Virgen de Regla: A Filipino Religious Feast
Every 20th and 21st day of November, Cebuanos celebrate the Feast Day of Nuestra Señora Virgen de Regla or known as Birhen sa Regla, also called in English, Our Lady of the Rule. This title was given to our Blessed Virgin Mary by the residents of Cebu who believe that the prosperity they experience is a blessing obtained through the strength of her maternal intercession.
The miraculous image can be found in the church of Our Lady of the Rule located near the seaside of Lapu-Lapu or OPON City, Cebu.
BRIEF HISTORY
The origin of the devotion to the Nuestra Señora Virgen de Regla started with St. Augustine. He also hand-carved the Virgen de Regla's first image and made her patroness of the Rule of the Order of St. Augustine. St. Augustine established reglas, or regulations, for his Order's members to obey. He made the Virgin the Virgin of the Rule of St. Augustine by dedicating these reglas (rules) to her.
THE FEAST CELEBRATION
Every Virgen de Regla Feast Day, people from Cebu especially Catholic residents of OPON flock together in the Parish Church to attend the Novena mass. There are two highlights of the celebration. One is the Novena mass that starts on November 12 and ends on November 21. The second one is the Fluvial Procession which is done on the 12th day of November. People would gather on the Marcelo Fernan Bridge after the novena mass to witness the Fluvial parade.
The parade is kicked off around the Mactan Channel while bringing the image of the Virgen de Regla. Its route starts from Pacific Cebu Resort in Mactan to Muelle Osmeña Wharf in Brgy. Poblacion. The procession also marks the first day of the Blessed Virgin's novena masses.
On the evening of November 21, I happened to witness the novena mass where I see many people standing outside the Parish Church. The church was already full so these people were left with no choice but to stand outside.
I also saw some people selling candles to the devotees and to other passersby. However, every time I pass by the church, even if it wasn't a feast day, I notice many old people selling candles. It makes me sad to see them working too hard even under the heat of the sun instead of taking a rest at home. But I admire their hard work. I just sometimes wonder if they are selling the candles because they love to do it or were left with no choice because of poverty?
These were some of the people who lighted up candles outside the church and prayed at the same time. There were candle lighting areas lined up outside so people can easily get access to it.
Aside from selling candles, some vendors also sell fans, toys, mini sculptures of Saints, Cross and Crucifix, and other items.
Although I'm not a Catholic, I still feel the excitement every time the feast day happens. Aside from the Novena mass, many people are also looking forward to the items sold in the market during this event. There are many vendors coming from different parts of Cebu to sell products such as clothes, kitchenware, shoes, etc. What makes the people excited are the products sold at a cheaper cost.
However, due to the pandemic, there were many restrictions. Some vendors from far places couldn't come to OPON to sell. Also, the fluvial parade was canceled for two years now since the pandemic happened. But there were three motorcades conducted for this year's fiesta. One on November 6, 2021, for the Walk with Mary; Opening Salvo motorcade on November 11, 2021; and the Grand Motorcade happened on November 19 which replaced the fluvial procession.
There are over 42,000 major and minor festivals in the country. A lot, right? The majority are held at the barangay (village) level. No wonder, the Philippines has been dubbed as the "Capital of the World's Festivities" because of the thousands of town, city, provincial, national, and village fiestas held throughout the country.
Four of the most celebrated and popular festivals in the Philippines are the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, where thousands of barefoot men join the parade; the Sinulog festival in Cebu, in which a long parade and several dances are performed in commemoration of the Santo Niño; the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo, which is marked by a beautiful parade honoring the Holy Child Jesus and commemorating the people' conversion to Christianity; and the Panagbenga Festival in Baguio, the largest non-religious festival of the country created as a tribute to the city's flowers and as a way to recover from the devastation caused by the earthquake in Luzon in 1990.
Fiestas are important for many Filipinos as they believe in the miraculous power of the saints as well as to express gratitude for a good harvest. Furthermore, it is during this time that the Filipinos are able to enjoy their culture and traditions, which are passed down from generation to generation. Fiestas are a reflection of Filipino religion, faith, and culture which play a significant role in shaping society.
How about you? What is your FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE?
Hi! Welcome to Raine's safe haven in Hive. She is an Industrial Engineer turned Freelancer. She is currently a Brand Designer and Social Media Manager. Follow her Hive journey as she writes about various topics such as freelancing, play-to-earn games, life, and some inspiring stories. She loves to interact with new people so she's looking forward to getting to connect with you.
If you like her content, don't forget to upvote and leave a comment. She'd be grateful to know your thoughts on each content she has written. You can also reblog if you want. Follow Raine to get updated on her latest posts. Padayon!