The 38th Intramuros Grand Marian Procession
The historical streets of Intramuros were once again filled with colorful Carozzas featuring over a hundred Marian images last Sunday. Despite the unwelcoming weather prior to the time of the procession, the 38th Intramuros Grand Marian Procession was held and concluded successfully. More than a hundred Marian images bearing different titles from different provinces of the country were gathered for this highly anticipated Marian event.
The Intramuros Grand Marian Procession is an annual event celebrated every first Sunday of December in honor of the feast of the Immaculate Concepcion (which is every 8th of December). It has been traditionally done and part of Intramuros’ rich history since 1619 but the tradition was once again resurrected in the late 70s and early 80s where the term Grand Marian Procession was coined.
The tradition was preserved but the way it is being celebrated was changed throughout the years. Today, the annual grand procession is still being done where different most prominent Marian images are being paraded alongside with marching bands, folk dancers and of course the hundreds of devotees who travel all the way from their respective towns just to join the parade.
Interestingly, they made some changes this year and most notably the arrangements of the images. The procession was lead by the Venerated images followed by the Marian images that are canonically crowned, then followed by Marian images that are privately owned and then the “festejada” or the image of the Immaculate Concepcion.
The 3-kilometer long procession was graced by some of the most prominent Marian images in the country. One of the most interesting highlights this year is the inclusion of the “Mary Help of Christians” from Marawi City. The original image of Maria Auxiliadora de los Cristianos de Marawi was actually destroyed during the war in Marawi and this replica was donated by Nolan Angeles. The replica graced the Intramuros Marian Procession before it will be turned over to Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Marawi.
Photos from Mr Nolan Angeles. One of the most touching scenes captured during the event. I’ve also learned that the image is now visiting some Salestians schools in Laguna before turning it over to Marawi
This year also marks the first participation of La Purisima Concepcion of Santa Maria, Bulacan, La Virgen Milagrosa of Badoc, Ilocos Norte and Our Lady of Rosary of Pacita, Laguna.
Too bad I don’t have my camera with me so everything I will share below were all taken through my smartphone! So without any further ado, here are some of the Marian images from the recently concluded 38th Intramuros Grand Marian Procession of IGMP2017!
Virgen Del Carmen (Our Lady of Mount Carmel)
Our Lady of Assumption
La Purisima Concepcion de Santa Maria, Bulacan. It’s her first participation this year
Nuestra Señora del Mar Cautiva de Sto. Tomas
Mary The Health of the Sick
Nuestra Señora De Natividad
Our Lady of the Poor
La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc. It is the image first participation to IGMP
Nuestra Senora delos Dolores de Quezon
Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang
Our Lady of La Salette
Our Lady of Miraculous Medal
Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Turumba
Our Lady Apo Baket of Namacpacan
La Divina Pastora
Mary The Untier of Knots
Mary Queen of Virgins
Nuestra Señora del Santissimo Rosario De Macarena
Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Our Lady of Stars
Regina Martyrium
Sta Maria Regi Angeli
Rosa Mystica
Our Lady of Manaoag
Our Lady of Peñafrancia
Our Lady of All Nations
Nuestra Señora De Cabra
Nuestra Señora Dela Fe
Mother of Love, Peace and Joy
La Pieta
Nuestra Señora de la Victoria
Our Lady of Peñafrancia De Manila
Our Lady of Caysasay
Nuestra Señora De la Salud delos Recoletos
Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga
Our Lady of Rosary of Pacita, Laguna.
As a residence of Cavite City, we came there to support our Patroness, the Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga. The image depicts the solitude of Mary and to commemorate with it, we used to have the so-called “Silent Procession” or “Yapak Procession” every Good Friday (Check : Yapak Procession). The devotees used to walk barefoot during the procession.
We once brought that yearly Lent tradition to Intramuros Grand Marian Procession but in the past few years, we just wear black. This year, however, was something special. The original image of Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga was brought to grace this year’s Marian procession. The miraculous image recently celebrated its 350th anniversary. Escorted by marine students from AIMS and accompanied by three large bands from different towns of Cavite and an overwhelming amount of devotees, you can really feel the strong devotion to the miraculous Patroness of Cavite.
Confetti and Loud cheers as soon as She was introduced!
Feel free to watch the video below