Cebu, the cradle of the Catholic faith in the Philippines and center of the devotion to the Child Jesus in the country. The city and its province also have a plethora of devotions, sacred traditions and patrons and their shrines are frequently visited by pilgrims from the province and other parts of the country.
One of the most visited shrines in Cebu is the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Guadalupe, Cebu where the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the City and the province of Cebu is enshrined.
The image
The brown skinned image of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu is a de tallado image of the Blessed Virgin Mary carved in a folksy manner. The images sports a crown, a rostrillo around the face,a set of jewelry from necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, etc., carried a scepter and at times, a rafaga surrounds the image. The image also wears a set of vestments patterned from of the famed Virgin of Guadalupe of Mexico in terms of its color made from different materials given by her devotees over the years.
A vintage photograph of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu without her vestments
The origins
The origin of the Cebuano devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe dates back in 1880, when Ricardo Ramirez, a “Mangangayam” or wild chicken trapper who lived in the forested area of what was then Barrio Banawan (now Barangay Guadalupe), in the course of his trapping activities, one day saw a flashing light coming from inside the cave known as “langub nga duha’y baba” (cave with two mouths). It is near the river called Sapang Diyot of Barangay Kalunasan. Surprised by what he saw, Ramirez called the attention of the other trappers who were near him but when they looked, they could not see anything. Ricardo decided to investigate the source of the light inside the cave. He got inside and saw that the light flashes came from an image of Our Lady. The statue was standing atop a naturally formed rock, beside which a slow drip of water cascaded into a basin -shaped rock on the floor. The light and the flashing stopped when Ricardo got inside. He took the statue and gave it to the teniente del barrio, Eustaquio Abapo, in turn showed it to the barrio’s “mananabtan” (prayer group leader), Placido “Edo” Datan. Placido advised Eustaquio to keep the unusual find until they would know what to do with it.
The cave where the image of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu was found which later became a pilgrimage site.
Soon afterwards, the men decided to go to their parish priest and told him what Ricardo Ramirez found inside the cave. When the priest saw the statue, he told the group that it was the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He asked for it and kept it at the parish. He later gave his consent for the construction of a small chapel in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and agreed to lend them the two-foot wooden image they saw in the convent on their yearly novena and fiesta every December 12. However, he also made them promise that the image should be returned to San Nicolas after the fiesta.
From that first Fiesta in 1889 until 1901, Our Lady of Guadalupe was just a local barrio devotion. Every year, the image was borrowed from San Nicolas in December, then returned on the Sunday after December 12, because on the Saturday after December 12, the image would be brought inside the cave where the estampita was found for another Mass. The image would stay inside the cave overnight and would be brought back to San Nicolas the next day, a Sunday.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu
The Miracles
In 1902, there was a cholera epidemic outbreak. The epidemic hit the whole city but hardest hit was Barrio Guadalupe. Probably because the source of our drinking water then was the river, which was also renamed Guadalupe, and some open wells. It was devastating. Hundreds of residents died. It was said that those who buried the dead, did not return as they themselves died along the way or right on the cemetery while grieving for their dead relatives. The cholera outbreak was so bad in the barrio that there was burial everyday. Later, the burial had to be done en masse on a carabao cart.
It was sometime in the month of May. Anyway, the “mananabtan” Placido “Edo” Datan initiated a move and called on the barrio leaders to hold a penitential dawn procession to invoke the help of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Holy Cross of Jesus, and end the epidemic. The melody for the so-called “Antifon” was written by Silverio Gonzales, the catechist. One of the ardent supporters of the movement was Don Joaquin Labra, who, unfortunately, became one of the victims of the epidemic himself. The “Antifon” is actually the prayer Hail Mary in Spanish (Dios Te Salve Maria) but sung repeatedly in a very plaintive tune.
The Holy Cross of Guadalupe, Cebu
The Antifon was held for one month, from mid-May to Mid-June. What was placed on the andas (palanquin) and carried during the dawn procession was a small image of the Holy Cross and an estampa of Our lady of Guadalupe
The cholera epidemic stopped but not immediately. As the dawn procession went on, the number of deaths decreased until there were no more deaths in the barrio. The devotion and strong faith of our elders to the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and to the Holy Cross of Jesus saved them from death. As an act of thanksgiving to God and to the Virgin of Guadalupe, Silverio Gonzales and the other people involved, decided to hold a thanksgiving novena from July 8 to 16 1902, with a grand procession of the Holy Cross and the imageof the Virgin. Melchor Abella paid for the brass band that accompanied the procession Since then, July 16 has always been celebrated as the second fiesta of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
During the World War 2, the church was bombed. Fortunately, the image was saved because it was kept in Amado Gabutan’s house in a place called Nabongturan, what is now the Petron Gasoline Station along V. Rama Avenue. Unfortunately, Amado Gabutan’s house was hit by a bomb and burned down. What was really strange and surprising was that the image escaped unscathed from the bomb and the fire.The stories of Lt. Ambrosio Gacayan and a Capt. Navarro of the Philippine Army, said that every time the Japs would attempt to raid their camp, a vision of a woman would be seen prancing along the hills of Babag mountain. The Japs got scared of the vision because she would just vanish into thin air, then show herself again. The army and the Gabutan Family also believed it was the Virgin of Guadalupe whose image was with them.
More miracles were also reported through the intercession of the Virgin of Gudalaupe of Cebu.A miraculous cure happened to Aniana Sacamay. She developed breast cancer but she was miraculously cured after praying to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu
Another was when the image of the Virgin would be brought inside the cave for the post December 12 Mass, it would be placed in the exact place where the estampita was found, where the water drips from the ceiling of the cave. Despite the image is being placed directly in the water’s way, it would remain dry.
The slowly dripping water inside the cave reportedly had curative powers. A long queue of people used to wait for their bottle to get full. Some devotees used the water from the cave to cure disease, and that there were a lot of cures that happened.
The water in the cave stopped dripping during the time of Mons. Esteban Binghay as parish priest of Guadalupe (parish priest 1975-1987), after he ordered the renovation of the cave with tiles and an overhead tank of water was placed atop the cave with the tube descending down the cave. People stopped gathering the water because they realized it was already water piped from the river and not from the original source.
The Shrine
It is only in the 1920’s, after the Labra and to lesser extent, the Lopez families, donated a sizable portion of their lot (which is now the present church and plaza) to the diocese, that the chapel was transferred from Kalunasan to the present site. In 1927 or 1928, an inexplicable event occurred that prompted the permanent enshrinement of the image in Guadalupe.
The Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu
On the Sunday after the December 12 fiesta of that year, the image was, as usual securely tied with ropes to the andas for her return trip to San Nicolas, accompanied by a huge number of people. upon reaching a place we used to call Gucro, short for Guadalupe Crossing, along what was called Calamba road, now V. Rama Avenue, near the corner of M. Velez Street, near the Suzara property, the image suddenly fell from the andas, feet first to the ground but instead of tumbling, it remained standing and made a 180 degree turn by itself, facing the direction of the chapel where she came from. This happened in full view of many people who joined in the procession, including Florencio Tabal and Maximo Gabutan. (an area where a huge acacia tree is, right across Lacto PAFI office, as the place where the image fell. The spot was pointed by Mr. Maximo Gabutan who was an eye witness of the event).
The people secured the image back to the andas and brought it to San Nicolas. There they told the priest, Fr. Emiliano Mercado what happend in the procession. Fr. Mercado was the one who decided that the wooden image of the Virgin of Guadalupe should already stay in the newly-built chapel. So in 1929, the image of Our Lady was permanently enshrined in Guadalupe. In 1933, four years later, Guadalupe became a parish with Fr. Emiliano Mercado himself acting as concurrent parish priest until 1936. Then Fr. Sancho Abadia took over in 1937.
Church Recognition
The Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu
In 2002, then Cebu Archbishop +Ricardo Cardinal Vidal declared the Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu as the patroness of Cebu.
Due to the numerous miracles that were attributed to her intercession, on July 16, 2006, the image was canonically crowned through solemn rites held at the Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu at Guadalupe, Cebu City by virtue of a pontifical decree which was issued on May 9, 2006 issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The coronation symbolized the official and formal recognition of Our Lady of Guadalupe as the patroness of the Archdiocese of Cebu.
The participation of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu to the Sinulog festivities
The devotion
There are two feast days celebrated in honor of Cebu’s Patroness. The first being held every July 16, her feast as Cebu’s Patroness to commemorate the anniversary of the ceasing of the epidemic through her intercession, and the anniversary of her canonical coronation. The second is celebrated every December 12, the liturgical feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The image also participated in the annual Sinulog festivities every January. The images of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu and El Glorioso Patriarca san Jose de Mandaue of the National shrone of St. Joseph of Mandaue City joins the Santo Niño in the annual translacion or transfer. The event reunites the image of Mary and Jesus with St. Joseph. The images of the Holy Family will stay the night before the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Santo Niño will board a yacht for a fluvial parade along the Mactan Channel.
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu continues to grow strong everyday with more pilgrims visiting her shrine to ask for her help and for the favors granted through her intercession and the devotion soon spread outside of Cebu. The story of the miraculous protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu demonstrates once again how powerful her intercession and protection is we need her more than ever in these times, a mother who cares, protect and leads her children to her Son.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila
Within the busy streets of Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, a towering shrine is seen along its road. Inside that massive shrine of Santo Domingo Church, it houses the silent witness to the turbulent yet triumphant history of the Philippines – the beautiful and grand image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, La Naval de Manila.
The Virgin of the Rosary of La Naval is not only a silent witness, she is the anchor of hope of the Filipinos through the centuries of its turbulent and challenging history, better yet, the Great Protectress of the islands, the La Gran Senora de Filipinas.
The Image of Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario, La Naval de Manila (colloquially known as the Santo Rosario or Our Lady of La Naval de Manila), is one of the most miraculous and the most important in the country. As with the Battle of Lepanto of 1571, Filipinos credit her intercession for successfully repulsing Dutch invasion during the Battles of La Naval de Manila of 1646.
The image of Our Lady of La Naval, whose feast is celebrated every second Sunday of October, is a 16th-century ivory and wood statue enshrined at the Santo Domingo Church – the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Quezon City. On her throne, she became the silent witness and played a key role in the turbulent yet important moments in our nation’s history her presence is very potent and her devotion continues to be relevant to this day.
The Visage of the Queen
The Virgin of La Naval in her signature Numero Uno vestment
Measuring some 1.52 meters, the body is made of hardwood while the face and hands, as well as the entire Child Jesus in its arms, are made of genuine ivory. Since its creation, the statue – considered the oldest dated ivory carving in the Philippines – has always been decorated with elaborate garments and a crown.
A medal was placed at the center of the base of the image, that medal is that of National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, a well renowned Filipino writer and poet famous for his literary works and for his literary pieces for the Virgin of La Naval. The Quijano de Manila (as he is popularly called) expressed on his deathbed that his medal will be placed at the base of the image as his final offering. The medal can still be seen today.
The jewels of image is also noteworthy. In his prose on the La Naval, Nick Joaquín attributed one of the red jewels in one of the statue’s crowns to an old legend of a giant serpent found in the Pasig River; the local folktale is more likely a metaphor of the triumph of Christianity over paganism.The other jewels were supposedly inscribed and donated by King Norodom of Cambodia in 1872, one having disappeared after a burglary in 1930 while another one was simply two pearls adorning the orbs of the statue.
The Beginning
The lone photo of the first image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario brought by the Dominicans in 1587 shortly before the bombings of 1941
Prior to the renowned ivory image of the Virgin of the Rosary, there existed another Santo Rosario image brought by the Dominicans from Mexico in 1587. This Mexican image, carved from a single piece of wood, stood at a height of one and a half meters on a 30-centimeter pedestal. Until the earthquake in 1863, the image was enshrined at the left side of the altar and a relic from the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe was concealed within a hollowed-out portion at the back of the statue.
The carving of the image
In 1593, the Spanish Governor-General Don Luis Pérez Dasmariñas commissioned a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary for public veneration in memory of his recently deceased father, Don Gomez Pérez Dasmariñas. Under the direction of Captain turned priest Don Hernando de los Rios Coronel, the sculpture was made by an anonymous Chinese sculptor, who later converted to Christianity; this is the commonly cited reason for the statue’s Asian features. The statue was later given to the Dominican friars, who installed it at the Santo Domingo Church.
Popular pious legend has it that while the Chinese carver was making the image, he heard a gentle female voice saying: “¡No me des tan fuerte!” (Do not chisel me too hard!, it hurts!). This incident haunted the carver that he moved to Ilocos to forget the mysterious voice, yet after much thought, he decided to be baptized and he willed that it will be done in front of the image he made.
The ivory image of Don Luis was donated to the Dominicans and was subsequently enshrined to the their Church around 1595. The devotees of the first image on the other hand requested that the wooden image be relocated somewhere where she could still be venerated. Thus the image was placed on the facade of old Santo Domingo and a light was provided by night thanks to a perpetual donation of ten pesos each year. The image survived the destruction of Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros by earthquakes and fires yet she was lost during the bombings of 1941.
Early Miracles
Since the enthronement of the Santo Rosario, there were already reported miracles that are attributed to her maternal intercession.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila in her old altar in Old Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros
The first known and recorded miracle of the Santo Rosario took place was the miracle of Francisco Lopez in 1613, who is known for his vicious deeds yet his saving grace was praying the Rosary. One day while he was on a voyage, the natives attacked the ship leaving the Spaniards injured, and some of them died. Francisco did not die yet he has wounds all over his body and bled profusely.
Seeing his end near him, he sincerely pleaded with the Virgin to help him in his last hour. Then suddenly, the Virgin and the Child Jesus appeared to him, walking towards him and sustaining him in his remaining hours. Then a ship came and his acquaintance, Gonzalo Salcedo saw him in his pitiful state and Lopez related his encounter with the Virgin and asked Salcedo for a priest for his last Sacraments. A Franciscan priest came and received his last sacraments and died in peace.
At that same moment, the camarera, Doña Ana de Vera, saw that the lower part of the dress of both the Virgin and Child were dirty with cake mud and wet. This alarmed her that she called the Padre before reporting the incident. The conclusion to this mystery was later reached when an investigation took place and found out that the miracle of Francisco Lopez and the discovery of Doña Ana de Vera happened at the same time. This miracle was probed in 1621.
Miracle of the Clam
A Moro diver was doing his job to find precious pearls for trading and when he saw a great pearl in a giant clam, as he was about to get the precious pearl, the mother-o’-pearl closed and his arm got stuck. The diver remembered the preaching of a Dominican friar in Zamboanga about the Miraculous image of the Santo Rosario in Intramuros and he later asked the Virgin to help him escape from sudden death and he promised to offer the pearl to the Virgin, immediately, the mother-o-pearl broke into two and his arm was released and got the precious pearl. The diver immediately went to Intramuros and with the permission of the friars, he gave the precious pearl to the image of the Virgin.
Details of the face of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila
Not long after, a thief was lurking inside the church and wanted to rob the pearl of the Virgin, as he about to reach the image, the Virgin spoke to him “¿Por qué me roba usted cuándo no le daño?” (Why dost thou rob me when I harm you not?) The thief fell down and realized his sin, he repented and since then, the people now have high regard to the Lady’s jewels.
A Mother went inside Sto. Domingo Church, then in Intramuros, with her dead 6 months old baby boy. She went to the feet of Our Lady and begged to bring his dead baby back to life. To the amazement of the mother, and the crowds inside the church, the baby was brought back to life to the rejoice of his mother. The miracle was duly recorded and perpetuated.
The Miracle of the Battle in Molluccas
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila
Prior to the Naval battles of 1646, the Virgin is already invoked for victories in naval battles. One such battle was that in Ternate, Molluccas (now part of Indonesia) 1604, the Governor General of the Islands Don Pedro Bravo de Acuña launched an expedition that will against the Dutch in Ternate, Molluccas as a preventive measure for a possible invasion of the Philippines. The combined Spanish and Filipino forces joined the fleet, accompanied by the Dominican Friars headed by Fray Andres de Santo Domingo. The entire fleet enlisted themselves to the Rosary Confraternity and made a promise that if the victory will be theirs, they will name the island after the Virgin.
Holy Week of 1604, the Spanish and Filipino armada headed to Molluccas and as they reached the island on Good Friday, they were intimidated by the forts and combined Dutch and Muslim forces. At the same time, a solar eclipse took place which a Moro elder from Molluccas interpreted as a bad omen for the Dutch. April 1, 1604, Holy Saturday, the Spanish-Filipino armada launched their attack and the Dutch-Moro forces began to fire cannons and guns at them. All of a sudden, a voice from heaven was heard by the armada encouraging them to attack and promising victory. The armada realized that Saturday was the day dedicated to the Virgin and the voice was an assuring sign from her and proceed with the attack.
The Dutch-Moro forces were defeated and when they interrogated one of the Dutch soldiers, he relayed that as they are firing a cannon, they saw a beautiful lady from the sky and stopped a Moro from firing the cannon, grabbed its weapon and poured sand to the cannon. Out of fear, he ran away yet he met the armada and died during battle. That Easter Sunday, a thanksgiving Mass was offered and fulfilled their promise to dedicate and named the island to Nuestra Señora del Rosario.
The Miracle of the Five Naval Battlesof 1646
The devotion to the Santo Rosario reached its highest degree of importance and fame with her famous intercession on the Five Naval Battles of 1646.
The NavaL Battles of 1646
In 1646, as the Philippines was recovering from several unfortunate events of the previous years, the Dutch naval forces made several repeated attempts to conquer the Philippines in a bid to control trade in Asia.
The combined Spanish and Filipino forces sought the aid of the Virgin of the Rosary and place themselves under her protection and prayed the rosary repeatedly. The combined forces made a vow that if the victory will be theirs, they will walk barefoot, offer a candle, and make a confession to the chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary then in Old Intramuros, to offer gratitude for the victory they hoped to obtain from her intercession.
From March to October of 1646, with only two old two merchant galleons led by Commander Lorenzo de Orella y Ugalde, the “Encarnacion” and the “Santo Rosario”, they went on to rebuff the attacks by the superior 18 Dutch fleets, engaging in five major battles at sea and losing only fifteen members of the Spanish-Filipino forces.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila
The first battle took place on March 15, 1646, in Bolinao Bay. The two galleons faced a fleet of five Dutch ships. Trusting in their spiritual weapons, the defenders recited the rosary on their knees. With just one casualty, they drove the Dutch into panic and inflicted significant damage. The second battle occurred on July 29, between Banton and Marinduque. The two galleons triumphed over a fleet of seven, armed with powerful artillery and around eight hundred men. The fierce and bloody battle lasted from evening till dawn.
Two days later, a third battle took place off the coast of Mindoro. The Dutch force of six ships faced the defenders, who shouted praises to the Christian faith and the Virgin of the Rosary. One Dutch ship was lost, and another was crippled.
Returning to Cavite, the galleons faced another Dutch fleet near Mariveles. Despite being hit, the Spanish-Filipino forces emerged victorious for the fourth time. A week later, the Fifth and last battle commenced as the disabled Sto. Rosario faced a Dutch fleet of three ships. The enemy bombarded her from all sides, nearly boarding her. However, the brave defenders called upon God and the Blessed Mother, resulting in the destruction of one Dutch ship and the scattering of the others. The defenders suffered minimal casualties, with only four men lost. In total, only fifteen defenders died in the five battles, which ended the Protestant Dutch ambition to conquer the Philippines.
The Battle of La Naval de Manila by Botong Francisco
After each victory, the Spanish-Filipino forces were able to fulfill the vow they made to the Virgin to walk barefoot to her altar and gave thanks for the miraculous victories.
On April 9, 1662, the cathedral chapter of the Archdiocese of Manila declared the naval victory a miraculous event owed to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, declaring:
“Granted by the Sovereign Lord through the intercession of the Most Holy Virgin and devotion to her Rosary, that the miracles be celebrated, preached and held in festivities and to be recounted amongst the miracles wrought by the Lady of the Rosary for the greater devotion of the faithful to Our Most Blessed Virgin Mary and Her Holy Rosary.”
Since then, the tradition of walking barefoot to her shrine later evolved into the iconic Grand Procession of the Santo Rosario that gathers thousands to millions of devotees every year. It is due to this famous miracles that the “La Naval” was added to her title and named “La Gran Señora de Filipinas”.
World War II and its transfer to Quezon City
The image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario La Naval de Manila during her stay at the University of Santo Tomas
During the Japanese bombardment in 1942, fearing that the statue would be destroyed, church authorities hid the statue at the University of Santo Tomas until 1946, the 300th anniversary of the battles. By Divine Inspiration, the image was kept in the vault of the Church prior to the destruction of the image.
On September 28, 1942, the image of the Santo Rosario was moved to the Chapel of the University of Santo Tomas and was placed at the main altar. The university held the image temporarily during the Virgin of La Naval’s “evacuation.” As a result, the first fiesta celebration of Santisimo Rosario Parish took place on October 7, coinciding with the universal feast of the Holy Rosary. During these times, the novenas and processions continued despite the tragic times of the war.
Santo Domingo Church – National Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila
On October 10, 1954, the Santo Rosario was transferred to her new shrine, the present Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City. For this journey, devotees constructed a Carroza Triunfal (a galleon-shaped carriage) to carry the image to its new home, which was declared her National Shrine by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines that same year.
The church and convent, along with the other objects stored in the complex were declared a “National Cultural Treasure” by the National Museum of the Philippines on October 4, 2012. This declaration is in accordance with Republic Act 10066 or the “National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009” by the National Museum.
The Santo Rosario in modern times
The Virgin of the Rosary – La Naval de Manila continues to play her role as the country’s Great Lady and Protectress as she witnessed the struggles of the Filipino people from its liberation from 3 colonizers, gaining independence, and the modern-day crisis that challenged our nation.
Nuestra Señora del Santrisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila at the Letran Chapel in 1953
In 1953, during the First Plenary Council of the Philippines, the image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila made a significant return to Intramuros. After twelve years since the Second World War, the image was brought back to oversee the council held at San Agustin Church. As part of the closing ceremony on January 24, 1953, the image briefly visited Colegio de San Juan de Letran for the veneration of the Letranite community.
During the People Power Revolution of February 1986, the callejera statue of the Virgin of La Naval was brought in procession to the EDSA by the Dominican friars, in a peaceful protest to end the Marcos regime. The callejera was also brought to the eastern gate of Camp Crame, the police headquarters where the rebel forces headed by Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel V. Ramos were confined during the uprising. Many Filipino Catholics attribute the revolution’s peaceful victory to the miraculous intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario La Naval de Manila during her visit the University of Santo Tomas for the Quadricentennial Celebrations of the said University
In 2011, the original image of Our Lady of La Naval de Manila joyfully returned to the University of Santo Tomas to celebrate its 400th Anniversary. The visited delighted the Thomasian community, as she is the Patroness of the Royal and Pontifical University, which had served as her temporary home during the Japanese invasion.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila in her homecoming procession in Intramuros, Manila in 2020.
On January 24-25, 2020, after 67 years since her last visit, the original image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila returned triumphantly to Intramuros for the Quadricentennial celebrations of Colegio de San Juan de Letran. The homecoming of the Virgin of La Naval filled her devotees and history enthusiasts with excitement, as they hoped to witness and participate in the Santo Rosario’s return to its home in Intramuros. Following the Welcome Mass at the Manila Cathedral and a brief moment of veneration, a solemn procession took place. Letranites, members of the Dominican family, the Rosary Confraternity, clergy, and devotees walked through the historic streets of Intramuros, marking the first procession in 79 years since the Second World War.
Civil and Ecclesiastical Recognition
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila wearing her Pontifical Coronation regalia
Over the centuries, numerous honors were given to the Virgin of the Roasry – La Naval de Manila in recognition of the miracles and the protection that she gave to her beloved Filipino people.
In an undated 1903 letter to the Archbishop of Manila, the “Rosary” Pope Leo XIII issued an exhortation for people to come in pilgrimage to the Virgin’s shrine in Santo Domingo Church (then in Intramuros): “…Go to the temple of Santo Domingo, to the sanctuary of the excellence of the Most Holy Virgin of the Rosary in the Philippines, to the place where your elders bent their knees to give thanks to her who liberated these Islands from Protestant heresy, to the spot consecrated by the piety of one hundred generations who had gone there to deposit their piety and confidence in Mary most holy.”
The Pontifical Coronation of the Santo Rosario – The First ever in the Philippines and in Asia
Pope St. Pius X authorized granting the statue a canonical crown in 1906, which was bestowed by the Apostolic Delegate to the Philippines, The Most Rev. Ambrose Agius, O.S.B.. The Pontifical Coronation of the Santo Rosario is the first in Philippine Church history and in Asia.
For the Pontifical Coronation of the image, The Filipino nation, some 310,000 individuals, donated and funded the making of the Canonical Crowns for the Santo Rosario image. The precious jewels, gems were donated by the students and faculty of the University of Santo Tomas for the Coronation of October 1907. These form part of the image’s large collection of elaborate jewels some of which date to the 1700s and continuously accumulated to this day.
On the day of the Coronation, October 5, 1907, crowds gathered in the plaza in Intramuros, despite the rains and the it was a jubilant day for her devotees and for the nation that she continuously protect. In 2007, she celebrated the Centenary of the Canonical Coronation with much rejoicing and pomp as the people relived the memory of the said event, especially during its re-enactment.
The Virgin of La Naval during the declaration of her Patronage of Quezon City
By virtue of Resolution No. 9645-S73 issued 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. To commemorate this significant event, a Holy Mass was conducted on October 12, 1973, coinciding with the 34th Founding Anniversary of Quezon City and publicly petitioned the Church to confirm the resolution on the Virgin’s Patronage over the city.
The following year, St. Paul VI welcomed the petition and on August 26, 1974, the Sacred Congregation for the Divine Worship issued the decree “Caelestium munerum conciliatrix” formalizing the Pope’s approval and grant of the Virgin’s Patronage over Quezon City.
Pope St. John Paul II together with the Virgin of La Naval in 1981
During the Papal Visit of St. John Paul II to the Philippines in 1981, at the presence of the crowd and the original image of the Virgin of La Naval, she was proclaimed as the “Queen and Protectress of the Philippines and the whole of Asia” and dedicated the Asian continent to the Virgin on February 18, 1981. The Pontiff blessed the original image the next day in another public Mass.
On the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, September 8, 2023, the Diocese of Cubao issued a declaration to observe the Solemnity of Our Lady of the Rosary – La Naval de Manila throughout its jurisdiction. This declaration aligns with Pope St. Paul VI’s 1974 declaration of the Virgin’s Patronage over Quezon City. Similarly, the previous year, in 2022, the Diocese of Novaliches made a similar pronouncement for the territories of Quezon City under its jurisdiction.
The Solemn Feast and the “Procesion de las Procesiones”
The image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila leaving Santo Domingo Church for the Grand Procession
Every Second Sunday of October, the vibrant, historic and awe-inspiring La Naval de Manila festivities is much anticipated fiesta and a major highlight of the Month of the Holy Rosary. This sacred event is a grand celebration of faith, devotion, and history, attracting thousands of devotees and curious onlookers alike.
The tradition of the procession of the Virgin traces back to the Spanish period first as a simple procession to repeat the vow of our forefathers until it developed elaborately over the centuries.
At present, the solemn festivities began on the day before the novena with a motorcade of the Vicaria image within the jurisdiction of Santo Domingo Church in the morning which was introduced in 2020. In the afternoon, the solemn enthronement will commence where the original and Pontifically Crowned image of the Virgin of La Naval will come out of her camarin in a short procession at the cloister of Santo Domingo flanked by the Dominican Friars until the Virgin in enthroned at the baldachino at the center that was built for the festivities.
The solemn novena masses will commence the following day with the musical accompaniment by the Tiples de Santo Domingo – the oldest existing boys choir in the Philippines – singing the traditional hymns that are associated with the Santo Rosario from the Inter-Mystery hymns, the “Ynvocacion a la Reina del Santisimo Rosario” and the haunting “Despedida a la Virgen”. On selected novena days, the besamanto will take place to give devotees a chance to have a glimpse of the Santo Rosario up close and personal and whisper their prayers of petition and thanksgiving for the prayers and her maternal intercession to her devotees.
The Grand La Naval de Manila Procession
At the solemn and grand fiesta, the historic and much anticipated La Naval Procession takes place. Dubbed as the “Procesion de las Procesiones” (The Procession of all Processions in English which was first used to dub the solemn transfer of the Virgin from UST to the present Santo Domingo Church in 1954) for it grandeur, pomp and solemnity that became the standard in different Marian celebrations in the country.
Decked to her carozza triunfal, adorned with regal vestments and golden crowns, the Great Lady of the Philippines shines with radiance. Her serene yet powerful countenance and presence inspire reverence and devotion among the multitude of faithful who gather to witness her grand procession. Accompanied by a solemn yet joyous procession, the image of La Naval de Manila is accompanied by clergy, religious orders, and numerous devotees. They carry lighted candles and rosaries, their voices lifted in prayer and praise. The streets are transformed into a river of faith as the procession makes its way through the city.
The Image of La Gran Señora de Filipinas is flanked with 27 Dominican Saints led by the first Filipino Saint, St. Lorenzo Ruiz. It is also interesting to note that out of 27 saints of the La Naval Procession, three of them actually venerated the Santo Rosario image themselves before they set sail to Missionary lands of Japan, China and Vietnam.
From left: San Lorenzo Ruiz, San Francisco Capillas, San Vicente Liem dela Paz
St. Lorenzo Ruiz, as a member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, they have monthly gatherings at Sto. Domingo Church in Intramuros, praying the rosary in front of the miraculous image and annual participation in her grand procession before his exile, missionary work and martyrdom in Japan. St. Francisco Capillas is said to be a great devotee to the Santo Rosario that before he left for China, he and his companions chanted the “Despedida a la Virgen” before sailing to China which is commonly practiced by the Dominican Missionaries. St. Vicente Liem de la Paz, as a student of Colegio de San Juan de Letran and later the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas (then located in Intramuros) for the priesthood, it is believed that he frequented Sto. Domingo Church and venerated the Santo Rosario for her guidance in his studies. He was later ordained a priest and set sail to his homeland in Vietnam and minister to the Christians there until he was captured and executed.
As the solemn procession ends, the Virgin will be enthroned back to her baldachino as the shouts and cries of “Viva la Virgen” and “Viva Virgen de La Naval”. The festivities cap with the offering of the Act of Consecration to the Virgin of La Naval and the singing of “Despedida a la Virgen” which is heightened with the kneeling of the faithful and all those present in the Shrine when the lyrics “… Dame tu Bendicion” is sung asking for the Virgin’s Blessing.
A living legacy of faith
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila
Through the centuries, the Virgin of La Naval continues to lavish her devotees with miracles and her unwavering protection to our country from exterior and interior enemies that will ruin the Church and the nation. The devotion to the Santo Rosario continues to be alive as new traditions and pious practices were introduced as what we have witnessed during the global pandemic between 2020 to 2021 which lead to rediscovery of old pious practices that our ancestors have performed centuries ago under different circumstances that were appropriated to the present time.
Pilgrims continuous to flock at her shrine, clutching their rosaries, seeking the intercession and protection of the Virgin. The Saturday devotions in her honor remain a steadfast tradition. The impact of this devotion is evident, particularly in other regions of the country where the Virgin of La Naval is revered as the patroness. Places like Angeles and Bacolor in Pampanga, San Antonio and San Marcelino in Zambales, and Cavite City in Cavite province bear witness to the influence of this devotion.
Despite all the regalias, the pomp, the pageantry, the thunder, its rich history that surrounds the La Naval that evolved to mythical proportions, she is still a loving mother who cares for her children here on earth to lead us to his Son, the King of Heaven and Earth.
We will close this entry of the La Naval with the words of Archbishop Socrates Villegas on his meditations to the La Naval:
“How much is La Naval de Manila worth? Her worth can only be understood and valued in heaven. No jeweler, no sculptor, no embroiderer, no man or woman, no friar or priest, no child or parent, no one can ever grasp her value and her worth. … How can you measure the worth of your mother? How can you measure how much is the Mother of the Lord? The mystery of La Naval de Manila is too much to grasp here on earth. The mystery of La Naval de Manila is heavenly. Her worth is heavenly,”
References:
“Anales Ecclesiasticos de Philipinas”, Archdiocese of Manila Archives, Arzobispado de Manila, intramuros, Manila, 1995.
Aviado, Lutgarda, “Madonnas of the Philippines”, Manlapaz Press, Quezon City, 1972.
Barcelona, Mary Anne; Estepa, Consuelo, “Ynang Maria: A Celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Philippines”. Anvil Publishing, 2004.
Cortez, O.P., Regino, “The Story of La Naval”. Santo Domingo Church, Quezon City, 1998.
Darang, Josephine, “A Purely Personal book of Miracles: A Collection of Columns published by Philippine Daily Inquirer”, Sound Publishing Corporation, Makati City, 2006.
“Novena a la mas fragante Rosa del Paradiso de Dios Maria Santisima del Rosario. La Consagra a la Milagrosa Imagen Nstra. Sra. del Rosario El Convento de N.P. Sto. Domingo de Manila”, Manila, Tip. Pont. de la Universidad de Santo Tomás, Manila, 1925.
“Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary, La Naval de Manila”, National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, La Naval de Manila, Quezon City, 2007.
Pablo Fernandez, “Dominicos donde nace el sol: Historia de la provincia del Santisimo Rosario de Filipinas de la Orden de Predicadores”, Quezon City: Convento de Santo Domingo, 1958.
Sanchez, Francisco, “La Virgen Maria Venerada en sus Imagenes Filipinas“, Manila: Imp. De Santos y Bernal, 1904.
“The Rosary Virgin in Letran Chapel” Letran News Vol. XVII, No. 12, February 10, 1953.
Zulueta, Lito (Ed.), “The Saga of La Naval: Triumph of People’s Faith”. Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City: Dominican Province of the Philippines, Inc., 2007.
Photos:
Bernardo, Fritz Rinaldi Castro, Alex Choia, Davy Daquioag, Michael of Buen Viaje PH Malabanan, James Benedict Lomague, Mervin
The Image of Nuestra Señora de Guia is considered as the oldest Marian statue in the Philippines. There were different historical theories regarding the origin of this image, either from the Ferdinand Magellan expedition or from Chinese traders. The wooden Black Madonna statue is locally venerated as patroness of navigators and travelers since the Spanish times, the image is enshrined at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia, popularly known as the Ermita Church, in Ermita, Manila.
Features of the Image
Made of molave (Vitex cofassus) wood, the statue stands about 50 centimetres (20 in) and is characterized by dark skin with a long, light brown hair. The image is depicted as the Immaculate Conception, she is dressed in both a manto and a stylized tapis, the traditional wraparound skirt of Filipino women.
Actual Condition of the image of Nuestra Señora de Guia
Upon close inspection, the image reveals a sarong-like bodice painted in the Chinese tradition of red, blue and gold paint… the unusual stance of the virgin, from the conservative stiffness of body line, has a bent torso very much like the Chinese goddess Kuan Yin.
Among her regalia is a scepter, a set of jewels given by Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Rufino Santos in 1960, and a golden crown donated by Pope Paul VI during his visit to the Manila Cathedral on May 16, 1971.
Details of the face of the original image
At present, the pandan leaves (whether a real or plastic pandan leaves) are incorporated around the image’s base as one of its iconic attributes. The statue is notable for its narrow, almond-shaped eyes, which some consider evidence of a Chinese origin for the statue.
These characteristics shows the probability that the image may have come from an Asian or if brought by galleon traders, it could have been commissioned to an artist who gets inspiration from Asian models. In spite of its old age, the De Guia retained the ruddiness of its cheek and its youthful allure. It conveys an oriental charm Filipinos can easily identify with
History
The discovery of the image
According to the Anales de la Catedral de Manila, the crew of Miguel López de Legazpi discovered a group of animist natives worshiping a statue of a female figure in a pandan bush, later identified as the Virgin Mary along the seaside of what is now Ermita. Later accounts claimed the statue was brought by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 and was given as a gift to Rajah Humabon, whose realm included what is now Cebu City to the Kingdom of Maynila.
The origins of this image is still in question by Ecclesiastical and Secular Historians for different theories arises to her origin: whether it is brought by Ferdinand Magellan because of its close resemblance to the Sto. Nino de Cebu, whether it is brought by Chinese merchants and the image is actually that of a Taoist deity “Kuan Yin” because of its oriental features and stance as evidently shown, or whether the image was brought by Blessed Odoric of Pordenone, a Franciscan Missionary for his Missionary work in Bolinao, Pangasinan in 1324 for the image was actually that of the Immaculate Conception. Regardless of these historical circumstances, historians reconcile to the fact that the De Guia image is the oldest Marian image in the Philippines.
Estampa of Nuestra Senora de Guia
On May 19, 1571, the sovereigns Rajah Sulaiman III and Rajah Matanda ceded the Kingdom of Maynila to the Spanish Empire, with López de Legazpi consecrating the city to both Saint Pudentiana and Our Lady of Guidance. In 1578, Phillip II of Spain issued a royal decree invoking Our Lady of Guidance to be “sworn patroness” of Manila, making her the city’s titular patroness. The statue was first enshrined in Manila Cathedral inside the walled city of Manila until 1606, when the first parish compound was built on the present shrine’s site.
Called La Hermita (“The Hermitage”), it was originally made of bamboo, nipa, and molave wood. It was later rebuilt with stone but suffered damaged in an earthquake in 1810.
During the Second World War, the statue was saved by the parish priest of Ermita Church, Fr. Blas de Guernica, and Justo N. López. They secretly kept the statue in one of the niches of the crypt behind the main altar a few weeks before the Allied liberation of Manila. Ermita Church was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in February 1945. Fr. Rogelio Bedonia with a chaplain and four soldiers of the American Army went to the ruins of what had been the church of Ermita, dug up the sacred image from the debris of the crypt and brought it to a safer place. Since then until the construction of the temporary chapel, the sacred image stayed in a private house on Taft Avenue, in San Miguel and then finally in Quiapo. The current parish church was built in 1947.
The Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora de Guia
The image was given a Canonical Coronation on Rizal Day December 30, 1955 by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi. Father Patrick Peyton also once delivered a homily preaching the Family Rosary Crusade in the presence of the image. The statue was removed from the Shrine and remained in the room of Pope John Paul II for the duration of his 1995 Apostolic visit.
A replica of the image was made to commemorate the image’s Quadricentennial year. From May 1970 to 1971, the replica visited almost all parishes, chapels, hospitals, schools, and other institutions in the Archdiocese of Manila. Since then, it is the replica that is brought out in procession and for public veneration during the its feast day on 19 May, with the original remaining ensconced in its glass-covered alcove above the main altar for preservation purposes.
On 14 January 2015, the image was securely removed from the Ermita Church and transferred to the Apostolic Nunciature building along Taft Avenue in Manila, where Pope Francis will stay during his apostolic visit. The replica of the image was brought to the Quirino Grandstand for veneration during the Pope’s open-air mass on January 18, 2015.
Nuestra Señora de Guia
Patronage
In the olden days, she was decalred as the Sworn Patroness of Manila that signaled the Patronage of the Immaculate Conception in the Philippines due to numerous miralces attributed through her intercession.
The De Guia became the patroness of the seafarers. According to accounts, before an arrival of a trading galleon, investors would hold novena to guide and guard the merchant ships safely to the port and prevent the delay of the shipment. Mariners, in turn, gave abundant tithes to the church. Many benefactors donated and money, jewelry among many others in return for the favors they received.
Due to the church’s proximity to the United States Embassy, the statue is often visited by locals who petition Our Lady for safety in overseas travel. Devotees claim that under this title, the intercession of Our Lady is speedy and miraculous, particularly in securing approval of requests for United States visas. She is also considered the patron saint of all Overseas Filipino Workers.
Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia
Church and Shrinehood
The Shrine of the Virgin was established from the moment the image was found and the Church became one of the most visited in Manila since the Spanish regime. The church was granted Archdiocesan Shrine status in 2005 by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, then the Archbishop of Manila.
Bota de Flores Festival
The feast of Our Lady of Guidance is celebrated every May 19. The original feast of the image was celebrated on December 18, but was moved to its present date, May 19 when a rainstorm hit Manila Cathedral in February 1771.
Bota de Flores
The origin of the “Bota de Flores” harks back to the Spanish era when the people of Ermita demanded the return of the image to her original shrine in Ermita from the Manila Cathedral. The Capitana were tossing flowers in front of the Cathedral as a sign of protest and after much deliberation, the image returned to her original site with much rejoicing. The Flower tossing later evolved as a homage to the Virgin for her continues guidance to the people of Ermita and her devotees.
Today, the traditional flower-tossing ceremony is held where young women headed by a Capitana, who is chosen on the basis of standards set by the Parish Council. It is believed that the Capitana is the personal choice of Our Lady, for even if a vote is casted in favor of one candidate, if she does not end up with the role for one reason or another, the true choice will still emerge. The privilege to serve as a Capitana is considered a great honor by the young women of Ermita. The young girls pass down the line of honor guards going to the altar in a solemn candlelight ceremony and lay bouquets at the feet of our Lady whom they consider their guide for life.
Through centuries, the Virgin of De Guia continues her maternal guidance by the miracles that she wrought to her devotees. With the discovery of her image, She formally initiated the Christianization of Manila and the rest of the country. The arrival of her image prior to the Spanish colonization is considered as a plan from the Almighty God to put the newly discovered islands of the Philippines under the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Conception. She witnessed the turbulent yet glorious history of the country and she never failed to give her guidance through the course of our history. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sworn Patroness of our land guide us as we continue in our earthly pilgrimage until we reached our eternal goal – to be with His Son for all eternity.
Pintakasi 