CITY OF SAN FERNANDO Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda issued Executive Order No. 24-2022 effectively suspending work in all government offices and classes in all public and private schools in Pampanga for September 8, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The order is also in preparation for the 66th Canonical Coronation Anniversary of the Virgen delos Remedios.
The coronation ceremonies and Mass will be held in Lubao town at the site of the town’s new Municipal Town Hall.
“In order to give full meaning to the occasion, it is necessary that all devotees will be given all the opportunity to participate in the event,” Pineda said.
The devotion to Virgen Delos Remedios began in France and was popularized by St. John Matha, who prayed to the Blessed Mother in his efforts to free slaves.
Then it became popular in Spain, where she became the patroness of different crusades against Muslims.
With time, her title changed by the places where she is enshrined, as the Nuestra Señora de Caridad in Cuba.
Through the galleon trades, the devotion was brought to Manila, where the oldest Marian image of the Nuestra Señora delos Remedios is enshrined at Malate Church. At present, there are 17 churches listed in the Philippines dedicated to Nuestra Señora de los Remedios.
The most popular devotion is Pampanga's Crusade of Charity and Penance, which was entrusted under the patronage of Virgen de los Remedios and initiated by Bishop Cesar Maria Guerrero, who incidentally is from Malate.
With the devastation of World War II, Pampanga became a center for communism and a breeding ground of socialism. There was a huge gap between rich and poor, thus peasants and farmers were up in arms against their landowners.
Thus in 1952, Bishop Guerrero set the image of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios to visit every church and chapel around the diocese that brought together the faithful in prayer with non-stop recitation of the rosary.
There were daily Masses and the faithful were encouraged to return to the sacraments.
Likewise, care for the poor was emphasized where aid was solicited by the host parish and brought to the needy of the next parish. In between prayers and devotions, folks were working and sharing together for peace.
As recognition of Kapampangan's enthusiastic and deep devotion to Mary, Pope Pius XII bestowed the Canonical Crown on September 8, 1956.