Nuestra Señora dela Soledad de Porta Vaga

Image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga, (Our Lady of Solitude of Vaga Gate) also called "Reina de Cavite" (i.e. Queen of Cavite) and "La Virgen de la Soledad", is the patroness of Cavite City.^[1]

Description

The Blessed Virgin Mary is depicted as Our Lady of Sorrows. Mary, garbed in black and white attire, seems to be on her knees as she contemplates the Passion of Her Son, Jesus. Before her are the crown of thorns and the nails, the instrument of Christ's Crucifixion.^[2] The icon of Our Lady is painted on a canvas framed in carved wood. The painting is presently set with gold and silver accouterments and precious gems, which are ex votos from her devotees. An inscription found at the back of the painting says: "A doze de Abril 1692 años Juan Oliba puso esta Stma. Ymagen Haqui" ("This most holy image was placed here by Juan Oliba on April 12, 1692").". The most venerated icon of La Virgen de la Soledad de Porta Vaga is an invaluable treasure inherited by the Caviteños from their ancestors, and is the oldest extant dated Marian painting in the Philippines.

History

A legend narrates that many years ago, a small detachment of Spanish Guardia Civil was stationed at a sentry post called garita located at the end of the Isthmus of Rosario. One stormy night, while a Spanish sentinel was at his post, he perceived a halo of a bright shifting light. A dazzling apparition rose form the currents of Cañacao Bay startling the sentry with suspicion that it could be pirates who were out to ransack the port because that time, Cavite was at the peak of economic prosperity because of the galleon trade.

Frightened, the sentinel shouted "¡Alto! ¡Alto!" ("Halt! Halt!"). However, instead of stopping, the light proceeded toward him. Hence, in a loud voice he asked, "¿Quién vive?" ("Who is there?"). He then heard a sweet and melodious voice saying:

"Soldadito, ¿por qué el alto me das en noche tan fría? Dame paso. ¿No conoces a Maria?" ("Little Soldier, why halt me on a night so cold? Let me pass. Dost thou not recognise Mary?")

The sentinel, struck in awe and confusion, humbly and repentantly replied,

"Perdóname, Virgen Maria, Reina de mi devoción; pues solo soy un soldado que cumplo mi obligación!" ("Forgive me, Virgin Mary, Queen of my devotion; for I am a soldier who complies with my duty!")

The following morning, fisherman and workers at the Cavite Royal Arsenal usually passed through the Porta Vaga (Vaga Gate) found along the beach of Cañacáo Bay a framed image of the Virgin. It was close to the spot where she appeared the previous night. They brought the image to the parish priest who temporarily installed it in the parish church. Later, a small chapel was built near the Porta Vaga's walls, and for three centuries it was the shrine of the Virgen de la Soledad. The icon was used to bless the galleon plying between Cavite and Acapulco (Mexico) during formal sending off ceremonies, earning her the title "Patroness of the Galleon

In 1929, a new parish priest, Fr. Pedro Lerena y Lerena of Logrono, Spain, was assigned to the Puerto. At the same time, he was appointed Rector of the Ermita. His great dedication to the cause of the Virgen de la Soledad saw the beautification and the improvement of the Ermita through the years. During the Second World War, Fr. Lerena was able to retrieve the precious image of the Virgin from a junkyard where it was thrown by the Japanese invaders and brought it to the Archbishop’s Palace in Intramuros, Manila and later to the vaults of the Philippine National Bank for safekeeping. It was brought back to Cavite only after the liberation in 1945, this time to her home at the San Roque church because the Ermita was destroyed by Japanese and the combined Filipino-American forces. Until his death in 1972, Fr. Lerena served as the guardian of Cavite’s priceless treasure.

Theft and return

On March 16, 1984, the icon of the Virgin was sacrilegiously stolen from its altar. After tedious months of search, it was recovered on August 15, 1984, albeit divested of all its original gold decorations and precious stones. Every effort was made by devotees to restore the image to its former glory, and on August 19, 1984, it was re-enshrined in the altar amidst much rejoicing.

Miracles

Countless miracles have been attributed to the Virgen de la Soledad. Her mysterious apparition and the unexplained arrival of her image were initial revelations of her miraculous reign. During the terrible typhoon in 1830, a fire caused by lightning bolt hit the wooden altar of the Ermita and razed the chapel to the ground, but the image of the Virgin remained intact among the ashes. In 1856, another terrible typhoon flooded the houses, churches and public buildings within the Puerto but the Ermita, as well as its patio were found dry so the people took refuge in the Church. In 1857, a Spanish frigate based in Cavite was caught by a violent typhoon off the coast of Albay and was stranded for 20 days, after running aground. The crew prayed before an image of the Soledad. She appeared before them that night and the tide rose higher and the wind began to blow, thus releasing the frigate free from its rocky trap. There have been other miracles attributed to the Virgin with the passing of the years including present day accounts of healings, families reunited and family problems solved.

Devotion

Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga is one of the most venerated Marian images in Cavite. Her feast is celebrated every 2nd and 3rd Sunday of November in Cavite City, where She is honored as the Queen and Patroness of the entire Province of Cavite. Through the joint efforts of Msgr. Baraquiel Mojica, former parish priest of San Roque, and Bishop Felix Perez, this miraculous icon of the Virgin of Solitude was Canonically Crowned on November 17, 1978 by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Most Rev. Bruno Torpigliani, DD under the reign of the great Pope John Paul II. She was the first Philippine Marian Image crowned during his Pontificate.

Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga is also associated with the Lenten rites as well as the All Saints-All Souls Day observance, where she is alluded as "Inang Magkakandila."

The Image was given a Pontificial High Mass at the Binondo Church, Binondo, Manila followed by a concert featuring the works of the National Artist Lucio San Pedro.Devotion to Our Lady gave the Caviteños the opportunity to show their art skills.

A replica of the Ynang Nag-Iisa is widely venerated in different part of the country and can be found in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, Camba, Tondo, Manila,and Buhi, Camarines Sur.

TheCofradia de la Virgen de la Soledad de Porta Vaga presently led by Rev. Fr. Virgilio Saenz Mendoza and Jonnell Ryan I. Enriquez heads the devotees of Our Lady. It was established in August 1998 through the efforts of the late Antonio G. Nazareno and then Bishop Manuel B. Sobrevinias. Devotees include overseas Filipino workers and other foreign nationals who flock the country to join the Porta Vaga Festival.

She is presently enshrined at the Parish Church of San Roque in Cavite city, Philippines. She has recently celebrated the Pearl Year of Her Canonical coronation (2008) and is preparing to celebrate the Silver Anniversary of the Return of Her original miraculous icon (2009).

Hymn

In 1892 Don Julian Felipe, the Philippine National Anthem composer, composed the hymn "Reina de Cavite", on the occasion of her fiesta and for the opening of the Exposición Regionál Caviteña. The lyrics were taken from the poem Himmo a la Virgén de Cavite by Fr. Tomás de Andrade, the rector of the Jesuit College of Cavite sometime in 1689.^[3][4]

Lyrics:

Reina de Cavite per siempre seras: Es prenda tu nombre de jubilo y paz: Reina de Cavite por siempre seras; Es prenda tu nombre de jubilo y paz. Madre Immaculada, prez del serafin, Luz de Filipinas, protegenos sin fin: Luz de Filipinas, protegenos sin fin.

References

• Barcelona, Mary Anne. Ynang Maria: A Celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Philippines. Edited by Consuelo B. Estepa, P.D. Pasig City: Anvil Publishing, Inc., 2004.

• Cavite Studies Center-De La Salle University Dasmariñas. CAVITE Cultura e Historia. Edited by Teresita P. Unabia and Victor Immanuel R. Cuarto. Cavite: Cavite Historical Society, Inc., 2002.

• Almanaque de N.S. del rosario, 1946, p. 284.

• Archdiocesan Archives of Manila

 Document No. 92 LGE1C9 1751-1752A
 Document No. 109-10, LGE 1010 1767-1771
 Document No. 182, LGE 1 C 8 - 1750 1742 A
 Document No. 250, LGE 1 C 9 - 1747 1756
 Document No. 294, LGE 1 C 9 - 1751-1752 A
 Document No. 321, LGE 1 C 8 - 1737 1742
 Document No. 436, Libro del Govierno Ecclesiastico 1 C 8 1737 - 1750
 SV4A1 1805 - 1806 A
 Document No. 475, 522, 960 LGE 1010 1767 - 1771
 Document No. 20 S V 4aL 1786 - 87 B

• Avellanedad, Miguel. Catologo de Los Religiosos de la Orden Agustinos Recoletos, 1606-1636.

• Don Gervacio Pangilinan. Historica de Cavite, mss.

• Aviado, Lutgarda. Madona of the Philippines. [n.imp.]

• Braganza, Jose Vicente, SVD. Early Church History of Cavite: Dominicans, Recoletos and Filipino Secular Clergy. DIWA Studies in Philosophy and Theology. Vol. VIII No. 1, Tagaytay City: Graduate School of Divine Word Seminary.

• Jose, Regalado Trota, The Eight Churches of Cavite Puerto (1586-1900). Philippine Quarterly of culture and Society. 1987.

• Fernandez, Antonio J., Algunos Milagros Hechos Por Nuestra Señora, La Virgen de la Soledad de Porta Vaga- Patronas del Pueblo de Cavite. Programas de las Fiestas Generales de Cavite, 1932, pp. 11–15.

• German, Alfredo, Our Lady of Solitude: Facts and Legend". Souvenir Program Cavite Fiesta, 1964.

• Nuestra Señora de la Soledad: The Mystical Madonna of Camba. The Manila Digest, Vol. 2, No.3, Manila: Archdiocese of Manila, April 1990. pp. 11–12.

• Samonte, Godofredo, Odyssey of the Virgin. Souvenir Program Cavite Fiesta, 1964.

• San Agustin, Narciso La Tradicional Fiesta de Cavite. Souvenir Program, Cavite Fiesta, 1949.

Notes

1. ^ The Galleon guide to Philippine festivals by Alphonso J. Aluit 1969 ASIN B004CWODBO page 97
2. ^ Consuming passions: Philippine collectibles Erlinda Enriquez Panlilio, Jaime C. Laya 2003 page 70 ISBN 9712714004 page 70
3. ^ Chabacano studies: essays on Cavite's Chabacano language and literature by Emmanuel Luis A. Romanillos, 2006 Cavite Historical Society page 125
4. ^ Sto. Niǹo de Molino Bacoor, Canite 1984-1994: the making of a parish by Delos Reyes, Aloma Monte.; Bacoor, Cavite: Parish of Sto. Nino de Molino, 1994, page 139.