La Virgen de Antipolo - The Once Bejeweled rival of La Naval de Manila

The Our Lady of Antipolo is noted for being a pilgrim's protector when ever they go, this is also the reason why she also had the the title as Nuestra Señora dela Paz y Buen Viaje, in translation The Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. But did you that Antipolo was back then possess more and better jewels than La Naval. What is interesting about her is how she once rival the La Granda Señora of the Dominicans of Intramuros, The Our Lady of La Naval de Manila. Today La Naval is considered as the riches of all Virgens in the country but in the Pre-war years these two were rival when it comes to their number of collection of jewels.

During the Spanish Regime, Antipolo was the most visited Marian Image in the country, unlike the La Naval of the Dominicans whose devotees where mostly the elite of Manila or other Provinces, Antipolo have more. Filipinos from all walks of life went to Antipolo to honer her and giving thanks for the blessing. The town of Antipolo was known back then as the Pilgrimage Town of the Philippines. The Virgin was also known as the “Galleon Trade Queen” and possess more jewel compared to La Naval, these offering were given to her by her faithful devotees from all walks of life. In the thread made by Nikki Ballesteros in Flickr he mention the picture posted above have the following;

"One will note her famous "plancha de oro," her exquisite, 18th century rococo-style frontal dress of solid 18 karat gold with a design of various flowers and birds. Even the "Santo Rosario" at the Santo Domingo Church, for all her aristocratic devotees, only had a "plancha de plata," a beautiful 19th century frontal dress of gilt silver with a design of various flowers. Even in Spain, there are very few images of the Virgin, if any, with frontal dresses of solid 18 karat gold. Note her crown of solid 18 karat gold, which is completely studded with rose-cut diamonds, large natural Sulu pearls, Burmese rubies, Colombian emeralds, and Indian blue sapphires. Note her "aureola" halo of solid 18 karat gold, also studded with precious gems like diamonds, pearls, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Note her 18 karat gold hair pins [ "atochas" ] and rings which are all studded with rose-cut diamonds and Sulu pearls."

But not all these came to last, all of the magnificent jewels of the Virgin disappeared at the turn of the 20th century. It was said that a Camarero had absconded with the entire lot to Hong Kong. Today many of her famous jewels and regalia's are copies of original that were lost, the jewels are but a memory and even majority of those displayed at the back of the altar are no more than glass and colored stones. Canonical Crown used in the 80th anniversary of her canonical coronation is a replica of the original, it is said that the original is in loan of certain bank only to be brought in a special occasion.

Credits to Nikki Ballesteros, Paulo Janolino and F.J. Díaz Pérez III.