1 HISTORY OF THE CRUSADE OF PENANCE AND CHARITY AND THE CANONICAL CORONATION VIRGEN DE LOS REMEDIOS On December 11,

1948 a new Diocese sprang from the Archdiocese of Manila---the Diocese of San Fernando (Pampanga). A learned, young and highly spirited prelate, the Most Reverend Cesar Ma. D. Guerrero, D.D. was formally installed as its bishop on September 8, 1949. Bishop Guerreros pastoral visit to the different parishes in the Diocese noticed that the Province of Pampanga was rich in natural resources, especially agricultural, yet is was the breeding ground of Socialism before and after the Second World War. Pampanga became the center and source of Communism---the towns of the province were under the continual threat of Communist bands who wandered all over, and the people were constantly exposed to the violent encounters. Many families have fled to other places to seek sanctuary and save their lives. The sight of this chaos and reign of terror in the province coupled with the knowledge that the Capampangans so profoundly religious were at odds because of a lack of mutual understanding and friendly relation between different social classes, thus, the Bishop uttered: AQUI EN LA PAMPANGA HAY MUCHO PIEDAD PERO POCA CARIDAD Here in Pampanga, there is much piety but less charity. To remedy the surging tide of the social unrest in the province, Bishop Guerrero founded the Crusade of Charity and Goodwill. It was in 1952, on the third Sunday of February, the Bishop called for a meeting in the Rectory of San Guillermo Parish, Bacolor which was attended by Msgr. Andres Bituin, Fr. Diosdado Victorio and Doa Rosario Gonzales. The meeting served as a preliminary talk and discussion of a gigantic task of charity which would sway the whole province of Pampanga. After a long forethought and prayer, the statues of the Crusade were formulated. Rev. Fr. Diosdado Victorio was appointed as the Spiritual Director of the Crusade while Rev. Fr. Genaro Sazon was tasked to be Chaplain. The seven women of charity called Damas de Caridad who are reputed for their charity and goodwill were selected from the Cream of Pampanga. They are Doa Rosario Gonzales, Doa Rosa Cacnio , Doa Rosario Ocampo, Doa Consolacion Panlilio, Doa Jacinta Lopez, Doa Isabel Pecson and, , Doa Rosario Mesina. The Damas de Caridad took charge of collecting Lamac (offeringsin kind for the poor). The lamac awakened the generosity of the Capampangans such that even the poor shared the little blessings that they have. Seven, a sumbolic number, was chosen by the Bishop to signify the seven sorrows of the Blesed Virgin. Doa Jacinta Tayag of Bacolor was appointed to act as the recamadera of the Blessed Virgin. In March 1952, the first formal meeting of the Damas de Caridad was held in the house of Doa Rosario Ocampo in San Fernando. The statutes of the Crusade were read and explained by the Bishop. A second meeting was held in the house of Doa Isabel Pecson in Betis wherein the statutes were explained further. In April 1952, the third meeting was

2 held in Mexico in the house of Doa Consolacion Panlilio. Final touches on the schedule of visits of the Virgen de los Remedios were delineated with the advice of Rev. Fr. Quirino Canilao and Rev. Fr. Guido Aliwalas. The Bishop approved the programmed visits to the parishes: It was suggested by the Bishop and was agreed upon that the Crusade will be placed under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin under any title. But the title Virgen de los Remedios was chosen, because it appeals more to the common people especially to the poor than any other title of the Blessed Mother, besides this title will be invoked to remedy and cure the social ills of the province. The image of the Virgen de los Remedios in the parish of Baliti was designated to accompany the Crusade all over Pampanga On April 15, 1952, the image was brought to the house of the recamadera, Doa Jacinta Tayag in San Vicente, Bacolor. The image was placed on a portable template (andas) which she donated. The template was devised and made in Catholic Trade Center in San Fernando. The Bishop, with full confidence in the Mother of God who is always ready to come to the aid of people, inaugurated the Crusade of Charity and Goodwill on May 1, 1952 in the town of Masantol. The one month crusade in each parish commenced with the arrival of the Virgen de los Remedios. Pampanga Governor Rafael Lazatin together with Bishop Guerrero, the mayors and priests of the towns being visited were united in welcoming the Blessed Virgin. The Governor and Bishops repeatedly delivered the message on the need of charity among Capampangans as the only mainstay for lasting peace. Missions and catechesis were given--- Holy Masses were celebrated--- priests patiently waited for peninents for confessions--- rosary was prayed for twenty four hour--- donations for the poor called lamac kept on multiplying immensely--- love and concern for the poor flourished---peace was restored, and faith grew and was strengthened because of the constant prayers and mortifications of the people of the province. Her transfer from one town to town to another was inspiring manifestation of the peoples devotion. Solemn processions voluntarily attended by the majority of the townspeople accompanied her as she brought from one town to the next. All these, were attributed to the grace of Heaven and through the intercession of the Virgen de los Remedios. The Indu ning Capaldanan (the Virgin of Remedies) gained meaningful importance in the life of the Capampangans. After the first round of visits of the Virgen de los Remedios, the Crusade was put to test. The people of Baliti wanted and insisted that the image would remain in their parish. Bishop Guerrero wrote Fr. Generoso Pallasigui a letter dated October 15, 1954 that the image of the Virgen de los Remedios which was used to accompany the first round of visits of the Crusade had to be returned to stop the complaint of the people ad that a new image of the Virgen de los Remedios would be carved to start the second provincial journey of the Crusade. The Bishop also wrote a letter to Doa Maria Yosuico dated October 20, 1954, informing her about what had been decided. It was also mentioned in the letter that the good Bishop had already forgiven the people who had uttered words against him.

3 To continue the interrupted Crusade, Mr. Victoriano Siongco of Catholic Trade Center in San Fernando was commissioned by Bishop Guerrero to carve a new beautiful image. The image measuring about eighty centimeters in height was dressed in Spanish fashion as described by Bishop Guerrero. ACongreso Mariano ning Capampangan (Marian Congress) which was held in Angeles City on November 23-25, 1954 ushered the second round of visits of the Virgen de los Remedios. On November 23, 1954, a new decree of the Crusade was issued-from Crusade of Charity and Goodwill, it was renamed to Crusade of Penance and Charity. The image of the Santo Cristo del Perdon was added to accompany the procession to inspire repentance of sins and renewal of life among the people. Seven Caballeros de Cristo were appointed. Processions of the Crusade were accompanied by seven symbolical lanterns. The Caballeros de Cristo took turns in carrying the image of the Crucified Christ. Number seven was again chosen by the Bishop to signify the seven Archangels who adore the Triune God. To promote devotion to the Blessed Virgin, the newsletter SIWALA NANG MARIA has been published by the Diocese. On the other hand, Rev. Fr. Jose Dela Cruz anchored a radio program over DZPI Manila as a means to catechize the devotees and the Catholic believers. And to express Capampangans deep devotinto the Blessed Mother, a Himno Oficial of the Virgen de los Remedios was written by Mr. Felix Punsalan of San Matias while the Music was composed by Mr. Gaudencio Malig of Vacolor. The Official Hymn was approved by Msgr. Cosme Bituin, the VicarGeneral of the Diocese then. The Crusade went onthe Blessed Virgins visit from one place to another was an inspiring manifestation of the peoples devotion. Pampanga which was once a province of unrest and violence restored its peace---lamac, the alms and gifts offered to the Virgin as pabacal (offering) when she leaves one town were given to less fortunate of the next town she visited---the uninterrupted recitation of the rosary, at all hours of the day, from village to village---all these were done for the conversion of sinners and peace of the world. As a sign of ones deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin, each Capampangan home had little shrines of their beloved INDU (mother). The image of the Virgen de los Remedios are displayed on their front windows whenever the Blessed Virgin visits their town as signs of welcoming the Holy Mother of God in their lovely abodes. It has been a great privilege to the Bishop and the people behind him working for the Crusade to stand and watch the finger of God direct the flood of popular enthusiasm. The good Bishop was so convinced that, God was doing wonders, thus a clamor that the Virgen de los Remedios be declared as Mother and Patroness of Pampanga. The Government Officials and the Catholic people of Pampanga made resolutions requesting the Most Rev. Cesar Ma. Guerrero to make representations which Ecclessiastical Authorities of the Canonical Coronation of the image of the VIrgen de los Remedios. On the feast of the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11, 1956, Bishop Guerrero submitted the Petition to His Eminence Federico Cardinal Tedeschini, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Architecture, Vatican City, requesting His Holiness Pope Pius XII to frat the Province of Pampanga the honor and glory of having

4 the Canonical Coronation of the Pilgrim Virgin under the title VIRGEN DE LOS REMEDIOS--- ING INDU NING CAPALDANAN. The glorious moment had come---on July 15, 1956, during the eighteenth year of the Pontificate of Pope Pius XII, the Vatican issued the Decree on the Canonical Coronation of the Image of the Virgen de los Remedios. On September 8, 1956, an estimated 70,000 devout Catholics, flocked to the provincial grounds of the province and braved the stormy weather for the Canonical Coronation of their revered Patroness, the INDU NING CAPALDANAN. The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Most Rev. Egido Vagnozzi, assisted by the Honorable Governor Rafael Lazatin, laid the golden crown on the image of the Blessed Virgin. Famous sons of Pampanga who were Church and Government dignitaries, like Archbishop Pedro Santos, Senator Gil Puyat and Representative Diosdado Macapagal, attended the coronation rites and paid tribute to the Holy Mother of God. From then on, the Virgen de los Remedios, who has been revered with most tender devotion, is enshrined in the hearts of every Capampangan. With such faith and enthusiasm, the people had continually thronged to her. The Crusade had bridged the gap between the rich and the poor as its primary objective. The succeeding Prelates of Pampanga, the Most Rev. Emilio Cinense, the Most Rev. Oscar Cruz and the Most Rev. Paciano Aniceto continued the work that had been started by their predecessor. The year 2006 marked the Golden Anniversary of the Canonical Coronation of the INDU NING CAPALDANAN, ING TULA NING CAPAMPANGAN (The Virgin of Remedies, Joy of the Capampangans). The celebration is doubly significant because it coincides with the Year of Social Concerns as declared by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. We attribute the marvel of the Crusade to the motherly benediction of our beloved INDU. It is Mary and she alone! May she continue to obtain for us the blessing of lasting peace and order and thus becomes the remedy of social ills.

Charles Henry C. Espiritu University of the Assumption http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cofradia-de-la-Virgen-de-los-RemediosPampanga/143184125722685?v=info