By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Long regarded by Filipinos as the pillar of faith in northern Luzon, the humble town of Manaoag continues to draw in visitors paying homage to the Marian statue enshrined in the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag.
Thousands of devotees flocked to the church in the namesake town Wednesday as they became living witnesses of a once-in-a-lifetime religious occasion—the centennial canonical coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in the Pangasinan town.
Tents and LED screens catered to those who were not able to enter the church, with medical teams and security personnel on standby to ensure prompt response in case of emergencies and deter crimes, respectively.
Among the attendees were President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, who both allocated time off their busy schedules to express oneness with Manaoag devotees in this sacred celebration of faith.
The mass was presided over by Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Charles John Brown, who was accompanied by Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas to the altar as the ceremony began.
This solemn feast marks a religious milestone that began when the image was canonically crowned on April 26, 1926—which aligns with the centuries-old history of the church that continues to house the Marian statue to this day. (with reports from Radyo Pilipinas Dagupan and PTV Cordillera)
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