Pintakasi

Mary, Help of Christians of Pangasinan In the peaceful yet prosperous province of Pangasinan, known for its fishing industry, it's beautiful scenery, and most notably a pilgrimage hotspot where the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag is located, the province is also known for the increasing number of vocations in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. The notable number of priestly vocations in the said archdiocese is somehow unheard of, especially these modern times. The increase of the vocations is attributed to thru the intercession and maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her well known litany title as "Help of Christians". She became the maternal comfort and strength of the seminarians of the Archdiocese and a devotion to her became a welcoming development on this story. In line with recent news of her Canonical Coronation, we will discover how this well known Marian sobriquet linked to the flourishing vocations in Pangasi...

Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Alaminos "Birheng Patrona" In the quiet yet prosperous town of Alaminos, Laguna, a quiet yet historic church in the area is gradually emerging as a notable Marian Pilgrimage sites in the province of Laguna, aside from Pakil, Pagsanjan, Los Banos, Mabitac, Sta. Maria, Pacita and Binan among others. The parish located in Alaminos is the home of one of the most popular Marian avocation in our country - Nuestra Señora del Pilar. The images There are four images of the Virgin of the Pillar that became focal points of devotion for centuries in this quiet time: the original Ivory image and its processional counterpart that are currently under the custodianship of the heirs of Bernabela Fadino and the wooden church images - the old main image and a larger altar image. Typical to Pilarica images, the four venerated images stands on a pillar, the Virgin's mantle is draped on her while the Niño holds a dove in one hand. The Virgin wears an imperia...

Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Guibang In a quiet northern Luzon province of Isabela, located in Cagayan Valley Region, where agriculture thrives in the province, the Catholic faithful of the province thrives in due to the fact that one of the most notable Marian Shrines in the country is located in the area - The National Shrine of Nuestra Senora de la Visitacion de Guibang, the Queen and Patroness of Isabela Province. In this humble shrine, located along National Highway, enshrines the miraculous image of the Virgin that caused so much miracles that she gained much love and veneration of the people of Isabela and neighboring provinces in the country. The Image The beautiful image of the Virgin of the Visitation is that of the typical Madonna and Child model in a classic Philippine Colonial aesthetic: the de bastidor body and imperial ensemble consists of a beautifully beaded, oftentimes embroidered vestments, a cape and a set of crowns, a rostrillo, Doce Estrellas and a s...

Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Bacacay In the quiet town of Bacacay, located in the province of Albay, there was clandestine yet thriving devotion that is slowly gaining popularity in the Bicol region. Pilgrims would usually climb a mountain were a reported Marian apparition took place, some century ago in Bacacay and it enjoys much veneration of the faithful for years. This is the narrative of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Bacacay. Detail from the original painting of Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Bacacay The visage of the Lady The visage of the Blessed Virgin in this apparition is that the Virgin is wearing a simple white (in other depictions, it is yellowish white) and blue cloak, has a long brown hair, carrying the Child Jesus in her right arm and extending her hand in the other. She stands on a cloud and oftentimes, she is depicted wearing a blue veil in her statue and relief image while on th...

Written and Prepared by Mr. Michael Delos Reyes Nuestra Senora de Candelaria de Tondo The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2, is among the oldest feasts of the Church, commemorating the presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem, forty days after his birth. The fortieth day after Christmas-Epiphany was already being celebrated in Jerusalem in ca. 386 as attested by the pilgrim Egeria. The feast was accepted in Rome by the second half of the seventh century, and was included in the Gregorian Sacramentary under the title Ypapanti, from the Greek Hypapante or Meeting. It celebrates the meeting of the Infant Jesus with Simeon. Later, the feast also came to be known as the Purification of Mary. In the Philippines, the feast has also been called Candelaria, in reference to the Blessing of the Candles that takes place at the start of the Mass, before the procession to the church, commemorating the Presentation of the Lord. In the centuries-old parish o...

Virgen de los Desamparados de Logon In the quiet and simple island town of Logon, located in the municipality of Daanbatayan, Malapascua Island in Cebu, There lies a simple community who lived a very simple life away from the metropolis. The island of Malapascua is known one of the hotspots for diving. In that community, there is a simple church that became a beacon of hope to the residents where a miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as Virgen de Los Desamparados de Logon is enshrined. Numerous miracles were reported through her intercession over the years since she was found in 1881 and the town developed a great devotion to Our Lady as the Lady of the Forsaken. The image The image of Virgen de Los Desamparados de Logon is an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary has a fair complexion and it is vested with simple yet ornate vestments that only shows her head and her clasped hands. Wears a crown and sports a unique Doce Estrellas and a rafaga, which is somehow reminis...

Nuestra Señora de La Paz "Apung Maria de Manila" In the simple barrio of Barrio Santa Maria, located in Paco, Manila, a community of Kapampangans resided in the area since the Japanese occupation. This simple group of Kapampangans of Macabebe brought with them a devotion that is very dear to them - the devotion to Nuestra Señora de La Paz, better known to the residents as "Apung Maria de Manila".  This special devotion to Apung Maria de Manila serves not only as a beacon of faith of the Barrio in Paco, but also, the Virgin also serves as a link between two cultures, that of Manila and Pampanga. The image The image of Apung Maria de Manila is that a "de Vestir" (vested image) of the Blessed Virgin Mary where she is presented as a Sovereign Queen to her people. She has a vast number of vestments made from different materials that were given by devotees over the years.  She holds a scepter, wears a beautiful crown and the diagnostic ...