AFTER almost three-hour trip from the Minor Basilica of Manaoag, the replica of the image of the venerated Lady of Manaoag was enthroned in a newly-built pedestal on a side chapel of the St. John the Evangelist Cathedral on August 3 after a Holy Mass celebrated by Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

Before the mass, it took some 15 men to lift the image from the truck in front of the Cathedral to bring her on the right side of the altar of the Cathedral, and the same number of men to later take her to its pedestal in the side chapel, now called Chapel of the Lady of Manaoag in Dagupan.

Among the local officials who witnessed the enthronement ceremony were Mayor Belen Fernandez, Vice Mayor Bryan Kua, Councilors Jeslito Seen. Dennis Canto, Marcelino Fernandez and Joshua Bugayong.

Villegas recalled that strange occurrence in 1898 when the revolutionaries against Spain, wanting to secure the image of Our Lady of Manaoag, “brought the image to Dagupan for refuge.”

It was the time when the last remnants of the Spanish Army commanded by General Francisco Ceballos surrendered from their last stand at the old Catholic Church, where the image was also kept, to the triumphant Filipino revolutionaries led by General Francisco Macabulos, finally ending Spanish rule in Pangasinan.

With her enthronement at the Dagupan Cathedral under the patronage of St. John, the fisherman who became an evangelist, Dagupan is now the home of the Lady of Manaoag.

“The Virgin of Manaoag may be happy with the throne we built for her. But the Virgin of Manaoag will be happier if you allow her to be enthroned in your hearts,” Villegas told his flock.

Then Archbishop Villegas said: “Galikayo ed Manaoag, Galikayo ed Dagupan.” (Leonardo Micua)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments