Our Lady of Antipolo Statue Embarks on Davao Pilgrimage for Peace and Prosperity

A life-sized statue of Our Lady of Antipolo, formally known as Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, is set to visit Davao City from August 7-10 as part of its nationwide pilgrimage. This visit is a significant event within the 400th-anniversary celebration of the Diocese of Antipolo. The pilgrimage commemorates the eight historic round-trip voyages of the statue aboard galleons between Mexico and Manila during the 17th and 18th centuries. Davao City is one of the eight chosen port cities across the country to host a dedicated replica from Antipolo. The visit coincides with the Kadayawan Festival season in Davao City. Rev. Fr. Marbendear Morallas, the archdiocese’s Episcopal Vicar for the Laity, described the timing as "timely" for the festival's "deeper religious" significance, viewing it as an offering and thanksgiving for blessings received. He expressed hope that the statue would "truly bring peace here in Davao City" during a time of unrest. The statue, measuring 4 ft in width and 5 ft in height, will be displayed in a total of 10 churches – eight in Davao City and two on Samal Island. A fluvial parade will transport the statue from Sta. Ana Wharf in Davao City to Peñaplata Wharf in Samal Island. The image historically arrived in the Philippines in 1626, brought by Governor-General Juan Niño de Tabora to Manila. Information source: MindaNews Philippines (GN)