Nuestra Señora de Barangay - The Mother and Protectress of the Barangay
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| Nuestra Señora de Barangay |
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 swaddling clothes and holds a rosary. The Virgin is presented standing on a cloud, hovering a peaceful barangay near the sea, an allusion to the origins of the barangay system in the Philippines - a community living in coastal settlements.
Antonio Gaston, founder of the "Barangay Sang Birhen Movement" explains on scenery that utilized for the image: "The picture shows a typical seaside scene of a sitio of 15 families or houses ideally organized into a rosary unit of the Barangay Sang Virgen. The unit banner is leaning beside one of the houses which announces that the rosary prayer meeting is to be held there that night so that the little community may join together and pray not only as a family but as a community of the people of God."
It also interesting to note that the image is also framed in a painted pattern of triangles and emblems. Mr. Gaston also explains on this framed motif that the triangles represents the the families organized in Rosary Units of the Trinities and also symbolizing the roof of each family. He further explained that "it does signify the communities of the people of God gathered together by the Good Shepherd in the name of the Blessed Trinity."
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| Close up details of Nuestra Señora de Barangay |
Antonio Gaston, then Mayor of Bacolod City, a notable politician and a very devout Catholic who championed for the betterment of the welfare of his constituents, seeing the need to nourish not only the material needs of his constituents, but also the spiritual and moral need of the city. One day, when he was hospitalized for an illness, he asked for the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary for a cure in exchange that he will help on propagating the message of the Blessed Virgin that she gave at Fatima and renewal of the Catholic faith in his locale. Days later, he was cured and with the help of Henry del Castillo, they founded the "Barangay Sang Birhen” movement in Cadiz, Negros Oriental in 1949. In its first 10 years, it had become the country’s biggest Catholic mass organization, with aims to preserve the integrity of the Filipino family, its spiritual unity, cultural distinction and and economic self-sufficiency. By 1959, it had over 2 million member families nationwide.The inception of the image
In 1954, Antonio Gaston had a word with Bishop Manuel Yap about the idea of giving of an image for the associations the patroness with a purely Filipino look. Bishop Yap approved the idea, but suggested that the image, however, should give an impression of Jewishness.
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| Nuestra Señora de Barangay during the early years of the Grand Marian Procession in Intramuros, Manila |
Before Msgr. Emmanuel Yap, D.D. gave his canonical blessing in October 16, 1954, he wonderfully acclaimed it to be a work of art and inspiration. On June 12, 1975, the original painting of the image of the Birhen sa Barangay arrived in the Diocese of Tagbilaran for her visitation, she was brought by the Regional Datu of Davao Lkn. Olibo and his companions. From the date of her arrival, the Image visitation, from the Parish to Parish, to the remotest Barrios or Barangay, lasted for almost 6 years and 15 days. The Last Parish visited was Sikatuna. From Sikatuna, she was brought to Jagna, Ilihan Hill Chapel on February 3, 1979 up to January 12, 1981.
On January 14, 1981, the original painting was brought back to Bacolod City for the historical visit of the Holy Father where the image of the Birhen Sa Barangay was personally blessed by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II on February 20, 1981, Bishop’s Palace, Bacolod City. At present, the original icon of Birhen sang Barangay is enshrined in her National Shrine in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
Miracles
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| A statue version of Nuestra Señora de Barangay venerated in Brgy. Cupang, Muntinlupa City as its second patroness |
Many miracles were attributed to the image of the “Birhen Sang Barangay”. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin grew through the years. All parishes, even the remotest barrios honor the Virgin by letting her visit every household. Numerous images of the Virgin of the Baranggay toured to different parts of the country.
The effects of the movement are very laudable. Families became more close knit together thru the daily recitation of the rosary during and after the visit of the image to their homes. Numerous conversions took place, one Protestant pastor was converted on one of the Virgin's visit. Because of the good influence and the resounding success of the movement, on February 2, 1955, several bishops and archbishops in the Philippines made the movement became a mandate for the whole country.
The devotion
The devotion to the Birhen Sang Barangay grew and developed over the years. The image of the Virgin usually stays overnight in a chapel or parish of the community where the faithful offer prayers, novenas and render vigils. From the time of her arrival until she leaves, a steady flow of the faithful come to light candles; some asking for favors while others thank her for graces granted. Others bring along their hankies and wipe the image with great love while praying ardently. A Mass is solemnly held in her honor before she leaves for another chapel.
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| Nuestra Señora de Barangay of Angeles family that particiaptes the Grand Marian Procession in Intramuros, Manila |
The feast of the Virgen de Barangay is celebrated every October 16. The devotion to the Virgin of the Barangay became a unifying force of different communities for through the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Catholic faith in the Philippines became stronger and blossomed anew.
As we conclude this blogpost, here is a well known prayer of the Virgin of the Barangay which is very appropriate in our times where the modern generation needed much guidance amidst the distorted values that are currently implemented by our present society:
O Mary of the Barangay, in your help we take our refuge, Holy Mother of God, we offer you and beg you to receive our prayers and our sacrifices on each and every single day of our lives. We entrust in your care all our Christian households. Remember us always, so that salvation will be ours on this day, and so that we will obtain the joy of life everlasting through Christ our Lord. Amen
References:
Aviado, Lutgarda, (1972), Madonnas of the Philippines, Manlapaz Press, Quezon City.
"Baranggay San Birhen Parish", Retrieved from http://www.tagbilarandiocese.org/current_site/birhen-sang-barangay-parish-cogon-district-tagbilaran.html on June 20, 2018.
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.
Gaston, Antonio (1960), History of Virgin of the Barangay (Virgen sang Barangay), Barangay sang Birhen Association, Bacolod City.
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