The Candelaria devotion in Tondo
Written and Prepared by Mr. Michael Delos Reyes
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2, is among the oldest feasts of the Church, commemorating the presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem, forty days after his birth. The fortieth day after Christmas-Epiphany was already being celebrated in Jerusalem in ca. 386 as attested by the pilgrim Egeria. The feast was accepted in Rome by the second half of the seventh century, and was included in the Gregorian Sacramentary under the title Ypapanti, from the Greek Hypapante or Meeting. It celebrates the meeting of the Infant Jesus with Simeon. Later, the feast also came to be known as the Purification of Mary. In the Philippines, the feast has also been called Candelaria, in reference to the Blessing of the Candles that takes place at the start of the Mass, before the procession to the church, commemorating the Presentation of the Lord.
In the centuries-old parish of the Santo Niño de Tondo in Manila, the Nuestra Senora de Candelaria has been considered as Secondary Patroness for a long time now. It can be initially noted that the feasts of the Santo Niño and the Virgin of Candelaria are closely related to the Mystery of the Incarnation of Our Lord, and thus, have been considered as Christmas feasts outside the Christmas season.
In Tondo, the two celebrations seemingly open and close a period of fiesta, since aside from the Santo Niño fiesta, the Candelaria is another colorful feast attended by devotees who could not attend any of the Santo Niño processions. During the Spanish period, the feast was celebrated with all pomp and splendor by the Spanish community, inasmuch as it was considered the fiesta of the Spaniards, while that of the Santo Niño was for the natives.
The present image of the Our Lady of Candelaria venerated in the church, is enshrined in one of the altars in the sanctuary area. Based on documents about the parish, it was commissioned by Msgr. Jose N. Jovellanos, who served as pastor of Tondo for more than fifty years before and after the Second World War. The image was meant to replace the older image that was destroyed on February 3, 1945, when the Japanese forces put the church into flames. The new image was blessed on January 18, 1946.
The Candelaria devotion in Tondo dates back to the time when the Augustinians were ministering in the parish. In 1789, there was a request for the establishment of the Cofradia de la Purificacion in the church of Tondo, as attested by a Concesión de licencia para crear una cofradía en Tondo.
In 1835, the Novena a la Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, alias Purificacion, was printed. It was composed by Don Mariano Lopez, who offered it to the miraculous image of Our Lady of the holy confraternity in Tondo. But where could have this devotion originated, particularly in the area of Tondo?
During the first Provincial Chapter of the Dominicans on June 10, 1588, the council decided to petition to Fray Domingo de Salazar, O.P., first Bishop of the Philippine Islands, to designate a suitable place for a church so that the Chinese living in Tondo would not need to go to the Parian.
The letter signed by the Provincial and Definitors, was presented to the Bishop before his secretary, Esteban Gonzalez, on June 16 of the same year. A letter was also submitted to Governor Santiago de Vera. The following day, the Bishop issued a decree granting the petition, and in agreement with the Governor, he designated Punta de Baybay (Baibai), which is found between Binondo and the sea, and occupied later by the barrios of San Fernando, San Nicolas and others. From almost the beginning of the Spanish conquest, it has been occupied by many Chinese who were making a living.
During Christmas of 1588, a small church was built in Baybay, and put under the advocation of the Nuestra Señora de la Purificacion. The Dominicans, Fr. Miguel de Benavidez and Fr. Juan Cobo, ministered valiantly in the new church and with the new language, and marvelously overcame their difficulty, although it was so great. The administration of Baybay by the Dominicans was disputed by the Augustinians, who were the first evangelizers of Tondo.
On June 10, 1613, the Provincial Chapter of the Augustinians decided to cede Baybay to the Dominicans and it was added to Binondo. The following year, the Provincial Chapter of the Dominicans decided to suppress the church, and the religious ministering there moved to Binondo. Perhaps, it is because the church was very small and did not fit many people. Nevertheless, Baybay continued to belong to Binondo, until by the efforts of the natives of Tondo, the Dominicans agreed to cede it to Tondo on October 19, 1710.
While there has been no direct reference linking the church in Baybay and the Cofradia de la Purificacion in Tondo, it is very probable that the existence of the said church has served as a fertile ground for the development and growth of the devotion to the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Tondo.
May this centuries-old devotion lead the devotees of the Virgin Mary to her Holy Child, Jesus, who is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32), in order that they may let their light shine before others, that the latter may see their good deeds and glorify the heavenly Father (cf. Matthew 5:16).
Ad Iesum per Mariam!
References:
de Aduarte, Diego. Historia de la provincia del Santo Rosario de la Orden de Predicadores en Filipinas, Japon y China. Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, 1962-63. 2 vols.
Fonseca, Joaquin. Historia de los PP. Dominicos en las Islas Filipinas y en sus misiones del Japón, China, Tung-Kin y Formosa. Madrid: Imprenta y Estereotipia de M. Rivadeneyra, 1870.
Gutiérrez, Pedro Luengo. “Noticias sobre Obras en la Iglesia de Tondo en el Siglo XVIII,” Laboratorio de Arte 22 (2010): 217-233.
Ocio, Hilario Maria. Reseña biográfica de los religiosos de la provincia del Santísimo Rosario de Filipinas desde su fundación hasta nuestros días... Manila: Estab. tip. del Real Colegio de Santo Tomás, 1891. 2 vols.
Rodriguez, Isacio, Diccionario biografico agustiniano: provincia de Filipinas. Valladolid: Agustiniano, 1992. 2 vols.
Special thanks to Mr. Michael delos Reyes and Mr. Elpidio Susi of Santo Nino de Tondo Parish for the permission to feature this article and the photos used to this blogpost dedicated to the Virgen de Candelaria de Tondo. +AM+DG+
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| Nuestra Senora de Candelaria de Tondo |
In the centuries-old parish of the Santo Niño de Tondo in Manila, the Nuestra Senora de Candelaria has been considered as Secondary Patroness for a long time now. It can be initially noted that the feasts of the Santo Niño and the Virgin of Candelaria are closely related to the Mystery of the Incarnation of Our Lord, and thus, have been considered as Christmas feasts outside the Christmas season.
In Tondo, the two celebrations seemingly open and close a period of fiesta, since aside from the Santo Niño fiesta, the Candelaria is another colorful feast attended by devotees who could not attend any of the Santo Niño processions. During the Spanish period, the feast was celebrated with all pomp and splendor by the Spanish community, inasmuch as it was considered the fiesta of the Spaniards, while that of the Santo Niño was for the natives.The present image of the Our Lady of Candelaria venerated in the church, is enshrined in one of the altars in the sanctuary area. Based on documents about the parish, it was commissioned by Msgr. Jose N. Jovellanos, who served as pastor of Tondo for more than fifty years before and after the Second World War. The image was meant to replace the older image that was destroyed on February 3, 1945, when the Japanese forces put the church into flames. The new image was blessed on January 18, 1946.
The Candelaria devotion in Tondo dates back to the time when the Augustinians were ministering in the parish. In 1789, there was a request for the establishment of the Cofradia de la Purificacion in the church of Tondo, as attested by a Concesión de licencia para crear una cofradía en Tondo.
 |
| Cover of the original novena in honor Nuestra Senora de Candelaria de Tondo (Courtesy of Mr. Michael delos Reyes) |
During the first Provincial Chapter of the Dominicans on June 10, 1588, the council decided to petition to Fray Domingo de Salazar, O.P., first Bishop of the Philippine Islands, to designate a suitable place for a church so that the Chinese living in Tondo would not need to go to the Parian.
The letter signed by the Provincial and Definitors, was presented to the Bishop before his secretary, Esteban Gonzalez, on June 16 of the same year. A letter was also submitted to Governor Santiago de Vera. The following day, the Bishop issued a decree granting the petition, and in agreement with the Governor, he designated Punta de Baybay (Baibai), which is found between Binondo and the sea, and occupied later by the barrios of San Fernando, San Nicolas and others. From almost the beginning of the Spanish conquest, it has been occupied by many Chinese who were making a living.
During Christmas of 1588, a small church was built in Baybay, and put under the advocation of the Nuestra Señora de la Purificacion. The Dominicans, Fr. Miguel de Benavidez and Fr. Juan Cobo, ministered valiantly in the new church and with the new language, and marvelously overcame their difficulty, although it was so great. The administration of Baybay by the Dominicans was disputed by the Augustinians, who were the first evangelizers of Tondo.
 |
| A manuscript of the approval of the Cofradia dedicated to the Virgen de Candelaria de Tondo (Courtesy of Mr. Elpidio Susi) |
While there has been no direct reference linking the church in Baybay and the Cofradia de la Purificacion in Tondo, it is very probable that the existence of the said church has served as a fertile ground for the development and growth of the devotion to the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Tondo.
May this centuries-old devotion lead the devotees of the Virgin Mary to her Holy Child, Jesus, who is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32), in order that they may let their light shine before others, that the latter may see their good deeds and glorify the heavenly Father (cf. Matthew 5:16).
Ad Iesum per Mariam!
References:
de Aduarte, Diego. Historia de la provincia del Santo Rosario de la Orden de Predicadores en Filipinas, Japon y China. Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, 1962-63. 2 vols.
Fonseca, Joaquin. Historia de los PP. Dominicos en las Islas Filipinas y en sus misiones del Japón, China, Tung-Kin y Formosa. Madrid: Imprenta y Estereotipia de M. Rivadeneyra, 1870.
Gutiérrez, Pedro Luengo. “Noticias sobre Obras en la Iglesia de Tondo en el Siglo XVIII,” Laboratorio de Arte 22 (2010): 217-233.
Ocio, Hilario Maria. Reseña biográfica de los religiosos de la provincia del Santísimo Rosario de Filipinas desde su fundación hasta nuestros días... Manila: Estab. tip. del Real Colegio de Santo Tomás, 1891. 2 vols.
Rodriguez, Isacio, Diccionario biografico agustiniano: provincia de Filipinas. Valladolid: Agustiniano, 1992. 2 vols.
Special thanks to Mr. Michael delos Reyes and Mr. Elpidio Susi of Santo Nino de Tondo Parish for the permission to feature this article and the photos used to this blogpost dedicated to the Virgen de Candelaria de Tondo. +AM+DG+
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