Drenched in sweat and rain, devotees of the Virgin Mary proved that it will take more than that to dampen their faith.
(Photo courtesy of the Soledad Media Group/Manila Bulletin)
Clad in shirts bearing different titles of the Virgin Mary, dozens of devotees on Sunday, July 16, some bound from nearby provinces, flocked to the Bonifacio shrine in Manila where a total of 60 images, radiantly lit in carriages, were paraded as part of the Manila Grand Marian Procession (MGMP).
Organized by the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Manila Parish in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the City Government of Manila, the event was a first for the parish, as it was usually conducted within its vicinity.
It was also a first for its parish priest, former parochial vicar of Quiapo Church Fr. Douglas Badong who's a notable figure in the annual Traslacion of the Black Nazarene.
Fr. Badong said in an interview that he first observed how the parish prepares for such an event, and how the procession would run. He stated that the solemn procession went smoothly, and a lot of devotees participated despite the inclement weather.
A Catholic devotee is seen preparing an image of the Virgin Mary at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila on July 16, 2023, for the Manila Grand Marian Procession. (Arnold Quizol)
"Very thankful din and overwhelming na feeling siyempre maiisip mo sa isang linggong sunod sunod na pag-uulan ay magbaback out silang lahat (I'm very thankful and it's an overwhelming feeling because you'd think due to the bad weather past week they [devotees] might just back out)," he said.
"Pero tuloy eh, ito'y naging bahagi na rin ng kanilang debosyon sa Mahal na Birhen. Mga private-owned images plus yung mga parishes na talagang rain or shine ay nandiyan (But they [devotees] still came since this is a part of their devotion to the Virgin mary. These private-owned images, as well as the parishes who rain or shine are there)," he added.
Fr. Badong led the mass during the event on Sunday (July 16), which was followed immediately by the procession. Fr. Badong said the procession promotes devotion to the Virgin Mary, albeit with different titles based on people's experiences from different places.
The devotees then marched through the night under mild rains to the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Manila Parish.
Holy images of the Virgin Mary from different parishes join the Grand Marian Procession that went around Manila on July 16, 2023. (Arnold Quizol)
The event coincides with the parish's designation as a parish which was on July 16, 2009, by then Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales with its Canonical Erection held on Aug. 31, 2009.
In the same year, the parish was formally consecrated by then-Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. On July 4, 2017, the image of the Nuestra Senora de la Soledad was granted an episcopal coronation to mark its 130th year.
According to Fr. Badong, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad symbolizes a call to the people to dedicate time to pause, to think, and to reflect in order to absorb what's happening in life.