Antipolo Cathedral
In 1626, Spanish General Juan Nino de Tabora brought with him a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary from a parish in Acapulco, New Spain (Mexico) to the Philippines where he would assume his new position as Governor-General in Manila. Upon reaching his destination, he held an elaborate celebration in honor of the Virgin of whom he attributed his safe arrival. From that point on, the statue was known as Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje, or Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.1
During the Spanish colonial period and at the height of the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade, it was customary for every galleon that set sail to enshrine an image of a saint in anticipation of the perils they faced spending many months at sea. It was remarked that every time the statue of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage was on board, peace and harmony reigned within the ship, and each time the galleon docked safely on Philippine shores, an elaborate thanksgiving celebration was done in the Lady’s honor. Eight successful voyages were recorded.2
The statue of the Lady was believed to be miraculous, and its present location is the place where the image kept turning up after several mysterious vanishings. The image would be found on a tree called a “Tipolo,” prompting the towns people to take it as a divine sign to build a church on that exact location.3
After Juan Niño de Tabora’s death, the statue was turned over to the Jesuits and housed in the church in Antipolo where it has stayed, more or less, to the present day.4
Antipolo church was built by the Society of Jesus under Reverend Juan de Salazar and construction completed in 1632. Unfortunately, the church suffered great damage when it was set it ablaze by the Sangley (Chinese) during an uprising in 1639, and endured more damage from earthquakes occurring in 1645, 1824, and 1883.5
Towards the end of World War II in 1945, the church was again destroyed by Allied bombardment that was meant to liberate the area from Japanese imperial control. After the war, a campaign was organized to build a new church, with the fundraising committee headed by former First Lady Aurora Quezon and Antipolo parish priest Francisco Avendano. Architect Jose L. de Ocampo was commissioned to design the new shrine. Construction began in 1948 and was completed in 1954.6
On January 14, 1954, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) declared the new Antipolo church as the National Shrine to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.7 The church was elevated to the status of cathedral on June 25, 1983, upon the canonical erection of the Diocese of Antipolo.8
In July 2021, the CBCP endorsed a petition to elevate the cathedral as an international shrine, which was approved by the Holy See on June 18, 2022. The papal decree elevating the cathedral as an international shrine was received on March 13, 2023, and took effect on March 25 (coinciding with the Solemnity of the Annunciation).9 The decree makes it the first Marian international shrine in Asia, and the eleventh international shine the world.10
Annual pilgrimages to the celebrated shrine reach their highest numbers in May, which is a month traditionally dedicated to the blessed virgin Mary. The most avid devotees can be seen going on an “alay lakad” or a “walk offering” by traveling from Manila to the Antipolo parish on foot, just in time to hear mass at dawn.11
A solemn declaration of the shrine will be held on January 26, 2024, six months behind its original date in July 2023.12
1 https://antipolocity.wordpress.com/tourist-attraction/antipolo-cathedral-2/
2 https://epa.culturalcenter.gov.ph/3/82/2248/
3 https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/what-to-experience/best-antipolo-rizal-tourist-spots
4 https://antipolocity.wordpress.com/tourist-attraction/antipolo-cathedral-2/
5 https://catholicshrinebasilica.com/our-lady-of-peace-and-good-voyage-antipolo-cathedral-antipolo-rizal-philippines/
6 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipolo_Cathedral
7 https://www.rappler.com/nation/things-to-know-antipolo-cathedral-first-international-shrine-philippines/
8 http://antipolocathedral.com/our-story.html
9 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipolo_Cathedral
10 https://www.rappler.com/nation/things-to-know-antipolo-cathedral-first-international-shrine-philippines/
11 https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/what-to-experience/best-antipolo-rizal-tourist-spots
12 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipolo_Cathedral