Marian procession of 100 images of ‘Our Lady’ in Intramuros today

Over 100 images of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be paraded in Intramuros, Manila, today, Dec. 4, as part of the 37th Grand Marian Procession, which coincides with the Roman Catholic Church’s observance

of the Second Sunday of Advent.

The procession is organized by the Cofradia de la Immaculada Concepcion Foundation and the Intramuros Administration (IA) as a prelude to the celebration of the Immaculate Concepcion on December 8.

Expected to be part of the procession are the well-venerated images which include the Our Lady of the Visitation of Piat from Cagayan Valley; Our Lady of Guibang in Gamu, Isabela; Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Guimaras, Iloilo; Nuestra Señora de Salvacion; Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion; Our Lady of Lourdes; Our Lady of Victories; Our Lady of La Salette from Silang, Cavite; Our Lady of Namacpacan from Luna, La Union; Our Lady of Manaoag from Pangasinan; Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu; Our Lady of Soledad of Porta Vaga, patroness of Cavite; Our Lady of Peñafrancia, patroness of Bicol; Nuestra Señora de Dolores de Turumba from Pakil, Laguna; Our Lady of La Naval; Our Lady of Guadalupe; Our Lady of the Rosary from Rosario, Cavite; Virgen Milagrosa del Santissimo Rosario from Orani, Bataan; Virgen La Divina Pastora from Gapan, Nueva, Ecija; and several other highly revered Marian images accompanied by a contingent from each town.

The procession which starts at 4 p.m. will leave Plaza Roma (in front of Manila Cathedral) before winding through the three-kilometer route along the streets of the Walled City.

Held every first Sunday of December, the annual procession is a revival of the tradition that originated in Intramuros on Dec. 8, 1619. It was then a national celebration which lasted for 15 days.

Hundreds of Marian devotees holding lighted candles and holy rosaries are expected to join the procession.

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.

Imelda O. Cojuangco, Danilo L. Dolor and 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 Nila Vibal Mata and Czarina Ong Camus.