Nuestra Señora de la Escalera - Nasugbu, Batangas' Loving Queen

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Nuestra Señora de la Escalera de Nasugbu
In the mountainous area of Nasugbu, Batangas where beaches, summer hot spots and retreat houses were scattered all over the area, there was this church of significant importance yet very few people, even the locals that they overlooked for years. The parish of St. Francis Xavier houses the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de la Escalera de Nasugbu - the only Marian image  with such Marian sobriquet in the country.

The image

The image of Nuestra Señora de la Escalera is a de vestir image of the Blessed Virgin Mary dressed in embroidered vestments and wears an Imperial crown and holds a scepter - an allusion to her Queenship.

The hands of the Virgin were like those of the stance of the typical images of the Immaculate Concepcion, like those of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje, though the hands were more open as if she is a gesture of conversing with the beholder. The Virgin has a lovely expression as if she assures her love and care to those who will approach her.

Nuestra Señora de la Escalera
The History of the Virgin

Due to scant records that were kept about this particular image of the Virgin, local belief has it that the image came from Acapulco, Mexico that was brought by Don Antonio Fernandez de Roxas to the residence of his kin Don Bonifacio who happened to have a property in Nasugbu at that time.

Regarding to the title of the Virgin, the locals also held this tradition that there were numerous instances that the Virgin was seen in the staircase of "Hacienda de Nasugbu", the property of the Roxas' clan in the area, hence the locals named their Virgin as the Virgen de la Escalera, the Lady of the Staircase.

A possible explanation of the title is that the Jesuits as well as the Roxas family already had a devotion to La Virgen de la Escalera in thanksgiving for their safe journey back and forth to Spain. Another possible origin of the Virgin is that the image could have originated from Vera Cruz, Mexico where the image was said to have been enshrined in the Chapel of Fort San Juan de Ulua in Vera Cruz, Mexico which was at the time, the bastion of the Spanish Navy in Mexico. It can also be theorized that the Virgin's title was given by the Spaniards because of the location of the Chapel and also believed to be the Protectress of the Navy and the Navigators at that time.

The Parish of St. Francis Xavier, Nasugbu, Batangas
Though the origins and the circumstances that surrounds it are still unknown as of this writing, it can be said that her arrival might be providential for the people of Nasugbu loved their Patroness for centuries due to the miracles that were attributed to her intercession. For instance,  It is said that during times of calamity, the miraculous Virgen de la Escalera appears to the people of Nasugbu to help them through these times of need.

The home of the Virgin

The image was first enshrined to the old Church of La Iglesia de la Nuestra Señora de la Escalera and was flocked by pilgrims until it was destroyed by the Revolutionaries in 1896, The ruins of her Church can still be seen up to the present. The image was miraculously spared from the destruction of the Church and was transferred to her current shrine at the Parish of St. Francis Xavier.

Patronage and Recognition
Since the transfer of the Virgin to her current home, she shared the Patronage of Nasugbu with St. Francis Xavier, the famed Jesuit Missionary. After the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, only one patron saint per town was allowed. As a result, Saint Francis Xavier was given the status. Our Lady, however, remained honored and venerated by Nasugbuenos. A recent re-interpretation of that Vatican II decree, however, allowed the return of the original patroness. Hence, on September 4, 2005, she was given a the honor of Episcopal Coronation by Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa followed by a solemn procession in her honor.

The devotion

The Feast of Nuestra Señora de la Escalera is celebrated every December 2, the eve of the Feast of St. Francis Xavier. The fiestas of the two Patrons of Nasugbu is known as Fiesta De Los Toros. The Fiesta de los Toros, highlighting bull runs, Parada de los Torros which features cows and carromatas in a colorful parade, each with distinct theme representing Filipino creativity and Blessing of the cows,

The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Escalera remains important to the old folks of Nasugbu. However, as of present time, there was a need to revitalized the devotion to this unique Marian sobriquet in the country for some of the current populace of Nasugbu barely knew the Virgin. The people should not forget how the Virgin cared for them in times of calamities and let us hope that the devotion to the Virgen de la Esclera will be known not only to the locals, but also to other Marian devotees all over the country.

Nuestra Señora de la Escalera, Ipanalangin mo kami!

References:

Parish of St. Francis Xavier, (2006), Kasaysayan ng Mahal na Birhen ng Escalera. Nasugbu, Batangas.
Parish of St. Francis Xavier of Batangas,  (2011), Retreived from https://heyplaces.ph/01090938/Parish_of_St._Francis_Xavier_Nasugbu__Batangas.
The Nasugbu Fiesta that was last year! (2011), Retreived from http://iamfromnasugbu.blogspot.com/2011/11/nasugbu-fiesta-that-was-last-year.html.
Todd, John Jr.,(2005), History, A Forgotten Nool at San Juan de Ulua, Our Lady of the Staircase and other mysteries about the Forgotten Saints who protected Early Sailors, Retreived from http://www.johntoddjr.com/153%20Escalera/escalera.html.

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