Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine, Pangasinan

The facade of the Shrine of the
Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan.

October 28, 2011- The Shrine of the Our Lady of Manaoag is one of famous churches in the Philippines that thousands of pilgrims and devotees of the Blessed Virgin Mary flock into this church annually. It is where the miraculous image of the Our Lady is protected and taken care by the Dominican Fathers. We also grabbed the opportunity to visit, see and touch this image and church in Northern Luzon.

We were lucky during our visit since there were only few devotees and pilgrims, who paid a visit at the moment. The line going to the image of the Our Lady for us to touch was only short. We did not have to line and wait a long time before reaching the image during Saturdays and her feast week. 

Devotees trying to reach a part of the image
of the Our Lady of Manaoag as a sign of
deeper longing to reach out her through arduous prayers. 

I bought an image of the Our Lady of Manaoag as a remembrance to this place since it is very rare for us to visit the north. I was not suppose to buy one since I have no more money but the sentimental value of the image that I will buy in the place itself would mean a lot. My conscience tells me to consider that it is only a once in a lifetime experience and I might not be able to visit again the church and the Our Lady. So I lend 100.00 pesos from my good friend Pocholo.

That's me in the picture in front of the
Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag.

I also offered my personal prayers to Mary to intercede to the Father to grant my petitions in life. I do believe that Mary is our intercessor to the Father as it was shown to us when Jesus performed his first miracle at the wedding feast at Cana. The has not yet come supposedly but since it was his mother's request he granted her wish. I hope and pray that she will also intercede and be the instrument so that God ma answer and hopes and dreams in life.





Brief History of the Church:


The church of Our Lady of Manaoag was established 400 years ago. Ten years after which, The ivory image was brought to the Philippines by Padre Juan de San Jacinto from Spain via Acapulco. Folk tradition has it that the Blessed Mother mary Herself designated the place where the church would be built. The church and Our Lady passed through unnumbered historical events, and remain unmoved by them.
On September 1925, the Papal Rescript granting approval for the canonical coronation of Our Lady was received in Manaoag.

April 21, 1926 marked the Canonical Coronation of Our Lady of Manaoag.

1937 – the sanctuary of Manaoag was awarded the Merit Recognition by the Philippine Historical Research and Markers Committee. World War II – for a time the church was closed. When fighting stopped, the church was opened once more.

Liberation Period – again the church suffered damages. A plane dropped 4 bombs, 3 landed on the patio and damaged the façade. One bomb fell through the roof but did not explode. After the war, the church was repaired. Pilgrims returned in even greater number.

1952 – work started on a new convent and belfry. In 1954 – the new convent and the belfry was inaugurated. Came 1960 – an elevated platform was built on the head nave, the altar was brought closer to the people. Since 1972, the Sanctuary-Church has been under the administration and care of Filipino Dominicans.

At present, Rev. Fr. Patricio A. Apa, OP serves as the Prior and Parish Priest at the same time ably being assisted by 10 Dominican priests.

The Shrine stands on the hilltop at the center Of the town proper of the Municipality of Manaoag In the Province of Pangasinan. The town shares a common boundary with Pozorrubio in the North; Urdaneta & Mapandan in the South; Binalonan in The East, and San Jacinto in the West.