by LJ Abadinas
The beautiful and classical image of the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (or Our Lady of Candelaria) has strengthened the faith of the people of Silang, Cavite. It has become a tradition that every 2nd of February, devotees gather to celebrate her feast.
"The amazement, the admiration of those things is part of God’s invitation [to me]. I attribute that to the Blessed Virgin Mary because she was really the reason [I entered the seminary] and I also prayed to her before I finally decided to enter"
According to the accounts of Spanish Jesuit Pedro Murillo Velarde, the devotion of Silangueños to their patroness started in 1640 when an indio named Andres found a box and discovered the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the mountains of Silang. The image became popular among the indios and they would gather to pray the rosary.
According to oral tradition, the image disappeared nine times and rediscovered. When the image was found for the last time, the locals finally sought the advice of their Jesuit parish priest on what to do. The rector ordered them to make a vigil, and bring the image to the church of Silang with much festivity. Since then, the devotion to the Virgin Mary increased and her devotees gifted their own jewelries and other ornaments to the Virgin.
Hundreds of years have passed and Silangueños have still not lost their devotion to their patroness. One of her devotees is Rev. Fr. King Peñaranda, a Silang-born priest who is currently a Parochial Vicar of Saint Mary Magdalene Parish in Amadeo, Cavite.
Fr. Peñaranda was recently ordained in February 2020 and according to him, he was already a devotee of the patroness at a young age.
"I started [to become a devotee] when I was young because we grew up near the church. My grandmothers were churchgoers. My grandmother's relatives loved going to church so I'm always included," Peñaranda recounts.
He added that he was baptized on the feast day of the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria and that had seemed to have an impact on him. He shared that since elementary school, he was already attending the novena and he did not stop even when he already entered the seminary.
"Even if I wasn't in Silang, I still do the novena before the feast day, so I see to it that I can come up with a nine-day novena for the Virgin Mary [and] at the same time to commemorate my baptism day," he added.
Peñaranda shared that he was already active in the parish since 2001 and added that the patroness played a role in his discernment and journey into the priesthood.
“When I entered [the seminary], I continued until I became a priest. But I remember then, when I would pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary, I went to churches in Dasmariñas and Silang. I am praying because I am discerning whether I should continue or not,” he shared.
“For me, it was praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary that gave me the strength to accept that I will enter this vocation. Honestly, when I entered [the seminary] I felt assured. I do not feel worried even if I knew that I would leave my little sibling, my mother was abroad, and my father was busy farming,” he revealed.
Peñaranda attributed his journey to the priesthood as a miracle that the Blessed Virgin Mary performed, emphasizing that the patroness guided him to a vocation that he never even imagined.
“It’s the little things. For example, you enjoy looking at the priest’s clothing. I didn't know that it was already my calling. The calling wasn't my focus before but when I look back, those were already the simple invitations... The amazement, the admiration of those things is part of God’s invitation [to me]. I attribute that to the Blessed Virgin Mary because she was really the reason [I entered the seminary] and I also prayed to her before I finally decided to enter,” he narrates.
As the new year starts and with the elections nearing in May, Peñaranda wishes that the combination of life and faith will restore Silangueños’ “value formation.”
"Our good traditions and values should motivate us to choose a leader who suits our beliefs"
“Our good traditions and values should motivate us to choose a leader who suits our beliefs,” he said.
Fr. King also hopes to see that the formations of the Catholic Church will prosper.
“For example, in voting, we [the Catholic Church] are non-partisan but we should really choose [a leader] that we know that will bring [our] country into order,” he said.
Peñaranda said he can’t help but to compare the development of his hometown to other areas.
“Sometimes, you may think, what if believers are really serious about practicing our faith? Maybe, our lives would be better,” he wonders.
“Well, we can't really put the development of our town in just the hands of politicians. But hopefully, the people's point of view [will change] because the formations that we provide here in Silang, in the Diocese of Imus, have not been heard elsewhere,” he added.
Father King prays that the municipality of Silang will eventually flourish holistically because there are many opportunities within the municipality.
“That’s what I pray when I remember Silang. That’s what I pray to the Blessed Mother. I hope that the value formation [we planted] will eventually bloom. I hope I can see in our generation the fruits of the church's efforts because the people of Silang are very devoted,” he hopes.
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