By Leonardo V. Micua
DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 22 (PNA)—The bill filed by Pangasinan Fourth District Rep. Gina de Venecia in the House of Representatives seeking to make the Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag as a pilgrimage site was approved by the House Committee on Tourism.
Rep. De Venecia sought approval of House Bill 4481 in her sponsorship speech before the Committee on Tourism in the House in the afternoon of Oct. 22 which was attended by Mayor Kim Amador of the municipality of Manaoag
“Among the symbols of the Catholic Church in our country, a particular Marian image has become an enduring subject of veneration. This is the “Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag”, who, for centuries—- since its arrival to our shore in the 1600s—- has miraculously survived a series of threats, including a tumultuous fire and various revolts,” said Rep. De Venecia.
Through the years, Our Lady of Manaoag has also continued to inspire greater devotion due to the many narratives of miracles experienced by the believers, she added.
De Venecia said these phenomena led the president of the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, who also heads the Archdiocese of Lingayen- Dagupan, to acknowledge that “the devotion to Our Lady of Manaoag has helped deepen the piety of many Catholics not only in Pangasinan but throughout the country.”
She said the special role of Our Lady of Manaoag in advancing Catholicism did not go unnoticed because on June 21 of 2011, Pope Benedict, The Sixth had approved the granting of the Special Bond Of Spiritual Affinity of the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag with the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome —- a first for a Philippine Church.
And last October 15, it was announced that Pope Francis has also granted another ecclesiastical privilege to the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag by declaring it as a Basilica Minore.
She said Vatican document “Domus Ecclesiae” explained that “minor basilicas are traditionally named because of their antiquity, dignity, historical value, architectural and artistic worth, and significance as centers of worship.”
“In view of these two papal recognitions and the Basilica of Manaoag’s prominence as pilgrim’s destination for the Catholics, here and around the world, I have filed House Bill 4481 that seeks to declare the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, in the 4th congressional district, province of Pangasinan, as a pilgrimage site and tourist destination,” de Venecia said.
The bills mandates the Department of Tourism and its attached agencies, in coordination with the Department of Public Works And Highways, and in consultation with the local government of Manaoag to come up with a comprehensive development plan for the improvement of Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine, all areas attached to it, including all the roads leading to and from it.
As it is, Our Lady of Manaoag has been attracting millions of Marian devotees each year, making the Basilica, a pilgrim center of the North.
This development, said De Venecia, necessitates the State to consider the welfare, safety and protection of the throng of Catholics in our country, who will continue to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Now that it has been accorded with two papal distinctions, and taking into account that the country is also the only nation that is predominantly Christian in all of Asia, it is anticipated that the Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag will further become the favorite destination of Catholic pilgrims from all over the world, she said.
The congresswoman said that in consideration of Our Lady of Manaoag’s religious and historical significance to the Filipino people and its increasing international prominence, there is now, a greater need for the State to adopt policies and measures to develop the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag as a pilgrimage site, a tourist destination and a center of active and pastoral liturgy. (PNA)