The Role of Venerated images in Philippine History

Written by Aeron Ruazol of Egeria: The Philippine Pilgrimage
Additional text by James Benedict Malabanan

The Catholic faith in the Philippines plays a large role in our history. Many tried to dismiss or erase it to the modern day consciousness of many yet time and time again, with written and oral documents and its lasting effects substantiate this fact. In celebration of the Philippine Independence Day, let us have look on notable Venerated Images at the Crucial Moments of Philippine History

The Kaplag (Finding) of Sto. Niño de Cebu 
Date/Year: April 28, 1565

According to Nick Joaquin, the history of the Philippines was decided on the Easter Week of 1565. Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi was in doubt of the future of his expedition. They were running out of supplies and his men wanted to play it safe. The missionaries were at lost on the legality of Philippine occupation and their evangelical duties were done more under obligation rather than out of zeal. The Kaplag of the image of Sto. Niño by Juan de Camuz changed it all. Legazpi knelt and received it with great devotion and uttered a prayer seeking God to enlighten and guide the expedition to do everything for His glory and honor, and the exaltation of the Holy Catholic Faith. For Fray Urdaneta and the missionaries, the mandate of the Kaplag was clear as the sun, to spread the Gospel on as many islands as they can see.

Several Cebuanos, on seeing the Kaplag, started to dance with ardent devotion back and forth like the current of the sea, the Sinulog. As one historian put it: “There in the presence of the Divine Child, the foundations of the Philippine nationality were laid.” It was the first time where the minds and affections of both Spaniards and native found a common ground, the day of the religious and political redemption of the Hispanic Philippines.

The devotion to Santo Niño de Cebu would later manifest itself during the Philippine Revolution of 1896 when the Cebuano Revolutionaries would shout "Long live the Philippines, Long Live the Santo Niño!".

Nuestra Señora de Guia and the Discovery of Manila
Date/Year: May 19, 1565

According to the Anales de la Catedral de Manila, the crew of Miguel López de Legazpi discovered Manila coming from the Panay islands. Once the crew set its foot at Manila, the saw a group of animist natives worshiping a statue of a female figure in a pandan bush, later identified as the Virgin Mary along the seaside of what is now Ermita. During that time, the sovereigns Rajah Sulaiman III and Rajah Matanda ceded the Kingdom of Maynila to the Spanish Empire, with López de Legazpi consecrating the city to both Saint Pudentiana and Our Lady of Guidance. The city would later be established on June 24, 1865.

In 1578, Phillip II of Spain issued a royal decree invoking Our Lady of Guidance to be "sworn patroness" of Manila, making her the city's titular patroness. The statue was first enshrined in Manila Cathedral inside the walled city of Manila until 1606, when the first parish compound was built on the present shrine's site.

Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Cagayan de Oro and the establishment of the town
Date/Year: 1626

In 1622, through the instance of Bishop Pedro de Arce of Cebu, the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries took over the mission and formally established in Himologan, which is now the area around Taguanao Bridge after the Jesuits left the mission they founded in 1596 due to their expulsion in the Spanish colony

Years later, the mission under the leadership of Padre Agustin de San Pedro, was transferred to the site where now stands the Cathedral of St. Augustine due to the threats of Moro pirates which is rampant at that time which began at the beginning of the Eighteenth Century. In 1626, a wooden fortification was constructed around the new settlement. The Catholic communities established both by the Jesuits and the Recollects were subject to frequent incursions by the Moros, who captured hundreds of Christians as slaves, destroyed churches and convents, looting precious items and killing the missionaries. A wooden statue of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary was carved and installed in a church inside the fortification and later placed in the walls of the Fort San Jose for the people believed that the Virgin will protect them

The villagers sighted the coming of about 2,000 Moros in their vintas. To their great surprise,e the Cagayanons saw the Moro invaders suddenly retreated in fear and disappeared. It was later reported that the invaders saw a woman clothed in blinding white garment atop the fort’s walls and whose mein was fearsome and saying “Why are you harming my people.” The Lady ordered them to desist from their assault and commanded respect. Mystified they retreated in fear. This apparition took place while the people inside the fort were praying for the intercession of the Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. After the reported apparition, Datu Salngsang and his wife were convinced and later were converted along with their people to the faith. In 1883, the town became a seat of the Spanish government in Mindanao for the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte.

Nuestra Señora de la Salud and the Second Chinese Revolt
Date/Year: 1639 - 1940

The desire of the Governor General of the increase of royal revenues led to the Second Chinese Revolt that lasted for five months. It was from this event that the image od Nuestra Señora de la Salud was moved from her first church in San Juan de Bagumbayan to San Nicolas Church in Intramuros. The transfer was done, not only for safekeeping, but also to have a novena for the health of the army and to establish peace. The prayers were held with grand solemnity, attended by no less than the Archbishop of Manila, the city officials, the Royal Audiencia, and the great multitude of the faithful, who profited much from the devotion to the Virgen de la Salud. She generously granted that which they asked for.

On March 15, 1640, the revolt ended with the surrender of the rebels and in thanksgiving, the image was returned to San Juan de Bagumbayan Chruch with much pomp and solemnity.

San Francisco de las Lagrimas as the Seraphic Patron of Manila
Date/Year: 1645

During the earthquakes of 1645, Don Alonso Cuyapit, an indio principalla of Dilao (now Paco), had taken it to his house to use in the processions of the Franciscan Third Order of the area, and there this statue was seen away from its niche, kneeling at a window overlooking Manila, and shedding tears through all four days of earthquakes. Many people saw this, and wet their handkerchiefs in its tears, hence the title "De Las Lagrimas". A procession was formed to take the statue back to Manila, at which point the quakes ceased. A wind came up, but the candles did not go out.

The image of San Francisco was declared miraculous and St. Francis of Assisi was named patron and protector against earthquakes. In 1742, when a galleon failed to arrive, this statue, now called San Francisco de las Lagrimas, was taken out in procession, accompanied by the crosses of all the parishes, the orders, the Real Audiencia, and the Governor. San Francisco de las Lagrimas was also known as the Seraphic Protector of Manila where during the invasion of the Chinese pirate Limahong, the enemies saw  San Francisco holding a flaming sword and the enemies ran away from this vision.

The image was unfortunately destroyed during the Second World War yet interestingly, there were some images of St. Francis of Assisi from some Franciscan Churches, notably in the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua in Bustillos, Sampaloc, Manila that were patterned after the lost San Francisco de las Lagrimas so that the legacy of this once mighty protector of Manila cannot be forgotten.

The Battles of La Naval de Manila 
Date/Year: 1646

As the Protestant Dutch invasion loomed over the Philippine archipelago in 1646, the course of history was changed in five naval battles in which the combined, yet meagre Spanish-Filipino forces confronted and defeated a much larger and superior Dutch armada. Seeing the overwhelming odds against their favor, the commanding general of the Spanish-Filipino navy with just two galleons, the Encarnacion and Sto. Rosario, made a vow to the Virgen del Rosario de Manila of a feast of thanksgiving and a barefoot procession to her shrine of every men in the armada should victory fall on their side.

The first battle happened on March 15, 1646, on the bay of Bolinao, where the two galleons faced a fleet of five trusting more on spiritual weapons than any other. All men of the armada recited the rosary on their knees in two choirs through which they were able to drive the Dutch in panic and too much damage with just one man lost from their ranks.

The second battle happened on July 29, between Banton and Marinduque where the two galleons triumphed over a fleet of seven armed with powerful artillery and some eight hundred men not including the sailors, resulting in a fierce and bloody battle from seven in the evening till four at dawn. The third battle happened two days later with the Dutch force bringing six ships off the coast of Mindoro. As shouts of Vivas to the Christian faith and Virgin of the Rosary rang through the defenders’ force, the battle ended in lost of one Dutch ship and crippling of another.

As the two galleons returned to Cavite afterwards, a fresh Dutch fleet approached Mariveles and a battle ensued between the islands of Luban and Ampil, resulting again in Spanish-Filipino victory. Sto. Rosario, despite being hit on the side, managed to stay afloat.

A week later, a Dutch fleet of three caught the disabled Sto. Rosario alone, fiercely barraging her from all sides to the point that the enemy could almost board her. But the brave men of Sto. Rosario rose up to the challenge and called upon God and the Blessed Mother resulting in the destruction of one Dutch ship and scattering of the others. Despite being rained upon by bullets, merely four men died in Sto. Rosario. In fact, only fifteen men died on the side of the defenders on the course of the five battles, which ended the Protestant Dutch ambition of conquering the Philippines.

The victorious armada were quick to recognize their victories as series of miracles while the Manila-Cathedral gathered testimonies and evidences for six years before stamping their approval for the miraculous intercession of the Virgen del Santo Rosario. And the rest was history of the vow fulfilled, preached, and celebrated.

Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Iloilo and the Naval Battles of 1646 
Date/Year: 1646

An image of Our Lady of the Rosary was found in 1646 on the shores of Iloilo, not far from its fortress, while excavations were being made to prepare trenches for the defense of the City against an invading Dutch squadron under  the command of Admiral Spielberg, which attacked the island of Panay on September 28, 1646.

The discovery of this image so inspired the defenders under the leadership of Don Diego de Quiñones that they hurled back the invaders in the battle that ensued and won. Today, after surviving more than three centuries, this image is venerated in the parish church of San Jose, in Iloilo.

The Virgin of Antipolo and the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade
Date/Year: 1648

The Virgin of Antipolo at that time was enshrined in Cavite for safekeeping due to the Chinese revolt that destroyed her shrine and almost destroyed her image. The Governor General of the Islands ordered the statue removed from its Cavite shrine in 1648, and its was shipped back to Mexico aboard the galleon San Luis. At the time, the image served as Patroness and Protectress of the Manila - Acapulco Galleon Trade.

The statue crossed the Pacific on Manila-Acapulco galleons six times from 1648 to 1748 aboard the: San Luis — (1648–1649), Encarnación — (1650), San Diego — (1651–1667), San Francisco Javier — (1659–1662), Nuestra Señora del Pilar — (1663) and San José — (1746–1748). The Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade palyed an important role for the economy both for the Spanish Crown but also to its colonies in Mexico and in the Philippines and the Galleon trade introduced new crops, household materials, cuisines and cultures to the natives that can still be seen in our everyday lives.

Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Manila as La Gobernadora de Manila 
Date/Year: 1720

The image of Nuestra Señora delos Desamparados of Sta. Ana was in the center of the conflict between the Church and the Spanish State of Manila in the years 1719-1721. Governor General Fernando Bustamante clashed with Archbishop Francisco de la Cuesta of Manila. Upon assuming office in 1717, Bustamante found the government treasure bereft of funds and he opted to seize the cargo of the galleon Santo Cristo de Burgos, which besides silver coins and bullion, also included the newly commissioned image of Nuestra Señora delos Desamparados by Fray Vicente Ingles. This move angered the archbishop and the religious orders.

Tensions escalated further when the archbishop protested the release and appointment of Jose Torralba, the late-acting governor general into the Supreme Court despite being charged of plundering an amount of PhP. 700,000. De la Cuesta excommunicated Torralba and enforced ecclesiastical censures. In retaliation, Torralba, in the capacity of the Supreme Court, issued warrants against his enemies. To evade arrest, they took refuge in the Manila Cathedral and invoke the right of sanctuary with the support of De la Cuesta.

To recover important government inventory in the possession of a notary public refugee, the governor’s soldiers stormed the Cathedral. This violated the right of sanctuary which as supported by Canon Law, prohibited the exercise of civil jurisdiction within sacred places, even under the orders of the governor and the audiencia. De la Cuesta also issued censures against the Bustamante and the series of altercations led to the arrest and imprisonment of the archbishop, along with the Dominican friars and clerics who supported him.

On October 11, 1719, the bells of the Cathedral tolled, and an angry mob of the archbishop’s supporters attacked the Palacio del Gobernador. Taken by surprise, the guards were unable to stop the assassination of Bustamante and his son in the hands of the angry mob. The archbishop was released and assumed the office of the Governor-General. He then visited the Virgen delos Desamparados in Sta. Ana in January 23, 1720, and ceremoniously offered the Baston de Mando, the emblem of the office of the Governor-General, which the venerated Virgin holds even unto this day.

Apo Caridad de Bantay and the Silang Rebellion 
Date/Year: 1763

Great Britain, in retaliation with Spain’s alliance with France in the Seven Years War, succeeded in occupying Manila and Cavite for twenty months between 1762 and 1764. Diego Silang and his force initially offered to aid the Spanish in conditions of placing native Ilocanos in the functionaries of the Church and State in Ilocos. They rejected his offer and thus he conspired with the British which upon their promise of reinforcements emboldened into full blown rebellion against Spain. Diego Silang attacked Vigan and imprisoned Bishop Bernardo Urtariz and all his priests in the Church of Bantay. Despite the orders of Silang to kill the bishop, no one dared to lay a hand on Urtariz.

The bishop and the priests then invoked the intercession of the Virgin of Bantay, vowing to compose a novena in her honor. On the third day of the novena in May 1763, Diego Silang was traitorously assassinated by his friend, Miguel Vicos.

La Pilarica de Manila and the British Invasion of the Philippines
Year/Date:  1764

At the time, Britain and France were belligerents in what was later called the Seven Years' War. As the war progressed, the neutral Spanish government became concerned that the string of major French losses at the hands of the British were becoming a threat to Spanish interests. France successfully negotiated a treaty with Spain known as the Family Compact which was signed on August 15, 1761. By an ancillary secret convention, Spain committed to making preparations for war against Britain. Britain first declared war against Spain on January 4, 1762, and on January 18, 1762, Spain issued their own declaration of war against Britain. On September 24, 1762, a British fleet of eight ships of the line, three frigates, and four store ships with a force of 6,839 regulars, sailors and marines, sailed into Manila Bay from Madras. The expedition, led by Brigadier-General William Draper and Rear-Admiral Samuel Cornish, captured Manila, "the greatest Spanish fortress in the western Pacific"

The resistance from the provisional Spanish colonial government established by members of the Royal Audience of Manila led by Lieutenant Governor Simón de Anda y Salazar and their Filipino allies prevented British forces from taking control of territory beyond the neighbouring towns of Manila and Cavite.

The Seven Years' War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on February 10, 1763. At the time of the signing, the signatories were not aware that Manila had been taken by the British, and consequently, it fell under the general provision that all other lands not otherwise provided for be returned to the Spanish Crown. However, the British finally received their orders to withdraw in early March. A turn over ceremony took place at the plaza of Santa Cruz Church in Manila and it is also said that the image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila faced the plaza for this turn over. 

The Fiesta of Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Sebastian and the Gomburza
Date/Year: 1872

The fireworks marking the opening of the fiesta of del Carmen de San Sebastian in Bilibid Viejo on January 20, 1872, was thought by the workers of the Port of St. Phillip in Cavite Puerto as the first sparks of a general uprising. As such, this triggered the incident which went down in history as the Cavite mutiny whose blame fell on the three priests now known as Gomburza.

Their martyrdom by garrote on February 17, 1872 is deemed by many historians as the moment of awakening the consciousness of the Filipinos as a nation, a moment so ominous that all the Spaniards took refuge in the walls of Intramuros in the days that followed.

San Bartolome and the August of 1896 Revolt
Date/Year: 1896

San Bartolome, who suffered martyrdom by flaying, is considered as the patron of knife makers. Providentially or not, the discovery of Katipunan happened in August, deemed as the red month, when violence was thought to easily ran amok, on the days nearing the feast of San Bartolome. The long bolo called Sang Bartolome was the favorite weapon of Katipuneros and they chose the eve of his feast, on August 23, 1896, to raise the cry of the revolution now known as El Grito de Balintawak, tearing their cedulas and raising their bolos to invoke the blessing of San Bartolome upon them. Moreover, the Katipuneros hurrying to join Bonifacio in Caloocan managed to pass thru the checkpoints of Guardia Civil just by posing as pilgrims of San Bartolome. And thus, the red vestment of the apostle was also the red of the revolution and its popular weapon, the Sang Bartolome.

The Paraluman of Kawit and Magdalo
Date/Year: 1896

The centuries old Parish of Sta. Maria Magdalena in Kawit, Cavite is interestingly located a few bocks from the Aguinaldo Mansion, now a National Landmark. Santa Maria Magdalena of Kawit, Cavite, also known as the "Paraluman of Kawit" is also called as the Patroness of the Philippine Revolution. General Emilio Aguinaldo was said to have knelt before her prior to every battle and thanked her for every safe return.

In her honor, Aguinaldo chose Magdalo as his masonic and Katipunan name. In the olden days, June 12 was one of the days were the caracol procession of the Paraluman was performed and the very first caracol in her honor was done in thanksgiving for a successful battle of the revolution.

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga and the Battle of Binakayan-Dalahican
Date/Year: 1896

The simultaneous battle of Binakayan-Dalahican on November 9-11, 1896 also coincided with weeklong festivity of Virgen de la Soledad de Porta Vaga. Despite the threats of war, pilgrims still flocked the city to celebrate the Virgin. Even the revolutionists themselves were attending and cooperating with all the celebrations. On the eve of November 8, the sound of the cannonballs from the attacking Spaniards where deemed as their contribution to the celebration. The revolutionists refrained from retaliating in honor of the Virgin.

This battle resulted in saving the province of Cavite and established it as the center of revolution. The triumph also inspired the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Morong to join the Katipunan movement. It even persuaded Bonifacio and his men to take refuge in Cavite and participate in the celebration. It installed Aguinaldo as the eminent leader of the revolution and the rest, as they say, is history.

Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Quezon and the 1896 Revolution
Date/Year: 1896

Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Quezon also played an important role during the Spanish Revolution in 1896 as written in the history of the image. She served as the hope of the people during those times, invoking Her intercession and protection as their Mother and patroness.

It is said that during the Revolution and the Second World War years later,, there were times that masses were held at Mt. Banahaw (and not in the tuklong where the National Shrine now stands).

It is that the townsfolk brought with them the original image of the Virgin as they evacuate all the way up in the mountain to escape with the Katipuneros at the time.

The Holy Cross of Tanza and the  Philippine Revolutionary Government
Date/Year: March 23, 1897

On March 23, 1897, General Emilio Aguinaldo and General Mariano Trias took their oaths as President and Vice-President of the Philippine Revolutionary Government in the Holy Cross Parish in Tanza, Cavite (already a pilgrimage site because of its famous and miraculous image of St. Augustine or "Tata Usteng") in front of the ancient Cross, the revered titular patron of the parish then kept in the parish convent. General Artemio Ricarte was also inducted here as Capitan General of the revolutionary forces.

Since that time, it has been a venerable tradition for newly elected governors of the province of Cavite to take their oath of office in front of the Holy Cross of Tanza in remembrance of the General Aguinaldo's act during the Philippine Revolution.

La Inmaculada Concepcion de Naic and the Sun of the Philippine Flag
Date/Year: 1898

Naic, Cavite played significant rols in our history from the assignment of Rev. Modesto Castillo who wrote the novel "Urabana and Felisa" and centuries later as one of the key places related to the Philippine Revolution. Cavite historians believe the mythical sun at her feet could have been General Emilio Aguinaldo's inspiration for the first official flag of the Republic.

When Aguinaldo stayed in Naic at the Casa Hacienda de San Isidro Labrador, he would normally pass by the church from the house of Capt. Yoyo Jocson going to his office in the Casa Hacienda. The "Sun of Liberty", featured in the second official revision of Philippine flag, has a face that may have gotten its inspiration from the very sun at the foot of the image of the Immaculate Conception. It is in the parish convent that the Naic conference was held. It was in this conference that the old Tagalog letter of the flag was replaced by a "Sun of Liberty" with the symbolic eight rays. The sun was shown with two eyes, a nose and a mouth. The "Sun of LIberty" would later appear in the first version of the Philippine flag that was raised in Alapan then a few days later in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.

Nuestra Señora de  Lourdes and the Spanish - American War

Date/Year: 1898