Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Wawa - The Miraculous Lady of Wawa, Nasugbu, Batangas

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Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Wawa
In the quiet barangay of Wawa in Nasugbu, Batangas, one can surprisingly find one of the frequented Marian site in the province of Batangas and gained a silent yet strong devotional following over the years since the arrival of its image. The image of Nuestra Señora de la Paz de Wawa is known for its miracles and protection of her people that her chapel is one of the most frequented by devotees.

The image

The image of Nuestra Señora de la Paz de Wawa is a de vestir image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and it isa replica of the famed Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje of Antipolo, Rizal. The unique feature of this image is that the image has a fair complexion compared to that of the Antipolo image and her hands are in open prayer position. She has a lovely face with with eyes directly looking at the beholder.

The Virgin wears the diagnostic doce estrellas, a crown, holds a scepter stands on a base and wears a veil at times and a set of vestments made from different materials and done in different embroidery styles offered by her devotees that are accumulated over the years.

Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Wawa
The origin of the devotion

The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Paz de Wawa began in the late 1800's when an employee of the Ayala - Roxas family named Pablo Bontiam was gifted an image of the Blessed Virign Mary as a reward for his dedicated service to their hacienda. The Roxas y Cia clan would later donate a portion of their land to the Archdiocese of Lipa so that a chapel would be built. The pious residents of Wawa werea able to built a modest chapel for the VIrgin made of wood and when the stone chapel was made, its parent parish St. Francis Xavier Parish donated their old altar for the Virgin. SInce then, people would flock the chepel to give homage to the Virgin and miracles began to be reported attributed to her intercession.

In the 1990's the original image was brought home to the Bolintan family for some reasons and a replica was commisioned, yet every month of May, the original image would spend time in the chapel for the Flores de Mayo celebrations and novenario for her fiesta every May 10. In 2018, after the death of Macaria Bolintiam, the last child of Pablo Bolintiam who stand as the camarera of the Virgen for years, the children of the said camarera decided that the Virgin would once again stay permanently at the church which was at the time was newly reconstructed and a solemn re-enthronement rites took place.

Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Wawa
Miracles

From the time the image arrived in Wawa, the Virign began to manifest herself through countless miracles that were attributed to her intercession which earned her many devotees over the years from within and outside Nasugbu, Batangas. The bountiful harvest of the townsfolk of Wawa are always attributed to their patroness that her feast day is celebrated with much festive air in thanksgiving to her intercession.

In times of calamities such as powerful storms, tidal waves, and natural disasters the people ask for the Virgin's help so that God will aid them for their safety. The Virgin did not turn a deaf ear to her devotees and she protects them form such caalamities. On one occasion, the elders would recount that every late afternoon, they were seeing a very beautiful lady with a very long hair, go downstairs from Bolintiam's home and walks along the shore.

During the dreadful Second World War, a canon ball was fired towards Bolintiam’s home. The wall where her image stood was totally damaged but surprisingly, the image of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje was not even touched. The canon ball went through the wall and went pass through the other wall. When the Japanese confiscated Bolintiam's home, the residents fled to the mountains taking the image with them for safe keeping. When the War ended, she was safely retuned home. Since that time, she was been brought for a procession every last day of the month. This practice halted in the 1970's but nevertheless, she continues to protect Wawa and its people.

The fluvial procession of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Wawa
Church Recognition

During the Pastoral visit of Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, Archbishop of Lipa to St. Francis Xavier Parish in June 2018, the Chapel of the Virgen de la Paz was recommended for elevation as a parish.

After further studies, observation and research, on a Chrism Mass of April 2019, Archbishop Garcera announced the separation of the Wawa Chapel to St. Francis Xavier Parish and it will cover 6 barangays from the Western Part of Nasugbu. The date of the dedication is yet to be announced as soon as the convent and other facilities needed fora parish were built.

The devotion

The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen VIaje de Wawa continues to flourish up to this day and the number of devotees increased over the years. The feast of the Virgin is celebrated every May 10 with in a very festive manner.

The Karakol in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Wawa
One of the highlights of the fiesta celebrations is the Karakol tradition done in her honor (Almost similar to those done in the coastal areas of Cavite province). Although the origins of this tradition is unknown, it is widely observed in Nasugbu and its neighboring barangays of Bucan, Calayo and Papaya.

The Karakol usually starts at 3:00 pm with the image being hand carried by her devotees and it will be passed and carried over by anyone of the devotees who wanted to carrt the venerable image. Other devotees on the other hand will be dancing carrying with them their “salakot” followed by a music band and many others. The Karakol would wound up its way throughout the streets of Wawa until it reached the pier in Nasugbu Bay. Once at the pier, the image would be placed in a large boat for a fluvial procession and once the procession was finished, the devotees assemble back on the shore and will return the image back to the Church. They will wait for another time in the evening for the Solemn Procession. 

As we glanced upon the devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Wawa of Nasugbu, Batangas, here we see how the devtion began as an act of charity to a humble servant of a prominent family and he in turn shared this gift to his fellow townsfolk that grew to something that the people of Wawa will forever be grateful for for centuries to come - the charity and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. May we learn by heart the virtue of charity for not only it is part of the three cardinal virtues, it is also something that we can learn from the Blessed Mother and this was proven not only in her lifetime, but also in other places in the world were she is the chosen patroness.

Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Wawa, Ipanalangin mo kami!

References:

Abadilla, Miguel, "History of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Wawa", unpublished manuscript, 2019.
"Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Wawa", Retreived from https://m.facebook.com/groups/241285489403559?view=permalink&id=298534523678655
"Our Lady of Wawa", Retreived from http://livetoreadnread.blogspot.com/2016/05/our-lady-of-wawa.html?m=1 on November 30, 2019.

Special thanks to Mr. Miguel Abadilla of the Chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Wawa of Wawa, Nasugbu, Batangas for the documents and photographs used in this blogpost.
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