Photo by Patrick Romero/The LANCE.
THOUSANDS flock to Sto. Domingo Church during the Feast of La Naval de Manila. Devotees and members of Dominican institutions pay homage to the image of Our Lady of La Naval by joining the grand procession.
The Feast of La Naval de Manila is celebrated every second Sunday of October at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City. The event culminated with a traditional procession together with the other statues of the Dominican Saints.
The procession started at exactly 4 p.m along Sto. Domingo Avenue, going to Quezon Avenue.
The procession lasted for two hours, reaching Sto. Domingo Church by 6 p.m.
In a personal interview with The LANCE, one of the devotees of La Naval, Lilia Moraga, shared that she has been a devotee since her young age.
"Siyempre, unang-una family. Iyong magandang kalusugan, ilayo sa sakuna, at walang magkakasakit. Saka blessing kung ano mang grasya ang ibigay," she said when asked about her reason for joining the procession.
The 65-year-old member of the religious organization added that she is willing to continue her devotion to Our Lady of La Naval until the end.
Furthermore, Dominican Institutions such as Colegio de San Juan de Letran, University of Santo Tomas and University of Sto. Tomas - Angelicum College also joined the procession.
"Aside from the physical tiredness, I felt lifted and loved. I saw how a lot of people waited outside of their houses just to have a glimpse of the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary," Edlyn Miano, a Letran Communication Student told The LANCE.
"La Naval is indeed an event of celebrating our battles and proclaiming our faith," she added.