MACABEBE, Pampanga—At least 47 different statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary were showcased during the first Grand Marian Summit 2015 here.
Fr. Ivan Ray Torno, parish priest of the Lord’s Presentation Parish in Batasan, Macabebe, said the recent procession and exhibit of the statues was inspired by the annual event at the Luneta in Manila. He added that more than 100 statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary were displayed on December 8 during the feast of the Immaculate Concepcion.
“The other priests and I asked ourselves why can’t we do the same in our district in Pampanga? We can also exhibit the various statues of the Virgin Mary,” he said. He and Fr. Mark Manabat of the San Miguel Archangel Parish organized a similar exhibit last year, but only devotees from two parishes joined and showcased their statues.
The grand summit on October 30 was participated in by parishes and devotees from Apalit, Macabebe and Masantol towns in Pampanga and nearby Calumpit in Bulacan.
Torno thanked Macabebe Mayor Annette Flores-Balgan for “being the gracious host of the maiden event.” He also expressed gratitude to Brandy Balingit for helping them organize the recent event.
Balgan said, “I proudly belong to the Lord’s Presentation Parish, and I and my townmates are very happy to host the exhibit and procession.”
School principal Rey Yumang of Macabebe said, “We are awed every time we attend the exhibit of Mama Mary in Luneta on December 8.”
“Thousands of devotees stay until past midnight just to marvel at the almost 200 different statues of the Virgin Mary. They are beautiful and strengthens our devotion to the Blessed Mother of Jesus Christ. The event in Luneta inspired us to do the same thing in Pampanga,” Yumang said.
“It’s amazing nowadays because the devotees of the Virgin Mary are not just old folk frequenting churches. They are getting younger. Some are students and professionals devoted to Mama Mary,” he added.
Yumang said, “It doesn’t mean we will skip the annual Marian event in Luneta because we have our own already.”
“We are more determined to attend the upcoming event,” he added.
The Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga, and the Confradia de Virgen Maria Estrella de la Vicaria, headed by Torno, were the leading organizers of the event.
The other priests who joined and their respective parishes are Fr. Mario Ramos of San Nicolas de Tolentino; Fr. Paul Sahagun of San Rafael; Fr. Emil Dizon of Saint Peter Parish; Fr. Carmelo Agustin of Divina Pastora; Fr. Aristotle de la Cruz of Holy Family; Fr. Romer Tuba of Christ the Eternal Priest; Fr. Norman Arce of the Holy Rosary; and Fr. Eisen John Cruz of San Agustin.
Image credits: Leo Villacarlos