The Dancing Virgin Of Turumba

The Dancing Virgin Of Turumba

          She is often referred to as the dancing virgin.  Or the dancing image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  When her revered image is taken out of Pakil Church on special occasions, people begin dancing in the streets.  They swing and sway to the rhythmic beat of "Turumba, Turumba sa Birhen. "

           Our Lady of Turumba is enshrined at the San Pedro de Alcantara Church in Pakil, Laguna which is more popularly known as Pakil Church. The image's complete name is Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de Turumba or Our Lady of Sorrows.  Many believe in her powers and several miracles have been attributed to her. Pakil is a neighboring town of Paete and Pangil in Laguna.

            The story goes that one day in the 18th century, local fishermen retrieved a floating image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  As they were trying to carry the icon, they could not do so as it was too heavy.  This prompted them to ask help from the residents.  

            While they succeeded in lifting it, the weight forced them to swing and sway on either side as they moved to the town proper.  Others joined them and were simulating their movements.  They were now dancing and enjoying what they were doing. That later on became the Turumba dance of Pakil.

             Because the Virgin of Turumba is also the Virgin of Sorrows, it is paraded several days before the Holy Week.  During the town's feast day, which is May 12, many devotees flock to Pakil to join the Turumba dance and ask for her blessings.  On ordinary days, others simply pray inside the old Church in Pakil and request for a particular intention.

             Pakil can be reached via the Tanay-Pillila-Mabitac highway near the Rizal-Laguna boundary.  Travel time is about 1 1/2 hours from Ortigas Avenue Extension in Pasig. Another way is through the SLEX-Calamba-Sta Cruz route. Pakil Church is open everyday of the week.  And it is a guarantee that time spent for the trip is not a wasted time.

Turumba, Turumba sa Birhen

Matuwa tayo't mag aliw

Turumba'y ating sayawin

Puri sa Mahal na Birhen, sa Birhen

                                                                                                              - Konted

A stunning view of Laguna de Bay on the way to Pakil, Laguna.

There are several stalls selling fresh buko along the national road.

An old, huge Balete tree near the Rizal-:Laguna boundary

Scenic views on the way to Pakil Church

Pakil Church with the Sierra Madre Mountain range in background

Plaza in front of Pakil Church 

Rectory adjacent to the church

Stoup near the main entrance of church

Church's interior

The Crucified Christ

Main altar

Lighted image of Our Lady of Turumba

Right side altar

Painted ceiling of Pakil Church

Church's balcony

Church courtyard

Rosaries, small crosses, etc.at the parish rectory

Statues of Our Lady of Turumba for sale

Blessed oil

The Ten Commandments

About Pakil Church

Pakil Church on an ordinary day

Our Lady of Turumba is paraded around the town on special occasions (G' file)

Municipal Hall of Pakil which is near the church

Merienda at Razon's along Marcos Highway in Cainta, Rizal

Halo-halo for P95.00.  Super sarap!

The Pregnant Image Of The Blessed Virgin Mary

The Pregnant Image Of The Blessed Virgin Mary

            

              In the small town of Pangil, which lies northeast of Laguna province, there is an old Catholic Church where the pregnant image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is prominently displayed at its side altar.  The church owns solely that distinction which no other church can lay claim to. The church is called The Our Lady's Nativity Church.

             While Catholic schools teach that Mary conceived the Child Jesus without any physical contact with Joseph the Carpenter, Mother Mary is generally portrayed in pictures and sculptures in the normal fashion which projects her as a revered figure.  But at the old church in Pangil, one sees the Blessed Virgin Mary with a big tummy supposedly bearing the Child Jesus.  Old folks call the image as Virgen De La O.  Tourists flock to Pangil to see for themselves this rare image.  

               Virgen De La O was actually a gift from Prince Carlos of Spain.  As the story goes, the Prince was exiled to the Philippines in 1774, and stayed for three years at the town of Pangil.  The Prince enjoyed his stay in Pangil and, as a token of gratitude for the townspeople's kindness and hospitality, he gifted them with the image of Virgen dela O after returning to Spain.  With the pregnant image was another statue called Santo Nino de la O.  Prince Carlos, later on, held the throne as King Charles III.

               Virgen De La O is said to be miraculous. Once the town of Pangil was submerged under water for a long time.  The people turned to prayers and asked intercession from the pregnant image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Surprisingly, the water subsided and everything was back to normal.  

                Today, travelers make it a point to pass by Pangil town whenever they are in the vicinity of the eastern side of Laguna. Virgen de la O is a top tourist attraction. Now, try to visit the churches in any part of the Philippines and chances are that you will not find a single pregnant image of  Mother Mary. Buntis na imahen ng Mahal na Ina??  Only in Pangil.  In the province of Laguna.

- Konted

The Our Lady's Nativity Church in Pangil, Laguna.  Pangil is about 1 1/2  hr -drive from Antipolo City.

Photo of Pangil Church taken from another angle.  Pangil's neigboring towns are Pakil and Paete.

Statue of Prince Carlos of Spain who spent 3 years in exile in the town of Pangil in the 1700s.

The story of Prince Carlos and the town of Pangil

Left side of Pangil Church

Church's garden

Statue of the Santo Nino de la O depicting the Child Jesus still in the womb.

Church's interior. Virgen de la O is at the right side altar.

Pregnant image of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Closer shot of the Virgin de la O

The original statues are enclosed in a specially-made frame.

Pangil Church's balcony

Amother statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the pregnancy stage.

The Ten Commandments

The Parochial Office at the right side of the church. If the main door is closed when you visit, try the Parochial Office.  If no one is there, knock on the adjoining gate.  Sacristans will allow  entry to the church through a side door.

Laguna De Bay.  Pangil is very near Laguna De Bay.

Breakfast at Jollibee.  There are Jollibee outlets in the nearby towns of Siniloan and Tanay.  Take note, classmate Allan Alcobendas of New Jersey.