BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – There was not enough perdon candles for the thousands of devotees that swarmed the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral yesterday, the feast day of Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles).
The perdon is a candle one foot long and believed to be a channel of divine graces.
Reverend Father Angelo Colada, director of the Archdiocese of Jaro’s Social Communication Office, confirmed to Panay News the candle shortage.
“Gin-check ko ang aton kandila, nagkulang gid ang aton stocks. Even though gindugangan na gani naton ang pag-reproduce subong nga tuig, ginkulang sa gihapon. Buot silingon nagdamo gid ang tawo,” said Colada.
Perdon in Spanish means forgiveness, but the perdon candles are lighted not only for absolution but also for special intentions. It is associated with Jaro’s patron – the Blessed Virgin Mary holding a candle and the Child Jesus.
Gina Moises said she hears Mass at the Jaro Cathedral every Feb. 2 and makes it a point to buy perdon candles.
“Ang kandila gid sang Candelaria ang significant kay ang faith mo bala siyempre kung nagapangamuyo sa iya kag naga-wish ginahatag ‘ya gid. Ang iya miracle mabatyagan gid namon,” said Moises.
Candle vendor “Mcoy” cited the surge in the number of devotees this year for the high demand for perdon candles, and for him this is a huge blessing.
“Panata gid sang mga tawo kada tuig. Ang kandila sang Candelaria ginadagsa gid na ‘ya sa misteryo nga iya sini ginadala. Subong nga tuig damo pa gid ang nagtambog sa piyesta. Daku ini nga grasya para sa amon nga mga manugbaligya,” he said./PN
