Pilgrims of Our Lady

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by: Charles Bolanos

This article is for balikbayans and OFWs who had great devotion to our Lady and 
will visit the Philippines.

Our Lady of Manaoag
Photo by: Ian Vicente

Holy Week  is also a good time to visit our Lady's shrine. My favorite shrine is Our Lady of Manaoag.

Most balikbayans and OFWs have great devotion to Our Lady.
Families, students and barkadas (group of friends) visit this shrine.


Inside the Basilica, there is a place where you can touch the gown of our Lady. 
And imagine yourself to be right beside her telling her anything, including things
you would like to ask her help. The same way you ask your mommy when you are in good
times or bad. Now, if you haven't experience really having a real Mom because of one reason or
another, the Blessed Mother Mary will never fail you. I guarantee.

So here I am asking our Lady's help and praying as I knelt and touch her Queenly
gown and prayed for the Holy Father's pilgrimage then to the United States and all other
things besides.



Me, touching the gown of our Lady,
praying for many many things.

Photo by: Aileen B. Soriano

At the side of the Basilica, you may also write your petitions to our Lady. The Dominicans offer their prayers for the pilgrims'  petitions.


I write Our Lady. 

"I hope there will be peace all over, so teenagers like me will have time to meet other young people of other countries to promote good will to all nations."  I  also asked our Lady to ask her Son with the army of Angels  to keep her promise to protect her Filipino children and the islands(just two of my petitions to Our Lady). I have lots of petitions - the others are secrets, like our Lady who had secrets with the children of Fatima.

When you visit the Philippines.

 Our Lady of Manaoag is one of the best places you should not miss. 



My sister's turn to write her petitions.

How to get there from Quezon City:

1. Go to the bus station of Solid North, Victory Liner or Dagupan Bus. 
Dagupan bus is preferred because it stops right on the site of the Basilica.
Use UV Express going to Cubao. Fare is at Php 36.
Bus Fare to Pangasinan is 2oo plus if aircon, 100 plus if non-aircon.

2. The ride is 2 hours. Best to go there early morning at 3.oo a.m. from Cubao.
So you will arrive at 5.oo a.m. or 6.oo in time for the Holy Mass.

3. Then eat breakfast at the different food kiosks there.

Caution: There are many sellers of all sorts of trinkets. You may just tell them "no" if 
you do not like buying - with courtesy and in English.
You may also use  the dialects: Tagalog or Pangasinense or Ilocano in talking
to the sellers. 

Hope you will enjoy your pilgrimage with your family and friends as I did. Do not forget to bring bottled water as its summer warm in the Philippines. Be careful with your personal belongings because this is always a place - jampacked. Best to go here early a.m. to catch the first Mass, so its not too hot. 





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