhoons rage in the night, at which times you may invoke their presence by roasting a man’s liver, and by other unspeakable devices.
The truth, however, was that Mateo the Maestro was not yet eighty years old and could not be remembered as a young man because he had spent his youth in incessant wanderings all over the country, thus acquiring his mastery of the arts, his command of a dozen tongues, and his profound knowledge of herb-healing and witchcraft. Like all magians, he was obsessed by a fear of death and the idea of immortality; but all the lore he had accumulated he found powerless to wrest the secret from life, though he had laboured over countless experiments involving molten gold and pearls, the guts of turtles, the organs of monkeys, and the blood of owls. And after each vain experiment he would bitterly gaze out the window and reflect how, a few steps down the street, in the cathedral, there was yearly said a Mass which—had he but the power to behold it—could increase his life by a thousand years.
He had consulted the dark deities in exile but was informed that the holy mysteries (except by divine dispensation) could be observed only by the eyes of the dead. Whereupon a monstrous idea had grown; the grave of a holy man was profaned; the dead eyes plucked out—and one New Year’s eve Mateo the Maestro hid himself in the cathedral, having grafted into his eye-sockets a pair of eyeballs ravished from the dead.
Old Interior of the Pre-War Manila Cathedral
Just before midnight, he saw the dark naves suddenly light up and a procession forming at the high altar. Garlanded boys bore torches; flower-crowned girls carried lamps; acolytes pressed forward with the cross, the standards, and the censers; and a glittering angel lifted the Flag of the City, its Lions and Castles embroidered in jewels. Behind a company of heralds appeared the mighty St. Andrew, attired in apostolic red and wreathed with laurel. Beside him walked the virgin St. Potenciana, robed in bridal white and crowned with roses. Behind them came St. Francis and St. Dominic and a great crowd of Holy Souls who had been, in life, illustrious citizens and faithful lovers of Manila. Down the aisle advanced the concourse, the cathedral doors swung open, and the Maestro followed the procession down the street to the Puerta Postigo. There the crowd paused in its chanting, and, in a moment of silence so infinite you could hear the clocks all over the world intoning twelve, a key clicked audibly in the lock and (as in Jerusalem and Rome and Antioch and Salamanca and Byzantium and Paris and Alexandria and Canterbury and all the great Sees of Christendom) the gates opened and St. Sylvestre entered the city as the wild bells greeted the New Year, the two processions merging and flowing together to the cathedral.
Now, there was a fine retablo in our cathedral, carved in stone and representing the Adoration of the Shepherds, which at Christmas time was lugged out of its side-chapel and placed upon the high altar. In this retablo, Mateo the Maestro now hid himself, since from behind the kneeling shepherds he commanded a superb view of the ceremonies commencing below. Having been warned that the Mass of St. Sylvestre cannot but prove unbearable to human senses, inducing (like the atmosphere of great heights) a coma in the mortal beholder, he had brought along a knife and a bag of limes, wounding his arms and steeping the wounds with limes each time he felt sleep threatening to overcome him. But as the Mass progressed, it became more and more difficult, it became sheer agony to stay awake. His head swelled and swayed, the purloined eyes fought to squeeze loose from the sockets, slumber pressed down on him like an iron weight around his neck though he stabbed and stabbed till both his arms were bloody blobs of chopped flesh.
But at last the Mass drew to a close; the Pontiff rose for the final benediction. Writhing and sweating, bleeding and smarting, Mateo strained forward, leaning over the kneeling shepherds and forcing his agonized eyes open. St. Sylvestre was standing with his back to the altar—but had he turned his face or was that a second face that stared back at Mateo? Mateo retreated slowly but could not wrench his eyes away from those magnetic eyes below.. he dropped down slowly, irresistibly, to his knees—still staring, still fascinated, his mouth agape. Then he ceased to move: his bones stiffened, his flesh froze. There he knelt moveless00one more kneeling and fascinated figure in a tableau of kneeling and fascinated figures.
Mateo the Maestro had turned into stone.
Interior of the Pre-War Manila Cathedral
And there he has remained all these years—and, for generations, bad boys who drowse at Mass have had his crouching form pointed out as a warning. But every New Year’s eve, at midnight, he returns to life. His flesh unfreezes, his blood liquefies, his bones unlock, and he descends from the retablo to join the procession to the Puerta Postigo; sees the New Year come in; hears the Mass of St. Sylvestre; and at the stroke of one o’clock turns into stone again. And so it will be with him until he has seen a thousand New Years.
Or has the spell broken for him at last? For his retablo is broken, the cathedral is broken, and the city he knew has been wiped out by magic more practical and effective than any he ever dreamt of.
…And just as soon as the Liberation Forces opened the Walled City to the public, I went to see what the war had left us of our heritage from four centuries. Nothing had been left—except the oldest and most priceless jewel of all: St. Augustine’s. The Puerta Postigo still stands, but most of the city walls have been levelled to the gorund and the cathedral is a field of rubble. Into what city (I wondered) would St. Sylvestre now make his annual entry? In what cathedral would he say his Mass? The retablo of the Pastoral Adoration has been smashed and dispersed into dust. Does that release Mateo the Maestro from his enchantment—or must he still, on New Year’s eve, reassemble a living body from stone fragments to fulfil his penance of a thousand year?
The Pre-War Manila Cathedral
Later, I told this story to some GI friends, who straightway clamoured that a buddy of theirs, while stationed in the Walled City, had actually witnessed this entry and Mass of St. Sylvestre on New Year’s eve, 1945. Unfortunately, the buddy had gone home to the States; but I took down his address and immediately wrote him, begging for a full account. His name is Francis Xavier Zhdolajczyk and he lives in Barnum Street in Brooklyn.
Here is the letter he sent me:
“… I didn’t know all that about living a thousand years or I might have acted otherwise. If that stuff is true—what a chance I missed! We were camped just outside the walls-on the grassland between the walls and the Port Companies. That night—it was New Year’s eve—I’d come back to the camp early because I was feeling homesick. I was all alone in our tent, the other boys were still downtown celebrating. I lay awake a long time thinking of the war and the folks back home and when I was going to see them. Around midnight I woke up from a doze and heard music. So I stuck my head out and saw a kind of parade coming up the road. I wasn’t surprised then and I wasn’t surprised at anything afterwards. I just told myself that you people must be having one of your New Year’s celebrations and wasn’t it too bad your churches were all smashed up. But I turned my head just then—and there was the Walled City, and it wasn’t smashed up at all. The walls were whole all the way and I could even see some kind of knights in armour moving on top of them. Behind the walls I could clearly see a lot of rooftops and church towers and they were none of them smashed up at all.
I told you about not being surprised—I wasn’t. I simply felt I should go and take a look. So I dressed fast and ran out. The parade had stopped at a gate in the wall and a bishop was opening the gate and bells began ringing. There was another crowd waiting inside and they had a bishop too and the two bishops kissed and then they all went through the gate and I followed. Nobody took any notice of me. Inside, it was a real city, an old city, and hundreds of bells were ringing and they had a park with fountains all around abd beside the park was a cathedral. Everybody was going in there, so I did too.
You never saw such a sight! The bishops were saying Mass and it was all lighted up and the air swelled good like high mountain air and the music was so pretty you wanted to cry. Then I said to myself: what a picture you could make of this, to send home. But I hadn’t brought my camera and I decided to get it. So I ran out and down the street and past the open gate and into our camp. Nobody was around. I got my camera and raced back. When I reached the cathedral I could see that the Mass was ending. I aimed for a nice view—but right when I was going to snap the shutter the bells stopped ringing—and just like that—it all disappeared. The bright lights was only moonlight and the music was only the winf. There was no crowd and no bishops and no altar and no cathedral. I was standing on a stack of ruins and there was nothing but ruins around. Just blocks and blocks of ruins stretching all around me in the silent moonlight…”
About St. Sylvester
St. Sylvester, Pope
St. Sylvester, born in Rome, was ordained by Pope St. Marcellinus during the peace that preceded the persecutions of Diocletian. He passed through those days of terror, witnessed the abdication of Diocletian and Maximian, and saw the triumph of Constantine in the year 312. Two years later he succeeded St. Melchiades as Bishop of Rome. In the same year, he sent four legates to represent him at the great Council of the Western Church, held at Aries. He confirmed it’s decision and imparted them to the Church.
The Council of Nicea was assembled during his reign, in the year 325, but not being able to assist at it in person, on account of his great age, he sent his legates, who headed the list of subscribers to its decrees, preceding the Patriarchs of Alexandria and Antioch. St. Sylvester was Pope for twenty-four years and eleven months. He died in the year 335. His Feast Day is December 31st.
References:
Joaquin, Nicomedes, “The Woman with Two Navels and Tales of the Tropic Gothic”, Penguin Books, London, United Kingdom, 2017.
Pintakasi 