On the early hours of the morning of September 4, 2007, the Blessed Virgin Mother, Mary appeared to me in a dream slowly emerging in a shed amidst a whitish cloud of mist. The impression of Her face looked young and very beautiful, her aura in radiant white dress, glowing numinously as her appearance became more lucid. She didn't speak a word but stared at me for quite a while before turning and pacing away from the spot. And as the Virgin walked I noticed a star-like mole on the left side of her nose.

A slight drizzle moistened the pathway on that wee small hours. Then, I saw three elderly women kneeling along the path and in tears while placing hankies where the Lady was treading. I rushed to get mine and lay the cloth on the wet pavement also for her to step on. It was unbelievable but a few tears slowly dripped from my eyes too...and woke me up.

I never quite understood what this really meant as it was the first time I ever dreamt of something godly. Was it simply a delusion? Or perhaps a revelation to open my blindness to the fact that I need God back into my life? I was bothered and needed an answer.

The following day , Wednesday I went to church at St. Andrew's to recollect.

Once inside the chapel, I recalled my broken promise made many years back to our Lady of Perpetual Help in Baclaran, a lifetime novena in exchange for a favor of better life. I know that supplication was answered but later defaulted on my pledge. Now, perhaps the delinquency paid back. I am at the lowest of low...retired, old, depressed, and sometimes questioning faith because of my failures.

"Maybe this is why my feet carried me here," I said to myself.

I kneeled down and while I opening the novena wallet ( a small plastic covered missal to Our Mother Of Perpetual Help given by a friend, Rey ) I came across a hymn about Mary on page 5 which says....

"Mary Immaculate, star of the morning
Chosen before creation began,
Destined to bring, through the light of your dawning
Conquest of Satan and rescue to man

Bend from your throne at the voice of our crying
Look to this earth where your footsteps have trod
Stretch out your arms to us, living and dying,
Mary Immaculate, Mother of God

We sinners honor your sinless perfection;
Fallen and weak, for God's mercy we plead
Grant us the shield of your mighty protection
Measure your aid by depth of our need. "

After reading the passages , I came to realize maybe indeed the dream was a message, reminding me of the broken promise. She wants me to put God back into my life.

Incidentally, tomorrow is Mother Mary's birthday anniversary and I find this dream as a remarkable coincidence...

It is my intention therefore to write as way of contrition a site honoring The Blessed Mother Mary on Her birthday tomorrow 8th of September, 2007.

This page will feature Her various Philippine Marian Titles with liturgical prayers and novenas especially for those who may want to meditate but don't have their missals to do so. But most of all, this is for the fallen and the weak who have mindlessly forgotten to invoke God into their lives just like I was...

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“Ina” or “Mahal na Birhen“ are two of the most popular names in the local vernacular which we attribute the Blessed Virgin Mary here in the Philippines. To us Filipinos the Blessed Mother has a very special place in our hearts. The childlike trust to her divine Motherhood and love to “Ina” is rooted from our cultural tradition which dictates love and respect to our folks especially the mothers.

This widespread devotion to the Blessed Virgin goes back to the origins of Christianity in the Philippines as early as 1571 when the Spanish Colonizers brought with them images of Mary. Two of the oldest statues of Mother Mary, the “Nuestra Seňora de Guia” in Ermita Church and that of Our Lady of the Rosary in Manila dates back to 1587.

Today, the Filipino devotion has grown into prominence that almost four hundred fifty parishes in the country have the Blessed Mother as their titular patron according to the Catholic Directory of the Philippines. While over 100 of the parishes honor the Immaculate Conception, over 60 are dedicated to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, These two titles of Mary are the most popular. Various other titles like the Assumption, Our Lady of Carmel, Mother of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Lourdes also gained status of well-know names of veneration to our Lady.

Some of the most visited shrines of devotion and pilgrimages in the Philippines are the following:

Our Lady of Manaoag – Pangasinan
Our Lady of Piat in Cagayan Valley
Our Lady of Salambao in Obando, Bulacan
Our Lady of Charity and Our Lady of Badoc in Ilocos
Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City
The Purification of Our Lady (or La Candelaria ) in Mabitac, Laguna
Our Lady of Caysasay in Taal, Batangas
Nuestra Seňora Virgen de Regla in Lapulapu City
Our Lady of Peňafrancia in Naga City
Our Lady of the Pillar in Zamboanga
Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran

* Not a complete list

Mary has always been a main source of inspiration and help towards salvation for most Filipinos. In this regard, It is the aim of the author to share this website’s highlight concerning different titles of the Blessed Mother in the Philippines to spread awareness of her role in our lives and devotion to our “Ina” through novena prayers incorporated here as part of his mission.

Obviously, this is an incomplete list. The author therefore wishes readers and visitors of this site to share other information about other titles of Mother Mary in the Philippines which they deem relevant and should be part of this website.

Thank you and God Bless!