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

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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!

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