Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, La Naval de Manila - The Queen and Protectress of the Philippines

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 Battles of 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.

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.

Lomague, Mervin, OP, “La Naval is “Ina ng Letran””, Retreived from https://www.facebook.com/100000598407011/posts/10157250446297637/ on January 28, 2020.

Malabanan, James Benedict, “Bienvenida a la Virgen: The Virgin of La Naval de Manila’s homecoming to Intramuros – An eyewitness testimony”, Retrieved from https://pintakasiph.wordpress.com/2020/01/30/bienvenida-a-la-virgen-the-virgin-of-la-naval-de-manilas-homecoming-to-intramuros-an-eyewitness-testimony/ on May 20, 2023.

“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

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