The church of Our Lady of Manaoag was established 400 years ago. Ten years after which, The ivory image was brought to the Philippines by Padre Juan de San Jacinto from Spain via Acapulco. Folk tradition has it that the Blessed Mother mary Herself designated the place where the church would be built. The church and Our Lady passed through unnumbered historical events, and remain unmoved by them.

On September 1925, the Papal Rescript granting approval for the canonical coronation of Our Lady was received in Manaoag.

April 21, 1926 marked the Canonical Coronation of Our Lady of Manaoag.

1937 ? the sanctuary of Manaoag was awarded the Merit Recognition by the Philippine Historical Research and Markers Committee. World War II ? for a time the church was closed. When fighting stopped, the church was opened once more.

Liberation Period ? again the church suffered damages. A plane dropped 4 bombs, 3 landed on the patio and damaged the fa?ade. One bomb fell through the roof but did not explode. After the war, the church was repaired. Pilgrims returned in even greater number.

1952 ? work started on a new convent and belfry. In 1954 ? the new convent and the belfry was inaugurated. Came 1960 ? an elevated platform was built on the head nave, the altar was brought closer to the people. Since 1972, the Sanctuary-Church has been under the administration and care of Filipino Dominicans.

At present, Rev. Fr. Patricio A. Apa, OP serves as the Prior and Parish Priest at the same time ably being assisted by 10 Dominican priests.

The Shrine stands on the hilltop at the center Of the town proper of the Municipality of Manaoag In the Province of Pangasinan. The town shares a common boundary with Pozorrubio in the North; Urdaneta & Mapandan in the South; Binalonan in The East, and San Jacinto in the West.

http://ourladyofmanaoag.org/

Why You Should Visit My Home: Manaoag, Pangasinan

It is easy to remain oblivious to the wonders of one's hometown. If you have lived in one place for more than a decade, you are bound to get used to its everyday colors. You remain callous over its rough edges and simply take in its townie charm. Until you grow up and find out how special your town really is. You begin to wonder what really is going on in this place you call home, and so you try to find out (at the same time get people to come!).

Manaoag used to be known as Santa Monica; a small missionary settlement guided by the Augustinians and later turned over to the Dominicans centuries ago. Its name changed when, on one fateful day, a farmer saw the apparition of the Holy Mother telling him, “Son, I want a church here in my honor. My children shall receive many favors in this place.”

Though the church did not immediately believe him, word spread and people have begun to flock to the settlement. When asked where they went, their reply was, “Dimad Apo ya mantatawag,” or “from the Lady who calls.” Hence the name, Manaoag. A chapel was built and an attempt at a church, until the one built in the 18th century finally came into being.

This church has a long history and with it, the development of the town’s life. It was a collective effort of men, women, priests, and devotees that withstood fire, earthquake, war, and human abuse. In its quiet and simple splendor, you would see marks of its age within its walls and floors. It has always had a pink, sometimes yellow pastel color, and its walls tell the story of the church and its miracles.

As a child, I was told that a distant grandfather’s name (and remains) is in one of those walls. Growing up, I would not step on floor tiles that had marks on them, fearing that they had entombed bodies underneath. (Ever heard of the story that your school was a graveyard before? It was something like that).

In tandem with the miracle stories, I have also heard of war survival stories (e.g. the Chrysanthemum sculpted on the dome saved the church from getting bombed by the Japanese), and ghost stories (e.g. my devout grandmother once went to church at 4 a.m. and found herself surrounded by misty men on horses wearing old-fashioned armor).

The church plays a huge role in the town – physically located at the center of it, and still within its socio-economic life. The fiesta revolves around it; the tourism scene is largely dependent on it, and its over-all claim to fame is the church itself. A lot of materials is already available about the church (online, in books, and, if visiting, see the church museum), but beyond (not disregarding) it, what else is there?

There is, of course, the Virgin’s Well in Brgy. Pugaro, about 3-4 kilometers from the church. The water is said to be clear and miraculous. We also have a lovely Rizal statue. The park, however, needs to be fixed.

Next, I’d say we have delicious tupig (ground glutinous rice with coconut milk and strips wrapped in banana leaves), the best isaw (just try it when you get there), and tasty kundandit (a local sweet delicacy). We also have very good sorbetes (a.k.a. dirty ice cream, haha!) but the name of the producer remains unknown to me. And most of the summer, we have good mangoes.

Manaoag is also home to the first mechanized sugar mill in the country, the Hind Sugar Central – which, if compared to current sugar mills, is the smallest. This, I read, was because of the absence of large sugar cane haciendas in the town. When I was about 8 or 9 years old, my friends would run after the trucks carrying sugarcane and pull out a cane or two as an afternoon sweet. It drove my grandmother crazy. Unfortunately, Hind Sugar Central closed down in the late 90s as it was no longer sustainable.

Our town is basically the entry and exit point to and from Baguio City and the Ilocos region. It sits at the middle of bangus city, Dagupan, Mangaldan, San Jacinto, and Urdaneta, and stays close to beach town San Fabian. Alaminos (think Hundred Islands) and Lingayen (see the Provincial Capitol!) are also within range from Manaoag. Bolinao (fantastic beaches and historic lighthouse and church) is about fours hours away by car.

Apart from all that, we also have cats tied on leashes to house-train them (I discovered that only recently), and a very amusing sign, which if you come to and from Urdaneta, would be very visible at the side of the road. There are others signs (almost as amusing) but you would have to find them for yourself.

I haven't explored the whole town yet - but I plan to. There is much to be seen, more stories to be heard. Going around, I have met people who knew my grandparents and my family; I have also met a lot of relatives. I saw variations of the same family traditions and I have seen different wonders (which include a dog with practically no hair) and met wonderful people.

More discoveries wait. Sama kayo.

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Mass schedule: Mon-Fri: 7:00 am and 4:30pm, Sat: 7:00 - 11:00 am and 4:30 pm, Sun: 5:30 - 11:00 am and 4:30 pm .

Getting there: Dagupan Bus goes directly to Manaoag (then Dagupan). Fare ranges between 250-400, one-way. Trips from Cubao are available every 30 minutes to 1 hour.

By bus or by car (via the NLEX), it is usually a 3 to 4-hour journey. Expect some-kind-of traffic in Tarlac and Urdaneta cities.

Text and photos by Clare Amador © 2007

http://youthtrip.org/resources/why-you-should-visit-manaoag.html