NUESTRA SEÑORA DE GUIA

Also known as "Our Lady of Guidance", the wooden statue is the oldest Marian image in the Philippines. It was my first time to visit the Nuestra Señora de Guia Parish Church in Ermita, Manila yesterday, March 25, 2013. Here's some information I gathered about this miraculous image.

Close up photo of the original image found in Nuestra Señora de Guia
Parish Church in Ermita, Manila.

The image of Nuestra Señora de Guia (literally translated as "Our Lady of Guidance" is the oldest among all those venerated in the Philippines. On May 19 1571 (Saturday). Miguel Lopez de Legaspi took possesion of Manila in honor of the King of Spain, Felipe II. On this occasion one of his soldiers roamed places and reached as far as the seashore (now the site of the Ermita Church) and witnessed the natives pagan worship to a beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary placed on top of trunk surrounded by pandan. From that day, according to Anales dela Cathedral de Manila, the Virgen de Guia began to shed the rays of charity i never so many miracles which she wrought in behalf of the people especially the navigators. It is in this light that she was given the title Guia (guide).

It was believed that it must been brought to the Philippines in 1521 by Magellan's own ships and was later sent by the Cebu native chiefs as a gift to one of the many rajahs in Manila in a Royal Decree dated August 9, 1578, the King of Spain declared Nuestra Señora de Guia as the "Sworn Patroness" of Manila by reason of the continual favors that she lavished on it. Also, the Ermita Church where the little statue stands is the historically the foremost amongst Marian shrines in the Philippines.

With the designation of 1954 as Marian year, Nuestra Señora de Guia took on added relevance. The reason was obvious: the Marian year was the centenary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception and the Nuestra Senora is the first statue of the Immaculate Conception ever set eyes upon by Filipinos.

When the church was finished, the renowed image was transffered from the Cathedral to its new temple with solemn pomp and rejoiced that lasted for eight consecutive days.

On this event a loa (praise) was composed, dialogued in regular verses by three speakers, one representing the city of Manila, another the people of Ermita, and the third the guardian angel of the town.

According to several devotees, Our Lady of de Guia had shown abundant favors to the Filipinos, most especially navigators of the ships from Spain. Whenever a galleon was scheduled to sail for New Spain, the navigators would make a novena of solemn masses with the attendance of the Cabildo Eclesiastico alternately with the religious committees.

Similarly, when the galleons were delayed in coming, they carriedhe image in procession, from her temple in Ermita winding-tip in the Cathedral. This resulted in another solemn nine-day festival during which ships from New Spain would arrive safetly in spite of turbulent seas. They attribute the arrival of these vessels to the protection given by the Virgen de Guia.

Nobody seemed to know then, how this image came to these islands. No historian could trace its source. It could have not been brought by the Europeans who were here before the conquest. Others conjectured that it could be the patroness of a vessel that lost at sea and was cast accidentally to these islands by strong waves.

The image of De Guia is brown, about fifty centimeters tall including its pedestal. The lining of its dress on tunic is of dark red silk with white parallel strips. From the waistline to its tunic, it has kind of tapis similar to that worn by our Tagalog women

Text Source: http://nuestrasenoradeguia.com/home1.html

PLSOL Lenten Pilgrimage 2013

Parish of the Last Supper of Our Lord (PLSOL), Diocese of Paranaque, had a successful Lenten Pilgrimage last Saturday, March 16, 2013. Led by Rev. Fr. Angel Sanchez, our parish priest, 215 parishioners  participated in this year's Visita Iglesia in 7 churches of Rizal.  

1. Regina Rica, Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal (Holy Mass, 1st and 2nd Station)

Founded by The Dominican Sisters of the Regina Rosarii, a community of consecrated women called to be Salt of the Earth. 13.5 hectare land in Tanay Rizal is A Prayer place, Ecological Sanctuary and a Wellness environment. The construction of the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary statue began in October 7, 2009 and the blessing of the statue took place in March 19, 2010 in commemoration of the special year for the priests. Regina Rica is a Spanish term meaning “Our Lady is Rich”. 

Our Lady over the hill.

A closer look of  mother and Son.

Newly built Regina Rica Chapel.

Rev. Fr. Angel Sanchez, our parish priest during the Holy Mass.

Panoramic view inside the chapel during the Holy Mass.

2. St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Pililla, Rizal. (3rd and 4th Station)

Franciscan Missionaries reached Pillila Rizal in 1572 they started to build a church made of bamboo and cogon. In 1583 the church was named in honor of St. Mary Magdalene. In 1599 the church was renovated using wood and stones but it was burned down in 1632. The church was reconstructed and finished between 1670-1673. The church altar and convent was blessed in 1848 and was renovated by the parish priest between 1962-1978.

3. San Ildefonso Parish Church, Tanay, Rizal. (5th and 6th Station)

The Ecclesiastical administration of Tanay belonged to Pililla up to 1606 when the first church was built. The town moved to San Antonio in 1620 but was transferred to its present location in 1640. The present church was completed in 1783 and was named in honor of St. Ildephonsus of Toledo. The feast of San Ildefonso de Toledo in Tanay Rizal is held every January 23^rd of the year.

4. St. Joseph Parish Church, Baras, Rizal. (7th and 8th Station)

The church was built by the Franciscan Missionaries in 1595 and was transferred to Ibayo in 1636 but returned to the present location in 1682 and was formerly under the Parish of Nuestra Senora de la Annuciata in Boso-boso, Antipolo Rizal. The Jesuits administered the parish from 1616 to 1679. The stone church was completed in 1686.

We took our lunch here inside the parish compound.

5. St. Jerome Parish Church, Morong, Rizal. (9th and 10th station)

The town dates from 1578 and the first church was constructed. In 1586 the first resident parish priest was assigned here. A fire destroyed the town including the first church in 1612 and shortly afterwards was reconstructed. The present church façade, frontispiece and belfry was built by Bartolome Palatino from Paete Laguna between 1850 and 1853.

6. Our Lady of Light Parish Church, Cainta, Rizal. (11th and 12th Station)

The stone church was built between 1707 to 1716 by the Jesuit Priests. The church was named in honor of the Nuestra Senora de la Luz in 1727 and was established as a parish in 1760. The Our Lady of Light painting was destroyed during the Filipino American War of 1899 and a replica was repainted by National Artist, Fernando Amorsolo in 1950. The church was reconstructed back to its original facade in 1966 and was finished and blessed in 1968.

Bus no. 1

Bus no. 2

Bus no. 3

Bus no. 4

Van nos. 1 and 2

Parish of the Last Supper of Our Lord (PLSOL) participants of  the Lenten Pilgrimage 2013 - Churches of Rizal

7. Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Shrine, Antipolo City. (13th and 14th Station)

Also known as Immaculate Conception Parish, it houses the miraculous image of The Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje of famously known as Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary on the basis of the Spanish galleon’s successful eight ocean corssings. On several occasions, it was believed that she saved the galleon b warning the people about an imminent catastrophe. The image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage was sculptured by Mexican craftsmen. It was carved from dark hard wood similar to the Black Nazarene in Quiapo. One would note the presence of her famous  “plancha de oro”. It was an exquisite, 18^th century rococo-style frontal dress of solid 18 karat gold with a design of various flowers and birds. Her crown which was made of solid 18 karat gold is completely studded with rose-cut diamonds, large natural Sulu pearls, Burmese rubies, Colombian emeralds, and Indian blue sapphires. Her “aureola halo”, also made of solid 18 karat gold is studded with precious gems like diamonds, pearls, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Her 18 karat gold hair pins or “atochas” and rings are all studded with rose-cut diamonds and Sulu pearls. Her cape has a magnificent and heavy silver-gilt thread embroidery. She also seems to be wearing a wig made of human hair. Unfortunately, all of the magnificent jewels of the “Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buen Viaje” disappeared at the turn of the 20^th century.

The 14th Station.

Before going back home, we made sure, we have our "kasoy" and "suman sa ibos" pasalubong for our loved ones.

Glory to God!