The symbol of love and strength
Our Lady of the most Holy Rosary
Our Lady of Manaoag has its formal name: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. It is a Roman Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in Manaoag, Pangasinan, Philippines. The sacred statue is referred to as Apo Baket in the native language of the local devotees. The ivory and silver image was brought from Spain via Acapulco in the early 17th century to the Philippines by Padre Juan de San Jacinto, which bears its title dates from the 16th century and is enshrined in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag.
It is situated on top of a hill in the small town of Manaoag in the province of Pangasinan. It is where the miraculous image of our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manoag, locally known as Ina’n Birchen na Manaoag or “Apo Baket” is enshrined.
The shrine is a major pilgrimage site that has been administered by the Dominican religious order since 1605.
The Backstory
In 1646, the Dutch Republic attempted to invade the Philippines as part of its strategy to open trade in South Asia. The Spanish and Filipino defenders had only two old galleons against the enormous Dutch ships. It was while the Spanish governed the islands that they learned that a fleet of five Dutch warships was sailing for Manila. The Dutch bent on foraging and possible conquest, sailed their warships dangerously close to the shores of the Philippine Islands.
To both the Filipinos, recently converted to the Catholic faith, and the Spanish Conquistadores, devoid of sufficient arms and without warships, an invasion for the purpose of pillage or conquest was a serious threat. The Dutch were Protestants, hating Catholics, and there were no Spanish galleons in the area to defend the islands. There were only two cargo ships large enough to carry cannons, and poorly equipped with a few cannons, they were certainly nothing like the famous Spanish galleons with several banks of big guns. Still, they were all that was available to preserve their faith and their homeland, so they were made ready for battle as best as possible.
The cargo ships were rechristened “La Rosario,” (The Rosary), and “La Encarnacion,” (The Incarnation), and placed under the special patronage of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. On the altars built on deck, the sailors carried the image of their beloved Queen, and there, on their knees, officers and crew prayed the rosary daily and dedicated themselves to La Naval, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.
Then the miracles happened: the defenders conquered the naval battles five times in 1646. The successes were attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Hence, she was venerated with the title “La Naval”.
There goes the story of a naval captain who asked Our Lady of the Holy Rosary for their victory. He vowed that if their prayers were granted, they would walk barefoot towards her shrine in Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros, Manila.
Other Apparitions
Manaoag, where the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is enshrined, every day especially on Saturdays and Sundays the whole year round thousands of people flock to this town to celebrate Mass, pray the Rosary, and light candles at the Shrine.
The apparitions in the town named Lipa occurred in the Philippines in 1948 to a religious woman, Sr. Teresita, a Carmelite novice, of 19 years. There were a total of 15 apparitions. Mary appeared in white robes and held a golden rosary.
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is also known as Our Lady of Manaoag. Tradition holds that the name of the town Manaoag, came from a story of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to a farmer on a treetop. The story relates that in the center of a cloud appeared the Virgin of the Rosary and her most holy son. She expressed her wish that a shrine be erected in her honor in that same place, where her devotees could gain the future, to implore her maternal protection.
This story spread far and widened, people would go to the place where the apparition happened. So when people would ask who visited the place, they would answer in their dialect “diad lugar ya caoalaan na Birhen ya man tataoag.” so the town was called Manaoag. Since then the church has been visited by many people seeking the help of Our Lady of Manaoag.
The Basilica will always be a channel of hope, providing spiritual growth to all who come and visit our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag. Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary does not and will never cease calling her children . And in turn her children the people of God, cannot refuse her calling , not even with hardship and sacrifice, just to visit her in her shrine and to seek her intercession.
The Crown
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary was canonically crowned on October 5, 1907.
The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, that is so dearly loved by the Filipino people is known as Our Lady of Naval. A large statue, she stands 4'8" and is carved of hardwood, although the faces and hands of the Madonna and Child are of ivory. Our Lady holds a scepter and a golden 15-decade rosary, and both Mother and Child are clothed in exquisite gold, a dress and mantle that are heavily embroidered with golden thread.
The lovely statue was sculpted by a man who was neither Filipino nor Catholic, and was commissioned in 1593 by the Spanish Governor of the Philippines. The Chinese artist who gave the Virgin somewhat Asian features was well compensated for his efforts, including being converted to the True Faith through the intercession of the Blessed Mother.
The Vestment
The vestment of La Naval was inspired by the Spanish court dress in the late 16th century. The camarera, or the handmaids, were in charge of the process of clothing La Naval.
It is carefully embroidered with gold threads that make La Naval look so regal. The gilded bodice, skirt, and sleeves are mounted on the silver backing of the plancha, which La Naval wears along with Numero Uno. It is said that the silver hem of the plancha was said to be dipped in gold, making it sparkle from afar.
Aside from her mantels, her pieces of jewelry and crown also spark interest. A written account by a priest in 1907 said the La Naval’s crown weighed 60 ounces, or equivalent to 1,866 grams. There were 1,083 gemstones set into it, including precious diamonds, sapphires, and rubies.
Santo Domingo Church
The Philippine Catholic Church hierarchy declared Santo Domingo Church the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary. Our Lady of La Naval is presently treasured by the Filipino people in the new Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City, a few miles from Manila.
The old Santo Domingo Church was first built by the Dominicans in Intramuros in January 1588. Intramuros, meaning "within the walls" is the heart of old Manila.
Unfortunately, it was struck by fire in 1603; two earthquakes in 1645 and 1863; and the Japanese bombing in 1941.
Yet the statue has never been damaged.
After the Second World War, the Dominicans constructed the sixth church in a new location in Quezon City. The Dominicans commissioned José María Zaragoza to design the building while he was still a student of architecture at the University of Santo Tomas. It was inaugurated on October 12, 1954.
The church was built in the Art Deco combined with Spanish Modern style, which was unlike the Baroque churches built during the Spanish period. The church employed the latest technique in reinforced-concrete building. The Mission-style architecture includes Romanesque and Gothic designs that accommodate more space.
The pre-war neo-gothic church.
Feast and Festivities
Today, the Feast of La Naval de Manila continues to be celebrated on the Second Sunday of October as one of the grandest Marian processions in the country. It’s also celebrated by the Filipino diaspora all around the world. The first celebration of the Feast of La Naval de Manila was held on Oct. 8, 1646, in Intramuros.
During the novena Masses to La Naval, a total of 1,600 beeswax candles would be used to light up the main retablo where the image would have already been transferred. The popular Spanish and Latin hymns would be intoned by either Dominican friars or the renowned choir boys of St. Domingo.
It’s a showing of the strength of the Catholic faith and a symbol of the faithful’s continuous devotion to the Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario. After centuries have passed, the faith of the devotees stands strong and continues to make the Feast of La Naval de Manila one of the most important Marian events in the country.
Prayer To Our Lady Of La Naval De Manila
"Virgin Mother of God, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, you have chosen to raise your throne of mercy in Manaoag to be the beloved protectress and patron of the Province of Pangasinan and therefrom to bestow your graces on us, your children, banished in this valley of tears.
Look down with your eyes of mercy upon me, who am beset with so many dangers of body and soul. Despise not my petition, O dearest Mother, but intercede for me before your Divine Son, now and at the hour of my death, Amen."
Credits: Mayflor Leysa & Rehana Rodrigues