BADOC, Ilocos Norte, 30 November 2017 – Thousands of Marian devotees from Ilocos Norte are anticipating the Intramuros Grand Marian Procession (IGMP) on December 03 as, for the first time, the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary under the title La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, Cause of our Joy will participate in the said event.
According to the official communique of the Saint John the Baptist Parish in Badoc, Ilocos Norte where the image is currently enshrined, the image will arrive at around 5:00 pm on November 30 and will be venerated in the Arzobispado de Manila chapel in Intramuros where it will stay until the IGMP commences.
Triduum masses will be offered from its arrival every 5:00 pm during its stay in Intramuros. A thanksgiving mass will follow upon its arrival to be presided by Rev. Fr. Noel Ian G. Rabago, JCL, parish priest of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte. On December 01, Most Rev. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, Bishop of Laoag, will lead the second triduum mass. The third day of triduum on December 02 will be presided over by Rev. Fr. Frederick Astudillo, the parish priest of Saint John the Baptist in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, before the image will join procession of other Marian images from all over the country.
The significance of the image’s participation in the event is in lieu of preparations for the canonical coronation of the image.
In a recent move and after verifying sources, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag has found out that the image is yet to be canonically crowned as it was previously known. The episcopal coronation was held in 08 December 1980 presided by then Most Rev. Edmundo M. Abaya, DD, Bishop of Laoag and now Archbishop-emeritus of Nueva Segovia.
It was during an Eucharistic celebration in May 20, 1980 that the Marian image was called under her current title La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, Cause of our Joy.
The diocese is now in the process of gathering documents to be submitted to the Vatican for the image to be canonically crowned.
If ever given recognition by the Vatican, the image will therefore be the 35th canonically crowned Marian image in the Philippines.
The centuries old image was found in 1620 around the beach shores of the boundaries of Sinait, Ilocos Sur and Badoc, Ilocos Norte together with the image of the crucified Christ, now venerated in Sinait as Santo Cristo Milagroso. It is believed that the images were originated from Japan as a result of Christian persecutions during that time, as attested by the Japonesa features of the Marian image. She is venerated every first Saturday of May in a provincial festival called La Milagrosa in honor of her patronage and every December 08, the anniversary of her episcopal coronation. (Rainier Marquez/DYC Laoag)
Diocesan Youth Commission 