A pilgrim's Antipolo: More than a breezy view of Manila

Over the years, Antipolo has evolved into a popular vacation destination that offers a refreshing breeze, cool mountain springs, and a dazzling vista of the metropolis’ lights at night. But every Maundy Thursday, thousands go up to the mountainside city as pilgrims in an activity known as Alay Lakad. Antipolo is home to the brown image of the Blessed Virgin, or the Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buenviaje. The shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage is one of the most popular stops for devotees completing their annual Visita Iglesia, a Holy Week tradition among Filipino Catholics done by visiting seven famous churches and shrines to pray and reflect on the passion and death of Jesus. Video via YouScoop by Abdullah Morellah As part of their observance of the Holy Week, some believers go to confession, while some do fasting within the 40 days of Lent and other acts of penance. Yet some would even go as far as self-flagellation and even having themselves nailed on a cross, though these are not officially allowed by the Catholic Church. According to the website of Antipolo City, the Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buenviaje was brought to the Philippines in 1626. Don Juan Niño de Tabora brought the Blessed Virgin Mother's brown image with him aboard the galleon El Almirante to make the voyage from Mexico. The El Almirante made it safely after three months, braving stormy seas and a fire aboard the ship. Upon arriving in the ports of Manila on July 18, 1626, Governor Tabora called for the pompous celebration of the image's arrival. He believed that the galleon's safe and successful journey was due to the presence of the image of the Blessed Virgin on board the ship. A religious procession started from the Church of San Ignacio, the Jesuit Church in Intramuros, up to the Manila Cathedral, which became the first house of the Blessed Virgin's image. The Blessed Image was turned over to the care of the Jesuit fathers when Governor Tabora died in 1632. Attempts of the Jesuit fathers to move the image from the Church of Antipolo were futile, as the holy image was always found on the trunk of a tree called the Tipolo, which grew in the original site of the old church. Because of these manifestations, a pedestal was curved out of the trunks of the tree, and the Blessed Virgin became locally known as the Virgin of Antipolo. During the occupation of the Japanese, the Blessed Image of our Lady of Antipolo was evacuated to the mountains of Angono in Rizal province, then to Santolan. Despite the steep mountain trails, those who journeyed with the Brown Virgin all felt safe throughout their trip. The Blessed Virgin’s image was housed in the Ocampo residence at Quiapo before its transfer to the Quiapo Church, where it stayed until October 15, 1945, when it was finally transferred to its original and permanent sanctuary in the Church of Antipolo. Alay Lakad is held every year to commemorate the transfer. This year's Alay Lakad was well-attended as usual, as thousands of pilgrims on foot were shown on television filling the roads leading to Birhen ng Antipolo. A Semena Santa 2010 report on GMA News on Friday morning showed traffic at a standstill while the pilgrims flocked to the shrine. Like most other Filipino traditions, Alay Lakad is not only a religious act but a communal one. Alay Lakad looks like a big party, and strangers share their food and stories on the way up. Residents along the way offer water to strangers. Some devotees join the pilgrimage every year. A couple that had been childless for a long time said this was their sixth year, and they continue to visit the shrine annually to give thanks for having been blessed with their daughter. Some pilgrims believe that the trek to Antipolo cleanses them of their sins from the previous year. They also have a special prayer they believe will be answered if they complete the walk. Despite the religious nature of the event, pilgrims are not immune to crime. Pilgrims are reminded to keep an eye on their belongings, as there have been reported cases of pickpockets, especially of cellular phones and wallets. YouScooper Abdullah Morellah sent a video of this year's Alay Lakad to YouScoop. He said that the participants this year were walking so fast that at one point, he worried some would be trampled. — LGB/RSJ/HGS, GMANews.TV