La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc - The Mother and Queen of Ilocos Norte

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La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc
In the town of Badoc in Ilocos Norte, a town of rich history and faith, is known for one of the major pilgrim sites in Ilocandia, the Parish of St. John the Baptist, also known as the Shrine of La Virgen Milagrosa of Badoc, the Cause of Ilocanos' Joy and the Queen of Ilocos Norte. The Virgin of Badoc lives up to the title of "La Virgen Milagrosa" because of the numerous miracles that were reported through her intercession that helped shaped the town to its present state.

The Visage of The Queen

The image of La Virgen Milagrosa of Badoc is that of a beautiful image of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus in her arms in a manner of presenting the Holy Child to Mankind.

The Virgin is a detallado image where the red and blue dress for the Virgin and a red robe for the Child Jesus are carved beautifully. Both images wear wigs and has a set of jewels: Both Crowns for the Mother and Child and a Rostrillo for the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Mysterious box that started it all

The origin of the miraculous image dates back to 1620 when local fishermen caught, a huge box in the shores of Barangay Dadalaquiten that divides Sinait, Ilocos Sur and Barangay Paguetpet of Badoc, Ilocos Norte. A large crowd of townsfolk from Sinait and Badoc arrived at the scene gathering around the mysterious box and were astounded by the contents. One box contained the statue of the Black Santo Cristo Milagroso and the other box contained the statue of the Blessed Virgin with the Infant Jesus in her arms accompanied by two statuettes of angels and a violin.

Santo Cristo Milagroso de Sinait
A heated argument between the Sinait and Badoc fishermen who found the boxes ensued. A fascinating legend gives a uniquely inspiring story of this event. The dispute was later on settled amicably by what seemed like a divine power deciding their destiny. Only fishermen from Sinait were able to move the Statue of the Black Nazarene. The fishermen from Badoc, on the other hand, were able to move the La Virgen Milagrosa that came with it. They took the statues to their respective towns, hence becoming their town's patron saints. Today The La Virgen Milagrosa is enshrined at the Badoc Church, as Barangay Paguetpet was renamed in honor of the La Virgen Milagrosa. Today, a chapel was built the location were the images were found that can be visited pilgrims today. Finding the images unusually light, these simple folks came to the realization that the Crucified Christ was truly destined for Sinait while Badoc was the Virgin’s choice.

Centuries later, the images of the Virgin and the crucified Christ were brought back to Dadalaquiten on May 01, 1980, perhaps the first time that the two images went back to the place where they landed more than three centuries before. It was a joint celebration between the people of Ilocos Sur with their pastor Archbishop Juan C. Sison and Ilocos Norte with their shepherd Bishop Edmundo M. Abaya. This was made through the initiative of Rev. Raymundo Gracia and Rev. Juan Ballesteros, parish priest of Sinait and Badoc, respectively. A marker and replica of the Santo Cristo now stand in the place where the reunion was enacted.

It is believed that the box is intended for the Japanese missions to help strengthen the faith of Persecuted Japanese faithful who were being persecuted during the Tokugawa Shogunate. It is widely believed that the image came from Japan as its facial features would also attest. In the 17th century there was a persecution of Christians in this still feudal Land of the Rising Sun. It was at this time that St. Lorenzo Ruiz and his companions was martyred. Fearing destruction of their sacred images, the Japanese Christians jettisoned them into the sea and currents brought them to our shores.

 The Miracles

A number of miracles are attributed to the virgin of Badoc. In 1776, Moro pirates raided Badoc and burned the town including the church. It is said that the privateers tried to behead the image of the Virgin but were unsuccessful. This left a scar over the image’s left eye. They fired up their anger and they toppled the wooden statue into the fire but the flame was extinguished. Taken aback by what they witnesses, the pirates scampered away in fear.

Muslims marauders came back in 1836 again raiding the town and burning and looting ensued including the church. Having been forewarned of the impending attack the people fled but when they came back they saw their church in ruins. Nut to their surprise they found the image of the Virgin unscathed.

It is also told by Fr. Pedro Vivar, OSA in his account on the Ilocos Revolt (1762-1763) that in 1656 and 1660 a terrible epidemic struck the province. The image of Our Lady was brough to Vigan and the people prayed to hey. The epidemic stopped.

The Episcopal Coronation of
La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc
Church Recognition

In a celebration of the Eucharist on May 2, 1980, the Most Rev. Edmundo M. Abaya, Bishop of Laoag proclaimed La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, then under the title Nuestra Senora de la Divina Maternidad, was proclaimed as "Cause of Our Joy, Patroness of Ilocos Norte". For two months (October and November 1980) the image was brought in a pilgrimage to all the parishes of the Diocese of Laoag and some parishes in La Union and Ilocos Sur.

On December 08, 1980 the image of La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, Cause of Our Joy was Episcopally crowned by Nueva Segovia Archbishop Juan C. Sison and Laoag Bishop Edmundo M. Abaya to solidify the proclamation of as the Patroness of Ilocos Norte. Patroness of Ilocos Norte and was canonically crowned in December of the same year. To commemorate this joyful event, an annual concelebrated mass is officiated by the Bishop of the Diocese of Laoag attended by devotees from the province and other neighboring provinces.

The Canonical Coronation of La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc
A few Decades later, in line of the 200th anniversary of the foundation of Ilocos Norte and as a fitting tribute to its beloved Patroness, the devotees and the Church hierarchy of Ilocos Norte petitioned for the Canonical Coronation of La Virgen Milagrosa.

The Holy See did not turn a deaf ear for this earnest petition that on December 6, 2018, the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments approved the petition by the issuance of the Papal Decree for La Virgen Milagrosa's Canonical Coronation. The Coronation rites took place on May 31, 2018, the Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady attended by thousands of Marian devotees from the whole Ilocandia region and other parts of the country.

On February 5, 2019, the Parish of St. John the Baptist of Badoc, Ilocos Norte was formally elevated as the Minor Basilica of St. John the Baptist, Shrine of La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc and the solemn elevation rites is well attended by devotees within and outside Ilocandia.

The Procession of the vicaria image La Virgen Milagrosa
during the Milagrosa festival in Badoc
The devotion

The devotion to La Virgen Milagrosa of Badoc is proven to be strong through centuries. Miracles continued to be reported up to the present and pilgrims flock her shrine unceasingly. Saturday devotions to the Virgen Milagrosa became an integral part of active parish life. In 2012, the Province of Ilocos Norte inaugurated the annual Festival in honor of their beloved Patroness. Thousands of devotees and tourists flock to Ilocos Norte for this special affair featuring a series of events celebrating both classic and contemporary Ilocano Culture the supplicate the help of La Virgen Milagrosa, the Patroness of the Province.

As we conclude this blogpost dedicated to the prodigious La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, the Queen of Ilocos Norte, here is a prayer dedicated to her by her devotees.

God, Our Father, You brought joy to the world when You sent Your Angel to Mary of Nazareth and she accepted her role to be the Mother of the Savior. Joy overwhelmed the house of Zechariah when she visited her kinswoman Elizabeth. The same joy was experienced during the wedding feast at Cana when she interceded the first miracle made by the redeemer. Great joy also came upon us imIlocos when her image came to our shores thus accepting us as her sons and daughters.

 Look upon us your servants who come to You in prayer in company of the Virgin Mary who brought joy to the world. Make us like her in listening to Your Word and putting intp action those Words in our lives. May we become faithful disciples of Your Son so that one day You will also welcome us in Your Kingdom where the Savior lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.

La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, Cause of our joy, pray for us!

References:

Aviado, Lutgarda (1975), Madonna's of the Philippines, Manlapaz Press, Quezon City.
Baliling, Baguio (1937), History of Badoc, Ilocos Norte
Bandayrel, Nicomedes (1927), Novena quen Apo Santo Cristo, a madaydayac iti Santuariona ti simbaaan iti illi a Sinait, Ilocos Sur, maicadua nga pannacaideppelna.
Campos, Dionisio (1967), "Brief account of the reputedly miraculous image of Mary, Our Lady of Divine Maternity in Dadoc", Seventh Diocesan Consecration and Celebration of the Christ the King feast, Badoc, Ilocos Norte, pp. 27-29.
Medina, Juan de, (1893), Historia de los suceos de la Orden de N. Gran P.S. Agustin de estas Islas Filipinas.
_____(1979)Novena a Pagdaydayao ken Apo Santa Maria: Nuestra Senora de la Maternidad ivina, katalek ti Ilocandia.

 Special thanks to John Erish Albano for the photos that were utilized for this blogpost.

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 4, 2019 at 11:17 AM

    Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc hear our prayers!

    ReplyDelete

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