Category: Religion

In a Basilica Minore atop a hill overlooking the Chico River, the image of our Blessed Mother is specially venerated under the title “Our Lady of the Holy Rosary”. In 1604, the sons of St. Dominic brought the revered image from Macau, China to the ancient city of Lallo-c, Cagayan, which was then the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia.

For the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres (SPC), the year 2004 marks a century-long journey with the Filipino people, which started on October 29, 1904 when seven Sisters, having left Saigon on the 20th of the same month, landed in Dumaguete, led by Mother Marthe de St. Paul Legendre, first Superior.

The convent and church of San Francisco de Asis in Intramuros were razed to the ground during the liberation of Manila in 1945. Instead of rebuilding at the same location, the Franciscans decided to construct a new church elsewhere.

In 1603, a fisherman by the name of Juan Maningcad caught a little statue of the Blessed Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, about 10 1/2 inches tall, in his net while fishing along the Pansipit River in Barrio Caysasay of the town of Taal, Batangas. On seeing this marvel, Juan did not know what to say or do. He prostrated himself before the image and began to pray. The news spread and when it reached the town, the parish priest and judge went to Juan's house. Upon seeing the beautiful image of the Mother of God, they knelt down to venerate it and decided to take the statue to Taal, where a grand fiesta was celebrated and to this day continues to be celebrated on December 8 in honor of the Virgin.

The struggle for a free and independent nation, coupled with the desire to have a Church that genuinely serves the interest of the people triggered the birth of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente – a historic, nationalist and independent Church – which was proclaimed by the Union Obrera Democratica (UOD) on August 3, 1902.

VESAK DAY is a day of great significance not only to Buddhists but also to advocates of peace, compassion and unity. This day falls on the day of the full moon on the month of May each year and marks three important events in the life Gautama Buddha. It is the day of His Birth (583 B.C.); it was on this day that He subsequently gaineq Enlightenment; and it was also on this day that He entered Parinirvana (the passing away of Buddha’;s physical body).