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Manaoag Basilica marks 100th anniversary of Marian image canonical coronation
MANAOAG, PANGASINAN - The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag celebrated on Wednesday the centennial anniversary of the Marian image's canonical coronation.
Braving the heat and the length of the procession, thousands of devotees join the celebration in the hopes of getting close to the image of Our Lady of Manaoag.
The centennial anniversary began with an enthronement and a solemn reenactment of the coronation, followed by a Eucharistic celebration concelebrated by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula and Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos attended the event, where they formally presented ceremonial crowns to Brown.
The image of Our Lady of Manaog was then briefly shown outside the church, giving a chance for the devotees to venerate the Blessed Mother.
Adorned in gold vestment for her centennial canonical coronation, Our Lady of Manaoag came from the Pangasinense word “mantaog” meaning “to call.”
The term comes from a story passed down through generations, in which the Blessed Mother appeared to a farmer on a hill and instructed him to build a church there so the faithful could pray and seek her intercession.
The vestments of the Marian image is changed twice a year during feast days. Each vestment takes at least five months to make and carries its own narrative.
The centennial celebration concluded with a Eucharistic celebration presided by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.
This was followed by a grand procession then a drone show and fireworks display.
In an earlier interview with GMA News Online, Church historian Fr. Wilhelm Boñon, OP said the recognition of the apparition and miracles is through the people's faith.
“Hindi talaga siya recognized ng Church as miracle na mayroong nagpakita doon, na may apparition. Actually, yung miracle sa Manaoag, hindi siya recognized as an apparition. It's just about the faith of the people yung nag-recognize sa apparition dito sa simbahan,” he added.
(The Church does not officially recognize the miracles and apparitions. In fact, the miracle in Manaoag is not recognized as an apparition; rather, it is the people’s faith that recognized the apparition in this church.)
Boñon urged the faithful to adhere to the Blessed Mother’s call to listen to God’s words.
“Listen to God's word, telling you to trust in Him, to believe in Him. So sa mga pumumpunta sa Manaoag, yes, we believe in miracles, but we must also strengthen our faith in God,” he said.
“It's not just about pagpapahid, o pagkuha ng tubig, o pagbili ng mga oils dito sa Manaoag, rosaries, but it's really about your faith in God who provides for everything. So sa lahat ng pupunta, sana pagdating nila sa Manaoag, ma-encounter nila ang Diyos, maramdaman nila ang Diyos, at magpasalamat sila sa Diyos,” he added.
(It’s not just about collecting water or buying oils and rosaries in Manaoag. It is really about your faith in God, who provides for everything. So for everyone who goes there, I hope that when they arrive in Manaoag, they encounter God, feel His presence, and give thanks to Him.) — BAP, GMA News
