A Mother’s Stuff

Our Lady of Visitation National Shrine

Our Lady of Visitation, also known as Nuestra Señora De La Visitacion was the title given to our Blessed Virgin Mary upon her visit to her cousin Elizabeth as mentioned in the Second Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary. There are two places venerating Our Lady of Visitation in Northern Luzon: the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation in Guibang, Gamu, Isabela and the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat in Cagayan Province.

The image is housed at the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat in Cagayan Province. The Lady of Piat is famous for her intercession for the ill, the poor, and the troubled. Originally known as the Nuestra Señora de la Santissimo Rosario, was brought to the Philippines by the Dominican friars from Macao in 1604.
The wooden image was first enthroned in the seat of Nueva Segovia in Lallo, Cagayan then was brought to the Church of Piat in 1620, to help in the conversion of the quarelling Didayas and Itawis to Christianity.

Since then, numerous miracles took place and these were attributed to the intercession of the Lady. Because of these incidents, the image has attracted a large number of followers who prevented all attempts to transfer permanently the image to other towns. Our Lady of Piat was canonically crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth on June 20, 1954 in Tuguegarao, Cagayan by Papal Delegate Egidio Vagnozzi.

The Shrine of Our lady of the Visitation in Guibang, Gamu, Isabela houses the image of Our Lady of Piat and serves as a junction for travelers passing along Maharlika Highway. It is now as famous as the Shrine of Basilica Minore of Piat as it comes alive on July 2 every year when religious pilgrims come to offer prayers of thanks and to ask for another year of good fortune. The image of the miraculous Lady was canonically crowned on May 26, 1973.

Popular Stories Regarding the Our Lady’s Habits and Customs
• Residents about to close their windows and doors at night to sleep, would smell a strong scent of Sampaguita flowers that would remain hanging in the air for along period of time even during off seasons.
• At the sroke of midnight of September 8, people will hear loud sounds of bell coming from the direction of the shrine. However, when they tried to investigate about the incident, the priest would deny that he has rung the bell at that particular time.
• Our Lady of Visitation is choosy with her clothes, especially when it does not look gaudy, her face would frown.

St. Mathias Church (Tumauini, Isabela)

St. Mathias Church was built in 1753 by the Dominicans and was finished in 1805. It is an ultra-baroque church, unique for its extensive use of baked clay both for wall finishing and ornamentation. Clay bricks come to life in concentric circles on the façade, spiral curves on the finial serpentine reliefs, and many finely molded details – flowers, foliage, surfaces, cherubs, and saints. Its architecture bears Chinese ancestry. This church of bricks features a unique cylindrical bell tower that is the only one of its kind in the Philippines. It was declared a National Historical Landmark on February 24, 1989.

St. Hyacinth Church

St. Hyacinth Church (or San Jacinto Chapel) is an elevated church whose construction dates back from 1604, or more than 100 years older than St. Peter’s Cathedral. Used as American headquarters in the Filipino-American war of 1899, it was reconstructed afterward by the Americans.

San Jacinto Polona Parish Church

The oldest bell in the Far East is in San Jacinto Polona Parish Church, in Camalaniugan. Forged in the year 1595, it was brought to Manila in 1937 as part of the attractions during the 33rd International Eucharistic Congress.

Alcala Philomene Church

Alcala Philomene Church, built in 1881, is the widest church in the province, measuring 30 meters wide by 90 mtrs. long, yet is made principally of bricks.

St. Peter’s Cathedral

St. Peter’s Cathedral is the biggest Spanish-built church in the Cagayan Valley region. Its construction was completed in 1767; it suffered massive destruction in World War II but was rebuilt and is now considered one of the most beautiful works of art in the country and the world today.

Diocese of Lal-lo

Lal-lo was one of the first four cities in the Philippines (the others being Manila, Cebu and Naga). The first bishop of the Lal-lo diocese, Miguel Benavidez, O.P., was also the founder of the University of Santo Tomas.

Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat

The Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat, in the western part of Cagayan, houses a statue and image of Mary which was first enshrined in Lal-lo in 1604 (then known as Nueva Segovia). The image is credited with miraculous cures.

History of Malasiqui

Malasiqui was once a mere settlement. Several families grouped together for mutual protection from wild beasts and lawless elements. As the settlement progressed, the Spanish authorities took advantage of the situation and sent missionary priests to spread the gospel.

According to legends, three missionary priests were initially sent to the settlement. Upon reaching the place, they found out that the settlement was located in the middle of thick woods and tall grasses inhabited by dangerous animals. The settlement was surrounded by creeks. A man whose brother became a historical figure lives along the banks of the north creek. This man was popularly known as Balolong. He is the brother of the famous Juan de la Cruz Palaris who led the revolution against the Spaniards in 1763.

Balolong planted a tree near his house and the tree grew very big that it is easily seen within the neighborhood. The tree was called “Bengal.” Because of the big tree, the north creek area is usually referred to as “Bengal nen Balolong.” Later on, the creel was to be known as “Bengalbalolong.” It is now more popularly known as Binalbalolong. These creeks that surrounded the settlement were known to be too dangerous during rainy season because of the swift current. Now, the south and north creeks are dormant.

As the three missionary priests surveyed the area, they found the small paths penetrating the thick woods and tall grasses. These small road passes connect the houses in the settlement. Ferocious wild pigs locally known as “animoloc” were abundant in the area. Having surveyed the settlement, two of the priests did not seem to admire the place. One of them remarked in Spanish “Mala” meaning “No good.” The other readily nodded in agreement and was heard to have replied in Spanish “Si” meaning “Yes.” But the third priest was determined to settle with the other two so he was heard to have protested in Spanish saying “Yqui” meaning “So what?”

The natives who heard the short dialogue (but did not understand the language) thought all along the priests gave a name to the settlement. They heard the priests uttered the following words in succession “Mala-si-yqui.” From that moment on, the settlement (now a big town) is to be known as Malasiqui.

PARISH OF SAN ILDEPHONSE MALASIQUI 1699

The parish of Malasiqui was formerly a “visita” of San Carlos, In 1665, it became a town with the venerable Fr. Juan Camacho as founder and first pastor. The original town of Malasiqui was located some two kilometers to the east of the road leading to Villasis. After an uprising in 1660, the town was transferred to the present site in 1661-1662.

In 1746, the construction of the church and the convent was started by Fr. Luis Delfin. These buildings were burned in 1763. In 1770, another convent was built, around 1773 the constructed new church began under Fr. Tapias, and it was completed in 1790. On February 29, 1820 another conflagration gutted down the town together with the church, the convent and the parish archives. Again, the building of a new church began in 1823 and was also burned. A provisional church and a convent were again put up, but this crumbled during the earthquake in 1880. In 1882, Fr. Juan Cordova constructed a new church which was inaugurated in 1885. This was partly destroyed in tremors of 1892, but was repaired by Fr. Salvador Millan. It measures 70 meters long and 18.50 wide. Meanwhile, the old convent was converted into Malasiqui’s first Catholic School. Later date, a new Catholic Rectory was inaugurated by Msgr. Madriano Madriaga on July 2, 1972.

Our Lady of Peñafrancia Basilica in Naga, City

The Our Lady of Peñafrancia Church was built in 1711 by Rev. Miguel Covarrubias and it houses the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. He constructed this church in fullfillment of the vow he made during his youth. The second church was built in 1750 by Bishop Isidoro de Arevalo, repaired and improved in 1876-1877 by Bishop Francisco Gainza. The image was solemnly crowned by the Rt. Rev. Guillermo Piano on September 20, 1924.

The concept for the building the Basilica Minore came from Archbishop Pedro P. Santos in 1960. Construction began on April 18, 1976, but was delayed for a number of years due to finance problems and was not completed until September, 1981.

On May 22, 1982 it was dedicated as The Church of Nuestra Señora de Peña de Francia and it wasn’t until May 22, 1985 that the Church was given the title of “Basilica Minore” from Rome after a request from the third Archbishop of Caceres, Leonardo Z. Legaspi.

The Peñafrancia Basilica Minore houses an image of the virgin Mary that was sculpted in 1710. It was commissioned by Miguel de Cobarrubias who moved to the Philippines from Spain with his family and believed that the virgin Mary had helped him numerous times in his life.

Below are pictures of the current state of the basilica taken by my husband during his business trip in Naga last week.

Faith of San Carleñians

The patron saint of the San Carlos City is Saint Dominic de Guzman. He is the founder of the Order of Preachers and credited for performing miracles in the city. Among them was the minimal damage to the city caused by the return of the Americans to the islands during the close of World War II. The parish church built in his honor was once the biggest in Luzon. The parish of San Carlos is the oldest in Pangasinan.

Roman Catholicism remains the faith of majority of San Carleñians, although there are other denominations that co-exist peacefully in the city. Discrimination of religion is discouraged, though religious practices that seem bizaare and unacceptable by society is widely looked down upon.

• Saint Dominic de Guzman Parish Church
• Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Soledad
• Our Lady Queen of the Holy Family Parish Church
• Iglesia ni Cristo - Lokal ng San Carlos
• Iglesia ni Cristo - Ano
• Iglesia ni Cristo - Salinap
• United Methodist Church
• San Carlos Baptist Church
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
• Faith Assembly of God

Religion of Pangasinan People

The religion of the people of Pangasinan is predominantly Christian, although few are strict believers and continue to practice their indigenous beliefs and rituals, like most of the people of the Philippines. Spanish and American missionaries introduced Christianity to Pangasinan. Prior to the Spanish conquest in 1571, the predominant religion of the people of Pangasinan was similar to the indigenous religion of the highland Igorot or the inhabitants of the Cordillera Administrative Region on the island of Luzon who mostly retained their indigenous culture and religion. Pangasinan was also influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism before the introduction of Christianity.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Pangasinan is Most Reverend Oscar V. Cruz.

Pangasinan is known as a land of miracles. Whether this remains to be proven or not, the main pilgrimage centers of Pangasinan are the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag (reputed to be the pilgrimage capital of the North), the Shrine of Our Lord Jesus Christ the Divine Treasure in Calasiao (known to be patron of the sick), and Saint Dominic de Guzman Parish Church in San Carlos City. The Founder of the Dominican Order is credited for the countless miracles that saved the city and province from disaster and for guiding the lives of many Pangasinenses.

Shrine of Santo Cristo Milagroso in Sinait, Ilocos Sur

The church itself is simple with the façade flanked by two square columns wherein the main attraction of the church is the statue of the crucified Christ. The feast of Santo Cristo Milagroso or “Apo Lacay” as local folks call him, stands out among other religious celebrations in Ilocandia. Every year, thousands of devotees within the region and outside flock to the shrine of Apo Lacay in Sinait several days before his feast which is on the 3^rd of May. According to the old tales, boxes containing the images of Apo Lacay and La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc drifted ashore in Logo, a sitio of Dadalaquiten along the boundary of Sinait, Ilocos Sur and Badoc, Ilocos Norte. Although the versions of the origin of the statues vary in some details, they all agree of one thing: Apo Lacay and La Virgen Milagrosa chose where they wanted their images to be. The people of Sinait wanted to bring home La Virgen Milagrosa while Badoc wanted the Crucified Christ. The respective parish priests of Sinait and Badoc ordered men to carry their respective statues home. To their dismay, the statues could not be moved despite the number of men trying to carry them. After failing, the priests tried exchanging the icons instead. The first miracle of the images happened! The images were lifted without difficulty: the Virgin to Badoc, the Crucified Christ to Sinait.

Today, the Sto. Cristo Milagroso attracts devotees just like the Black Nazarene of Quiapo ant the faithful pay homage to Apo Lacay inside the Church. These are annual pilgrimages to the shrine and there is an impenetrable crowd in the church on the first Friday of every month.

Church of St. William the Hermit in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur

The church, classified by experts as Baroque, is famous for its antique wooden altar (retablo) which is still being used. An old choir loft and the pulpit have been preserved but no longer functional.

The beautifully carved three-layered retablo is divided into eight niches, each occupied by saint. Two pairs of three-tiered slender columns flank the church’s façade. A statue of the parish’s patron saint, St. William the Hermit, in the church façade greets visitors and devotees. Magsingal became an independent parish in 1676 and the feast day of St. William the Hermit is celebrated on February 10.

San Vicente Church of San Vicente, Ilocos Sur

Miracles are attributed to the parish’s patron saint, St. Vincent Ferrer, thus attracting pilgrims from far and near. The church façade has two layers of columns divided by ornate architraves. The convoluted cornices in the church’s top section add beauty to the structure. Octagonal columns top with mini-domes rise from the base on both sides of the church’s façade. The ornate wooden pulpit is still preserved. The parish was established in 1795 and the feast day of St. Vincent Ferrer is celebrated on April 5.