By: Augusto Urbano II
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan attending the celebration held in honor of the Nuestra Senora de la Consolación y Correa, to whom the City Council of Manila declared as the patroness of Intramuros.
INTRAMUROS, MANILA— The Intramuros Administration, along with the City Government of Manila and San Agustin Church, celebrates the walled city’s first “Fiesta de Intramuros” Sunday, Sept. 8.
Highlighted by a series of events, novena masses, and a bazaar entitled “Dulce Septiembre”, which kicked off last Aug. 30.
This celebration is held in honor of the Nuestra Senora de la Consolación y Correa, of whom the City Council of Manila declared as the patroness of Intramuros through its Resolution No. 496 Series of 2024, and given the title “Queen and Patroness of the Distinguished and Ever Loyal City.”
The fiesta mass held in San Agustin Church, which houses the original image of Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture, was presided by Most Reverend Ruperto Santos D.D. the bishop of the Diocese of Antipolo.
In attendance were Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan accompanied by Vice-Mayor Yul Servo Nieto who were the Hermana and Hermano Mayors along with delegates from the Intramuros Administration.
Bishop Santos said in his homily, “Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture is a source of comfort…our struggles and sufferings on earth are temporary.”
“Our ultimate destination is not of this world but on the presence of a loving father in heaven,” the bishop added as he reflected on why we should always seek the intercession of Our Lady of Consolation.
The Mass was immediately followed by a “salu-salo” outside the San Agustin Church, in which the residents of Intramuros took part of.
The celebration would become the first of many fiestas to be celebrated inside Intramuros as the current shrine rector, Rev. Fr. Edwin Hari OSA announced that the celebration would occur every second Sunday of September.
The Letran Community also took part in the fiesta as the Letran Campus Ministry accompanied by the Letran campus minister, Mr. Mark Delos Santos, served during the 4:30 pm mass.
Afterwards, a procession was scheduled at five in the afternoon along the streets of the walled city.
The day ended with a grand fireworks display at the Pasig River Esplanade and the Gran Salve Regina y Despedida at San Agustin Church.