Mary: Queen and Mother of the Philippines - an Introduction

Inang Kalinis-linisan
Mary, Mother of God Parish, Muntinlupa City

The Filipinos have a very special relationship with the Woman who bore the Redeemer. In Philippine Catholic Church (even the Aglipayan Church), an image of the Blessed Virgin is a prominent fixture in all churches and chapels across the archipelago. Over one fourth of the Parishes in the Philippines have the Virgin Mary as its titular Patroness.

Many Catholic homes have Marian images; whether its a statue, poster, or an estampita [holy cards]) can be seen in their altars and votive offerings are given to them. Many names, places, structures, public places are named after her. Novenas, block rosaries, Marian Exhibits and Processions are making rounds across the country and attendance to these activities are note worthy. The May festivities and Flores de Mayo are also popular even to this day. All these are our external manifestations of our great love for the Mother of God.

Nuestra Senora de Guia

 Filipinos have this high regard to their mothers that can be also describe our unique relationship to the Blessed Virgin. Our Heavenly Father must have planned Mary's role in our country which is evident in our history. One of Magellan's ship is aptly named "Concepcion" when he set sail to the oceans to find the Spice Islands and later discovered the Philippines in 1521. 50 years later, one of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi's soldiers found the image of Nuestra Senora de Guia in a pandan bush worshiped by the natives and later enshrined in a chapel now an Archdiocesan Shrine. The image of Nuestra Senora de Guia is an image of the Immaculate Concepcion, the Principal Patroness of the Philippines.

 Because of our Special devotion to her, she granted our country her maternal love and protection through the years: from the failed invasion of the Dutch (as Nuestra Senora del Santisimo Rosario La Naval de Manila), protection and advocate of safe travel (as Virgen de Antipolo), being our benefactress for answering her call (as Our Lady of Manaoag), refuge of those who are in dire need (as Our Mother of Perpetual Help), as an arbiter of Peace that led to a bloodless revolution (as Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of EDSA) and even appeared to our country and asking for our prayers to save the world (as Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace). With all these graces and the love we give to her, its no wonder the Philippines is dubbed as the "Pueblo Amante de Maria", the People in love with Mary.

From the 1st Row Nuestra Senora del Santisimo Rosario La Naval de Manila,Virgen de Antipolo,Our Lady of Manaoag
From the 2nd row  Our Mother of Perpetual Help,Our Lady of Fatima,Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace

With all that is being mentioned, One might think that we honor Mary so much. But why honor Mary? Simply because she is the Daughter of the Eternal Father, Mother of God the Son and Spouse of the Holy Spirit. She is Our Way to Christ - Who is the Only Way to the Father.

 For this blog dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother of the Philippines, the blog will showcase the Venerated Marian Images in the Philippines that are known and loved by all Filipinos and through this blog hopes that through these stories of miracles, we may learn to love Our Lady even more and learn more of Our dear Mother who has became a Mother to us all.

"A La Virgen
Todos te dan Virgen Maria
Mil Parabienes con Alegria.
Yo, Pequenita, Que te dare?
Mi Corazon, Te Entregare!"

To the Virgin
Everyone sings to You, O Virgin Mary
I, your little one, what can I do?
My heart, I'll give to you!