May
is usually the month dedicated to Mother Mary. I learned this early in my
childhood because of the Flores de Mayo organized in our parish, in the province.
Together with my young relatives and friends in our neighborhood, I remember
preparing for its daily activity early afternoon. We would scour the gardens within
our street looking for flowers to offer Mama Mary to culminate each day’s
Flores activity. We usually get red & white kalachuchi from lola Ester
Palec’s place. Tiyay Nena Yoro’s garden has roses and orchids and Manang Amy
Sereno has santan. They have other nice looking flowers, their names I couldn’t
identify now. On some days, we can also gather cadena de amor by the road side. Often, we take pains of stringing
these flowers into garlands or arranging those flowers using walis tingting on a cutting of young
banana tree trunk. Then, off we go to the church where we are taught catechism,
prayers and songs. The afternoon’s highlight is the offering of flowers to Mama
Mary. The best garlands are placed on the outstretched hands of Our Lady while the
beautiful arrangements are placed at her foot. Afterwards, snacks are served.
Every day a sponsor feeds us – freshly baked bread, ice candy, etc. We also
look forward to this treat as well as the games outside the church and the “attendance
stubs”. We collect these stubs and make sure we try our best to have complete
attendance because at the end of the month, after the town-wide procession, we
get to claim our reward – a rosary, a stampita or some other religious object.
A few decades have passed since my
childhood and I have learned other ways of honoring Our Lady during the month
of May. Those daily offerings of flowers are transformed into the recitation of
the rosary and pilgrimages to churches and shrines in her honor. This year, I
was able to visit three of her shrines – Our Lady of Perpetual Help in
Baclaran, Our Lady of Candles in Jaro, Iloilo and Our Lady of Good Voyage in
Antipolo. In each place, I am impressed by the piety and devotion of the people
I see. For example, a pregnant woman with her husband paused to pray in front of
her image in Baclaran. I and my friend are sure that they were asking Our Lady’s
help for the baby who will be added to their family. I can’t help but be amused
by a couple, who after saying their prayers silently, kissed in front of Our
Lady and us who were also praying there. I can almost hear their prayer –
please ask your Son to bless our relationship. There are also students praying for their exams and maybe people who are looking for work. I have observed several persons, that
before praying, were knocking at the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and
wiping it with their towels or handkerchief. The first gesture is like calling her
attention: “Dear Mama Mary, hear me”. The second one, I’m sure, is a gesture of
love. Even if it’s just an image, wiping it is like touching her. I understand
how they feel and I don’t think it’s superstition. I remember clinging on to a
shirt given to me by a loved one. For some days, I wouldn’t want to wash it
because that shirt was held on by my beloved. The Jaro pilgrimage was quite
nostalgic. I said yes to my vocation on the feast of Our Lady of Candles and I
remember going to her there, whenever I could not understand the matters of my
heart. This time, I brought a friend who because of love, is incorporating
Iloilo into her life. When I and another friend reached Antipolo, there were already several people queuing to kiss Our Lady's veil. We joined the line and had our chance to kiss her veil and recite a rosary in front of her image. That pilgrimage was filled with prayers of petition. So much to
pray for, with so little time. But I’m sure Our Lady hears.
“Remember of most gracious Virgin
Mary that never was it known, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored
your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided...”
