Showing posts with label Fort Pilar Shrine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fort Pilar Shrine. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR NOVENA MASSES: OCTOBER 3 TO 12

Fiesta Pilar 2012

OUR LADY OF PILLAR NOVENA MASSES (October 3 - 12)

ADVISORY FOR OCTOBER 3 (and until further notice)
While waiting for completion of the clearing operation being done, the morning procession and novena in honor of Our Lady of the Pillar for October 3 - first day are cancelled at the Fort Pilar Shrine.

However, the Novena Masses will proceed at 6 a.m. and at 5 p.m. at Centro Pastoral Hall, Gov.Camins.

I got the message from the FB status of Fr. Butch, Parish Priest of the Fort Pilar Shrine.
Since the Clearing operations are not yet complete and clearance has not been given, this would be the advisory as of now and may remain so until further notice. 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As of October 4, 2013, this is the new advisory:

PUBLIC ADVISORY:

ALL THE NOVENA MASSES WILL BE AT CENTRO PASTORAL HALL. 


HOWEVER, FOR PERSONAL DEVOTION AND LIGHTNING OF CANDLES, THE SHRINE WILL BE OPENED FROM 7 A.M. TO 5 P.M. ONLY!

N.B. THE GATE FRONTING THE PLAZA PILAR WILL BE THE ENTRANCE. 

THE GATE FRONTING FISHERIES SCHOOL NEAR THE CRUZ MAYOR WILL BE THE EXIT.

WE DISCOURAGE EVERY ONE FROM BRINGING BAG PACKS AND OTHER BAGS FOR SECURITY REASON. THANK YOU!
FORT PILAR SHRINE
DAY 22 Zamboanga Crisis 2013
credits: FB of Fr. Butch Candido 

I would like to share again about the "OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR" from Wikipedia.


Our Lady of the Pillar 
(SpanishNuestra SeƱora del Pilar) is the name given to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her miraculous appearance in ZaragozaSpain at the time of the emergence of Christianity. She is the Patroness of Spain, the Spanish Civil Guard and the Hispanic world. Her shrine is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar situated by the Ebro river.

The feast of Our Lady of the Pillar is celebrated on 12 October and she is the Patroness of the Hispanic peoples and the Spanish Civil Guard.

In Zamboanga City, the Virgin of the Pillar has been venerated for almost four centuries as the patroness of the city and in the Archdiocese of Zamboanga. The bas relief of her atop the eastern gate of the 17th-century Spanish military fort dedicated to the Virgin, Fort Pilar (Full name: Royal Fort of our Virgin Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza, El Fuerte Real de Nuestra SeƱora Virgen del Pilar de Zaragoza), is now a Catholic Marian shrine. 

The city also has a street named after her - Pilar Street.


Fiesta Pilar 2012


Everything will be simpler now, but it is only fitting to remember the real reason why we have the Feast of the Lady of the Pillar!
Centro Pastoral ready for the Novena masses
Credits: Fr. Butch Candido, Shrine Administrator
Centro Pastoral ready for the Novena masses
Credits: Fr. Butch Candido, Shrine Administrator


P.S. Here are some of the links of blogposts I have written through the years that you might want to visit:
Fort Pilar Throughout the Years
Fort Pilar 2011: Day After Fiesta
Fort Pilar 2012



Wednesday, November 14, 2012

FORT PILAR CANDLES AND ANECDOTES

When I blogged about Fort Pilar, I myself never really gave extra meaning about the candles other than it being a symbol of thanksgiving and the red dragon candles was just an accepted tradition.

Interestingly, it was through the Commex that made me wonder about the Red Dragon candles. It has to be through other people's eyes for us to see beyond what we see as day-to-day!

I thought, "who should I ask?"... it seems to me, the  elderly (as I said, Pardon me!) candle store owners had been there forever and would be the best persons to answer this.

I met a beautiful lady with the name of Mely (of Mely's Love), who shared a lot about this. They say Mely is usually the spokeswoman when TV crews from Manila would come to interview them. She is the daughter of Pinang who was one of the candle vendors from way back when!

When I bought my first candles from her, she automatically said, "BLUE FOR OFFERING TO MAMA MARY, RED FOR LOVE"... "And if you have received your blessings, RED IS FOR THANKSGIVING"!
I was amused at how lively and animated she was. .. and how observant! She asked me if I was a lawyer or a judge! What!?! 

The candle vendors mentioned that the new Candle Colors previously posted was adapted from Cagayan De Oro... must be from the Divine Mercy Shrine!

I asked her and also the ladies from Meng's Candle about the red dragon candles and they shared that it started with the Chinese devotees who usually dream of the Lady of the Pillar and who were bestowed blessings!  They come from all over to offer candles. These devotees bring the Chinese Red Dragon candles especially during the eve of the Fiesta.
Our Lady of the Pillar is known to be MIRACULOUS!
As far as they can remember, even during the 50s and maybe even earlier, gigantic red dragon candles are placed on each side of the present entrance gates with the diameter of electric posts and about twice taller than people and these huge candles are continually lighted.

Lots have changed since those days... including economics, change of Shrine administrators and more likely, security and safety issues, so that there is now a fence around the shrine and the candle owners have been moved to Plaza Del Pilar, which is actually a better place!

As far as I remember, the size of the red dragon candles have also decreased, but I know the devotion has not!

An interesting story told by Ma'am Mely is how the Lady of the Pillar is miraculous and has shown apparitions to her mom, Manang Pinang and herself. She can remember her Mom told her about seeing the Lady giving bird seeds to the birds as if reminding them to keep the birds in the area. When she was a little girl, they would come to the Shrine at about 4 a.m. and there is a very cute little boy playing who suddenly disappears. Her mom would tell her just to go straight and keep quiet and just pray. 
She also has seen how a miracle of healing has happened in their own family and the sick little child on the verge of death is now a healthy family man!

Another story they share is that even our brother and sister Muslims come and offer candles to the Lady of the Pillar still for the same reason that they dream of her and also for miracles that have happened which they attribute to her. They say, these Muslims come and look for "Sitti Maryam". They know about this because they have bought the candles from the candle vendors themselves!!!

My conversations with Mely and the other candle vendors have been heartwarming and interesting and has made me look at many things in different ways. I was so happy to learn so much from them... including the story about the birds which I have blogged earlier!!! 

Saturday, October 27, 2012

FIESTA PILAR 2012: EVE OF THE FEAST

At the eve of the Feast of the Lady of the Pilar, most of the Filipino families come by droves to the Fort Pilar Shrine to light the candles, pay homage to Our Lord Jesus, Our Lady of the Pilar and saints and of course, to just sit on one of the benches and pray.

On the way to the Shrine, we pass by the Plaza Del Pilar and the wall of the Fort Pilar which is the entrance of the National Museum. 



Candle vendor.
We meet candle vendors along the way, but this lady is really very smiling as she sells her candles. I begged off this time since we had huge red candles with the Chinese dragon design. The next day, I met her again and she happened to know who I was and this time, I bought candles from her.
Sometimes, the religious side also has the belief side as seen in this sign:
Entrance.
Of course, the first entrance is for safety...

As we enter the Shrine proper...


Prayer Before Lighting of the Candle.


our prayer before lighting candles

Lighting of the Candles.
the boys help us out with our large candles









We also have the chance to bring over our guests to the Shrine as well as meet friends who also happen to be there.




Central Altar.
The decorations for the main altar and the whole Shrine is still ongoing!








Carillon Bells.



As we leave.
I love how the buntings are flowing with the wind this Fiesta Pilar Eve!

The funfare and revelry we experience with Fiesta Pilar 2012 gives us the air of the feast and showcases Zamboanga at its happiest.

But, let us never forget the essence of the Fiesta Pilar is our continued prayerfulness and our devotion to the Lord and respect to our Mediatrix, the Lady of the Pilar.

P.S.
Here is the link to my post last year on the Eve of the Fiesta Pilar.
http://inpinaysfootsteps.blogspot.com/2011/09/fort-pilar-through-years.html