THE miraculous image of Lindogon, commonly known as the Virgin Mary of Simala, Cebu, will arrive in Bacolod City for a five-day visit from October 23 to 27.

Based on eyewitness accounts from the town of Sibonga in Cebu where the image is based, it “shed tears” in 1998 when residents of the area were struck with dengue fever.

One of the monks in Simala then asked the local parish priest to lead a nine-day rosary prayer walk to ask for the Virgin's intercession.

On September 8, 1998, which is considered by Catholics as the birthday of the Virgin Mary, the Lindogon image started shedding tears again and the local townspeople who were affected by dengue recovered.

Information released by the office of Monsignor Victorino Rivas, parish priest of San Antonio Abad Parish, said the image will arrive at 3 p.m. on October 23 at the San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church in Talisay City.

The image will be brought to Bacolod City to be temporarily housed at the San Antonio Abad Parish Church in Barangay Taculing.

A vigil was scheduled for the rest of the afternoon until the next morning.

The image will then be transported to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine or Lupit Church on October 24 until October 25. A rosary prayer followed by a holy mass will be held every hour.

On October 26, the image will be transferred to the San Sebastian Cathedral, a day before it would be brought back to Cebu on the morning of October 27. (TDE)