Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Guibang - The Queen and Mother of Isabela Province

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Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Guibang
In a quiet northern Luzon province of Isabela, located in Cagayan Valley Region, where agriculture thrives in the province, the Catholic faithful of the province thrives in due to the fact that one of the most notable Marian Shrines in the country is located in the area - The National Shrine of Nuestra Senora de la Visitacion de Guibang, the Queen and Patroness of Isabela Province. In this humble shrine, located along National Highway, enshrines the miraculous image of the Virgin that caused so much miracles that she gained much love and veneration of the people of Isabela and neighboring provinces in the country.

The Image

The beautiful image of the Virgin of the Visitation is that of the typical Madonna and Child model in a classic Philippine Colonial aesthetic: the de bastidor body and imperial ensemble consists of a beautifully beaded, oftentimes embroidered vestments, a cape and a set of crowns, a rostrillo, Doce Estrellas and a scepter for the Virgin. The Virgin at times wears a veil and some times, she does not wear one and both Mother and Child are carved in a very Filipino looking features.

The image was said to be a replica of the Virgin of the Visitation of Piat hence, they share the same feast day - July 2nd.

Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Guibang
Origins

The origins of the Virgin of Guibang can be traced to 1905, when a young man found the image floating near the riverbank of Barrio Guibang in Gamu, Isabela - providential catch to be exact. At that time, he brought the image to the hut of a poor couple, Francisco Noble and Maria Noble. The young man asked the couple to to pray the Rosary and offer good works of mercy in honor of the Virgin through this mysterious yet lovely image and sometime later, the couple's is prayers were granted.

 Miracles

As if the providential find of the image of the Virgin and the immediate response to the supplication of the Noble couple to her, God might have a grand design to place Isabela province to the Patronage of Our Lady. On one occasion, the couple wanted to bring the image with them on a journey, but the image became too heavy to be carried. They took it as a sign that Our Lady wished not to be moved to a different location and she wanted to stay in Guibang.

Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Guibang
A few days after, the young man who brought them the image was able to carry it and brought it from house so that the devotion to her may be propagated. When it was a pious couple's turn to receive the image in their house, they were reluctant because they can't afford to give alms for the image's visit due to poverty. Nonetheless, they eventually welcomed her to their humble abode. On the night of the visit, the couple were amazed by the smell of sweet fragrance that filled the household. They found out that the fragrance exuded from the image. The news about how the prodigies of the image spread like wildfire in the whole town. From then on, the image of the Lady of the Visitation became popularly known as the "Lady of Guibang". As devotion grew and the visit of pilgrims from other towns and villages became more frequent, a chapel was built for her to accommodate more pilgrims who flock Isabela province to pay homage and ask for her intercession.

Other miracles that were duly recorded that were also attributed to the intercession of the Virgin of Guibang. One of the most notable was devotees and residents of the area attests that the Virgin is making her presence felt by the strong scent of sampaguita flowers and it is said that the phenomenon continues to this day. Devotees would also attest that the Virgin is also making "nocturnal visits" to her devotees that oftentimes, amorseco burs are found sticking in the dress of the Virgin.

On one occasion, at the midnight of September 8, 1972, people were awakened by the loud sounds of bells that seemed to come from the direction of the shrine. However, when the people came to investigate, the parish priest at that time denied that he rang the bells and he had no recollection that he rang the bells on that day.

Solemn Procession in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Guibang
Church Recognition

With numerous miracles that continuously being reported and attested by her devotees for decades, the image was granted the honor of Canonical Coronation on May 23, 1973 as closing of the Diocesan Marian Congress of that same year. The simple chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Guibang was later elevated to a National Shrine in February 13, 1986.

To this day, many devotees continue to flock her simple shrine in Guibang and continued to experience more miracles from different illnesses and answered petitions through the intercession of the Virgin of Guibang up to this day. The love and devotion of the people of Isabela to Virgin proves that she is truly the Queen and Mother of Isabela Province.

Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Guibang, Yena na Isabela, pray for us!

References:

Aviado, Lutgarda, (1972), "Madonnas of the Philippines", Manlapaz Press, Quezon City.
Barcelona, Mary Anne.(2004) "Ynang Maria: a celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the     Philippines". Ed. Consuelo B. Estampa, P.D. Pasig City, Anvil Publishing Inc.
_____ (2018), "Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Guibang: Yena na Isabela", National Shrine of   Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Guibang, Gamu, Isabela

Special Thanks to Mr. Alexis Anza III for the detailed account and photos of the Virgin of Guibang that were utilized to this blogpost. Special credits to the owners of other photos that were also used for this blogpost.

Comments

  1. UnknownJuly 23, 2021 at 7:45 PM

    Kailan po ang feast nito at ni Nuestra Señora de Cardad de Bantay

    ReplyDelete

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