Our Lady of Caysasay Visit Candelaria, Quezon 2011

The Our Lady of Caysasay at Candelaria Quezon

For its 29th year of visiting Candelaria, Quezon. I got the privilege to attend the event last February 13-14. Back then it was an invitation of Madame Licup for me to have a visit to Candelaria back in December 8(Feast of the Virgin of Caysasay). She told me about the tradition of the Licup family of bringing the devotion of the Our Lady of Caysasay to Candelaria.

The Parish Church of San Pedro Baustista Candelaria, Quezon

A deeper meaning of devotion that I discovered was that many of the devotees are of Chinese decent, they believe the Virgin of Caysasay is a reincarnation of the Chinese Goddess Ma-Cho(Patroness of Sea Ferrer's). In the Catholic tradition Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception which Caysasay falls is know as Stella Maris which means Star of the Sea, thus the connection of the Ma-cho and Caysasay are the same.

The "Paputong", the tradition of placing the base of the Image over the head of the devotees

Upon my arrival a large number of devotees flock the Church in line of the traditional"Paputong". Most were Chinese devotees were in  red, the presence of incense sticks and two large red candles were present, similar to Chinese temples only inside a Catholic Church.. The Image was then enthrone in an Altar located next to the lectern of commentator. A procession washeld after the 4 pm Mass. The Image was then carried by Fr. Larry Famarin to the entrance of the Church ready for the procession, many devotees were getting a chance to touch the Virgin.

The fireworks display after the procession

The procession move around the poblacion of Candelaria with the hymn of Caysasay and the reciting of the Holy Rosary. The procession ended with the fireworks display in the Plaza in honor of the Our Lady of Caysasay. What was interesting is how devoted the people of Candelaria especially the Chinese.