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Showing posts from June, 2020

San Miguel Arcangel de Bacoor & Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Bacoor - The Patrons and Protectors of Bacoor, Cavite

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Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario and San Miguel Arcangel de Bacoor In the historic city of Bacoor, Cavite, there lies one of the oldest landmarks of the area - the Parish of St. Michael the Archangel which also played a key role in our history were one of the GOMBURZA priests, Fr. Mariano Gomez once administered the parish. In this parish, there were two esteemed patrons of the people of Bacoor that became their protectors and silent witnesses to the town's history- San Miguel Arcangel de Bacoor and Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Bacoor. The visage of the two patrons The image of San Miguel Arcangel de Bacoor is that of a de tallado wooden image of St. Michael the Archangel sporting a wig, wearing his armor with his metal breastplate, wings and a soldier's hat with feathers which akin those of colonial depictions of St. Michael the Archangel in Mexico (where his cult is well known due to a reported apparition there) and other Latin American countries. The

Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Mandaluyong - The Doting Mother of Mandaluyong City

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Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Mandaluyong Mandaluyong City, famously known as the "Tiger CIty" due to its progressive economic development and also has a unique place in the history in our country. In the banks of the historic Pasig River, there is a church dedicated to one of the esteemed patroness of the city - Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Mandaluyong. The Virgin of the Abandoned of Mandaluyong City became one of the silent witnesses of the historic development of the city and also a solace to her children in times of need. The image The venerable image of Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Mandaluyong is a wooden de vestir image of the Blessed Virgin Mary carrying the Child Jesus in her arms under this particular title. The image is faithful to the iconography of its original in Valencia, Spain and it's parent image in Santa Ana, Manila: the Virgin holding the Child Jesus on her right arm and a scepter with a sheaf of lilies on her left, we

San Fernando de Lucena - The Patriarch of Lucena

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San Fernando de Lucena In the quiet yet historic Lucena, Quezon Province, we can find its historic San Fernando Cathedral as one of its landmarks where it's titular royal patron became its silent witness to the development of the city. The Life of St. Ferdinand, King of Spain Ferdinand III of Castile was the son of Alfonso IX, King of Leon, and Berengaria, daughter of Alfonso III, King of Castile (Spain). He was declared king of Castile at age eighteen. Ferdinand was born near Salamanca; proclaimed king of Palencia, Valladolid, and Burgos; his mother advised and assisted him during his young reign. He married Princess Beatrice, daughter of Philip of Suabia, King of Germany and they had seven sons and three daughters. His father (the king of Leon) turned against him and tried to take over his rule. The two reconciled later, and fought successfully against the Moors. In 1225, he held back Islamic invaders; prayed and fasted to prepare for the war; extremely devoted to the Ble

A Mother coming down to her children - A personal eyewitness account

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An elder devotee reaching the original icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help of Baclaran, Parañaque There were some things that happened rarely that a generation can experience and remember and I do think that this is one of them. For many years, whenever we visit the famed Baclaran Shrine in Parañaque City, we would always look up to the high altar - a literally high one - to have a glimpse of  the famed miraculous icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help which became a silent witness to the faith of all Filipinos who would flock her shrine 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sometimes I would wonder "What does she look like up close?" - seems to be a vague question since most of the time, she is up there in her high altar. However, for some reason, that question was soon answered last year when the Redemptorists Fathers decided to bring down the icon from her altar after many years since the 1990's and the response was, I would say, it is overwhelming for devotees swarm

Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Coloong - The Catalyst of the Rosary devotion in Valenzuela City

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Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Coloong The highly urbanized Valenzuela City is known by the majority as the location of two of its key Churches, the historic parish of San Diego de Alcala in Polo with its still existing bell tower - the lone survivor of the Second World War, and the famous National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. The latter became a popular pilgrimage site and the center of the devotion to Our Lady of Fatima to spread the devotion and importance of the Rosary and her message and exhortations for peace in the world and conversion of sinners. But if we look closely to the history of the Catholic faith in Valenzuela City, there was already a rosary center in the city with a unique image of Our Lady of the Rosary as the point of devotion in old Valenzuela City. The devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary of Coloong, Polo, Valenzuela spread throughout the city by means of a old pious practice that is performed by the month of October where it was brought to differ

The Miraculous Nuestra Señora de Katipanan of Nabua, Camarines Sur

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 Nuestra Señora de Katipanan of Nabua In the quiet town of Nabua in Camarines Sur, the people of the town have a special devotion to the Virgin Mary as part ofa centuries old covenant of their ancestors. This is the history of the miraculous NNuestra Señora de Katipanan of Nabua, Camarines Sur. The image The miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de Katipanan of Nabua, Camarines Sur is an image of the Immaculate Conception venerated in the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Katipanan of Nabua, Camarines Sur. The image is one of the rpime example of early Christian art in the country for its features are similar to the styles of those in Visayas, Quezon Province among others.  For this image, the Virgin wears a carved pinkish-white dress with gold trimmings, a blue veil with pink layer underneath, stands on a base, her hands in a prayer position and has a square shaped face with a lovely expression. The Virgin also sports a crown and the diagnostic doce estrellas. Fiesta offer

Silent Witnesses - The Role of Venerated images in Philippine History

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The Battles of La Naval de Manila of 1646 Written by Aeron Ruazol of Egeria: The Philippine Pilgrimage Additional text by James Benedict Malabanan The Catholic faith in the Philippines plays a large role in our history. Many tried to dismiss or erase it to the modern day consciousness of many yet time and time again, with written and oral documents and its lasting effects substantiate this fact. In celebration of the Philippine Independence Day, let us have look on notable Venerated Images at the Crucial Moments of Philippine History Santo Niño de Cebu The Kaplag (Finding) of Sto. Niño de Cebu  Date/Year: April 28, 1565 According to Nick Joaquin, the history of the Philippines was decided on the Easter Week of 1565. Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi was in doubt of the future of his expedition. They were running out of supplies and his men wanted to play it safe. The missionaries were at lost on the legality of Philippine occupation and their evangelical duties were d