The National Museum declared the National Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help along Redemptorist Road in Baclaran, Parañaque City as an important cultural property on Tuesday, June 27.

Mayor Eric Olivarez and Rep. Edwin Olivarez led the unveiling of the historical marker of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help after the fiesta mass, which was witnessed by Rev. Fr. Rogerio Gomes C.Ss.R., representative from the National Museum, Dr. Mary Jane Bolunia, and Chief of Staff, Atty. Fernando “Ding” Soriano.

According to Rep. Olivarez, the anniversary of the Novena mass first started on June 26, 1948 by Fr. Dennis Grogan, was attended by 70 devotees.

History showed that after the first Novena mass, the number of devotees doubled to 150 in the succeeding week.

It was said that before the year ended, more Novena sessions had to be added since the original chapel could only accommodate 300 people.

The number of devotees of Our Lady of Perpetual Help increased in succeeding years and the Novena mass being held every Wednesday of the week became known as “Baclaran Day.”