
I’ve heard of the black image of Virgen de la Regla for a long time – I’ve always wanted to see it, my curiosity was if it really is black like the Nazarene in Quiapo. I was supposed to pay a visit last summer but for some strange reason I ended up somewhere else. Today, seven months later, I finally made it.
I went to Lapu-Lapu via Port 3 of Cebu City; a boat ride took around 15 to 20 minutes depending on sea condition, it could take longer. By jeep it will take longer because one has to take multiple rides coming from Cebu City. Getting off at Muelle Osmeña I saw the tower that was once the site of a post built in the 18th century. I’m not sure when the present tower was constructed but its foundations appears to be from the old post. From here there are cheap carinderias and souvenir shops, selling everything that has the image of the Lady on it. A ladder going up leads directly to the grounds of Lapu-Lapu city’s popular devotion site.
In terms of local devotees, Virgen de la Regla is among the most popular pilgrimage place, together with the Sto.Niño of Cebu City. Lapu-Lapu city celebrates their patrons feast from November 12 to 20. Once known as the town of Opon (local word for cogon grass) the city stages the grandest weeklong celebration in honor of the Virgin patron with a feast of native foods, wines and processions. Unfortunately, the local government has recently included pageants for homosexuals and beer drinking contest. Parang circo na yata ang gusto ng mga politico.
Another tragedy is the demolition of the old Church, originally built (and rebuilt…) by the Augustinian Fathers. During the 1960’s, works begun to modernize the structure of the parish, using concrete cement and iron grills it was transformed into a modern edifice, the Church today has no tangible connection to its ancient beginnings except the Virgin icon and what remains of the old convent. Justification was that the parish needed to expand in order to accommodate its parishioners. Sadly, without careful planning and consultations with experts, most expansion and reconstruction of old Churches ends in disaster. The practice has become unrestrained and at times scandalous (in Argao for example the parish priest demolished some portions of a wall so his car can park!); such activities are unregulated by the leaders of the Catholic faith, there seem to be no guidelines, no regulations in place. Priest that have been found responsible for ruining historical structures are left unpunished. These monuments of time, our heritage and our history, are constantly under threat by the very people that are suppose to look after it. Nakakalungkot isipin na karamihan sa ating mga Catolico , kasama na ang ka-Parian, ay mababaw ang pangunawa sa importansyang historikal at kultural ng mga Simbahang ito.
For first time visitors, many ask why “Regla”, since it’s the Filipino word for menstrual period. This according to a former professor was based in Spanish, because menstrual period follows a “rule” of dates. The word “sa Regla” actually refers to “of the order” or “ of rules”, sothe English name is the Virgin of the Rule but since locals refers to it as Birhen sa Regla, most tourist are left wondering what’s with the name. The second question is why is it black? The concept of a brown Virgin came from Hippo, where St. Augustine purposely made the Virgin dark because he was evangelizing Africans. The venerated statue of the Virgin in Opon church is said to be almost 300 years old and was formed after the likeness of the Saint’s “Virgin of the Rule”. A Friar from Andalucia brought the statue of the Virgin in the 1700’s; the painting on the other hand, was commissioned by a local man after the Virgin healed him from his illness. The crown of the Virgin was blessed by Pope Pius XII. The devotion of the Opon locals to the Virgin is truly inspiring, testament to the endearing power and love of the Virgin Mother of Opon to those who seeks her help.



22 Agosto 2009
[…] […]
Do not pray and worship to those that is created by the hands of man, or any carved images, instead pray and worship God the Father in heaven for He is our savior,you shall not have any other God before HIM. It is in the Bible that u must not create craved images, u must read the holy bible guys to know the truth,coz it is very clear that u are not reading the bible..u keep on doing those unforgivable things and u will go directly to hell.It is in the Bible also. Read it.
Wow! You seem to be so sure of yourself. Kapatid, i don’t think you know what you’re talking about. It does not mean that the people are worshipping the statues/images, but are only venerating the one these statues/images represent. Let me share with you our own experience… My niece was hit by a car when she was 9 years old and was in the hospital for 3 months with a lot of trauma including a fractured femur which made her unable to walk and deformed. Her father took her to the cathedral on the Blessed Mother’s feast day. Beside the… Read more »
Well, I have dealt with this Protestant nonsense about the veneration of images. Fine, let me offer some verses from Holy Writ using the King James and the Wycliffe Version: Numbers 21:8-9 King James Version (KJV) 8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man,… Read more »
Thank you for your informative article. Yet many are still translating the Birhen sa Regla into “Virgin of Menstruation” even locals and, yes, politicians when in fact, regla is a Spanish word which means rule, authority as in reglamento.
I SAW THIS IMAGE OF THIS VIRGIN MARY.I NOTICED THAT SHE IS BLACKNOT LIKE THE IMAGES OF MAMA MARY, I PRAYED FOR MY SPECIAL INTENTIONS.VIVA MOTHER MARY.
it really mesmerize me why the virgin of rule is black but anyways I prayed to her for my special intentions…VIVA BIRHEN SA REGLA….
u don’t pray and worship to those created by man, instead pray to the Lord our God that is in heaven,and not any craved images.It is in the Bible. It’s very clear that you people don’t read our holy Bible. u must read to know the truth.
Exodus 20:4-5 prohibits bowing to graven images; yet, Catholics defiantly bow anyway, and then have the audacity to blaspheme God by saying it’s not idolatry.
Viva Senyora Berhin sa Regla!!! Maayong fiesta sa taga lapu-lapu!!!!
butchymichmj
Our church here in Bacoor originally faced the sea in commemoration of those who died crossing Bacoor Bay during the rainy season in order to attend Mass in San Pedro Parish in Cavite City. (If only modern Catholics have that piety!)
Neopelagianus