The Gracious Nuestra Señora del Pilar of Alaminos, Laguna
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| Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Alaminos "Birheng Patrona" |
The images
There are four images of the Virgin of the Pillar that became focal points of devotion for centuries in this quiet time: the original Ivory image and its processional counterpart that are currently under the custodianship of the heirs of Bernabela Fadino and the wooden church images - the old main image and a larger altar image. Typical to Pilarica images, the four venerated images stands on a pillar, the Virgin's mantle is draped on her while the Niño holds a dove in one hand. The Virgin wears an imperial crown while the Niño has tres potencias.
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| Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Alaminos "Ang Matandang Birhen" |
The beginning of the devotion
The devotion to the Virgin of the Pillar in Alaminos, Laguna began when a certain lady named Bernabela Fandiño found an ivory image with a wooden body of the Virgin of the Pillar in one of the wells of the town. Out of curiosity and reverence to this providential find, the kept this image to her home. The first image would be later to be known as "Ang Matandang Birhen". The news of the finding of the image became known to the town and people began to visit the Fandiño household to see the image out of curiosity. That curiosity later developed into a fervent devotion for numerous favors were granted through the intercession of the Virgin of the Pillar.
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| Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Alaminos "Ang Batang Birhen" |
Challenges
Although it was a move gratefully accepted by the local church, it became a challenge for the Parish Priest at that time. Many go and make devotions in front of the image but few would go to Mass. To resolve the issue, the Parish priest later requested for the transfer of the Matandang Birhen to the parish church but for some reasons, this did not push through. An agreement was then settled. The heirs of the family would commission an image for church use - which was later to be known as the "Batang Birhen". However, the challenge still remained. Even though the Batang Birhen is freely "lent" to the Parish it is not staying "full time" in the church.
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| San Joaquin de Alaminos |
At present, the two antique ivory images are kept by the three families which are the heirs of Bernabela Fandiño. The heirs take turns yearly in hosting the Matandang Birhen in prayer rooms adjacent to their houses. These prayer rooms are open for the public who wish to pray before the venerated image.
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| Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Alaminos "Birheng Patrona" in full detail |
In 2013, one lunchtime, the people noticed a strange van parked near the Adoration Chapel. The people seemed not to mind this strange van, until it was discovered that the "Birheng Patrona" was stolen. Initial efforts was made for the recovery of the image, yet it was no avail, at that time. With no trace of who stole the image for the meantime, a replacement image was commissioned from Paete which is will be intended for the Bicentennial Jubilee Celebration of the Parish in 2015. This image was called "The Bicentennial Image".
The search for the stolen image ended in September 2017, four years after the theft. The devotees saw some photos of the lost image of the "Birheng Patrona" on social media site Facebook from a Marian Exhibit that was held in one of the malls in Manila and later in a special Pilarica exhibit in preparation for the then upcoming Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila that same year.
After months of much careful study and verification to the custodian of the image, it was finally identified that it was the lost Venerada of Alaminos. The image made a triumphal return to her home on February 25, 2018 with much rejoicing of the people of Alaminos. To commemorate this historic return of their Patroness, the current Parish Priest decreed that February 25 will be known as the "Pyestang Pangbabalik" to commemorate the return of the "Birheng Patrona" to her home. Months later, the "Birheng Patrona" had a major restoration because it was discovered that that when she was stolen, the encarna of the image was sacrilegiously sanded off to reveal the details of the image to sell the image to antique collectors.
The image at present is kept in the Parish Baptistry and locked for safekeeping but visible to devotees. The gates of the Baptistry are opened on Saturdays and Sundaysafter the 6300 am Mass for public veneration called “Pahalik sa Birheng Patrona”.
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| Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Alaminos Parish, Alaminos, Laguna |
Numerous miracles were reported through the intercession of the Virgin of the Pillar over the years. Most of the miracles that were attributed to her ranging from healing, reconciliation of families and friends, having children, passing examinations, employment, among others. There were also other reports of unusual events that were also reported over the years.
There was one instance that when the image was kept under a tent, it rained very hard that the tent was about to collapse, it only did once they were able to retrieve the image from the tent. There was also a story when the town decided not to have the October fiesta, and at the dawn of October 12, a marching band came to town and was telling that a woman and a child came to them and asked that they play for the fiesta in Alaminos. Another instance was there was a lady who was facing a very difficult problem felt very helpless. One day, she came to church and heard a voice, described it as very motherly and gentle, calling her name. Her attention was shifted to the image and then she realized it might be the Patroness who was calling her. This unusual event helped her to face the challenge their family is facing.
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| Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Alaminos altar image |
The devotion to the Virgin of the Pillar of Alaminos, Laguna proves to stand the test of time and showing signs of resilience over the years. Her devotees continue to increase over the years as numerous miracles were reported through her miraculous intercession.
One feast day is not enough to celebrate and give thanks to the Virgin of the Pillar of Alaminos. The series of fiestas begin on January 2, the anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin to St. James the Great called “Pyestang Venida”, the recently implemented "Pyestang Pagbabalik" every February 25, a summer fiesta set on May 20 to commemorate the Canonical Coronation of the original image in Zaragoza, Spain and the most celebrated of all is her liturgical feast day every October 12. The series of festivals in her honor shows how much the people of Alaminos loved their patroness and further illustrates how the devotion to the Virgin of the Pillar is strongly rooted in the town.
As we are about to conclude this blogpost dedicated to La Pilarica of Alaminos, Laguna, here is the official prayer that is recited by her devotees on her novenas and devotional days for all needs:
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| Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Alaminos "Birheng Patrona" |
(Tahimik na banggitin ang kahilingan sa Mahal na Birhen)
At kung hindi man ito naaayon sa kalooban ng Diyos at sa iyo ring kalooban, nawa’y mahalinhan ito ng lalo pang karapat-dapat ayon sa iyong kapasiyahan, at para sa ikabubuti ng aming kaluluwa. Amen
Aba Ginoong Maria.... (3x)
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Alaminos, Ipanalagin mo kami!
References:
Interview:
Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Social Media Communications Committee (July 2018), Interview thru Facebook messenger.
Special thanks to the Social Media Communications Committee of the Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar of Alaminos, Laguna for the historical account and photographs*of the their beloved patroness.
+AM+DG+
*Photho the "Batang Birhen" was blogger's own from the recent Diocesan Grand Procession in San Pablo, Laguna.
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