Pintakasi

The gifts of Ferdinand Magellan (From the left): Virgen de la Cotta, Santo Niño de Cebu, El Ecce Homo de Cebu In common Philippine history books, the majority of Filipinos would encounter that in 1521, after the Mass in Cebu, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan gave the newly baptized Raja Humabon and Hara Humaymay an image of the Child Jesus, which will later be known as the famous and miraculous Santo Niño de Cebu. However, little that the people know is that there were two more images that were given by Ferdinand Magellan to the newly baptized couple, the Ecce Homo and the Virgen de la Cotta of Cebu. Antonio Pigafetta, the chronicler of the voyage attested to this act of Magellan to the newly baptized ruling couple and their subjects. These two images were hidden for some time and later rediscovered separately and enjoyed much devotion for centuries until the Second World War came that signaled the abrupt obscurity of the devotions of these two important venerated images ...

Santa Marta de Pateros The thriving municipality of Pateros, located between Makati City and Pasig City, is famous for its balut (duck eggs) industry for years. The hardworking people of Pateros owes this prosperous industry and others that were later developed in the recent years through their undying devotion to their beloved patroness, St. Martha of Bethany of the famous Bethany siblings who are known to be friends with Jesus Christ. As Santa Marta is known to be productive and hardworking, the people emulated this trait of their patroness that led them to be one of the most hardworking places in Metro Manila. From left: the images of "Matandang Santa Marta", the Shrine image and "Batang Santa Marta" The Beauty of Pateros' Rose The image of Santa Marta de Pateros is one of the most unique and somewhow intriguing in the roster of the famed venerated images in the country. There were at least three images of Santa Marta that are venerated in the mu...

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Manila In the hidden yet busy area of Camba, located in between Tondo and Binondo in Manila, there is a little church that has been the refuge of the people, especially the marginalized of Manila for centuries. This hidden church in this side of Manila is dedicated to the its miraculous patroness, the centuries old image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Manila. This centuries old icon of the Virgin of Solitude that is venerated there became the comforter of the afflicted and refuge of the poor for centuries and miracles were reported through her intercession up to the present. The people of Camba have grown to love their patroness that even with their limited resources, they were able to give her the best gifts to their precious and priceless treasure. The Icon The icon of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Manila was an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in her attribute as the Virgen de la Soledad (The Virgin of Solitude) where she wears the mou...

Blessed Jose Maria de Manila  In our country, the predominantly Catholic country in Asia,  two persons have been canonized and a third, although the son of Spanish parents, is considered a son of the Philippines and has recently been beatified by Pope Francis: Blessed José Maria de Manila. Some Filipinos were surprise, and sadly, some were not aware of him, neither was the news of his beatification and only the few knew him and his glorious martyrdom probably thru books and online articles, especially with the news from the Vatican. Without any further ado, may I introduce to all Filipino Catholics, a Friar with a "Filipino Heart" and must be emulated by all the devout. Early Life He may be an "insulares" (a Spaniard born in a Spanish colony), he does have a heart of a Filipino. José María was born in Manila, Philippines on September 5, 1880 to Spanish parents Don Eugenio del Saz-Orozco de la Oz, the last Spanish Mayor of Manila, and Doña Felisa Mortera y ...

Virgen dela Rosa de Makati In the highly urbanized City of Makati where commerce thrives in and it became the country's urban jungle, one might miss out the fact that it was once a quiet town were before the high rise towers, there were all rice fields as source of livelihood in the old San Pedro de Macati (Makati's old name). In the peak of the city, the town of Poblacion, lies one of the oldest church of the city, the Parish of Sts. Peter and Paul which houses the city's longstanding Patroness, the miraculous image of Virgen de la Rosa. This unique sobriquet of the Virgin can only be found in Makati and she have showered her loving protection of the city for centuries and became the silent witness of Makati's history and development. The image The miraculous image of Virgen de la Rosa was a de vestir image of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus in one arm while holding a rose in another. The devotion to the Virgin of the Rose might be traced back...

The original image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Intramuros "No mas amor que el tuyo, O corazon divino, El pueblo Filipino, Te da su corazon. En templos y en hogares, Te invoque nuestra lengua, Tu reinaras sin mengua de Aparri hasta Jolo." (Translation: "There is no greater love than yours, O Most Sacred Heart, so we, the Filipino people, offer you our hearts. In our temples and in our homes, we cry out to you. May Your kingdom stand firm from Aparri to Jolo." ). This old hymn, for decades, is the hymn of the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the devotion to His Heart in the country is proven to be strong and prominent up to this day. In every Filipino Catholic home, images of the Sacred Heart made from myriad of different materials is the most prominent image in the altars. Almost all Churches and Chapels in the country have an image of Him venerated in its own altar and the First Friday devotions are strictly observed and several parishes were dedic...

Mary Help of Christians of Parañaque City In the modern subdivision of Betterliving located in Parañaque City where modernization of living is evident in the area, there is a place in that area that is flocked by pilgrims for years for it was in this location where the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians is located. The image of Mary, Help of Christians probably is one of the most widely recognized image of the Blessed Virgin in the world which shows her attentiveness to her devotees and and at the same time, demonstrating her power against the enemies of God. The Image The image of Mary, Help of Christians is based from the description of St. John Bosco when he commissioned the original painting: "Our Lady stands out in the center, bathed in light and majesty. She is surrounded by ranks of Angels, who are doing Her honor as their Queen. On Her right hand, She holds a scepter, the symbol of Her power, and on Her left arm, She carries the Child with arms outstretche...