Cavite Tierra de Maria Santisima

Though this accolade was given to the Puerto during the 17th Century, this may as well go for the entire province of Cavite as the seeds of the Catholic faith thrived and blossomed in its many other towns. Such was the rapid spread of devotion to Mary that many parishes were dedicated to Our Lady as well as Marian organizations established in Cavite through the centuries.

When Cavite Puerto became an independent parish, though the church called was San Pedro, the titular patroness of the parish was the Immaculate Conception. Later in 1870, the Immaculate Conception was declared as patroness of the Real Arsenal de Cavite and the Fabrica de Tabacos de Cavite.

When the parish of Naic, Cavite was established, it was placed under the patronage of the La Purisima Concepcion. In 1595, Silang as a parish, was placed under the patroness of Ntra. Senora de Candelaria

The Augustinians built their church in the Puerto under the patronage of Our Lady of Remedies, while the Jesuits dedicated their church to the Lady of Loreto. In the Dominican church of San Telmo, the devotion to the Holy Rosary was promoted. In most Cavite parishes, the Cofradia de Ntra. Señora del Rosario existed. The Recollect Fathers in Cavite Puerto promoted to the Ntra. Señora de la Regla (Our Lady of the Rule). On March 26, 1621, Don Juan Niño de Tabora, Governor of the Philippines, arrived in Cavite Puerto with the brown image of the Immaculate Conception carved in Mexico. Later, this image would be better known as Ntra. Senora de Antipolo. In 1639, the Chinese rose in revolt and burned the church of Antipolo. For 14 years, the Virgen de Antipolo stayed in Cavite, until she was brought in the galleon trip to Mexico. Cavite was saved from Dutch invasion because of the presence of the Lady of Antipolo. The image was deposited by the governor general at the Royal Chapel inside the Royal Fort of San Felipe Neri. The chapel was constructed in 1636.

Even the halls of the Hospital de San Juan de Dios were renamed after our Lady, e.g., Sala de la Virgen de Dolores and Sala de la Virgen del Rosario. Barrios like Soledad and Rosario in San Roque, Cavite, were named after the Virgin. The first miracle of Ntra. Senora de Peñafrancia occurred in Cavite Puerto to a Spanish family by the surname of Cobarrubias. Fr. Miguel Robles de Cobarrubias, the recipient of our Lady’s favor, brought the devotion to Naga. There, he asked a local artisan to carve an image of the Virgin and with the help of Bishop Gonzales of Nueva Caceres, the Santuario de Peñafrancia was finished. The Peñafrancia became the patroness of the entire Bicol Region.

In 1627, the parish of Maragondon was placed under the patronage of Ntra. Senora de la Asuncion. The peak of Marian devotion in Cavite reached its zenith when in 1667, the Blessed Virgin Mary herself appeared before a sentry at Porta Vaga, the gateway to the walled citadel of Cavite Puerto. According to popular tradition, the following morning after the apparition, a painting of the Virgen de la Soledad was found floating along the shore of Canacao Bay right where she appeared. She would thereafter be venerated as the Reina de Cavite, the Celestial Guardian and Protectress of Cavite Province.

The devotion to the Virgen de la Soledad is well approved by the church hierarchy. The Spanish Archbishop of Manila, Don Basilio Sancho de Santa Justa y Rufina, granted 80 days of plenary indulgence for those who would say the novena in her honor. Bishop Mateo Rubio de Arevalo of Cebu granted 40 more days of indulgence for those who would pray before the icon of the Virgin. On October 21, 1909, the first American Archbishop of Manila, Jeremias Hearty, granted 100 days of indulgence to those who made acts of devotion to the Virgin. In 1975, the Virgen de la Soledad was proclaimed a patroness of the chapel of Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol, the diocesan seminary of Cavite. The image of the Virgin was solemnly and canonically crowned by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Bruno Torpigliani, D.D., on November 17, 1978. The said coronation was held with the approval of Rome.

“The first miracle of Ntra. Senora de Peñafrancia occurred in Cavite Puerto to a Spanish family by the surname of Cobarrubias. Fr. Miguel Robles de Cobarrubias, the recipient of our Lady’s favor, brought the devotion to Naga. There, he asked a local artisan to carve an image of the Virgin and with the help of Bishop Gonzales of Nueva Caceres, the Santuario de Peñafrancia was finished. The Peñafrancia became the patroness of the entire Bicol Region."

In 1795, the Augustinian Recollect Fathers established the parish of Imus with Ntra. Del Pilar, the patroness of the Spanish world, as its patroness. Later, more parishes were dedicated to our Lady. In 1846, the town of Rosario was dedicated to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary; Dasmariñas was placed under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception, and in 1883, Magallanes, Cavite, was made a parish with the Ntra. Sra. De Guia as the patroness. In the more recent past, more Marian parishes were established. Tagaytay City was dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes; Queensrow to Our Lady Queen of Peace; Binakayan to Our Lady of Fatima; Amaya to Our Lady of the Rosary; Bagong Bayan, Dasmariñas to Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Bucandala to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; Salinas, Bacoor to Queen of Peace; Salitran, Anabu, and Soldier’s Hill to Our Lady of Fatima, the Quasi Parish of Virgen de la Soledad, in Panamitan, Kawit; Our Lady of Annunciation in Pasong Camachile, Gen. Trias, and the soon to be Our Lady of Guadalupe Pastoral Center in Javalera, Gen. Trias.

“ In 1795, the Augustinian Recollect Fathers established the parish of Imus with Ntra. Del Pilar, the patroness of the Spanish world, as its patroness. Later, more parishes were dedicated to our Lady. In 1846, the town of Rosario was dedicated to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary; Dasmariñas was placed under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception, and in 1883, Magallanes, Cavite, was made a parish with the Ntra. Sra. De Guia as the patroness."