Nuestra Señora de La Paz "Apung Maria de Manila" - A Symbol of Unity

-
Nuestra Señora de La Paz "Apung Maria de Manila"
In the simple barrio of Barrio Santa Maria, located in Paco, Manila, a community of Kapampangans resided in the area since the Japanese occupation. This simple group of Kapampangans of Macabebe brought with them a devotion that is very dear to them - the devotion to Nuestra Señora de La Paz, better known to the residents as "Apung Maria de Manila". 

This special devotion to Apung Maria de Manila serves not only as a beacon of faith of the Barrio in Paco, but also, the Virgin also serves as a link between two cultures, that of Manila and Pampanga.

The image

The image of Apung Maria de Manila is that a "de Vestir" (vested image) of the Blessed Virgin Mary where she is presented as a Sovereign Queen to her people. She has a vast number of vestments made from different materials that were given by devotees over the years. 

She holds a scepter, wears a beautiful crown and the diagnostic "doce Estrellas". The facial features of the image is that of a sweet gaze to her devotees and has a folksy charm to the beholder. 

The origin of the devotion

The origins of the devotion to Apung Maria of Manila is traced back to its origin in Macabebe, Pampanga where the image of Apung Maria is enthroned in her Visita (Chapel) where her devotees flock to her abode to ask for intercession. For years, Apung Maria of Macabebe gained much popularity in the area that her feast day is one of the most attended in the province. The feast of Apung Maria of Macabebe, Pampanga is celebrated every Last Saturday and Sunday of April.

The devotion in Manila

An old photograph of Apung Maria de Manila
When the people of Macabebe, Pampanga moved to Manila during the end of the Second World War, the people built a community in Paco, Manila and the area was then known as "Barrio Santa Maria", later known as "Barrio Kapampangan". Through the efforts of Pedro Manansala, a faithful devotee of Apung Maria of Macabebe, the devotion was successfully carried over to their settlement in Manila and her devotion became stronger and served as a link to their beloved lady in Macabebe. The people immediately have an image commissioned to the likeness of their patroness in Macabebe.

The origin of the image Apung Maria de Manila has an interesting story. According to local tradition, It is said that a Bicolano artisan was commissioned to carve the image for the new settlers in Paco, Manila. However, it is said that the image that was given to the barrio folk was the carver's acquired antique image that needs to be refurbished and what was left to the carver was the commissioned image. 

Some years later, the carver decided to take back the image, however, due to the numerous miracles that the Virgin wrought to the people, the barrio folk refused to return the image and devised many means to keep the image by hiding it in different houses until the carver conceded to let the image stay to her chosen throne.

Her Feast day is celebrated every First Sunday of May, a week after the Feast of the original Apung Maria of Macabebe, Pampanga. Devotees from Macabebe goes down to Manila annually to honor the Virgin of their fellow Kapampangans in the Barrio in droves. A colorful celebration in the barrio is always the scenario of the feast day where the "Batalya" procession of Apung Maria and its companion image, the Apung Jesus, is held twice a day - one in the morning and the other in the evening. 

Miracles

Numerous miracles were recorded were attributed to Apung Maria de Manila over the years that the residents of the town. Miracles of physical cures, financial woes, and other necessities were persistently recalled and duly recorded. One of the most memorable miracles of Apung Maria de Manila is that when a raging fire threatens to destroy Barrio Sta. Maria, all of a sudden, the fire strangely ended in the premises of the chapel without harming the altar where the image stood at that time. When the fire was put out, they also noticed a shadow of a lady at the altar which was visible for days until it disappeared when the whole barrio was fully recovered from the fire.

The undying devotion

The devotion to Apung Maria de Manila continues to be strong in Barrio Santa Maria in Paco, Manila and recently, devotees outside from other places, aside from Macabebe, Pampanga, are growing over the years. The miraculous image of Apung Maria de Manila received the honor of a Symbolic Coronation on May 5, 2013, on the day of her feast day, attended by her devotees from Manila, Pampanga and other parts of the country.

The devotion to Apung Maria is a true testament of the role of Our Lady as the Queen of Peace. She is the unifying force of two cultures, that is of Manileña and Kapampangan, who come together to honor her and her Son. May the devotion Our Lady leads us to that elusive peace that we've been longing for and live as her children.

References:
_________ (2017), "Nuestra Señora de La Paz: The loving Virgin Mary "Apung Maria de Manila", Nuestra Senora de la Paz Chapel, Barrio Sta. Maria, Paco, Manila.

Special thanks to Mr. JM Domingo.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Nuestra Señora de Barangay - The Mother and Protectress of the Barangay

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de Barangay Of all Marian images venerated in the country, there is a simple yet beautiful image of Our Lady that is very unique in our consciousness, the very Filipina image of the Virgin of the Barangay. The image of the "Virgen sang Barangay" gained much attention since its first public appearance in the 1950's as the Patroness of the Barangay sang Birhen Organization and began touring the nation for some years and numerous replicas of this image, whether it is a painting or a three-dimensional statue, this particular Venerada clearly shows how the Blessed Virgin became became our own Mother of the Filipino Nation and became a unifying force for centuries and still enjoys much love and veneration as time passed by.  The image The icon of the Virgin of the Baranggay depicts the Virgin presenting her Son to the barangay. The Virgin wears the traditional balintawak and wearing a red and yellow tapis on her waist while the Child is covered with
Read more

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

-
Image
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 L
Read more

Sisters in Blood, Sisters in Christ - The Talangpaz Sisters

-
Image
Servants of God Dionisia and Cecilia Rosa Talangpaz During the Spanish period,, there were few women who pioneered for a change in the early years of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, then controlled by the Spanish Clergy from the likes of Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, foundress of the Religious of the Virgin Mary, Servant of God Francisca del Espiritu Santo, foundress of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena and the two sisters who founded the Second Congregation for Filipino women, the Augustinian Recollect Sisters of Manila - the Talangpaz sisters of Calumpit, Bulacan. The Talangpaz sisters heeded the call to serve the Lord and later founded a Congregation for Filipinas who wanted to live a contemplative life within the cloisters of a convent which was then denied by the Spanish colonial clergy at that time until the foundation of these Congregations. Despite the Controversies and hardships they faced, the sisters, backed up with their unwavering faith
Read more

Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles: The Regal Patroness of Angeles, Pampanga

-
Image
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles inside the Holy Rosary Parish's famed sunburst altar Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles In the previous blogpost, we discovered the history of the image and the surrounding devotion to Santo Angel Custodio , the titular Patron of Angeles City, Pampanga where the progressive city was named after, aside from its founder Don Ángel Pantaleón de Miranda. On this blogpost, we are going to present the history of the devotion to Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles - the Queen and Patroness of Angeles City, Pampanga. The image The venerable image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles is a de vestir image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary somehow patterned to that of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Manila where the image is also vested in regal robes with bombas (conical enhancements), wears a set of metal accessories and jewels
Read more

Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila - La Fuerza y Alegria de Manila

-
Image
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila (Courtesy of Mr. Christopher Palabay) In the busy streets of Modern Quiapo - Santa Cruz areas, commercial establishments from ever present shopping malls down to the bangketas that sells almost everything from clothing, food, jewelry, that covered the area is always a common scene. With that modern yet looming atmosphere of that district, it is easy to forget that the same district was once one of the most aristocratic and arrogant arrabal (Spanish for district) during the glorious days of Old Manila. The district that several novou riche families and aristocrats used to stay in that neighborhood and where commerce thrives in.  The link between the Glory days of Old Manila and its present atmosphere is located in a dominant Parish Church of Sta. Cruz, the centuries old miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar. The beautiful sliver gilded image of the "La Pilarica" is the silent witness to the colorful history of the district. As
Read more