About two years ago, I experienced a life changing activity. It was sometime in April 2006 when a friend of mine asked me to join her in a spiritual pilgrimage in her hometown in Manaoag, Pangasinan. I was hesitant at first because I really am not a religious person. And upon hearing Manaoag, there is only one thing that entered my mind, it is the city where the Lady Of Manaoag is.
My parents used to tell me the Lady Of Manaoag is the patroness of the sick, the needy and the helpless. Seems like a lot of tough job she's handling. The image of the Lady is said to be miraculous, thousands of people claimed they were healed just by seeing the image of the patroness. What more if you happened to touch it.
The feast of Our Lady Of Manaoag takes place every 2nd week of April. People rushed into the church where the imaga of the Lady is mounted, the church of Nuestra Seņora de Manaoag. People flocked the church in faith to heal thei disabilities or give them solutions to their problem, or for many, just to pray for guidance and lead them to the right way.
The government also expressed their willingness to promote Manaoag and let it be known as the Special Pilgrimage City and will be endorsed by the Department Of Tourism.
As for my personal experience, the whole day pilgrimage starting from the church of Nuestra Seņora, walking to other nearby churches, to the altar of the Lady Of Manaoag atop a hill and back to the church taught me something, that I need to be patient and persevere for me to achieve my goals. Also along the pilgrimage, there is nothing you can't think about, no problems to worry. It's just you and God, thus giving you a lot of time for reflection.
