The Ever Wondering Virgin - The Our Lady of Caysasay

Nuestra Señora de Caysasay
Taal, Batangas

Of all the Marian images I know the Virgin of Caysasay, locally as Birhen ng Caysasay is the most mysterious and one of the most fascinating. Her story endure many that she is know for being "Mapaghimala", yours truly is also one of those whom had got en touch to her making her as my Patroness in time of need.But what is the story behind this image and how it became one of the most popular rendition of the Immaculate Conception and She being known as the smallest Marian Image in the Philippines.

The discovery of Juan Maningcad in 1603

According to my research, in the year 1603, a pious fisherman named Juan Manigcad went fishing in the Pansipit River, while casting his net he felt some weight he them lifted the net and was  amaze to discover a wooden image of the Virgin Mary. According to him the image twinkle like star even after its long immersion in the  water. Not knowing where did it come from he then carried it to the village. Juan  then ask whom have lost the it, one of the elder then say the image might have been carried by the Spaniards in one of there expedition some years ago, possibly thrown overboard to pacify the ravages of the ocean and was carried by the waves to the river. Soon the news of the discovery reach the Parish Priest of Taal, the priest decided to see the image itself. There they saw the beautiful image they knelt down and venerated it. They decided to take the it to the Capital where a fest was celebrated.

The Image as looks when it was discovered in 1603 and rediscovery in 1611

The priest entrusted the image to Doña Maria Espiritu, where she placed the Virgin in an urn. But one night she saw the urn empty and the image was gone yet at the break of dawn it was again in its usual place. Worried about the disappearance, the Lady contacted the priest. Upon hearing he ordered to stay on vigil on the Virgin along with others. In their guard they found the urn empty yet in the morning the image was found inside not knowing where did it go, this manifestation continue for days not knowing the Virgins desire.

Then one night they heard a mysterious music that caused them great joy, they followed the music and found themselves in rocky hillside now known as "Barrio Caysasay". After some time the Priest decided to take the image and bring it to the church(now in ruins after the 1754 eruption) for safe keeping. But the image continue to leave until one day it completely disappeared and was nowhere to be found.

After several years, in the place where the image used to be found, two women gathering firewood namely; Maria Bagohin and Maria Talain got thirsty and found a well. While looking at the water they saw a reflection of an image, they looked up and saw the lost image on a tall Sampaguita bush surrounded by Kasay-kasay birds along with two lighted candles on each side. They immediately reported the what they saw to the priest, whom at first did not believe. The two women plead asking to accompany them. Upon hearing  the priest took his hat and followed them. Upon their arrival the priest saw the lost Virgin, knowing its intention the priest and the people decided the image to stay in what they soon called as "Barrio Caysasay", they later constructed a small chapel made of bamboo and nipa afterwards.

The site where the chapel they erected was rocky spot, forested and inundated by salt water, which made it hard for the people to live. They invoked the help of the Virgin, until one day fresh water sprang from the rock near the chapel. Sometime later the chapel of light materials was torn down to make way for a stone edifice, a stone church made of Coral stone was built with the aid of some Chinese masons, one of which was a in the name "Haybing", the structure was made in a span of two years only disturb by the by the Chinese uprising in Manila in 1639, which later ordered all Chinese be decapitated in the town of Taal. The church was finish in 1640.Today Church remained the same as it did for almost four centuries ago with some repairs after some damages cause by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

 The Our Lady of Caysasay, as it appears today.

A close-up of the Virgin's face

An estampita of the Virgin of Caysasay

The Virgin continue to become popular among Batangeños, wherein they flock to her sanctuary to honor or thank her for protecting them from sickness and tragedies. They also fetch water from the "Balon ng Sta. Lucia" believing to be miraculous. The image was later crowned in 1954 by Papal Nuncio Fernando Palacios and was later declared as Queen of the Archdiocese of Lipa.

The reciting of the novena

Today Her Camarera is Madam Violy Loyola

Photo credits to Randy Caponpon del Mundo and Joel de Leon via Flickr