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| HISTORY OF THE CHURCH |
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The image of Nuestra Senora de Guia (literally translated as "Our Lady of Guidance" is the oldest among all those venerated in the Philippines. On May 19 1571 (Saturday). Miguel Lopez de Legaspi took possesion of Manila in honor of the King of Spain, Felipe II. On this occasion one of his soldiers roamed places and reached as far as the seashore (now the site of the Ermita Church) and witnessed the natives pagan worship to a beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary placed on top of trunk surrounded by pandan. From that day, according to Anales dela Cathedral de Manila, the Virgen de Guia began to shed the rays of charity i never so many miracles which she wrought in behalf of the people especially the navigators. It is in this light that she was given the title Guia (guide). |
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It was believed that it must been brought to the Philippines in 1521 by Magellan's own ships and was later sent by the Cebu native chiefs as a gift to one of the many rajahs in Manila in a Royal Decree dated August 9, 1578, the King of Spain declared Nuestra Senora de Guia as the "Sworn Patroness" of Manila by reason of the continual favors that she lavished on it. Also, the Ermita Church where the little statue stands is the historically the foremost amongst Marian shrines in the Philippines. |
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