Virgen de las Nieves de Misamis Oriental - The Powerful Queen of El Salvador, Misamis Oriental

-
Virgen de las Nieves de Misamis Oreintal
The prosperous City of El Salvador in Misamis Oriental is known as the "City of the Saviour" because of the famous Divine Mercy Shrine due to reported unusual phenomenon occurred in the holy site. The city's Patroness, the miraculous Virgen de las Nieves is one of the earliest known patroness of the CIty and numerous miracles were attributed to her intercession.

The image

The image of Virgen de las Nieves of El Salvador, Misamis Oriental is a de vestir image of the Madonna and Child wearing a set of white vestments made from different materials and embroidery designs. The Virgin carries the Child Jesus wearing a set of crowns and wigs.

History

In 1861, the Augustinian Recollect Friars arrived in Hinigdaan (the present El Salvador City) bringing with them images of Virgen de las Nieves, San Roque, and San Jose. Few years later a large wooden church was built, and was dedicated to the Virgen de las Nieves. Since the enthronement of the Virgin in her altar, numerous devotees from different parts of the Province came to pay homage to the Virgin.

Virgen de las Nieves de Misamis Oriental
Miracles

During the Philippine Revolution, the Virgin appeared before the revolutionaries, the revolutionaries saw the Virgin all dressed in white while holding the child Jesus, and a large mass of clouds on her feet. Terrified, the revolutionaries left, leaving the image safe from being destroyed.

Another miracle Attributed to her, is when the image was placed on the convento's window. The friar went to the church to Celebrate mass, leaving the sacristan to guard the image and clean it. While cleaning the image, the sacristan saw Amoreseco on her dress. The Sacristan was speculating that the Virgen leaves her altar to go somewhere else, so he left the image all alone in the window to see if it really leaves. A few hours later, the Sacristan went back and saw that the Virgin 's feet was covered in mud, while the child Jesus' arms were filled with rice grains. The sacristan told the Friar everything he saw, the Friar himself was amazed that the Virgin herself could go visit to different places in order to see her beloved children

Virgen de las Nieves de Misamis Oriental
as Virgen de Alegria for a Salubong
During the Second World War, the Virgin also credited to a miracle that saved the citizens of El Salvador, One morning after the mass, the people noticed a number of ships carrying Japanese soldiers sailed in the coasts of El Salvador to invade the town during the Battle of Mindanao. As their ships got nearer, a mysterious mass of white cloud (appearing like Snow) covered their the visibility- as if it was hiding the place (El Salvador), making it impossible for the Japanese army to land safely in the beach. Thus making them decide in changing course, saving the little town of possible attacks and damages.

 The devotion at present

The feast of Virgen de las Nieves is celebrated every August 5, the Feast of the Dedication of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome and numerous devotees flock her shrine in droves. On her feast day,  the original Image is displayed at the main door, so that devotees could kiss and venerate her. On Easter Season, the image also serves as the Virgen de Alegria of the Salubong Rites and the Child Jesus is kept for the duration of the rites.

We have seen once again how the Blessed Virgin Mary showers her devotees and chosen domain with miracles and graces over the centuries and also played an important role in the history of the city. In these dark times, we should continue to have an ardent devotion to the Mother of our Redeemer for only she will help us in our struggles.

Reference

Aviado, Lutgarda, Madonnas of the Philippines, Manlapaz Press, Quezon City, 1972.

Photos:

Panulaya, Kendrick

Interview:

Panulaya, Kendrick

Special credits to Mr. Gabriel Kenrick Panulaya for providing the references and photographs used in this blogpost. 
+AM+DG+

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Did Mama Mary Appear in the Philippines? - A Closer Look

-
Image
The Finding of Nuestra Señora de Caysasay of Batangas Disclaimer: The intention of this blogpost is to present data of different reported Marian apparitions that took place in our country from the Spanish era up to the modern times based from the reports gathered by the blogger. The blogger does not have any intention to incite belief in these reported events, especially those that do not have formal approval in accordance to the ruling of Pope Urban VIII regarding reported supernatural phenomena (anticipation of a formal approval or disapproval of such events without the official ruling of the Church). Therefore, the blogger  submits himself to the judgement of the Holy See, together with every interpretation or theory contained in this blog special. Introduction "Did Mama Mary appear in the Philippines?" a question that many Filipino Marian devotees would sometimes wonder given that we are known as the "Pueblo Amante de Maria" for our love for the Mother
Read more

Santo Niño de Cebu - The Eternal King of the Philippines

-
Image
Sto. Nino de Cebu The most revered image in the Philippines -  Santo Niño de Cebú is an image of the Child Jesus much venerated as miraculous by the majority of Filipino Catholics and revered as the symbol of the Catholic Faith in the country. The oldest Christian image in the Philippines, it was originally given in 1521 as a baptismal gift by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Hara Humamay, the chief consort of Rajah Humabon, along with a statue of the Virgin Mary, and a bust of depicting Christ as Ecce Homo. The image is one of the most celebrated in the country that is highlighted through the celebration of Sinulog Festival every Third Sunday of January, its Liturgical Feast and on Kaplag every April 28th, its Original and Traditional Feast, to commemorate the rediscovery of the image by Juan Camus. Miracles have recorded through his help that he continues to shower his devotees up to the present. Features of the Image The image measures approximately tw
Read more

La Virgen Divina Pastora of Gapan - the Queen of the Central Plains

-
Image
The original image of  La Virgen Divina Pastora In the historic province of Nueva Ecija, located in the Central Luzon Region, where agriculture and commerce are thriving and played an important role in the Philippine Revolution as one of the provinces who revolt against the Spanish regime for the cause of Independence, the faith is still much alive and well in the province because of its devotion to the Mother of God that the people inherited to their forefathers for centuries. In almost every churches in the province, one can see a unique image of the Blessed Mother known as La Virgen Divina Pastora where she is acclaimed as the Queen of Nueva Ecija for years. The Divina Pastora for centuries, since her arrival, have manifested to the people of Gapan and later the whole province with miracles that she earned a special place in the heart of everyone in the province and the whole Central Luzon that she was also known as "The Queen of the Central Plains". The Image
Read more

Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Quezon - The Sorrowing Mother of Quezon Province

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Quezon (Altar image) In the quiet yet mystical town of Dolores, Quezon, known as one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the province where the famed Mount Banahaw is located where syncretic folk beliefs are practiced up to this day. Aside form the “mystical” Mount Banahaw, pilgrims would flock a church near the mountain and it became a center of pilgrimage for ages, the National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows of Dolores, Quezon flourished over the years and it became one of the most visited in the Quezon Province due to the numerous miracles that were attributed to her intercession. The image There were two images of the Virgin of Sorrows that is venerated in the shrine, the famed altar image that is currently enthroned at the center of the main altar and the processional image that also served as the pilgrim image of the shrine. Both images depict the Blessed Virgin Mary in her moment oi sor
Read more

San Agustin de Tanza - Cavite's famous "Tata Usteng"

-
Image
San Agustin de Tanza "Tata Usteng" In the collective consciousness of the faithful in lowland Cavite, three famous Patrons are community not heard in their lips and centers of devotion, that of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga or "Nana Choleng" of Cavite City, Santa Maria Magdalena or "Nana Nena" of Kawit and our San Agustin of Tanza or more popularly known as "Tata Usteng". Arguably the most famous image of St. Augustine in the Philippines, Tata Usteng lavished his devotees with answered favors, unbelievable miracles and other phenomena that was engrained to the hearts and minds of Cavitenos and his devotees outside Cavite. The image The famed image of San Agustin of Tanza is that of a wooden detallado image of St. Augustine as a Bishop wearing his canonical garb, holding his staff, wearing his mitre and holding a book topped with a scale model of a church in allusion to his title as "Doctor of the Church". Although t
Read more