10 September 2007

Marian Shrine at Simala, Sibonga, Cebu

large statue of Mother Mary at the shrine

the shrine at the background

a long walk before you will reach this top


as printed in Sun.Star Cebu
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Marian shrine draws 50T folks
By Jujemay G. Awit

AN estimated 50,000 people flocked to Upper Lindogon, Barangay Simala in Sibonga Saturday, a feast day that celebrates the birth of the Virgin Mary.
Some offered flowers while others gave petitions at the shrine, which devotees believe to be miraculous and which they credit for the end of a dengue fever outbreak.
On what used to be a bare, rocky hill, a chapel was built on the site before the two-story Marian Monks of the Eucharistic Adoration church came to be.
The sanctuary, at least two kilometers from the highway, was visited by devotees, some of whom came as early as Friday night.
Blue and white banderitas lined the way. Babies cradled by their parents, teenagers normally seen in malls, young professionals and old people who could barely walk without assistance trudged the trail leading up the hill.
Some came to honor promises.
Among them was 62-year-old Zosimo Gellica Villadolid, Carcar town, who is diabetic. He started making pilgrimages to Simala after his ailment started getting worse six years ago. “I don’t know if I got cured but I felt better. Every time I come here, I always feel relieved,” he said in Cebuano. Since then, he made an oath to always visit the place, not just on the Virgin Mary’s birthday.
While others came out of curiosity after hearing about the site, most of those who went asked for divine intervention. There were those who want to pass board exams. Others want to be cured. Bantay Radyo’s Mar “Hala-Bira” Mendez, a regular visitor, said he once brought a grandchild who could not open his eyes. After praying to the Blessed Mother at the sanctuary, the child was healed.
Sacrifice
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal led devotees in singing a birthday song for the Virgin Mary. In his homily during the pontifical mass, the archbishop talked about how love is forgotten when people get the best in life like money, power and success in their career, but break up their families and relationships instead.
Because there were too many vehicles, some of the visitors opted to park midway to the sanctuary. Others were stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The long, hot walk was part of the sacrifice, said the 55-year-old Lina.
Pilgrims also flock to the sanctuary every 13th of the month.
The shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Simala has become popular because of a number of “miracles” attributed to it. The statue of the Blessed Mother reportedly shed tears of blood on Aug. 17 and 22, 1998. The same year, it allegedly shed tears again during her birthday, the anniversary of the apparition of the Lady of Fatima on Oct. 13, and on Dec. 29.
Origins
People believed that Mama Mary shed tears because of the dengue outbreak that plagued Simala that year. The story of how the image of the Our Lady of Fatima was handed over as a gift to the Marian Monks of the Eucharistic Adoration is also shrouded in mystery.
Originally from Pampanga, the Marian Monks were planning to build a church in Simala when a woman offered the image to a monk, Mendez said. The woman was leaving for America and asked that the statue be taken care of. Just as the monk turned to say thanks, she was gone.
Yesterday, pilgrims from as far as Tarlac, Pampanga, Davao, Leyte and other places visited the shrine, bringing with them banners greeting the Virgin Mary a “Happy Birthday.” Many devotees arrived with umbrellas and drinks. Most visitors actually came as early as the day before, and either set up tents or slept in nearby cottages. Others unrolled sleeping bags, or whatever they could use, and slept on the ground.
Festivities
At midnight, a vigil was held, followed by a 1:30 a.m. maƱanita capped with a fireworks display. After the pontifical mass at 10 a.m. another mass was celebrated at 3 p.m., followed by a procession and the coronation of the Blessed Mother at 8 p.m.
With people coming and going, policemen, soldiers, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 7 operatives with sniffing dogs, and volunteers kept everybody safe. Eight Carcar Emergency Assistance Group members were also present to help. A number of people passed out because the path leading to the shrine was so thick with people there was barely air to breath. Although a number of ambulances were on standby, it was hard to drive out to the highway.
But the celebration of the Virgin Mary’s birthday also proved to be a business opportunity for some people, who not only sold food and drinks but also hawked face towels printed with birthday greetings for Mother Mary, fans, and bottled olive oil blessed by the monks. (JGA)

4 comments:

kuyajoee said...

kamo diay ni j ang nagkuyog ani? abi nako kamo mader lina at first...

Omar said...

"The long, hot walk was part of the sacrifice, said the 55-year-old Lina."

day? THE MADER LINA?

ug nganong wa ka interviewha sa imong miga?

and the night before this day, asa ka nag-boy-watching, este, nagbilar?

Anonymous said...

nopes tash...nagkita (i mean "nagkasugat" ra dyud) mi ni j ngadto...gisapot na ko sa kapoy ug init na baktas pwerti pa kadaghan sa mga taw cos dili naman kasaka ang mga sakyanan...sa dihang nasugatan nako ang usa ka babay na sige og suwat...lech ba aning bayhana sige suwat mura man sad og reporter na pwerte ba kahuot sa crowd...toink, si j diay to...hehehe

Anonymous said...

yes mar, si mader lina na day iyang pasabot...naa sad ko statement pero gi cut sa iyang editor...hehehe. ako ra ang adverse.