CANDELARIA

"The greatness of a culture can be found in its festival"

-Siddharth Katragadda

NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA PURIFICATION

Annually on February 2, people commemorate the Feast of Our Lady of Candles, also known as Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. Tourists who wish to see the spiritual event, as well as local pilgrims and devotees, are drawn to this place of worship.

Folklore holds that fishermen in Iloilo uncovered an image of the Blessed Mother holding a candle in each hand and a baby Jesus on her right arm in 1587, the year Our Lady of Candles was first discovered. The image was first installed in a tiny church in Jaro before being moved, in 1864, to the Jaro Cathedral. The miraculous statue of Our Lady of Candles at Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, which was proclaimed a national shrine in 2012, was canonically crowned by Pope John Paul II in 1981.

The Jaro Cathedral is home to a shrine honoring Our Lady of Candles. Thousands of participants in the early procession flood the church starting at 4 in the morning. Traditionally, followers bring candles to be blessed and carry them home in the hope that they will guard them against danger and bad luck. At the cathedral, people also pray and light candles as they express their hopes and wishes.

Due to this massive feast, police protection is constantly on high alert for any emergencies or crimes. There are no lessons, and all of Jaro's roads are closed. Every year, the government ensures that this feast is celebrated in safety and peace.

In addition to religious activities, the Jaro Fiesta hosts a number of other events, including pageants for the fiesta queen, cockfights, school parades, an agricultural fair, a garden display in the plaza, concerts, bibingka sales, and "perya" (carnivals) for entertainment.

Reference:

The Editors. (2023, February 2). Jaro fiesta. FESTIVALSCAPE. https://www.festivalscape.com/philippines/iloilo/jaro-fiesta/