Antipolo – as immortalized in a traditional song is famous for Hinulugang Taktak and various food, such as suman, mangga, and kasoy. But Antipolo is also a place popular among Marian devotees because it is home to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage or Birhen ng Antipolo.
Mary in our History
The Filipinos’ love affair with Birhen ng Antipolo started when she landed on our shore on March 25, 1626 via the galleon Reina y Gobernadora from Acapulco, Mexico. As the patroness of travelers, Birhen ng Antipolo is not foreign to crossing the highest seas: historical accounts testify that “from 1648 to 1748, the Virgin’s image made five trips to Acapulco and each time she brought the ship safely back to Philippine shores.”
Since her arrival in the country, the Virgin’s image was transferred to several places. From its original home in the church of San Ignacio in Intramuros to Sta. Cruz, where the image miraculously disappeared twice and only to be found, on both occasions, on the branches of tipolo tree (from which the name Antipolo was derived), and down to its present home, the Virgin’s image survived wars, uprisings, plagues, earthquakes, and any other calamities.
In 1954, the church of Antipolo was declared a National Shrine and in 1982, it was consecrated as the seat of the Diocese of Antipolo, thus, making the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage as the Cathedral of Antipolo. It is also a parish dedicated to the Immaculate Conception; so in a unique way, the church of Antipolo is a parish, a cathedral of the diocese, and a national shrine.
Journeying with us in our daily lives
As one of the well-loved shrines in the Philippines, devotees flock to this church during the months of May, June, and July to pay homage to Birhen ng Antipolo. It is also one of the pilgrimage sites every Holy Week, especially during Good Friday when people from the surrounding cities and provinces go to the shrine by foot. One would easily notice that in the shrine of Antipolo, many travelers would come and visit to pray and ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. Every Sunday, there are also countless number of requests for blessing of vehicles and religious images, rosaries, and scapulars. At the back of the Church, devotees may climb the stairs that would lead to a museum depicting the history of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. It also gives the pilgrims opportunity to get near to the image of the Virgin and kiss her mantle.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage is a testament to Filipinos’ love and devotion to Mary, whose maternal protection we come to implore as we journey through the roads of our lives. LWC
“In artistry, in magnificence, in richness,
this church has no equal”
– Fr. Pedro Murillo Velarde, SJ (1749)
THE ELLIS EXPERIENCE 