251. A Shared History: APO LAKAY of SINAIT and VIRGEN MILAGROSA of BADOC

Two of the most important religious images from Ilocoslandia are the Virgen Milagrosa of Badoc and the miraculous Apo Lakay, the black crucified Christ of Sinait, two of the oldest towns of Ilocos Region. Their stories are intertwined, in that they arrived in the Philippines together in a box, on the 3rd of May in 1620—coinciding with the date of finding of the True Cross by Empress Helena.

It is believed that they came from Nagasaki, Japan where missionaries brought images for evangelization purposes. It is supposed to have been found on Ilocos shores at about the same time that a persecution was being waged against the Christian in Japan.

 Like the biblical story of Moses, the boxes containing the images was found adrift in the sea by fisherfolks in Dadalaquiten, Sinait. An argument ensued between the Sinait and Badoc fishermen who found the boxes, but they matter was soon settled peacefully:  The Virgen Milagrosa was sent to Badoc, but the crucified black Christ was too heavy to be transported so it remained in Sinait.

The cross is about three meters long and two meters wide, and the Christ is about the size of an average Filipino. It is enthroned in the sanctuary of the church which has become one of the most popular pilgrim sites of Ilocoslandia. The crucifix is credited with stopping the 1656 epidemic in the Ilocos and for helping repel the attacks of Moro pirates.

 Apo Lakay also attracts devotees looking for healing, from all parts of the country, most especially during theHoly Week and during Apo Lakay’s feast day, May 3.

On the other hand, the image of the Blessed Virgin is revered in Badoc for her countless miracles that she had been heaping on her people. Proclaimed as La Virgen Milagrosa during the 1980 Eucharistic Celebration on 20, May 1980, she is considered the Patroness of Ilocos Norte. That same year, she was canonically crowned in December.

Photos: Dr. Raymund Feliciano

184. Santo Sighting: STA. CATALINA DE ALEJANDRIA

STA. CATALINA DE ALEJANDRIA OF ARAYAT, PAMPANGA

One rarely seen santo in the Philippines is the figure of St. Catherine of Alexandria (Sta. Catalina de Alejandria), who is regarded as the patroness of such Philippine towns as Arayat (Pampanga), Leon (Iloilo), Carcar (Cebu) and Dumaguete City. Church figures and processional statues depict this great virgin-martyr holding a sword, with the head of Emperor Maxentius at her feet. Sometimes,  a spiked wheel, symbol of her martyrdom, is set on her side. The above image of Arayat's Sta. Catalina adheres to her prescribed iconography. The santo is of wood with silver accoutrements, and lavishly dressed in embroidered garments

Santa Catalina, as a santo figure, is seldom seen in commercial antique shops, possibly because the saint is largely unknown outside of the places of veneration. So it was a surprise that a fellow collector sent me photos of a carved santa for sale--immensely popular in Europe, by the way--which, according to his runner, was obtained from Ilocos.

Indeed, this Sta. Catalina sports a distinctive Ilocos commercial carving style--with a fairly generic cafe and a typical octagonal base. Usually, such santos were outfitted with a manikin body and with wire armature arms--but this example has a body that is carved in the round.

The santa is incredibly complete--with a wooden crown on top of her head which still has remnants of a human hair wig. Her emblems and iconographic elements--the sword, the head of Maxentius at her feet-- are also present. She has also kept her original paint and coloration-light blue cape, white vestment with a pink peplum--with painted floral patterns. An incredible find indeed--but too bad, it did not go to me. But happy to note that another collector will take care of this rare Sta. Catalina, most certainly--by taking it to a church museum!

95. RETRO-SANTO: Ntra. Snra. de la Caridad, Bantay, Ilocos Sur

AY, APO! The image of Our Lady of Charity of Bantay, Ilocos Sur, the oldest Marian image of Ilocandia. Ca. 1954, taken at the Marian Congress Procession.

The oldest Marian image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the whole of Ilocandia, “Apo Caridad de Bantay” or Our Lady of Charity is of ivory. It was carved distinctively with a long, straight neck and large eyes. Of the “de vistir” type, it is dressed aith an apron called ‘delantar’ and with a ‘corea’ (cord) cinched at the waist.

First installed by Fray Montoya at the old Bantay Church, Apo Caridad has been the subject of deep veneration for centuries with many miracles attributed to her—foremost of which was the attempted burning of the town during the Malong Revolt of 1661. Apo Caridad was also held as responsible for saving the lives of Bishop Bernardo Ustariz and companion priests during the Diego Silang revolt of 1762-63. It also survived the bombings of the last world war.

It is said that the image is also imbued with the ability to walk--amorseco burs are regularly found on the hem of her vestments attested to by her caretaker Mrs. Nieves Pabo. This has led people to see her as a patroness and guardian of the fields. Apo Caridad was canonically crowned on 12 January 1956 by then Apostolic Nuncio, Egidio Vagnozzi.

The ivory head and hands of the image, however, were stolen on 4 November 1968, and to this day, they have not been recovered. The Archdiocesan Museum donated an unfinished head from which the image was reconstructed in the manner of the original.

There is another Mary figure bearing the appellation of “Apo Caridad”, which can be found in Agoo, La Union, and it is often inferred that the La Union devotion stemmed from that of the Bantay Virgin. Every year, the Nueva Segovia Pastoral Council holds an archdiocesan assembly on the date of Apo Caridad’s canonical coronation, celebrated on the Sunday closest to 12 January.

93. Santo Stories: SANTA LUCIA, of Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur

In the town of Sta. Lucia of Ilocos Sur, one can find an ancient santa figure around which the devotion of millions of God-fearing Ilocanos have revolved over the last centuries. It is that of the small figure of the town’s pintakasi—Santa Lucia—“Apo Baket” as she is fondly addressed, ‘grandmother’ in Ilocano, a term of endearment for someone who has never failed to listen to supplications for miracles and simple requests.

Dumanguake was the name of present-day Santa Lucia when Captain Juan de Salcedo landed there on the way to North Luzon. The Spaniards enslaved the Bag-o natives and made them work without compensation.

One day, while the Spaniards were punishing some disobedient natives, a group of men grouped themselves because they resented the harsh treatment of the Spanish. A fight ensued and the natives wanted to side with the Spanish. Suddenly an old woman stood in front of them. When they asked her name, she uttered "Lucia." After uttering her name, she disappeared. Seeing this, the Spaniards and the natives agreed to build a church on the site of the apparition, and dedicated it to Santa Lucia--whose name eventually became the name of the new town

The small image of Sta. Lucia is based on the Sicilian martyr, Lucy, whose eyes were gouged out by her torturers but which were miraculously restored. Hence, she is invoked against afflictions of the eye. The antique wooden image was brought by Augustinian friars to the Philippines, but it is not known if this was the same image brought to the mission of Sta. Lucia, established in 1586. Oldtimers would only say that the image had been there since their grandparents’ time. Another image of Sta. Lucia—this one with ivory head and hands--- was stolen years’ back, but luckily, the perpetrators ignored the wooden image which many people believe to be ‘milagrosa’.

Sta. Lucia has a delicately carved face, now darkened with age. It is outfitted with glass eyes and human hair wig. On her garment are pinned hundreds of silver ‘ex-votos’ –votive offerings on the shape of eyes, lung, heart, legs and other limbs---which represent the body parts healed by the saints. Her vestments are full to overflowing—a powerful testament to her miraculous power—so much so that the parish priest had to transfer thousands more of the ex-votos on a banner. The offerings also are known to possess curative powers; pious devotees would often rub these silver offerings on their eyes.

The saint is not just sought out for cures but also when crops fail or when rains refused to fall. Peasants and townsfolk bring Sta. Lucia out and procession her in the fields so that she would bring back a bountiful harvest to the town who has grown to love and safeguard her with their lives.