HERE’S our hearty welcome to the Shrine of the Brown Madonna! Since the National Correspondents Club of Baguio (NCCB) started its development some 30 years ago, the place of worship along Km. 7, Asin Road has become one of the most significant religious attractions in National Luzon particularly in the Province of Benguet and the City of Baguio.
Visitors as well as Mama Mary devotees started to visit and pray at the Shrine inside a rock cave since Palm Sunday. We expect more domestic travelers from all over the country to be at the Shrine today and tomorrow, Sunday, when we will joyfully and reverently observe the Resurrection Day of the Lord.
At this time, I am dedicating once again a simple acrostic poem entitled Shrine of the Brown Madonna, which I penned several years ago; to all Mama Mary devotees, our patrons and members of Shrine’s project committee specially the original Charter Members who are now in their golden years.
Couple Wilfredo and Brenda Leyson from Urdaneta City in Pangasinan, architect couple Arnel and Jojo Alba from Quezon City, Jaime and Gladys Tamai from Nangalisan, Tuba, Benguet, Raffy Policarpio from the city, Prof. Federico Balanag and Edita Ibarra from the BARP Foundation and FBASECA, respectively. And, of course, to all our Lenten Day visitors past and present.
“Shrine of the Brown Madonna”
By Narciso “Nars” Padilla
S – Shrine and loving Ave Maria of the the Shrine of the Brown Madonna
H – Hold close to your sharing heart and please
R – Remember me always in your intentions and prayers
I – In the name of Jesus Christ your son
N – Not withstanding time and turn of events
E – Every day of my life, I earnestly desire and need your Mother’s love
O – Oh Mother Mary whose true affection and eternal
F – Faithfulness to Redeemer and God the Father is worthy of everlasting adoration and emulation
T – Things come and go like the unpredictable four winds but
H – Heaven knows, I praise and glorify and love you with all my heart and being
E – Every single moment and forever more
B – Bless all the members of my family and dearly loved ones, where ever they may be
R – Remember us all in your constant joy and prayers to the Good Lord
O – Our daily actions in life are dedicated to you and the Holy Trinity
W – With sustained vigor, sincerity and enduring fidelity
N – Now, tomorrow and through the years
M – Mother Immaculate whose adorable image is enshrined inside a historic rock cave at scenic Asin Road, I
A – Adore you with unblemished loyalty: protect me always from
D – Danger, harm, untoward incidents, sickness or pain
O – Oh Mother of Mercy , heal my weary mind, body and soul
N – Never let me astray like a lost sheep in the wilderness.
N – Nor walk away from your watchful sight and spirit
A – Always keep me safe in the warmth of your tender embrace, full of happiness and prayers for global peace and solidarity.
Correction: The first president of the BSP of the Philippines is Joseph E. Stevenot, a scouting pillar who apprehended the organization of an independent BSP from the Boy Scouts of America. Sorry for my error in naming Gen. Vicente Lim in my column last week. Scouter Stevenot was installed to the BSP presidency on Jan. 1, 1938. The BSP was created on October 31, 1936, by Commonwealth Act No. 111 with the approval of the Philippine Assembly and President Manuel Quezon.
