Virgen de la Rosa de Makati - Makati's Soberana Emperatriz

Virgen dela Rosa de Makati

In the highly urbanized City of Makati where commerce thrives in and it became the country's urban jungle, one might miss out the fact that it was once a quiet town were before the high rise towers, there were all rice fields as source of livelihood in the old San Pedro de Macati (Makati's old name).

In the peak of the city, the town of Poblacion, lies one of the oldest church of the city, the Parish of Sts. Peter and Paul which houses the city's longstanding Patroness, the miraculous image of Virgen de la Rosa. This unique sobriquet of the Virgin can only be found in Makati and she have showered her loving protection of the city for centuries and became the silent witness of Makati's history and development.

The image

The miraculous image of Virgen de la Rosa was a de vestir image of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus in one arm while holding a rose in another. The devotion to the Virgin of the Rose might be traced back to in the ancient times in her ancient title, "Rosa Mystica" (Mystical Rose).

Blessed John Cardinal  Newman says “Mary is the most beautiful flower ever seen in the spiritual world. It is by the power of God’s grace that from this barren and desolate earth there ever sprung up at all flowers of holiness and glory; and Mary is the Queen of them all. She is the Queen of spiritual flowers; and therefore, is called the Rose, for the rose is called of all flowers the most beautiful. But, moreover, she is the Mystical or Hidden Rose, for mystical means hidden.” 

The unique devotion of the Virgin was also believed to be based The Virgin’s title was derived from Lucca, Italy, where the Virgin appeared to a deaf mute shepherd and he saw that three roses were found in the arms of Our Lady and when he announce the news of the apparition, he was cured and was able to speak. The people of Lucca celebrated the apparition and the miracle perpetually on January 30.

An estampa of the Virgen dela Rosa of Makati
and Virgen de Antipolo

The Origin

The image of the Virgin of the Rose was brought to the Philippines from Mexico by Fr. Juan Delgado in August 10, 1718 via Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade thru the galleon "Sacra Familia". One of the most unique feature of the image is that there is a special reliquary that is located in the chest of the image which encases a very special relic - an actual strand of hair of the Blessed Virgin Mary while she was still on earth.

This claim was supported by Jesuit historian Fr. Pedro Murillo in his Historia de la Provincia de Filipinas de la Compania de Jesus: “Your most holy image of the Nuestra Señora de la Rosa has on her breast a most precious treasure, greater than those which Tharsis had in is opulence, or Ophir with his most valuable metals can offer. This is the strand of hair of her most holy head, whose authenticity I read with great admiration. In the vast extent of the Indies that I know of, there exists no similar reliquary." 

The oldest known photo of the
Virgen dela Rosa

Soon afterwards since her arrival, devotion to the Virgin of the Rose became well known throughout San Pedro Makati and other Marian devotees from Manila and other parts of the country that it is said the devotion equates that of the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje of Antipolo, which was also brought by the Jesuits. The Virgin gained much love and affection to her devotees in Makati that she was not only known as the Patroness, but also the "Soberana Emperatriz" of Makati.

Unfortunately, during the Philippine Revolution, the reliquary together with the ivory hands and head of the image were stolen and the whereabouts are still unknown up to the present. An oval cavity in the breast remains empty where the reliquary must have been placed while the hand and head have been replaced with wooden replicas.

Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Poblacion, Makati City

The Seat of the Empress

The Church of Sts. Peter and Paul was built by the Jesuits in 1620 on top of a hill called Buenavista ("Good view" in Spanish) overlooking the Pasig River and round this hill sprang the original village, now Barangay Poblacion. The Church was placed by the Jesuits under the patronage of Saints Peter and Paul. Thus, Makati was also known as San Pedro Makati and later received a nickname as "Sampiro" which referred to both the town and the church.

It is the mother Parish Church of Makati and played a central role especially during its years of initial development. It underwent numerous renovations and design changes over the years but most of its original features can still be found such as the retablo and its bells. Along with the Virgen, it also the throne of the Prince of Makati, Santo Niño de Pasion.

The Traditional "Baile de Arcos"

The Enduring tradition and devotion

Despite the loss of the relic and the original parts of the image and the challenge to keep up with the city’s rapid advancement, the devotion to the Virgen de la Rosa remains a living heritage, especially with the staging of the annual “Baile de los Arcos”, the term coined by Don Alejandro Roces, during her feast day every June 30.

A colorful tradition that has been passed on since the 19th century, the “Baile” is a ritual of song and dance performed by nine maidens in honor of Makati’s patrons, St. Peter, St. Paul and the Virgen de la Rosa. For generations, the practice has been upheld by families who made a vow to keep it alive. It is also believed that it is also an act of reparation for the sins that the city committed for it was also at that time infamously known as "a red light district" hence only virgins must perform the "Baile".

The Canonical Coronation of
Virgen de la Rosa de Makati

Church Recognition

Due to the historical importance, the numerous miracles that were attributed to the Virgen de la Rosa and in line with the 300th anniversary of her arrival in the Philippines, Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, thru the Congregation on Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the miraculous Patroness of Makati was granted Canonical Coronation on the strength of the Papal decree issued on October 28, 2018. The Coronation took place on March 16, 2019.

The legacy lives on

The devotion to the Makati's Sovereign Empress continues to thrive in Poblacion, Makati and despite the change of the times, the Virgin's protection never changed and she continues to guide the people of Makati and its progressive city.

Before we conclude this entry to the Empress of Makati, here is the prayer to the Virgen de la Rosa de Makati that is continuously prayed to her by her devotees.

Oh, kalinis-linisang Birhen, Rosang walang kasing bango’t dikit na pag-ibig na maningas sa Diyos. Oh, maalab na sinta na kinaliligayahan ng Maykapal! Ilingap mo nawa sa abang kaluluwa ko iyang maawain mong mga mata at gamutin mo yaring madlang kasakitan ko. Maging larawan ka’t salaming buhay na siyang dapat kong hanguan ng halimbawa sa pag-ibig ko sa Diyos.

At yamang hindi ko maparisan ang kataasan ng iyong pag-ibig, mangyaring tuntunin ko man lamang ang bakas ng mga mahal mong talampakan… Ako po’y tapunan mo ng kamunting init niyang maalab mong puso, nang ako’y matutuong magbalik-loob sa Diyos at umibig sa Kanyang lalo, habang ako’y nabubuhay.

Oh, Inang mahal ng magandang sinta’t pag-ibig sa Diyos, ako’y kaawaan mo’t kahabagang ampunin ngayon at sa oras nang kamatayan ko. Amen.

Virgen dela Rosa de Makati, Ipanalangin mo kami!

References:

Aviado, Lutgarda, (1972), Madonnas of the Philippines, Manlapaz Press, Quezon City.
History of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish - Shrine of Virgen dela Rosa. Retreived from http://www.sampiro.net/about/ on June 24, 2017.
Madonna of the Rose, Retreived from http://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/madonna-of-the-rose.html on June 25, 2017.
Maikling Kasaysayan ng Birhen de la Rosa, Retreived from http://virgendelarosa.blogspot.com/ on June 25, 2017.
Sanchez, Francisco (1904). La Virgen Maria Venerada en sus Imagenes Filipinas, Manila: Imp. De Santos y  Bernal.