BINAKAYAN, KAWIT, CAVITE — With deep gratitude and Marian devotion, the faithful of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Binakayan gathered for a solemn Holy Mass presided over by Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, commemorating the anniversary of the first coronation of the beloved image of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Fatima de Binakayan, affectionately known by her devotees as “Imang.”

The image of Imang has been intimately connected with the history and faith of the people of Binakayan for decades. Originally from Portugal, the image was gifted in 1966 by the American couple Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Coneley to then-Manila Archbishop Rufino Cardinal Santos, who subsequently entrusted it to Bishop Artemio Casas of the Diocese of Imus. The image eventually became the cherished Marian patroness of the community.

A significant milestone in this history came with the Decree of Episcopal Coronation of Imang signed by then Imus Bishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle on August 22, 2008, although the rites of coronation was held on May 13, 2009. The crown used for the occasion was a gift from the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. 

Thus, Cardinal Tagle’s presence at the shrine carried a profound sense of continuity. The same cardinal who, as Bishop of Imus, once placed the episcopal crown upon Imang was once again welcomed by the faithful who had witnessed the growth of her devotion—from a cherished Marian image of a parish community to a Marian image honored with a Pontifical Coronation.

The Pontifical Coronation granted by the mandate and authority of Pope Francis on May 1, 2025 represents the culmination of a long journey of faith. It does not replace the earlier devotion of the people of Binakayan; rather, it affirms and elevates the profound Marian devotion that has flourished in the community for generations.

For the faithful of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Fatima, Imang remains not simply a crowned image, but a mother who continually leads her children to Jesus Christ. Her message remains the same: prayer, conversion, repentance, reparation, and peace.

As the faithful continue their journey with Imang, the crowns placed upon her head point beyond the image itself—to Christ, her Son, who is the true King and source of every grace.