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[av_heading heading=’Thousands of Candelaria devotees pray for miracles’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY CAROLYN JANE ABELLO
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February 2, 2018
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ILOILO City – A sea of devotees seeking miracles, special favors or simply expressing gratefulness for answered prayers are expected to gather at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral today.
Jaro district is marking its annual religious fiesta. The center of attention and attraction is the Marian image of Nuesta Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles) perched on the balcony of the cathedral. It is widely believed to be miraculous.
Legend has it that the image was fished out of the Iloilo River in 1587. Even if only a foot tall then, it could not be lifted by a group of able-bodied fishermen — until they decided to bring it to Jaro. Through the years the image reportedly grew to its present size.
The glass-encased image of the Virgin Mary was crowned by Pope John Paul II during a papal visit in 1981.
A much sought-after commodity every Jaro fiesta is the perdon – a candle about a feet long and around two inches in diameter. Devotees light it when praying.
Perdon in Spanish means forgiveness. But these candles are lighted not only for absolution but also for special intentions. Some devotees bring them home to light during family prayers and dire times.
There will be a series of masses that begin as early as 4 a.m. (cathedral balcony) then on to the main altar (5 a.m. to 12 noon, 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m.).
The grotto of the Our Lady of Lourdes at the cathedral compound is also a site of 30-minute masses from 5 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. while baptismal rites will be held at St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
Jaro fiesta, however, is not just an expression of religious fervor. For cockfighting enthusiasts, it is a time to make big bucks.
The popular Candelaria derby is held at the Iloilo Coliseum in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro. It draws cockfighting enthusiasts across the country and from abroad. But the city police urged them to be wary of fake peso bills that the unscrupulous might circulate.
To keep Jaro peaceful and orderly, the Iloilo City Police Office is mobilizing around 300 security personnel.
Tonight, this year’s fiesta queen, Michaila Mercado, will be crowned at the Jaro Plaza. Her consort king is Zypher James Soledad.
This pageantry is rooted in history somehow. It serves as a reminder of the illustrious past of Jaro – one of the more economically-advanced areas of the country even during the Spanish era.
One highlight of the fiesta is the solemn procession at 4 p.m. There will be a traffic rerouting.
According to the president of the Association of the Barangay Councils of Jaro Leo Lindero, the procession will pass through the following streets from the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral: E. Lopez, Del Carmen, Commission Civil, Lopez Jaena, Fajardo, Santa Isabel, then back to Jaro Cathedral.
As a rich town during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, Jaro (original name: Salog or Saro) became the center of religious and economic power in the Visayas.
It became a city in 1886 until it was absorbed by the city of Iloilo along with the neighboring towns of Molo, Mandurriao, La Paz and Arevalo in the early 20th century when all economic activities were shifted to the port of Iloilo./PN
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