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

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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

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