Pintakasi

The gifts of Ferdinand Magellan (From the left): Virgen de la Cotta, Santo Niño de Cebu, El Ecce Homo de Cebu In common Philippine history books, the majority of Filipinos would encounter that in 1521, after the Mass in Cebu, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan gave the newly baptized Raja Humabon and Hara Humaymay an image of the Child Jesus, which will later be known as the famous and miraculous Santo Niño de Cebu. However, little that the people know is that there were two more images that were given by Ferdinand Magellan to the newly baptized couple, the Ecce Homo and the Virgen de la Cotta of Cebu. Antonio Pigafetta, the chronicler of the voyage attested to this act of Magellan to the newly baptized ruling couple and their subjects. These two images were hidden for some time and later rediscovered separately and enjoyed much devotion for centuries until the Second World War came that signaled the abrupt obscurity of the devotions of these two important venerated images

Santa Marta de Pateros The thriving municipality of Pateros, located between Makati City and Pasig City, is famous for its balut (duck eggs) industry for years. The hardworking people of Pateros owes this prosperous industry and others that were later developed in the recent years through their undying devotion to their beloved patroness, St. Martha of Bethany of the famous Bethany siblings who are known to be friends with Jesus Christ. As Santa Marta is known to be productive and hardworking, the people emulated this trait of their patroness that led them to be one of the most hardworking places in Metro Manila. From left: the images of "Matandang Santa Marta", the Shrine image and "Batang Santa Marta" The Beauty of Pateros' Rose The image of Santa Marta de Pateros is one of the most unique and somewhow intriguing in the roster of the famed venerated images in the country. There were at least three images of Santa Marta that are venerated in the mu

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Manila In the hidden yet busy area of Camba, located in between Tondo and Binondo in Manila, there is a little church that has been the refuge of the people, especially the marginalized of Manila for centuries. This hidden church in this side of Manila is dedicated to the its miraculous patroness, the centuries old image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Manila. This centuries old icon of the Virgin of Solitude that is venerated there became the comforter of the afflicted and refuge of the poor for centuries and miracles were reported through her intercession up to the present. The people of Camba have grown to love their patroness that even with their limited resources, they were able to give her the best gifts to their precious and priceless treasure. The Icon The icon of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Manila was an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in her attribute as the Virgen de la Soledad (The Virgin of Solitude) where she wears the mou

Blessed Jose Maria de Manila  In our country, the predominantly Catholic country in Asia,  two persons have been canonized and a third, although the son of Spanish parents, is considered a son of the Philippines and has recently been beatified by Pope Francis: Blessed José Maria de Manila. Some Filipinos were surprise, and sadly, some were not aware of him, neither was the news of his beatification and only the few knew him and his glorious martyrdom probably thru books and online articles, especially with the news from the Vatican. Without any further ado, may I introduce to all Filipino Catholics, a Friar with a "Filipino Heart" and must be emulated by all the devout. Early Life He may be an "insulares" (a Spaniard born in a Spanish colony), he does have a heart of a Filipino. José María was born in Manila, Philippines on September 5, 1880 to Spanish parents Don Eugenio del Saz-Orozco de la Oz, the last Spanish Mayor of Manila, and Doña Felisa Mortera y