The Grand Marian Procession

The rains that started in the morning did not bode well for the event that was to happen at 4 in the afternoon last Sunday, 4 December, 2011 in Intramuros, Manila. Dr, Jaime Laya publicized it in his column in Bulletin Today. Society pages also promoted the Grand Marian procession as it was spearheaded by no less than Imelda Cojuangco and her friends from Manila's high society.

For a huge event that's produced every year (it's actually 32 years in the running now) the Grand Marian Procession was in danger of being rained out. However, the zeal and devotion of the participants pushed the procession to go on as planned. Organized by the Confradia with Ado Escudero and friends, the high Mass was held earlier at two p.m. and then the Cathedral was closed. The Hermanas were at the place of honor on the steps of the Cathedral. Manila's elite was well-represented.

The priests were in a separate dais to be able to bless the images as they were announced and  paraded in front of the benefactors. The images numbered more than a hundred. All the many representations of the Blessed Virgin were stationed at Fort Santiago and as each one passed the Hermanas gallery, the procession snaked all throughout Intramuros going to Cabildo and General Luna streets then on to Muralla and eventually ending up in the point of origin.

I bumped into some of the familiar Guardia Civiles who often see me guiding tourists. I exchanged a few pleasantries and told them that on that day, I was the tourist. I had my camera with me and a monopod. Armed with an umbrella I inched my way to the busy area and who should I bump into but Jeff Velasco!?!

So I had good company as we started walking towards the cathedral. Jeff and I peered at the images passing by and conversing along the way. then it started drizzling again so we had to go to where the carts were as they ended the procession route and saw men and women divesting the carozas of their floral decor. I was happily snapping away at the various representations of the Blessed Virgin imaginable in all stages of her life.

Jeff and I made our way back to the main event and were amused by the devotees who were there. it had started raining again so some of the images were covered in clear plastic to protect them from the rain. These were limited to the images that had no canopies over them.

 I happened to explore a little more and found a nice spot on the public gallery opposite the principal gallery. Eventually Jeff had to leave to do some work. I was left on my lonesome. Various reactions punctured the air as the other images passed by. Some were awed by the grandeur of some of the images. As in the olden days, owning a life-sized santo is still a status-symbol.

Owners of privately-owned images spared no expense to make their images noticed. This comes with such a strong sense of accomplishment as well as pride simply saying that the owner has indeed "arrived." Some images were garbed in  heavily embroidered using an ancient technique called "inuod". It's actually a satin stitch but done in high relief. In order to do that, the embroiderer has to stuff the satin stitching with cotton backed with cardboard at the base. One such image was so ornately garbed in a robe heavily encrusted with precious stones. Some images of the Sorrowful Mother actually had tear drop diamonds for tears cascading down the Virgin's cheeks.

Three images stood out for me, though: 1) the Lady of Dormition, 2) the Nstra. Sra. dela Buen Muerte and 3) The Nstra. Sra. Virgen de las Dolores de Turumba.  The first two depict the Blessed Virgin on the throes of death and the Blessed Virgin patiently watching as St. Joseph gives up his ghost respectively. The Turumba stood out not for its intricacy of design but for the highly-organized manner she was carried around and the energy and verve for which she is know for... the rapture of her devotees in adoration of her grace.

I went home tired but it was all worth it...