In-person commemoration of Virgen de los Remedios coronation resumes in Pampanga

The anniversary of the coronation of the image of the Virgen de los Remedios,  the patroness of Pampanga, will be with in-person activities again after two years. (Official poster made by the Archdiocese of San Fernando)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—The canonical coronation of the Virgen de los Remedios, the patroness of Pampanga province, will be held in-person for the first time on Thursday since the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, Pampanga Archbishop Florentino Lavarias announced.

For its 66th celebration, the reenactment of the coronation of the Marian image will be held in Lubao town, considered the birthplace of Christianity in the province 450 years ago, Lavarias said in a phone interview on Wednesday.

He said the event was scratched in 2020 due to the government-imposed lockdown and resumed in 2021 through a combination of online and in-person assemblies.

According to the church leader, the Vicariate of Saint Augustine of Hippo will host the event at a venue that spans almost two hectares in front of the new municipal hall along the Jose Abad Santos Avenue (formerly Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo Road) in Lubao.

“This time, we allowed more people to come, provided they comply with the safety protocol [against getting infected with the virus],” Lavarias said.

Organizers said the event carries the theme, “Pamaglacbe abe-abe, Indung Maria Cayantabe, Calam ning Dios iyang idake caring sablang milelele (Journeying together with Mother Mary as a companion; sharing God’s blessings with the poor).”

The original image is kept inside a church at Barangay Baliti in this capital city. The canonically crowned image is accompanied by the image of Santo Cristo del Perdon.

 gsg