US expats to host coronation of Pampanga patroness

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Kapampangans and Latinos will celebrate the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and 56th Canonical Coronation Anniversary of Virgen de los Remedios on September 9 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California.

Vidal Aguas, a Kapampangan expatriate living in the United States, said delegations in their national costumes, from different towns and cities of Pampanga, including representatives of Mexican and Spanish communities, will lead the afternoon procession.

This will be followed with the re-enactment of coronation rites.

Officials of this year’s hosts – Apalit and Mexico Pampanga Associations of Southern California – will present the garland to the Santo Cristo del Perdon and their ladies will bestow the crown to Pampanga’s patroness, Nuestra Senora de los Remedios. Sagalas, their escorts, school boys and girls will do floral offerings.

Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Roberto Mallari, newly installed bishop of the Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, will preside in the solemn concelebrated mass.

Traditional sacred songs including romerias, Spanish and Kapampangan gozos honoring the Virgin will be performed by several choirs.

Filipinos’ devotion to Nuestra Senora de los Remedios dates back to the galleon trades between Mexico and the Philippines in the 1500s. The oldest Marian image was brought by Spanish missionaries and is enshrined at Malate Church in Manila.

The most popular devotion is Pampanga’s Crusade of Charity and Penance which was entrusted under the patronage of Virgen de los Remedios. Her image travels all over the province all year round with non-stop recitation of the rosary. Miracles and answered prayers have been accounted with the devotion. (Ian Ocampo Flora)