Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Negros Oriental - The Lovely and Miraculous Mother of Valencia, Negros Oriental

-
Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados
de Negros Oriental
In the old yet progressive town of Valencia, Negros Oriental is known for its natural beauty from its beautiful Casaroro Falls and its colorful  local history. The towns patroness, Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados, became a silent witness to the history, development and spiritual growth of the locale that she gained much devotees through the centuries as she guides and protects her chosen abode in this side of the Negros Province.

The image

The Miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Negros Oriental is a wooden de tallado image of  the Blessed Virgin Mary under the famed title Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados which was originated in Valencia, Spain that would later spread in Santa Ana, Manila, the cities of Marikina Mandaluyong and Muntinlupa. The image of Negros Oriental's Our Lady of the Abandoned is one of the faithful reproductions of the famed Valencian Virgin: She carries the Child Jesus, has two Niños Inocentes on the hem of her dress, holds an azucena (lilies), the Child Jesus holding a crucifix, also wears real vestments and a set of wigs, and both Mother and Child wears a pair of crowns and the diagnostic estrellas for the Virgin. 

What was interesting to this image is that both Mother and Child are pale compared to its local counterparts and even to the original Spanish image. Both Mother and Child have a very tender face that gives a sense of tenderness to the beholder. It also interesting to note on how the Child Jesus looks tenderly to her Mother which is different from its counterparts.  

Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados
de Negros Oriental
The origins

The exact origins of the Negros Oriental's Virgin of the Abandoned is unknown due to lack or records that can trace the origins of the image. It can be said that the devotion is as old as the foundation of the town itself  on May 19, 1852 where Valencia was originally named Ermita, which means "a secluded place", due to its being a refuge from marauding Muslim pirates. Fr. Antonio Ubeda of the order of the Augustinian Recollects was instrumental in naming the town Nueva Valencia after his hometown’s name in Valenica, Spain - as the first Recollect to take care of the faithful’s spiritual needs. It can be assumed that the devotion to Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados was introduced by Fr. Ubeda to his mission in Negros Oriental since the Virgin of the Abandoned is the Patroness of Valenica and also given to the account how the devotion to the Virgen de los Desamparados was deeply rooted to the people of Valencia, Spain. Since the introduction of the devotion to the Virgin of the Abandoned in Negros Oriental, numerous miracles began to happen through her intercession.

The Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned was formally established on March 31, 1854 separating from it s mother parish in Dumaguete. The first church and school was built made of light materials in 1855 that later collapsed in 1885. 

The processional image of Nuestra Señora
de los Desamparados de Negros Oriental
whose ivory hands was stolen recently
The parish was was later rebuilt made of stone in 1866. In 1898, both the church and convent were burned during the Revolution. The Recollects left the parish; a Secular priest from Dumaguete took over the administration of the parish until the Recollects returned and resumed its administration in 1904 and it continued up to the present. That same  year, a new concrete church and convent was built. The present concrete church and convent was built in 1960.

The devotion

The devotion to Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Negros Oriental flourished over the centuries as numerous miracles were attributed to her intercession that continues up to this day that earned her the Patronage of Valencia, Negros Oriental. The Virgin's feast day is celebrated annually every October 12 with the town fiesta. The fiesta is an official non-working holiday for the town. “When all human help fails, it is imperative that we not despair. For normally in this extreme situation, the divine help of Mary comes.” say St. Bonaventure. The devotion to Our Lady of the Abandoned teaches us that when man is completely abandoned, it is necessary to have hope, because this is the moment that Our Lady will give her assistance.

References:

Mills, S.A., "Stranded in the Philippines" Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2009.
"Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish Valencia, Negros Oriental", Retrieved from https://recoletosfilipinas.org/2017/07/21/our-lady-of-the-abandoned-parish-valencia-negros-oriental/ on September 1, 2019.

Credits to the owner of the photographs used for this blogpost.
+AM+DG+

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

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

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

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