34th Grand Marian Procession In Intramuros

Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila-Philippines

Manila Cathedral facade

I usually attend the Grand Marian Procession within Intramuros which is scheduled every first Sunday of December every year . The weather was a bit overcast and it was raining during the early part of the afternoon. However it did not dampen the  devotees  and crowd from different part of Metro Manila and even  from far flung provinces. There are several foreign tourists who went to the area.

live band accompany the Marian procession

The event started in 1980 by the Intramuros Administration ( IA )and the Cofradia have organized the annual festivity since 1980, with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) replicating the full-force military participation during the processions of old.

statue of Paul John Paul 2

Organized by the Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepcion Foundation and the Intramuros Administration (IA) every first Sunday of December, the event is a revival of the tradition that originated in Intramuros on December 8, 1619. Then a national celebration which ran for fifteen days, the event was launched at the Manila Cathedral.

Ladies wearing their finest Filipiniana attire ( Kimona)

Mrs. Imelda O. Cojuangco, Mr. Danilo L. Dolor and Mrs.  Aurora E. Eizmendi are founding chairperson, vice chairman and president of the Cofradia, respectively. Comite de Festejos Chair is Conrado A. Escudero. Hermanas Mayores for this year are Fe Rodriguez, Maritess Pineda and Mita Rufino.

Student cadets from the College of Saint Francis of Asisi of Las Piñas City 

The procession which start at 4:00 pm in front of the Manila Cathedral will feature more than 100 images of the Blessed Virgin mounted in different carrozas.

Mahal na Ina ng Kalinawagan ( Our Lady of Light) from  Cainta

The Marian float pays tribute to Our Lady of Light from Cainta, The carriage was beautifully arranged cut-flowers like white orchids, anthuriums, mums , liliums , coconuts, native baskets and native delicacy .

Mahal na Ina ng Poon Bato

The carriage pays tribute to Mahal na Ina ng Poon Bato a patroness of the Aetas of Zambales .   They gave interesting leaflets and estampitas to the devotees and passers-by.

 Maria Clara inspired costume with big petticoat  skirts

Nuestra Señora de Montserrat

The devotion have started in Spain and gradually spread over the new world and the Philippines

Our Lady of China- private collection

An officially sanctioned image of Our Lady of China was blessed, granted and promulgated by Pope Pius XI  in 1928, in response to the requests made by the 1924 Shanghai Synod of Bishops in China , the first national conference of bishops in the country.

a group of nuns having their photos taken at the Our Lady of China

There was an apparition of the Virgin Mary in Donglu , Quinyuan county in Hebei Province in China around 1900.

Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu

The rich and meaningful history of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu dates back to the early Spanish era of 1596, when the Augustinians friars built the first settlements in the place. In the year August 29, 1659, the first parish was built under and in honor of the patron St. Matthew (San Mateo), the apostle and evangelist. But in December 6, 1696, the Jesuits came and gained control of the town. Thus, in 1705, a Jesuit priest, Fr. Juan Echazabal, started the devotion to our Lady of Aranzazu from Spain and changed the patron of the town from St. Matthew to Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu.

live apples form part of the arrangements

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AranzazuShrine

According to the Intramuros Administration, aside from the image of the La Immaculada Concepcion Mater Purisima, which is under their care.

Our Lady of Peñafrancia de Manila

What i particularly liked about this procession carriage is the use of indigenous materials like native fans and abaca fibers.

a contingent from  the province of Bataan

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary

other images of the Blessed Virgin that are expected to join are the Nstra Sra. de los Dolores de Turumba from Pakil, Laguna, Virgen Milagrosa del Santissimo Rosario from Orani, Bataan, Nstra. Sra. de Visitacion de Piat from Cagayan, Virgen La Divina Pastora from Gapan, Nueva Ecija. and Nstra. Sra. de la Consolacion y Correa from San Agustin Church, Intramuros.

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