LAKWATSA

Last Sunday, the 3^rd of September, we started the day early by visiting the chapel at the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes. By mid-morning, we were at Every Nation across Market! Market! in Bonifacio City. After the service and while having breakfast at Heaven and Eggs, our friend Loida Rapal called and invited us to hear a special mass [held every first Sunday of the month] at the Church of Manaoag in Manaoag, Pangasinan.

By twelve noon, a convoy of two 4WD’s loaded with other friends we managed to herd was on its way to Pangasinan, stopping by at Hacienda Luisita for a quick chow and chat [loads of it!] at Max’s. Reesa and I settled for a cup each of Starbucks coffee. We arrived in the Church of Manaoag a few minutes after the 4:30pm mass started. Di kaya kami lumagpas sa langit nito? Tee hee!

Manaoag, some 200 kilometers north of Manila, is the town in Pangasinan which endlessly hosts devotees from around the country. Pilgrims flock to the Church of Manaoag – home to the shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag, also known as Nuestra Señora del Rosario or Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

Since it was my first time to visit Manaoag, and since the trip was a quick one, I can’t say much about this place.

When Reesa found out that it was my first visit, she suggested that I pray for at least three intentions as it is believed that The Lady of Manaoag has the special powers to grant favours. After lighting my three candles and saying my intentions, we inched closer to the image of The Lady, where throve of devotees are already settled.

Her origin as Patroness of Manaoag is surrounded with a myth as mystifying as the lovely expression of her face. It is said that the town itself was born from the Virgin’s call, thus the term, taoag, meaning to call, was used to name the town. It is said that one day, a young man walking home heard a Lady’s mysterious voice. He looked around and with great awe saw the radiant Lady with a Rosary on her right hand and a Child on her left standing on a cloud veiling a treetop. The man fell on his knees. He told the people of the apparition. And soon right on the spot where the Lady appeared a church was built. A town quickly flourished around it and was called Manaoag.

After the mass and a quick photo-op, we strolled around the Church’s peripheries and indulged in a couple of local delicacies sold by street vendors – the patupat and tupig.

Upon reaching Manila at 10:00 in the evening, we were treated to a sumptuous Japanese barbeque dinner [photos in Lafang soon!] which included yakisoba, sukiyaki, and robatayaki among others - especially and personally-cooked by Reesa’s dad in front of the hungry multitude!

Happy birthday, Mama Mary!