CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Kapampangans and Latinos celebrated the 60th Canonical Coronation Anniversary of Virgen de los Remedios on September 25 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, led the procession that was followed with the re-enactment of coronation rites.
Officials of this year’s hosts presented the garland to the Santo Cristo del Perdon and their ladies bestowed the crown to Pampanga’s patroness, Nuestra Senora de los Remedios.
Traditional sacred songs including romerias, Spanish and Kapampangan gozos honoring the Virgin were 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
Next year's hosts will be the Kapampangan community in California from Lubao town.