FEAST OF OUR LADY OF PIAT



A major religious event highlighted by the procession of the Marian.

Cagayan
July 1-2



The Feast of Our Lady of Piat is annually celebrated on the 2nd of July in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, to honor Cagayan's patroness. The highlight of the event is the procession featuring the image of the Virgin Mary, more popularly known in the province as Our Lady Piat.






Our Lady of Piat is known by several names. She was named "Queen of Heaven and Earth" on 20 June 1954 in a ceremony led by Papal Delegate Egidio Vagnozzi. She is also called "Yena Tam Ngamin" (Mother of us all) by the Ibanag and "Apo Baket" (Grand Matriarch) by the native Ilocanos of Piat, Cagayan.





History



The image of Our Lady of Piat is one of the oldest Marian images in the Philippines. In his book Historia de Cagayan, Father Julian Malumbres claims that the image was made by a Portuguese sculptor in Macau, China in 1600. Dominican priests brought the image to Manila in 1604. From Manila, the image traveled hundreds of kilometers to Piat before it was transported to Tuguegarao. It was returned to Piat years later.



Our Lady of Piat now rests at the Basilica Minore de Piat in Piat, Cagayan (about 45 minutes away from Tuguegarao City). It was declared a shrine on 22 June 1999 by the Vatican. Thousands of Marian devotees flock to the Basilica each year hoping to witness a miracle or become a receiver of it. Some of the miracles attributed to the image are:





  • A native/Indio was crossing a river near Ermita when a crocodile caught him. He recited the prayer for the Lady of Piat and the crocodile let him loose. He proceeded to the church afterwards and thanked the Lady of Piat for saving him.


  • Between 1716 and 1733, a great draught dried up the esteros of Malaueg. The people asked the Lady of Piat for rain and she gave it to them. Devotees said that this kind of miracle has happened not only once but several times.


  • A little boy became insane after he fell from the roof of their house. His mother brought him to the Lady of Piat, lighted candles, and heard mass for him. He soon recovered his sanity.






HOW TO GET THERE:





From Manila, Philippine Airlines flies to Tuguegarao City every Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, fare is P2,723.00 one way.



By Land, Tuguegarao City, the regional center, can be reached by airconditioned buses like Victory Liner, Baliwag Transit, EMC Bus Company, Auto Bus Company and Florida Liner, among others. Tuguegarao City is about 485 kilometers north of Metro Manila. For independent motorists, take the North Diversion road and exit at Sta. Rita.





Name: JOHVERT  OMAMALIN  MALIRONG





Age: 18 YEARS OLD



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