La Inmaculada Concepcion de Dinagat - Mother and Protectress of Dinagat Island

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La Inmaculada Concepcion de Dinagat

In the beautiful island of Dinagat, located in Surigao de Norte, rich for its history, culture and faith, is known for its rich biodiversity with rare fauna and rare species of animals that can be seen here. The central figure of the Dinagatnons is the centuries old image of La Inmaculada Concepcion de Dinagat the Patroness of Dinagat Island where she showered her devotees numerous miracles and graces to her chosen abode from the time of her arrival.

The original image of La Inmaculada Concepcion de Dinagat
The image

There were two venerated image of La Inmaculada Concepcion de Dinagat that is kept in the Parish of the Dinagat Island; the small original image and the bigger altar image enthroned at the Gospel side of the altar.

The petite original image of La Inmaculada Concepcion de Dinagat is a beautifully carved de tallado image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Conception where she is carved wearing a white robe, a blue cloak and a blue belt on her waist. The Virgin's wavy hair was done beautifully, her hands in a prayer position and her head leaning sideways and her eyes looking downwards with a sweet smile. She steps on a globe with a crescent moon and a serpent - the diagnostic elements on depicting images of the Immaculate Conception. The original image is kept in a special place for safekeeping and it is brought out during the novena and fiesta celebrations.

The bigger altar image, enthroned on at the Gospel side of the altar took a different approach. Although they have similarities with the original image, the altar image stands straight and her head is slight leaning on the side and her face was more solemn and pensive.

History

The Parish of the Immaculada Concepcion was established by the Augustinian Recollect missionaries in 1855. The Recoletos supervised the parish for twenty years and passed it over to the Society of Jesus in 1875, who turned it over to the Benedictine Monks who administered the parish until 1909. The next overseer is the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart who eventually turned it over to the present guardians, the Society of the Divine Word.

The altar image of La Inmculada Concepcion
de Dinagat
The origin of the image of the Immaculate Conception of Dinagat was not well known, yet according to the parish's archives, it was installed by the Recollect missionaries in the island for veneration of the faithful which helped the devotion flourished. The parish and its convento became a safe hiding place whenever Moros were raiding islands and towns to wreck havoc on the place either by looting or kidnapping civilians and sold as slaves. The people of Dinagat call her the Star of the Sea and their very own special defender against natural calamities and helped fishermen to have a bountiful catch.

Miracles

Numerous miracles were reported that were attributed to the venerated image of La Inmaculada Concepcion de Dinagat.  A volcano on the island erupted which caused the rocking of the ocean and the giant waves. The people sought the intercession of the Blessed Mother promising to mend their immoral ways. Abruptly, a strange veil blocked the waves and the sea grew calm. The people believed that the Mother of God granted their prayers.

A strong typhoon hit the island and once again, the people ask for the lady's intercession. They remembered that they or got to keep their promise to keep away from sins. On the third day, the winds stopped. No lives were harmed and no property was damaged. The people came to church and thanked God through Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Dinagat. The altar helpers noticed the Lady's skirt hemline were dripping wet and scattered with amor secos in spite of the dry interior of the church altar.

The devotion at present

The devotion to La Inmaculada Concepcion de Dinagat continuous to flourish up to this day. The feast of the Immaculate Conception of Dinagat is celebrated every December 8. The Virgin became a loving Mother and a guiding stat to the people of Dinagat Island that she became part and parcel of the history and culture of the Dinagatnons and the people in turn expressed their gratitude to her with the love and devotion they have to their Star of the Sea.

References:


Borja, Oswaldo and Dick L. Edera, History of Dinagat, Souvenir Program, Dinagat, Surigao del Norte, 1994.
Barcelona, Mary Anne, Ynang Maria: a celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Philippines. Ed. Consuelo B. Estampa, P.D. Pasig City, Anvil Publishing Inc., 2004.
Fiesta 2001, Parish souvenir program, Immaculate Conception Parish, Dinagat, Surigao del Norte, 2001.

Photos:

Immaculate Conception Parish of Dinagat Facebook page.

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