Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Ubanon - Samar's Loving Queen and Protectress

-
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario
de Ubanon
In the island of Samar, in a Shrine -parish of an obscure town of Catbalogan, Western Samar, there is a very valuable treasure that Samareños held dear, their loving protectress and patroness - Nuestra Señora de del Santisimo Rosario de Ubanon.

The image of the Lady of the Rosary in Samar Island is their loving Mother, Proctectress and benefactress of the the people, not only for the people of Catbalogan, but also to the whole island of Samar, especially in times of danger like typhoons and other calamities. With all the love and affection that Samareños gave to their Patroness, The Blessed Virgin in turn generously distribute graces to her devotees.

The image

The image of the Santo Rosario of Ubanon was five feet tall carved in hamorawon wood, standing in a Crescent moon resting on a globe with cherubs, cradling the Child Jesus in her arms. The Virgin is holding a scepter while the Child is holding the Rosary.

The image has an unusual feature, the Virgin is crushing the Serpent, which is commonly seen in the iconography of the Immaculate Conception.  This particular iconography of the Virgin crushing the Serpent clearly referenced the woman that is mentioned in Genesis: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and hers; She will crush your head while you strike at her heel." (Genesis 3:15). The face of the image was more of Oriental vibe that most images posses that are commonly seen during that period.

Nuestra Señora del Santisimo
Rosario de Ubanon
History and Miracles of the Virgin

There were few records regarding the origins of the image, yet it is believed that the image of the Virgin of the Rosary is said to be carved by a Chinese sculptor.. The residents of Ubanon recalls through their oral history that the image was carved in s sturdy hamorawon wood and that the image of San Francisco de Asis in Tarangan, Samar was also carved from the same material.

One of the oldest historical record of the image is that of a Jesuit Historian, Father Francisco Alcina SJ in his book "Historia de la Islas e Indios de Bisayas" published in 1668. Padre Alcina recounts in his record of the "Virgen de Catbalogan" that in 1627, a certain captain named Capitan Juan de Leon, the corregidor of Catbalogan wanted to pursue the Camucon pirates who has been raiding and marauding the coasts of Samar Island. Before leaving for this mission, he implored the Virgin of her protection to the captain and protection of the island, he vowed to the Blessed Virgin that "All the booty that he would take from the enemies so that it may be used in fashioning a crown for her and for the Child Jesus". Rosaries were being prayed by the island folks for the success of the mission. He encountered the pirates and engaged in a battle for the protection of the islands. The Valiant captain became victorious, he captured the vessels with all they carried, held a few captives and returned to her shrine to fulfill his vow to the Lady.

Since then, several miracles were recorded through intercession and still persistent to this day from saving the people from different calamities, invasions, and others that will potentially disrupt the peace of the island. Over the years. the Virgin of Ubanon has drawn numerous devotees due to her miraculous powers, intercessions and physical manifestations. Apparently, there were accounts of her apparitions to her devotees and non-devotees that has been recounted for generations.

The Canonical Coronation of
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo
Rosario de Ubanon
The Canonical Coronation of the image

Through the efforts of Bishop Maximiniano T. Cruz,
Bishop of the Diocese of Calbayog at that time, petitioned the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II for the Canonical Coronation of the image and the request was granted. During Second Papal Visit of Pope John Paul II for the World Youth Day Celebration (his first was in 1981 for the beatification of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions and for the Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria of Jaro, Iloilo), the Pontiff blessed the crowns that the image will use for the Canonical Coronation rites that later took place in October 15, 1995 in the presence of multitude of devotees from the island of Samar and other places in Visayas and Mindanao. 

It was also in that day that Diocese of Calbayog in Samar was celebrating its Quadricentennial Year when the Jesuits entered and arrived in Tinago (now Dapdap) to Christianize the natives of Samar.


 Devotion
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Ubanon
getting ready for procession


The people of Catbalogan and the rest of Samar continues to hold on to the protection of their powerful Patroness and miracles continues to inundate the records of her Shrine. Several associations were founded and organized to propagate and to enrich the devotion to Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Ubanon. The Feast of the Virgin of Ubanon is held every Third Sunday of October with much rejoicing and solemnity in thanksgiving for all the blessings that the Blessed Mother continues to distribute to her devotees. Pilgrims continue to gather to her Diocesan Shrine to ask for her guidance and protection.

Just like in the Battle of Lepanto of Europe and the famed Five Naval Battles of La Naval de Manila of 1646, the Blessed Mother once again demonstrated her powerful intercession for the protection of her children from the clutches of evil forces through the most powerful weapon that she herself recommended - the Holy Rosary. Let us not get tired of praying the Rosary, for the Rosary is a powerful instrument of peace as she stressed in her apparitions and it is proven to be a powerful weapon to crush the enemies of God. Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Did Mama Mary Appear in the Philippines? - A Closer Look

-
Image
The Finding of Nuestra Señora de Caysasay of Batangas Disclaimer: The intention of this blogpost is to present data of different reported Marian apparitions that took place in our country from the Spanish era up to the modern times based from the reports gathered by the blogger. The blogger does not have any intention to incite belief in these reported events, especially those that do not have formal approval in accordance to the ruling of Pope Urban VIII regarding reported supernatural phenomena (anticipation of a formal approval or disapproval of such events without the official ruling of the Church). Therefore, the blogger  submits himself to the judgement of the Holy See, together with every interpretation or theory contained in this blog special. Introduction "Did Mama Mary appear in the Philippines?" a question that many Filipino Marian devotees would sometimes wonder given that we are known as the "Pueblo Amante de Maria" for our love for the Mother
Read more

Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Quezon - The Sorrowing Mother of Quezon Province

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Quezon (Altar image) In the quiet yet mystical town of Dolores, Quezon, known as one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the province where the famed Mount Banahaw is located where syncretic folk beliefs are practiced up to this day. Aside form the “mystical” Mount Banahaw, pilgrims would flock a church near the mountain and it became a center of pilgrimage for ages, the National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows of Dolores, Quezon flourished over the years and it became one of the most visited in the Quezon Province due to the numerous miracles that were attributed to her intercession. The image There were two images of the Virgin of Sorrows that is venerated in the shrine, the famed altar image that is currently enthroned at the center of the main altar and the processional image that also served as the pilgrim image of the shrine. Both images depict the Blessed Virgin Mary in her moment oi sor
Read more

Santo Niño de Cebu - The Eternal King of the Philippines

-
Image
Sto. Nino de Cebu The most revered image in the Philippines -  Santo Niño de Cebú is an image of the Child Jesus much venerated as miraculous by the majority of Filipino Catholics and revered as the symbol of the Catholic Faith in the country. The oldest Christian image in the Philippines, it was originally given in 1521 as a baptismal gift by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Hara Humamay, the chief consort of Rajah Humabon, along with a statue of the Virgin Mary, and a bust of depicting Christ as Ecce Homo. The image is one of the most celebrated in the country that is highlighted through the celebration of Sinulog Festival every Third Sunday of January, its Liturgical Feast and on Kaplag every April 28th, its Original and Traditional Feast, to commemorate the rediscovery of the image by Juan Camus. Miracles have recorded through his help that he continues to shower his devotees up to the present. Features of the Image The image measures approximately tw
Read more

San Agustin de Tanza - Cavite's famous "Tata Usteng"

-
Image
San Agustin de Tanza "Tata Usteng" In the collective consciousness of the faithful in lowland Cavite, three famous Patrons are community not heard in their lips and centers of devotion, that of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga or "Nana Choleng" of Cavite City, Santa Maria Magdalena or "Nana Nena" of Kawit and our San Agustin of Tanza or more popularly known as "Tata Usteng". Arguably the most famous image of St. Augustine in the Philippines, Tata Usteng lavished his devotees with answered favors, unbelievable miracles and other phenomena that was engrained to the hearts and minds of Cavitenos and his devotees outside Cavite. The image The famed image of San Agustin of Tanza is that of a wooden detallado image of St. Augustine as a Bishop wearing his canonical garb, holding his staff, wearing his mitre and holding a book topped with a scale model of a church in allusion to his title as "Doctor of the Church". Although t
Read more

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga - the Queen of Cavite

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga In the province of Cavite, located in Southern Luzon area, there lies a church in Cavite City, then known as Cavite Puerto where it has been, and still is, the center of pilgrimage in the whole province and outside, including Metro Manila and other provinces for the parish San Roque in Cavite City is the home of the famous Patroness of the Cavite - Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga, the undisputed Queen of Cavite. For Caviteños, the Soledad will always be part of their lives for tremendous miracles were attributed through her intercession and it is no wonder that in almost every home in Cavite, altars and doorsteps are not complete without an image of the Soledad either in print, sculpture, reliefs and other media. The icon has received several titles in its history, including "Queen of Cavite" and "Exalted Patroness and the Celestial Guardian and Protectress of the Province of Cavite and its Port" (Spanish
Read more