Pontifical Coronation of La Virgen Milagrosa set

  • Some 7,000 Catholic devotees attend the fluvial parade
    in honor of Blessed Virgin Mary
Young devotees pay respect to the image of La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc during the Mass and Fluvial Parade held on May 26, 2018 in Badoc, Ilocos Norte. A crowd of 7,000 gathered at the La Virgen Milagrosa cove as they witnessed a fluvial procession in honor of Virgin Mary. (Photo by PGIN-CMO)

Ilocos Norte’s provincial patroness, La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, is set for her pontifical coronation this May 31, 2018, highlighting the annual La Milagrosa Provincial Fiesta and further marking the ongoing bicentennial celebration of the province.

Preluding the coronation was the second fluvial procession featuring several bancas along the coast of the La Milagrosa Chapel and Cove in Brgy. La Virgen Milagrosa, Badoc Town, last May 26.

“This was not just a celebration and parade, but also an act of thanksgiving to the Almighty accompanied with devout prayer,” said Jade Ceasar Raquel, tourism officer of Badoc.

The procession ended with a reenactment of how La Milagrosa came to be the provincial patroness: she is said to have arrived floating in a box together with the image of Sto. Cristo Milagroso between the shores of Brgy. Paguetpet in Badoc and Brgy. Dadalaquiten, Sinait, a bordering town of Ilocos Sur.
Only people from Badoc were able to carry the image of La Milagrosa, while only those from Sinait could carry Cristo Milagroso. Thus, they understood that the images had chosen their respective towns and provinces.

Meanwhile, a mass will be held at the St. John the Baptist Parish at 9:00a.m. on May 31, after which the image of La Milagrosa will be displayed through a procession for her coronation.
According to Tourism Operations Officer Xavier Ruiz, Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardenal Tagle is expected to grace the pontifical coronation, together with the bishop of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia and other Ilocos Norte church officials to be led by Bishop Renato Mayugba of the Diocese of Laoag City.
Ruiz shared, “This is very important in terms of faith tourism, which is a priority of the national government and tourism department,” citing the Manaoag Church in Pangasinan, Ilocos Region, as an example of millions flocking to a destination out of faith or pilgrimage.

“It is a momentous event not only for the church, but also for the culture, heritage, and history of our province,” he added, expressing his hope that akin to other places in the Philippines bearing Marian images, the town of Badoc would also follow in terms of economic progress, more jobs, and stronger tourism following the coronation.

“[The La Milagrosa Chapel and St. John the Baptist Parish] are not the only places to visit in Badoc, so we hope to see a more developed town because of this event.” (PGIN-CMO)