Imus set for miraculous Nana Pilar's feast day
Published Oct 7, 2018 05:33 pm
By Anthony Giron
IMUS CITY, Cavite---The Diocese of Imus and the local government have started preparations for the month-long activities for the feast day celebration of the miraculous Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar) in this historical capital district.
Our Lady of the Pillar (PINTEREST/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The October 12 feast day of Our Lady of the Pillar, called “Nana Pilar” by Imuseños, is one of the most anticipated occasions in the district.
One of the highlights of the celebration is the procession of the image of ‘Nana Pilar’, where thousands are expected to participate, and the Holy Mass to be officiated by Most Rev. Reynaldo Gonda Evangelista, D.D., Bishop of Imus (Cavite) at the Our Lady of Pillar Cathedral.
The prayer activities in honor of the ‘Lady’ at the centuries-old Cathedral started in the third week of September.
The local government had also set a 28 day-program of activities dubbed "Octoverload 2018" that includes celebrations with the senior citizens and the youth, educational and other developmental sorties, musical and cultural presentations, job and food fairs and wellness services, among others.
The prime program will be graced by Third District (Imus) Representative Alex L. Advincula, Mayor Emmanuel L. Maliksi, Vice Mayor Arnel M. Cantimbuhan and the 13 city councilors.
The program highlights are the ‘Kasalan Bayan’ or mass wedding on Thursday, and the inauguration and blessing of Ospital ng Imus, the nearby first public grandstand and sports oval and the groundbreaking ceremony for the state-of-the-art Government Center (City Hall) at Barangay Malagasang I on Friday and the October Pets Festival for dogs and cats and pet lovers at the city plaza October 20.
‘Nana Pilar’s miracle, brief history
The history and miracles of Nana Pilar in this city were reported by the Philippines’ Order of the Augustinian Recollects (OAR) and some old folks in the city.
The image of “The Lady,” the Queen and Patroness of Imus, stands in the glass case on the left side altar of the Cathedral. Although no one could tell its age, oldtimers surmise that the icon is about 334 years old..
The miraculous image once stood at the altar of the San Nicolas de Tolentino Church on Calle Recoletos in historic Intramuros.
The Recoletos and Muralla corner is where the Manila Bulletin office now stands.
A report of the Order of the Augustinian Recollects obtained by this reporter from the Imus Cathedral showed that the venerated image of the Nuestra was brought to the country in 1623 by Rev. Father Martin Perez Peralta Lumbreras, OAR, a native of Zaragoza, Spain, where “The Lady” reportedly made its first apparition.
The statue of the Virgen del Pilar, with the baby Jesus on her left arm and a dove sitting on his left palm, was enthroned for many years on a small altar at the Recoletos Street church for many years.
The devotion to the Virgen del Pilar reportedly started within the so-called Walled City of Intramuros.
The report revealed that the icon of "Nana Pilar" was brought to Cavite on May 28,1694 by the Recollect friars and was placed temporarily in an enfermaria (a room where the priests rests) at Casa Hacienda de Imus (now called Cuartel).
It was reported that in 1715, the image was transferred to a chapel made of bamboo and dried leaves in Toclong, then called Pueblo Viejo and now called Bayan Luma.
Because the chapel was destroyed by typhoons and fire, the friars built a new chapel made of stone in the same place on September 1719.
The image of the "Lady" was reportedly enthroned in the main altar on September 27, 1779 at the Cathedral.
The Church was destroyed by a strong earthquake between 1822 and 1824 but the image and its vicinity were spared from destruction.
One of the noted miracles of the Nuestra was revealed by Saint Ezequiel Diaz Moreno, OAR, who served in the Imus parish for three years, from 1882 to 1885..
The Saint, then known as Father Moreno, was sent to Imus by Parish Priest Jose Maria Learte as the cholera epidemic was affecting Imus and neighboring areas.
It was reported that Moreno prayed in front of the image of the "Lady" to ask for the cessation of the epidemic which then killed some 3,200 Imuseños.
With his prayers, the epidemic did stop.
An archive report said that a wonder also happened in Imus during the Second World War.
The report said that Japanese soldiers saw a strange, beautiful mother carrying a child as they plotted to bomb a bridge near the Cuartel (old Spanish garrison) before leaving the area.
For a reason, the bombing plan did not push after the appearance of the mother and the child.
The soldiers and the residents only realized that the mother and child they saw then was the image of Nuestra Senora del Pilar and the Child standing in the Church (now the Cathedral).
A resident named Omeng Crisostomo (now deceased) also narrated that one dawn he saw a radiant and beautiful woman with long hair bathing her son by the well in an area which is now the city plaza.
Crisostomo, who was amazed by the sight, said he also smelled rose fragrance in the area.
Curious, he stood and watched by the bush.
The witness cited that that after the bath, the woman carried her son and they both went to the church vicinity.
Crisostomo said he was stunned when he saw that the huge church portal opened as the woman and the child were walking and entered the church.
There were also accounts of citizens seeing a beautiful lady at the Church belfry during typhoons and other calamities.
For the believers, the “sighting” reports only manifested that the “Lady” is the Blessed Mother who cares and protects the people in terms of assistance and wellness in times of calamities or dangers.
Cardinal Tagle’s account
One of those who attested to “Nana Pilar’s” wonders was His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, a resident in a village near the Imus Cathedral.
Cardinal Tagle’s encounter with “The Lady” was revealed in his anecdote that he titled “Octobers of My Life.”during Her canonical coronation a few years ago.
For Tagle, October was an unforgettable month for him.
Tagle, then a Diocese officer, recalled that on a quiet hour on the eve of the feast day of Nuestra Señora del Pilar on October 12, 2001, a one-of-a-kind floral aroma emanated from Cathedral, not knowing where it was coming from.
Tagle said that the fragrance prompted him to go out of the Cathedral and asked the vendors in the vicinity about it.
"Ang bango-bango, kakaibang bango ang naamoy ko. Nang tanungin ko yung mga vendors kung ano yung bangong yun, ang tanong din nila (the vendors) sa akin, naaamoy po ba ninyo?.” he said. (It was a fragrance, a different fragrance. When I asked the vendors, they answered back do you also smell the fragrance? )
Tagle said that after that episode at the Cathedral, he got his appointment as bishop of Imus Diocese on Oct. 17, 2001.
He likewise cited that ten years later, on Oct. 7, 2011, he got the information that he was going to be the next Archbishop of Manila.
And on Oct. 23, 2012, Tagle said he was in Rome when he was informed that he was going to be named a Cardinal.
Our Lady of the Pillar (PINTEREST/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The October 12 feast day of Our Lady of the Pillar, called “Nana Pilar” by Imuseños, is one of the most anticipated occasions in the district.
One of the highlights of the celebration is the procession of the image of ‘Nana Pilar’, where thousands are expected to participate, and the Holy Mass to be officiated by Most Rev. Reynaldo Gonda Evangelista, D.D., Bishop of Imus (Cavite) at the Our Lady of Pillar Cathedral.
The prayer activities in honor of the ‘Lady’ at the centuries-old Cathedral started in the third week of September.
The local government had also set a 28 day-program of activities dubbed "Octoverload 2018" that includes celebrations with the senior citizens and the youth, educational and other developmental sorties, musical and cultural presentations, job and food fairs and wellness services, among others.
The prime program will be graced by Third District (Imus) Representative Alex L. Advincula, Mayor Emmanuel L. Maliksi, Vice Mayor Arnel M. Cantimbuhan and the 13 city councilors.
The program highlights are the ‘Kasalan Bayan’ or mass wedding on Thursday, and the inauguration and blessing of Ospital ng Imus, the nearby first public grandstand and sports oval and the groundbreaking ceremony for the state-of-the-art Government Center (City Hall) at Barangay Malagasang I on Friday and the October Pets Festival for dogs and cats and pet lovers at the city plaza October 20.
‘Nana Pilar’s miracle, brief history
The history and miracles of Nana Pilar in this city were reported by the Philippines’ Order of the Augustinian Recollects (OAR) and some old folks in the city.
The image of “The Lady,” the Queen and Patroness of Imus, stands in the glass case on the left side altar of the Cathedral. Although no one could tell its age, oldtimers surmise that the icon is about 334 years old..
The miraculous image once stood at the altar of the San Nicolas de Tolentino Church on Calle Recoletos in historic Intramuros.
The Recoletos and Muralla corner is where the Manila Bulletin office now stands.
A report of the Order of the Augustinian Recollects obtained by this reporter from the Imus Cathedral showed that the venerated image of the Nuestra was brought to the country in 1623 by Rev. Father Martin Perez Peralta Lumbreras, OAR, a native of Zaragoza, Spain, where “The Lady” reportedly made its first apparition.
The statue of the Virgen del Pilar, with the baby Jesus on her left arm and a dove sitting on his left palm, was enthroned for many years on a small altar at the Recoletos Street church for many years.
The devotion to the Virgen del Pilar reportedly started within the so-called Walled City of Intramuros.
The report revealed that the icon of "Nana Pilar" was brought to Cavite on May 28,1694 by the Recollect friars and was placed temporarily in an enfermaria (a room where the priests rests) at Casa Hacienda de Imus (now called Cuartel).
It was reported that in 1715, the image was transferred to a chapel made of bamboo and dried leaves in Toclong, then called Pueblo Viejo and now called Bayan Luma.
Because the chapel was destroyed by typhoons and fire, the friars built a new chapel made of stone in the same place on September 1719.
The image of the "Lady" was reportedly enthroned in the main altar on September 27, 1779 at the Cathedral.
The Church was destroyed by a strong earthquake between 1822 and 1824 but the image and its vicinity were spared from destruction.
One of the noted miracles of the Nuestra was revealed by Saint Ezequiel Diaz Moreno, OAR, who served in the Imus parish for three years, from 1882 to 1885..
The Saint, then known as Father Moreno, was sent to Imus by Parish Priest Jose Maria Learte as the cholera epidemic was affecting Imus and neighboring areas.
It was reported that Moreno prayed in front of the image of the "Lady" to ask for the cessation of the epidemic which then killed some 3,200 Imuseños.
With his prayers, the epidemic did stop.
An archive report said that a wonder also happened in Imus during the Second World War.
The report said that Japanese soldiers saw a strange, beautiful mother carrying a child as they plotted to bomb a bridge near the Cuartel (old Spanish garrison) before leaving the area.
For a reason, the bombing plan did not push after the appearance of the mother and the child.
The soldiers and the residents only realized that the mother and child they saw then was the image of Nuestra Senora del Pilar and the Child standing in the Church (now the Cathedral).
A resident named Omeng Crisostomo (now deceased) also narrated that one dawn he saw a radiant and beautiful woman with long hair bathing her son by the well in an area which is now the city plaza.
Crisostomo, who was amazed by the sight, said he also smelled rose fragrance in the area.
Curious, he stood and watched by the bush.
The witness cited that that after the bath, the woman carried her son and they both went to the church vicinity.
Crisostomo said he was stunned when he saw that the huge church portal opened as the woman and the child were walking and entered the church.
There were also accounts of citizens seeing a beautiful lady at the Church belfry during typhoons and other calamities.
For the believers, the “sighting” reports only manifested that the “Lady” is the Blessed Mother who cares and protects the people in terms of assistance and wellness in times of calamities or dangers.
Cardinal Tagle’s account
One of those who attested to “Nana Pilar’s” wonders was His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, a resident in a village near the Imus Cathedral.
Cardinal Tagle’s encounter with “The Lady” was revealed in his anecdote that he titled “Octobers of My Life.”during Her canonical coronation a few years ago.
For Tagle, October was an unforgettable month for him.
Tagle, then a Diocese officer, recalled that on a quiet hour on the eve of the feast day of Nuestra Señora del Pilar on October 12, 2001, a one-of-a-kind floral aroma emanated from Cathedral, not knowing where it was coming from.
Tagle said that the fragrance prompted him to go out of the Cathedral and asked the vendors in the vicinity about it.
"Ang bango-bango, kakaibang bango ang naamoy ko. Nang tanungin ko yung mga vendors kung ano yung bangong yun, ang tanong din nila (the vendors) sa akin, naaamoy po ba ninyo?.” he said. (It was a fragrance, a different fragrance. When I asked the vendors, they answered back do you also smell the fragrance? )
Tagle said that after that episode at the Cathedral, he got his appointment as bishop of Imus Diocese on Oct. 17, 2001.
He likewise cited that ten years later, on Oct. 7, 2011, he got the information that he was going to be the next Archbishop of Manila.
And on Oct. 23, 2012, Tagle said he was in Rome when he was informed that he was going to be named a Cardinal.