Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Negros Oriental - The Lovely and Miraculous Mother of Valencia, Negros Oriental

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Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados
de Negros Oriental
In the old yet progressive town of Valencia, Negros Oriental is known for its natural beauty from its beautiful Casaroro Falls and its colorful  local history. The towns patroness, Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados, became a silent witness to the history, development and spiritual growth of the locale that she gained much devotees through the centuries as she guides and protects her chosen abode in this side of the Negros Province.

The image

The Miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Negros Oriental is a wooden de tallado image of  the Blessed Virgin Mary under the famed title Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados which was originated in Valencia, Spain that would later spread in Santa Ana, Manila, the cities of Marikina Mandaluyong and Muntinlupa. The image of Negros Oriental's Our Lady of the Abandoned is one of the faithful reproductions of the famed Valencian Virgin: She carries the Child Jesus, has two Niños Inocentes on the hem of her dress, holds an azucena (lilies), the Child Jesus holding a crucifix, also wears real vestments and a set of wigs, and both Mother and Child wears a pair of crowns and the diagnostic estrellas for the Virgin. 

What was interesting to this image is that both Mother and Child are pale compared to its local counterparts and even to the original Spanish image. Both Mother and Child have a very tender face that gives a sense of tenderness to the beholder. It also interesting to note on how the Child Jesus looks tenderly to her Mother which is different from its counterparts.  

Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados
de Negros Oriental
The origins

The exact origins of the Negros Oriental's Virgin of the Abandoned is unknown due to lack or records that can trace the origins of the image. It can be said that the devotion is as old as the foundation of the town itself  on May 19, 1852 where Valencia was originally named Ermita, which means "a secluded place", due to its being a refuge from marauding Muslim pirates. Fr. Antonio Ubeda of the order of the Augustinian Recollects was instrumental in naming the town Nueva Valencia after his hometown’s name in Valenica, Spain - as the first Recollect to take care of the faithful’s spiritual needs. It can be assumed that the devotion to Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados was introduced by Fr. Ubeda to his mission in Negros Oriental since the Virgin of the Abandoned is the Patroness of Valenica and also given to the account how the devotion to the Virgen de los Desamparados was deeply rooted to the people of Valencia, Spain. Since the introduction of the devotion to the Virgin of the Abandoned in Negros Oriental, numerous miracles began to happen through her intercession.

The Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned was formally established on March 31, 1854 separating from it s mother parish in Dumaguete. The first church and school was built made of light materials in 1855 that later collapsed in 1885. 

The processional image of Nuestra Señora
de los Desamparados de Negros Oriental
whose ivory hands was stolen recently
The parish was was later rebuilt made of stone in 1866. In 1898, both the church and convent were burned during the Revolution. The Recollects left the parish; a Secular priest from Dumaguete took over the administration of the parish until the Recollects returned and resumed its administration in 1904 and it continued up to the present. That same  year, a new concrete church and convent was built. The present concrete church and convent was built in 1960.

The devotion

The devotion to Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Negros Oriental flourished over the centuries as numerous miracles were attributed to her intercession that continues up to this day that earned her the Patronage of Valencia, Negros Oriental. The Virgin's feast day is celebrated annually every October 12 with the town fiesta. The fiesta is an official non-working holiday for the town. “When all human help fails, it is imperative that we not despair. For normally in this extreme situation, the divine help of Mary comes.” say St. Bonaventure. The devotion to Our Lady of the Abandoned teaches us that when man is completely abandoned, it is necessary to have hope, because this is the moment that Our Lady will give her assistance.

References:

Mills, S.A., "Stranded in the Philippines" Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2009.
"Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish Valencia, Negros Oriental", Retrieved from https://recoletosfilipinas.org/2017/07/21/our-lady-of-the-abandoned-parish-valencia-negros-oriental/ on September 1, 2019.

Credits to the owner of the photographs used for this blogpost.
+AM+DG+

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