01/02/2026
Nuestra Señora de la Purificación y La Candelaria
- is a venerated and miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary enshrined in Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral and the patroness of Western Visayas.
The devotion to Candelaria de Jaro derives from the original Virgin of Candelaria in Canarias, Spain and its feast day or Candlemas is celebrated every February 2.
Pope John Paul II (now a papal saint) personally crowned the image on February 20, 1981. It is the first Marian image in Asia crowned by a pope and saint in person. Later, the image is declared as the patroness of Western Visayas via decree Quod Urbes on 1982.
History
Tradition recounts the statue's first appearance in 1587, when a group of fishermen found it floating in the Iloilo River. The fishermen initially could not lift the 1 foot image due to its weight, but when they decided to bring it to Jaro, the image suddenly became lighter to carry. The statue was initially placed in a small niche near the apex of the local church's central spire. Folklore speaks of the statue's growth in size over the centuries, to the point that it was transferred to the balcony due to the size of close now to 6 feet. The image's shrine is accessible today by a flight of steps attached to the cathedral's northeastern façade.
The statue was declared patroness of the Western Visayas by Pope John Paul II who, in person, canonically crowned this image on February 20, 1981, during his first Apostolic Visit to the Philippines. It is thus the only Marian statue in the Philippines personally crowned by the Pontiff (and saint) instead of a proxy legate.
Feast
The Feast of Our Lady of the Candles, also known as the Jaro Fiesta, is an annual religious festival celebrated every February 2 in the district of Jaro. It is considered one of the largest Marian feasts in the country. The celebration is district-wide, with the main activities centered around Jaro Plaza and the Jaro Cathedral. Special Candles made of bees-wax known as "Perdon" are blessed during the Candlemas. Ilonggos believed that when they light their "perdon" candles during calamities or in times that a special intention is requested through the intercession of "Nanay Cande", She would keep them safe under Her mantle of protection and would aid their prayers to be heard by Her divine Son.
