243. STA. MARIA MAGDALENA OF KAWIT : Patroness of the Revolution

SANTA MARIA MAGDALENA, patroness of the Philippine Revolution.

 The town of Kawit in Cavite is one of the country’s cradles of history, a town linked inseparably with Aguinaldo and the Philippine Revolution. Kawit is also home to a revered image of the repentant sinner-saint, Sta. Maria Magdalena, under whose patronage the town has been placed over 300 years ago, during the term of Manila Archbishop Miguel Garcia Serrano (1618-1629). The revered image of Sta. Maria is enshrined in her own altar at the age-old baroque Kawit Church, known as the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.

Over the years, devotion to the saint has become so widespread throughout the region and its most well-known devotee is no less than General Emilio Famy Aguinaldo, first president of the Philippine Republic. The Kawit-born revolutionary leader would ask for her protection every time he would venture out, and his safe delivery would always be attributed to the workings of the santa. Aguinaldo would even name his factionist movement after his patroness— "Magdalo". It is nowonder that Sta.Maria Magdalena has also earned the unofficial title as the “Patron Saint of the Philippine Revolution.”

 The antique life-size image of Sta, Maria is of wood, carved in the round, including her hair and vestment drapings, painted pink, orange and gold. However, like many de bulto images, she is outfitted with real clothes—usually, a gold-embroidered red gown, matched with a golden yellow cape. Be-wigged and shod in silver shoes, the saint holds her iconographic attributes—a perfume jar on her right hand and a crucifix on the other.

 There is a characteristic mark on her forehead, which others refer to as a mole (“nunal”) but it has been speculated that it is the symbolic mark left by Jesus's fingertip when He gently admonished her to “ touch me not” during their encounter three days after His death.

 Devotion to Sta. Maria Magdalena is year-round, but it reaches its peak during her July 21 feast days. On the eve of the fiesta, at 7 in the morning, the caracol tradition of bringing the image out in her flower-trimmed anda to make the rounds of the town begins. The anda bearers and the thousands of pilgrim-followers dance their way from Binakayan to Alapan, while prayers are said and favors are requested. Fandango is the traditional dance step used to convey the image from town to town.

 The santa is also brought on a riverine procession on a “casco” to bless the waters of Cavite and make them more bountiful.

 On the fiesta day itself—July 22—a grand procession is held on the main streets of Kawit. The 7:00 pm. procession is led by light-bearing youngsters followed by the lavishly-decorated carozza of Sta. Maria Magdalena, and a retinue of townsfolk. Groups of devotees called “Maginoos” and “Ginangs” dressed in their finery are at the tail-end. The parade ends at 10 p.m. and is capped with a feast-for-all sponsored by the Hermanos and Hermanas of the fiesta.

The fiesta revelry continues at the church patio where carnival rides, games and sideshows provide added enjoyment to the people of Kawit whose devotion to theis Sta. Maria Magdalena knows no bound, through periods of strife, struggle and present-day prosperity.

ALL PHOTOS from DR. RAYMUND FELICIANO COLLECTION

183. NTRA. SRA. DE LA SOLEDAD DE PORTA VAGA

NTRA. SRA. DE LA SOLEDAD DE PORTA VAGA. Ca. 1690s. Formerly in the Ermita of Cavite Puerto, now in San Roque, Cavite City. La Virgen Maria. 1904. 

By Antonio E. Sta. Elena The Sunday Times Magazine

November is a memorable month for the people of Cavite City. Every year, on the second and third Sundays of this month, the feast of the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga, their patroness and protector, is celebrated.

 The kapistahan, however, is on the second Sunday, when thousands of devotees from the uplands and the neighboring towns come to Cavite City to pay homage to the Venerable Old Lady, as she is called. The third Sunday is set for the town people of Cavite City.

 The feast of the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga is a tradition with the Caviteños and a way of life attesting to their attachment and their devotion to the Blessed Virgin.

 Many miracles have been attributed to the Caviteños’patroness, whose image is encased in glass, measuring approximately 24 by 38 inches, showing a demure, sad face that is inclined to the right and with hands folded in prayer. The Virgin is wearing a deep lavender dress, the hem of which is inlaid with precious stones.

 The face is said to be an exact replica of the framed image of the Blessed Virgin which a fisherman allegedly found drifting on the waters across the Spanish fort of Cavite. That was more than 300nyears ago, and the image has been given the title of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga.

 Soldier’s Vision

 At Angelus, so the legend runs, the Blessed Virgin would leave her place in the shrine and take a stroll atop the forbidden walls of Porta Vaga. One time, a young guardia civil on his beat was taken aback by the presence of a tall lady in white who walked past him. The soldier thought she was the wife of one of the Spanish officers, so he didn’t mind. But when he suddenly realized, that nobody, not even the wife of the officer of the garrison was allowed on the walls, much less this late hour of the afternoon, he called out: “Who goes there?”.

 Getting no reply, he called out even louder: ”Stop, or I’ll shoot!”, he said, aiming his rifle. The strange visitor stopped, turned and faced the Guardia Civil.

 “Sentinel, sentinel”, she spoke in a soft, clear voice. “Don’t you know who I am? I am Maria—light of the day.”

 The soldier dropped to his knees, and with bowed head said, “Forgive me, Mother, I am only a soldier and I have my duties to perform”.

 When he raised his head, the mysterious lady had vanished.

 Another story tells of a raging storm and a flood that threatened to engulf Cavite City many, many years ago. Torrential rains and the waters surrounding the isthmus of Rosario and the town of San Roque, rose knee-high on the streets, stalling all vehicles and making transportation impossible. The town people became alarmed. Fathers gathered their families and began to pray to the Blessed Virgin.

 Flood

But it kept raining for hours and the waters continued to rise. The loud voices and wailing of the children and mothers, mingling with the sound of the wind and the rain gave added cause for increasing alarm and fear.

 Meanwhile, more families knelt together and prayed harder, calling the name of the Blessed Virgin loudly.

 Suddenly, the wind ceased and the rain stopped. When the people opened their windows, they were surprised to see a tall lady clad in white walking atop the water. They couldn’t believe their eyes.

 As the strange lady continued walking, the people noticed the water under her sandaled feet fast subsiding. In no time, land had reappeared. The people jumped in delight. But just as soon, the lady in white vanished like vapor. Whereupon, the people dropped to their knees again and made the sign of the cross. They knew it was the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga who had saved their lives.

 The old historic walls of Porta Vaga and the ermita or church, were demolished during the war, but the image and shirne of the Blessed Virgin were spared. It was transferred to the parochial church of san Roque in the heart of the town, where it is now the object of continued veneration by the Caviteños.


(ADDENDUM:  On March 16, 1984, the icon of the Virgin was stolen from its altar but was recovered on August 15, 1984, divested of all its original gold decorations and precious stones. Devotees restores the image to its former glory, and on August 19, 1984, it was re-enshrined in the altar with much rejoicing)