La Naval festivities to focus on change

Dominican saints with La Naval

MANILA, Sept. 29, 2010—Focusing on the theme of renewal, the La Naval festivities will kick off on Oct. 1 with the traditional novena and enthronement of the Marian image at the Sto. Domingo Church, in Quezon City.

Fr. Giuseppe Pietro Arsciwals, OP, Sto. Domingo Convent prior said the focus of the La Naval celebrations—“Tagumpay at Pagbabago” (Triumph and Change) is inspired by people’s clamor for change as seen in the last elections.

“After the elections, people continue to talk about change,” he said in an email. “And this change serves as inspiration and hope to our country.”

Arsciwals explained that “triumph” has always been part of saga of La Naval, citing the epic victory of trade galleons against the heavily armed Dutch armada in 1646 and the success of the People Power I in 1986. 

He added that the feast is intended to remind people that the true change cannot be achieved through violence. Neither can it solely rely on big projects.

“The true change can come from the person who accepts the will of God for him or her,” Arsciwals said. “This is the triumph of the Blessed Virgin.”

Themed “La Naval de Manila: Tagumpay sa Pagbabagong-buhay” (La Naval de Manila: Triumph in a Change of Life), the entire celebration will be done in Filipino, departing from the usual practice of using the English medium.

The move to hold the usual recitations of the rosary, novena, and masses from English to Filipino is meant to bring the faith closer to the people.

Celebrants for the traditional novena masses for La Naval include Bishop Teodoro Bacani, retired auxiliary bishop of Manila; Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, OP, University of Santo Tomas rector; Fr. Ramonclaro Mendez, OP, Aquinas University rector; Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite, SSP, Director of the Center for Pauline Spirituality and Animation; Fr. Honorato Castigador, OP, Colegio de San Juan de Letran–Calamba rector; and Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner, OP, UST Central Seminary rector.

Completing the list of celebrants are Fr. Eugenio Cabillon III, Fr. Allan Lopez, Fr. Virgilio Ojoy from the Dominican Province of the Philippines.

Novena will start on Oct. 1, signaled by the enthronement ceremony for La Naval, and will end on Oct. 10 with the traditional grand procession.

Our Lady of La Naval is a canonically crowned image of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, duly recognized by the Vatican and enshrined in a church under the Dominican Order in the country.

A museum at Sto. Domingo Church houses exhibits on the history of the rosary and the convent, vestments, important images and documents pertaining to the devotion to La Naval, including the antique religious items of the church

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Photo courtesy of DPP-Provincial Media Board