50th Anniv.Canonical Coronation of Mahal na Birhen ng Biglang-awa courtesy of Servant of God, Fr. Patrick Peyton, CSC Family Rosary Crusade

HISTORY OF OUR LADY OF BIGLANG-AWA

THE ORIGIN OF THE DEVOTION

In the tiny island of Marinduque, there is an image of the Blessed Mother of God, which was and still is the object of (profound) veneration to both town and barrio people. It stands on a stone niche in the upper entrance of the wallfort the Catholic Church of Boac, the present capital of the province. Since time immemorial, each night after the Angelus, town’s people gather before the stone niche for the prayers and novenas to our Blessed Mother. The number increases in times of public calamities, such as draught, epidemic, earthquake, famine and distress, requesting Her Motherly care and help.THE NAME OF BIGLANG-AWA sudden and timely miracle, which saved the people of Boac, Marinduque from certain death at the hands of the roving Moros of old, occasioned this name. “BIGLANG-AWA” is a tagalog term which means “sudden or immediate help” or prompt succor.” This is the name given by the people of the island-province of Marinduque to that old image of the Blessed Virgin brought to its shores by the Jesuit Missionaries more than 200 years ago.According to tradition in the middle of the 17th century a big expedition of Moros landed on the seashores of barrio Laylay near the mouth of the Boac River. It was the greatest number that had ever raided the island of Marinduque. The town and barrio people fled in panic and took refuge inside the church. The old men, women, and children fervently prayed the Rosary and novena together to the Patroness of the town. Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. In the meantime, all the able-bodied men defended the outer walls of the church fortress against the bitter attacks of the Moros. During the siege, many Christians were killed. On the third day, they ran short of food and the capture of the fortress seemed imminent. The Christians then stormed the throne of the Blessed Mother of God with fervent prayers, entreating Her to deliver them from their enemies. And their prayers were heard. Suddenly there came a terrible storm. The rain fell in torrents with terrifying lighting and thunder. At the height of the storm, all were amazed to see standing on top of the wall a beautiful Lady with Her arms outstretched as if in the act of driving away the enemy. Terror seized the Moros and they fled in confusion to their vintas. Thus were the Christians saved from the cruel death by the prompt action of the Queen of Heaven Herself. No wonder then that the image has since then been honored with the glorious title of “BIGLANG-AWA.”To commemorate the miracle, a stone niche was built in the wall on the very spot where our Lady was seen. The old image brought by the Jesuits was placed in it, and for more than 200 years, has stood there until it was transferred to a new site.The touching devotion of the people to the Blessed Virgin of Biglang-Awa is founded on a bed-rock of miracles and instances when the Mother of God promptly and profusely responded to her devotees in their hour of need. Numerous are the stories of cures, solace in time of distress and alleviation of sufferings, attributed to the miraculous and prompt mercy of the Blessed Virgin.
Compiled & research by: The Author April 29, 2008 Sources: Souvenir program of Our Lady of Biglang-Awa dated May, 1983 & December, 1992)