Nuestra Señora de las Victorias of Victorias City - The Protectress of Negros Occidental

-
Nuestra Señora de las Victorias of Victorias City,
Negros Occidental
In the prosperous City of Victorias, located in the province of Negros Occidental, the people were proud to the origin of the name of their city for the city was named after their powerful protectress - Nuestra Señora de las VIctorias. The Blessed Virgin Mary, together with the city's first patron Saint Casimir of Poland, protected the city from a series of Moro and tulisanes raids that spreads terror in the city during the Spanish era.

The image

The image of Nuestra Señora de las Victorias is an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus standing on guard looking rightwards as if they are guarding the faithful from enemies. The Virgin stands beside her Son who on the other hand stands on a pillar of clouds imparting His blessing and protection.

The depcition of the Virgin of Victories of Victorias City is one of the few images venerated in our contry under this title and representation which is popular in Europe, particualrly in France.

Our  Lady of Victories Parish, Victorias City, Negros Occidental
The seemingly hopeless origins

During the Spanish era, the city was called Tugkagawan and later Malihaw. The name was taken from Malihaw trees which are in abundance along the banks of the Malihaw river. During Capitan Gregorio Conlu’s term, Moro pirates and tulisanes reigned unmolested. One day the Capitan’s household was robbed. Capitan Gregorio was able to escape together with his secretary Alfonso Pachera, but his wife Capitana Tutang and their servant Micay, were taken aboard the sailboat which immediately sailed for the open sea.

When Capitana Tutang was asked whether she knew how to swim, she replied that she could not. She and her servant were thrown overboard while the vessel was just outside the Malihaw river’s mouth. The robbers sailed on believing that Capitana Tutang and her servant were drown. but that was not the case, for Capitana Tutang and her servant were good swimmers.

Nuestra Señora de las Victorias of Victorias City,
Negros Occidental (Parish image)
The Manifestations of the Virgin

While struggling in the water, Capitana Tutang saw a beutiful Lady whom she believed was the Blessed virgin. When she reached home she prayed and promised to buy an image of the Lady who helped them. But having been divested of her possession, it took her several months of careful savings to accumulate a sizable sum for the purchase of the image from Barcelona, Spain. Since she did not specify what image she wanted, the Capitana received the statue of the “Nuestra Señora de las Victorias” which to her amazement held the likeness of that Lady who saved them from drowning.

One year before the expiration of the term of Capitan Gregorio, in 1880, two boatloads of Moro pirates entered the Malihaw river to attack Daan Banua (Old Town), At the mouth of the river the plunderers were met by a small banca riden by a Lady who had a long sword and a very big man with a spear. Upon seeing the two, the Moros sailed back in flight.

Three months later, four vintas bearing Moro pirates approached the river’s mouth to sail inland, but again the same banca with a Lady and a very big man stood guard and the marauders steered towards the town of Manapla, where they took captives.

During the raid, two captives were able to escape in the direction of Malihaw. These two related their adventure and collaborated the story of the Lady and the very big man in the banca. The two captives upon seeing the images of Nuestra Señora de las Victorias and San Casimiro (St. Casimir), the reknown Polish prince who was the first Patron of the City. The story which spread like wild fire reached the ears of the Parish Priest of Saravia Fr. Crispino Hinolan, a Visayan, who immediately went to Malihaw to verify the story.

Nuestra Señora de las Victorias and San Casimiro
After a thorough investigation, the priest declared that the town was saved by the Virgin and San Casimiro her companion. The proclamation of the Parish Priest resulted in the occasion of rejoicing and celebration. Capitan Gregorio and Padre Crispino proposed to the inhabitants that the name of the town Malihaw be changed to "Nuestra Señora de las Victorias" to perpetuate the miraculous incidents. the suggestion was at once received with unanimous enthusiasm and acceptance and the citizens enjoined the Capitan to ask the Governor to approve the change of name. The Governor gave his consent, but retained only “Victorias “ as the official name.

The Devotion

Since the news of the miracle of Our Lady of Victory in Victorias City, the devotion to the Blessed Mother under this title developed , grew and maintained by the Negrenses over the centuries. Pilgrims would flock the parish of Our Lady of Victories to ask for her powerful protection and intercession. The Feast of the Virgin is celebrated every April 26 and it is celebrated with much solemnity and pomp with the Malihaw Festival.

Monument of Nuestra Señora de las Victorias of Victorias City
As we end this blogpost dedicated to Nuestra Señora de las Victorias, here is a prayer composed by Pope Pius XII to Our Lady of Victories for the protection of the Church and our land:

O Mary, merciful Refuge of Sinners and Mother of all mankind! Behold how many souls are lost every hour! Behold how countless millions of those who live in India, in China, and in barbarous regions do not yet know Our Lord Jesus Christ! See, too, how many others are far from the bosom of Mother Church which is Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman! O Mary ... life of our hearts ... let not the Precious Blood and fruits of Redemption be lost for so many souls!

 Grant that a ray of Heavenly light may shine forth to enlighten those many blinded understandings and to enkindle so many cold hearts. Intercede with thy Divine Son, and obtain grace for all pagans, Jews, heretics, and schismatics in the whole world to receive supernatural light and to enter with joy into the bosom of the true Church. Hear the confident prayer of the Supreme Pontiff that all nations may be united in one faith, that they may know and love Jesus Christ, the blessed fruit of thy womb ... And then all men shall love thee also, thou who art the salvation of the world, arbiter and dispenser of the treasures of God . . . And, glorifying thee, O Queen of Victories, who, by means of thy Rosary, dost trample upon all heresies, they shall acknowledge that thou givest life to all nations, since there must be a fulfillment of the prophecy: "All generations shall call me blessed." Amen.

References:

Pius XII, Supremi Apostolatus Officio on the Devotion of the Rosary, Retrieved from http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/victory2.htm on July 4, 2019.
Victorias City – Our Lady of Victory Parish Church, Retreived from https://everydayannie.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/victorias-city-our-lady-of-victory-parish-church/ on July 4, 2019.
Victorias City celebrates 111th Malihaw Festival, Retreived from https://malihaw.wordpress.com/page/2/ on July 4, 2019.

Credits to the owner of the photos that were utilized for this blogpost.
+AM+DG+

Comments

  1. KimJanuary 23, 2021 at 10:52 AM

    Other Places of Devotion Of Our
    Lady Of Victory in the Philippines

    Nuestra Señora de la Victoria
    Divisoria Mexico Pampanga

    Our Lady of Victories Parish
    Dau Mabalacat Pampanga

    Our lady of Victory Chapel
    Victoneta Malabon

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Mga Imaheng Relihiyoso sa Buhay Pagsamba ng mga Katoliko by Rev. Fr. Tim Ofrasio, SJ

-
Image
The icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help that was set to return to her altar in 2019 A talk from Rev. Fr. Tim Ofrasio, SJ for "Visitacion III: Halina sa Marikina" of Esculturas Religiosas en las Filipinas  Transcribed by Mr. Sherwyn Aban Blogger's photo of +Rev. Fr. Tim Ofrasio, SJ during the said event Blogger's note: The night of December 1, 2020 was rocked with a sad news of the passing of Rev. Fr. Timoteo "Tim" Ofrasio, SJ due to COVID-19. Fr. Tim is known as  one of the pillars on Philippine Liturgical Music, a scholar and advocate of celebration of Ad Orientem worship for the Mass (The priest facing the altar at the direction of the east) and Traditional Latin Mass, The Filipino Catholic faithful from different sectors mourned on his passing. I then remembered the talk that he gave to one of the events I attended years ago which it's message is still important and relevant today, especially in the social media age where some non-Catholic extremists...
Read more

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu - The Patroness of the City and the province of Cebu

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu Cebu, the cradle of the Catholic faith in the Philippines and center of the devotion to the Child Jesus in the country. The city and its province also have a plethora of devotions, sacred traditions and patrons and their shrines are frequently visited by pilgrims from the province and other parts of the country. One of the most visited shrines in Cebu is the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Guadalupe, Cebu where the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the City and the province of Cebu is enshrined. The image The brown skinned image of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu is a de tallado image of the Blessed Virgin Mary carved in a folksy manner. The images sports a crown, a rostrillo around the face,a set of jewelry from necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, etc., carried a scepter and at times, a  rafaga surrounds the image. The image also wears a set of vestments patterned from of the fame...
Read more

Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Naga - The Ina of Bicolandia

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Naga The Image of the Mother of the Bicolanos - Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia (Complete title: Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Penafrancia de Naga)- is arguably one of the most popular and most venerated image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the country. The image is a wooden statue of the patterned after the image of Virgen del Santo Rosario de Peña de Francia in Salamanca, Spain and Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Manila of Paco. With several miracles that would fill many volumes to its history and the affection that Bicolanos showered to her earned her the title the Principal Patroness and Queen of Bicol Region or simply "Ina" to her devotees, Bicolanos and non Bicolanos alike. It is currently enshrined at the Basilica Minore de Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia in Naga City, Camarines Sur and millions of pilgrims and devotees arrive in Naga City every September for the nine-day  novanario and Fiesta festivities in honor of Our Lad...
Read more

The Resilient devotion and Tradition of the Holy Cross of Wawa

-
Image
The Holy Cross of Wawa In the town of Bocaue, south of Bulacan, famous for its firecracker industry and its iconic festival next to Obando fertility rites, the famous Pagoda (Fluvial Procession) of the Holy Cross of Wawa. Long before the tragedy of 1993, the Pagoda gained throng of devotees for centuries and it is proven to be a resilient devotion when it was revived in 2015. Bocaue's Tree of Life The Holy Cross of Wawa was wooden crucifix without the Corpus that is intricately decorated with silver accesories from rayos (rays at the four corners), three decorative ends of the Cross, a sun, a skull. the Sacred Heart of Jesus and draped with an intricately embroidered cloth. Flonking the flat cross are the images of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist and the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mater Dolorosa which is reminicent of the moment where the Blessed Mother and St. John at the foot of the Cross. Detail of the Holy Cross of Wawa The origin and the miracles  The actua...
Read more

Nuestra Señora de la Regla: Cebu's Gracious Lady

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de la Regla de Cebu Aside to the famed Santo Niño de Cebu, there is another devotion that flourished in the island that pilgrims visit through the centuries succor in times of great need - the felicitous Nuestra Señora De la Regla. The miraculous image is venerated widely by the Cebuanos who believe that the prosperity they enjoy is a blessing achieved through the strength of her maternal intercession. The image is currently venerated at The National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Regla in Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu. Features of the image The image of the Virgin is patterned to the original located in Chipiona, Spain. The Our Lady of the Rule image carved from the trunk of dark Philippine hardwood, was installed at the her own altar of Our Lady of the Rule Church in Lapu-Lapu City. The Brown Madonna holds the Infant Jesus in a form of offering and showing - as if she is presenting the Child Jesus to the people and telling them to worship his Son - ...
Read more