The province of Ilocos Norte celebrated the 1st Pontifical Coronation Anniversary of its patron saint, La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, on May 31.
A fluvial parade highlighted the nine-day novena in honor of the provincial patroness. The images of La Milagrosa and Sto. Cristo Milagroso de Sinait were paraded in the waters of Badoc, reenacting the historic arrival of the Blessed Virgin image in the province.
History says that in the year 1620, the La Virgen life-sized image, together with the life-sized image of the Black Nazarene, was sealed in a large wooden box found floating by fisherfolks in the border shoreline off Brgy. Paguetpet in Badoc, Ilocos Norte and Brgy. Dadalaquiten, Sinait, Ilocos Sur.
As anniversary-goers, hundreds of devotees and spectators paid homage to the blessed images while the fluvial procession sailed along the cove.
A novena mass followed and officiated by Vigan City’s Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Segovia, Most Rev. Marlo M. Peralta, held at the Minor Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Badoc.
Over the past year, we noted an increase of pilgrims and tourists coming to the Minor Basilica of Badoc, a boost to the religious faith and local tourism, said Tourism Operations Officer Xavier Ruiz.
The devotion of the Ilocanos on the Blessed Virgin Mary was strengthened through Provincial Ordinance No. 062-2012, declaring every May 2 to 5 as annual Provincial Fiesta of Ilocos Norte in honor of La Milagrosa,
The month-long “La Virgen Milagrosa Joyful Symphony of Lights,” a lights-and-music display in front of the Provincial Capitol in Laoag City, is a tribute to the patroness.
Last year, the Coronation rites of the Blessed Virgin in Badoc were graced by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, representing His Holiness Pope Francis and other church leaders of the country.—(Edison Justin Deus, PGIN-CMO)
