Devotees brave heat for Manaoag Shrine centennial

MANAOAG, Pangasinan — Several devotees braved the heat on Wednesday in front of the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag as they took part in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Marian image’s canonical coronation.

Among them was 41-year-old Divine Grace Zantua, who did not let a broken arm stop her from coming close to the Marian image after it was brought out following the 9 a.m. Mass.

“Siyempre, happy na happy na kahit ganito ang kamay ko, nakalapit pa rin ako sa Birhen Maria,” Zantua told GMA News Online.

(Of course, I’m very happy that despite my condition, I was still able to come close to the Blessed Mother.)

Zantua, who runs a catering business in Manaoag, prayed for the healing of her arm, which was injured in an accident.

Her mother, Teresita Zantua, traveled from Davao City to witness the centennial celebration.

“Ipinagdadasal ko na sana masaya ang anak at apo ko dito,” Teresita said.

(I pray for the happiness of my daughter and grandson here.)

Teresita recalled that her last visit to the basilica was when she was in Grade 5. Now 65, she said she was grateful to witness the milestone event.

Another devotee, Ofelia Diaz, traveled from Aparri, Cagayan to join the celebration.

“Matagal na akong deboto ng Our Lady of Manaoag, mula pa noong dalaga ako,” Diaz said. “Simula pa noong nakatanggap ako ng mga biyaya at himala.”

(I have been a devotee since I was a teenager, ever since I experienced blessings and miracles.)

One of those, she said, was a successful operation in December 2025.

“Akala ko mawawala na ako, pero sa pananalig ko sa Panginoon, narito pa rin ako ngayon. Kaya kahit malayo ang Aparri, talagang pinupuntahan ko siya,” added Diaz, who will turn 68 in June.

(I thought I would not survive, but through my faith in God, I am still here. That’s why even if Aparri is far, I still make the journey.)

Diaz said she was moved to tears after getting close to the Marian image.

“Sana dinggin niya ang lahat ng panalangin ko,” she said.

(I hope all my prayers are granted.)

For altar server Mark Jason Espe and sacristan Edwin Joffrey Sarmiento, attending the centennial was both a memorable experience and a privilege.

“This is the most memorable feast day for me. Bukod sa big event ito, it’s a great privilege for us devotees to gather in the basilica and celebrate the centenary of the canonical coronation of Apo Baket,” said Espe, who regularly attends the feast days of Our Lady of Manaoag.

Sarmiento, who traveled from Quezon province, said he makes it a point to visit Manaoag whenever he passes through northern Luzon.

As of 10:05 a.m., the Manaoag Health Emergency Operations Center had attended to 105 health-related incidents, most of them cases of hypertension due to the heat.

The enthronement and reenactment of the canonical coronation were followed by a Mass concelebrated by Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown and Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula.

With the theme “Inang Maria: Crowned in Grace, Calling Us to Jesus,” the centennial celebration honors the Blessed Virgin Mary and her call for the faithful to follow Christ’s teachings.

The celebration also highlights the origin story of the Marian image, in which the Blessed Mother is believed to have appeared to a local farmer and instructed him to build a church on the site so devotees could seek her intercession.—MCG, GMA News