Department of Tourism – Regional Office V

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The
Profile of the
Diocesan Shrine of
OUR LADY OF SALVATION
Joroan, Tiwi, Albay

ROMMEL A. NATANAUAN
Chief, Planning and Regulations Division
4 April 2018
 The Profile of the
DIOCESAN SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF SALVATION
Joroan, Tiwi, Albay

Devotee-pilgrims line up to kiss the original image of Our Lady of Salvation at the diocesan shrine.

I. NAME, LOCATION, PERSON-IN-CHARGE OF THE SHRINE

The Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Salvation is the parish church located in Brgy.
Joroan, Tiwi, Albay. The current pastors are Rev. Fr. John Mendoza, the parish priest, and
Rev. Fr. Nison Marantal, the parochial vicar.

II. ICONOGRAPHIC ATTRIBUTES

The Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Salvation (Spanish: Nuestra Señora de
Salvacion) is portrayed as carrying the child Jesus in her left arm, while her right arm holds
a young man by the wrist saving him from a gaping Hellmouth. An angel kneels at the foot
of the Virgin, offering a basket of burning hearts to baby Jesus, who holds a burning heart
in his right hand, while his left hand is stretched in a gesture of accepting the hearts.

From left to right: The original icon carved from calpi tree and the replicas made of fiberglass that are painted
multicolor (center) and faux gold.

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III. HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

In the 1770s, a certain haciendero named Don Silverio Arcilla of Buhi assigned a
tenant farmer called Mariano Dacoba to one of his vast estates in Joroan, which was then a
satellite barrio of Buhi. While Dacoba was clearing parts of Arcilla's hacienda one day, he
chopped down a big Calpi tree. Although already severed at the base, the tree's leaves
remained fresh. The tenant informed Arcilla about it, and the latter consulted with the
pastor of Buhi. A certain sculptor called Bagacumba was commissioned by the pastor to
carve three images—those of Our Lady of Salvation, Our Lady of Solitude, and Saint
Anthony of Padua.

Mural painting in Buhi Church depicting the origin of the three images

On 25 August 1776, the image of Our Lady of Salvation was lent to Joroan on condition
that the village's residents would build a chapel at the centre of their barrio. Consequently,
a certain Sotera Cababag was assigned as the chapel's Hermana Mayor, in-charge of caring
for the image.

The Parish of Joroan was canonically erected on 18 September 1919, with Rev. Fr.
Lamberto Fulay assuming duties as curé on 8 October. The new parish comprises the
barangays of Sogod, Matalibong, Bariis, Maynonong, Misibis, Dapdap, and Mayong.

On 8 December 1975, Teotimo Pacis, the Bishop of Legazpi, formally declared the
Virgin Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Salvation, as the heavenly patroness of Albay. In
1976, the Diocese formally celebrated the Bicentennial Jubilee of its patroness. One of the
projects during the Bicentennial was the completion of the shrine. The original design of
the shrine was the handiwork of Juanito Pelea of Tiwi, but was later redesigned and finished
under the supervision of Arch. Fidel Siapno of Legazpi City. After its completion, Bishop
Pacis blessed the shrine on 21 August 1976.

On 25 August, as a culmination to the Bicentennial year, Jaime Cardinal Sin, the

Archbishop of Manila, crowned the image of Our Lady of Salvation, while the Joroan Church
was proclaimed as a Diocesan shrine.

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IV. VENERATION

Every year, during the month of August until October, devotees from all over the Bicol
region and beyond visit the shrine of the Lady of Salvation in Joroan even on weekdays. On
the 3rd Saturday of August, maritime procession of the viajera replica image, participated in
by a huge armada of devotees, marks the highlight of the August festivity. Dubbed as
“Peregrinasyon sa Mag-agahon”, the last Saturday of August is traditionally reserved as a
special day of veneration wherein pilgrims walk in a procession for nine (9) kilometers
from the St. Lawrence Church of Tiwi to the Diocesan Shrine in Joroan. Devotees within the
ecclesiastical province of Albay visit the shrine and the Tiwi church, which also houses a
painted replica image, every Saturday or Sunday throughout the year.

An awesome scene with armada of devotees of Nuestra Señora de Salvacion riding on motorized boats joining
the icon in the maritime procession, with Mt. Mayon as backdrop.

In Barangay Pasadena, San Juan, Metro Manila, the image is fêted on the third
weekend of May with a Mass and procession.

In Caridad, Culasi, Antique, the barrio fiesta is celebrated every end of the month of
May. It starts on the "bisperas" mass or the eve of the fiesta mass on May 28 and the fiesta
proper is on May 29. The new image of Nuestra Señora de Salvacion was donated by the
Cadiena-Española Family.

The people of Iloilo also established Our Lady of Salvation Church in Lawigan, San
Joaquin, Iloilo. Practically, the veneration of Mary under this title is nationwide with highest
concentration in the Visayas outside of the Bicol region. The spread of devotion to Nuestra
Señora de Salvacion in the Visayas and other parts of the country may be attributed to the
enterprising Tiwinhons travelling through the seas to coastal towns riding on “parao”, a
huge sailboat, to peddle earthenware made in Tiwi during those times when sailing is the
fastest means of transportation. They might have peddled also the devotion to Our Lady of
Salvation. Google Map can show that edifices named after Our Lady of Salvation were
mostly established near the coastlines. This by no means reflects all the churches and
chapels named after that title; many have yet to be registered in that online map.

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 Tiwi Church that houses a replica of Our Lady of Salvation

Maritime procession of Our Lady of Salvation

A hill view of the maritime procession of Our Lady of Salvation

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 Our Lady of Salvation Church in Lawigan, San Joaquin, Iloilo

Google map showing Our Lady of Salvation-named religious edifices in Northern and central Luzon

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 Nuestra Señora de Salvacion-named religious edifices in the Bicol region

Nuestra Señora de Salvacion -named religious edifices in the Visayas

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 Our Lady of Salvation church in Mindanao

V. ORAL NARRATIVES OF MIRACLE

First miracle

The barrio of Joroan, according to Fr. Fulay, was often the target of Muslim marauders
due to its proximity to the sea. During attacks, the people of Joroan were flocking to the
image and pray for protection. Tradition notes that Muslims pillaging Joroan always tried
but failed to ignite houses, and this was attributed to the Virgin’s intervention.

Deliverance of Hermana Tiray

The second miracle was when a hermana mayora named as Tiray was captured in a
Moro raid. After a year of being held captive in Sulu, Tiray fell into a deep sleep and upon
waking up, had realized that she was not in her quarters but was standing in an unknown
forest. She then saw a strange, white deer in the woods, which she, out of curiosity, followed
through the mountains until she lost sight of it. Tiray discovered that she had already been
miraculously transported to Legazpi, and was now only 38 kilometers away from Joroan.
After this incident, the people of Joroan moved the chapel further away from the sea to a
higher location in the mountains, in order to avoid its desecration by raiders.

Apparition

The beach of Joroan, where Muslim raiders mounted their attacks, was also where
folklore situates the apparition of Our Lady of Salvation, the third miracle. Four devotees
from the island of Catanduanes went on a pilgrimage to Joroan, bringing along with them a
set of beeswax candles, which they intended to offer at the shrine. Upon reaching the shore,
three of them made a detour to Buhi to light candles for Saint Anthony, while the fourth
pilgrim was left to guard their boat. As the fourth man strolled along the beach at dusk, he
met a woman carrying her child. The woman asked him for a candle that she may light her
way home to the mountains, as it was almost dark. The man refused since the candle was
not his, but the woman was insistent and promised that she would return the candle the
next morning if he would come to her house uphill. Out of generosity, the man acquiesced
to the lady, who told him that the next day he can enquire the town lieutenant of Joroan on
where she lives so that he can have his candle returned back.

On the following day, the man did as he was told, but the town lieutenant did not
know where the mysterious lady lives. The lieutenant referred the pilgrim to the hermana
mayora, who was also of no help save for advising the man to seek divine guidance at the
chapel of Our Lady of Salvation. Upon arriving at the chapel, the pilgrim was surprised to

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 see at the foot of the image lay unused and unlit the same candle which he had lent the lady
the day before. Upon seeing that the image resembled the mysterious woman, the man was
filled with compunction. After leaving the candle alone, he prostrated and asked the Virgin
to pray for his sins.

Final Muslim raid

The fourth miracle attributed to Our Lady of Salvation occurred during the years that
a Dominga de los Reyes succeeded Tiray as hermana mayora. While on one of their raids,
the Moro pirates were said to have retreated almost immediately after seeing a vision of
heavily armed men. The vision was said to have traumatised the raiders so much that it was
the last Muslim attack on the shores of Joroan.

The Boat

On the eve of the feast of Our Lady of Salvation in 1884, a group from the Partido area
was sailing to Joroan when a whirlwind rocked the boat. Giant waves almost capsized their
boat, which suddenly regained its balance. Even though they were almost dumped into the
water, the passengers' clothes were completely dry. The people in the boat attributed their
escape from death to Our Lady of Salvation.

VI. ACCESSIBILITY

The shrine can be accessed by land from Metro Manila via the Maharlika Highway
and any of the road networks of Sangay-Tiwi Road, Legazpi-Tiwi Coastal Road or Ligao-
Tabaco Road. Land travel takes about 10 to 12 hours from Metro Manila.

It can also be reached by sea via the ports of Legazpi City (46.9 km.) for pilgrims
coming from other islands in the south and of Tabaco City (22.1 km.) for visitors from the
island province of Catanduanes and from the central and northern Luzon through the roll-
on, roll-off transport system.

International pilgrims can reach the shrine via the airports of Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (NAIA) and Mactan International Airport in Cebu both linked with the
domestic airport of Legazpi City. Manila-Legazpi flight takes about 55 minutes to an hour
while Cebu-Legazpi, one hour and 10 minutes. From Legazpi airport, the shrine is about
48.3 km. and from Legazpi Grand Central Terminal is 47.9 km. or about an hour-and-a-half
car ride.

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 Google map showing land and air travel time from NAIA, Pasay City

Google map showing land travel time from Legazpi airport via two alternate routes

VII. ACCOMMODATIONS

There are several accommodations within the municipality of Tiwi, Albay. The 24/7
Balibayan Fun Resort located in Brgy. Bariis; Tiwi Spring Resort, Brgy. Naga; Mendoza
Spring Resort, Brgy. Naga; and Joe-Phine’s Apartelle, Brgy. Libjo, provide the industry a
total of 55 rooms.

Accommodations in the cities of Tabaco (38 minute-ride by car) and Legazpi (1 hour,
38 minutes) can augment the lodging requirements of pilgrims.

24/7 Balikbayan Fun Resort

VIII. OTHER TOURISM ASSETS IN THE MUNICIPALITY

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 The municipality of Tiwi is host to several sites that are tourism assets, which can be
developed and harnessed to complement the shrine as a religious tourism destination.

The black-sand beach areas in the coastal barangays of Baybay, Bolo, Putsan, Sogod,
Matalibong and Bariis; the white-sand Corangon Shoal in Brgy. Baybay; the waterfalls in
Brgy. Misibis; and the three-tier waterfalls in Sitio Capantagan of Brgy. Cale are among the
natural attractions in Tiwi, Albay.

The long-stretch of black-sand beaches that spans the barangays of Bolo and Baybay
as well as the barangays of Matalibong and Sogod provide playgrounds for enthusiasts of
skim boarding and other beach activities. For people beginning to learn the sport of surfing,
these coastal areas are safe havens since the seabed is made only of sand.

The artisans in PhilCeramics, Tiwi’s ceramics facility established by the Department

of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the pottery makers in Brgy Putsan, produce fine ceramics
crafts while the centuries-old traditional pottery making is preserved in the same barangay
and in the neighboring Brgy. Bolo. Artisans in Baybay, the barangay adjacent to Bolo,
produce “hugitis”, mold-crafted decors and “piggy banks” using the same clay materials.
These sites can be developed for the immersion type of cultural tourism, particularly for
the niche market of creative tourism.

The St. Lawrence Martyr Parish Church of Tiwi, established in 1818 by the Franciscan
missionaries, also houses a painted replica image of Our Lady of Salvation. The church ruins
in Brgy. Baybay is what remains of the first stone church in Tiwi possibly burned and
destroyed by pirates.

The patio of Tiwi Church jam-packed with jeep-loads of pilgrims

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 Hugitis ceramic products

Corangon shoal in Brgy. Baybay

Aerial view of Corangon shoal in Brgy. Baybay

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 A long stretch of black-sand beach spanning the barangays of Baybay and Bolo facing sunset

Fine ceramic products on display in the municipal hall of Tiwi

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 Coron festival, a celebration of the pottery industry in Tiwi, Albay

Sinimbahan, the ruins of the first stone church in Brgy. Baybay

Black sand beach in Brgy. Matalibong

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 Capantagan Falls

Skim boarding enthusiasts

Replicas of Our Lady of Salvation and Our Lady of Peñafrancia sold as souvenir items in Joroan

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IX. OTHER EXISTING AND POTENTIAL MARIAN PILGRIMAGE DESTINATIONS

The Bicol region is home to various Marian icons of significant historical and cultural
value, each replete with interesting miracle stories showing in many ways the maternal
solicitude of the Blessed Virgin as Mother of humankind, the first-born of which is Jesus,
the anointed Savior. The title of Our Lady of Salvation serves as a unifying concept, an idea
umbrella of Mary’s salvific role in the life of the Filipinos and the rest of the world amidst
socio-political, economic, environmental, and religious upheavals. Linking the Joroan
Shrine with other Marian shrines in Bicol, as well as in other parts of the country, will
provide the international pilgrimage tourists a wholistic package of the Filipino-
inculturated Marian spiritual experience. This will position and reinforce the primacy of
Bicol as an Asian center of Marian pilgrimage.

A. Our Lady of Peñafrancia (Spanish: Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia)

Our Lady of Peñafrancia is enshrined in Naga City, Camarines Sur, northwest of

Albay. The image is made of wood and was crafted based from the original image
enshrined in Salamanca, Spain. It is currently housed at the Peñafrancia Basilica where
novena festivity is held in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under that title, as the
principal Patroness and Queen of Bicol every September.

The feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is celebrated on a Sunday after the Octave (8
Days) of September 8 (The liturgical birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary) that usually
falls on the second or third Sunday of September. Pope Pius XI granted the image a
Canonical coronation on 20 September 1924 via his Apostolic delegate, Monsignor
Guillermo Piani. On 3 December 2015, a mosaic image of the Virgin Mary under this title
was officially enshrined at the Vatican Gardens for the 14th slot at the pontifical mandate
of Pope Francis. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Philippines, Benigno
Aquino III who unveiled the image with honors.

The icon of Our Lady of Peñafrancia

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 Fluvial Procession of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City

Devotees of Our Lady of Salvation (upmost left) also celebrate

the feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia (right side) in Joroan shrine.

B. Our Lady of Solitude (Nuestra Senora dela Soledad)

She is venerated Buhi Camarines Sur, west of Tiwi, Albay. Its icon was of the same
trunk of a Calpi tree from which that of Our Lady of Salvation and St. Anthony of Padua
were also carved by sculptor named as Bagacumba. It is for this “sisterhood” that the
people of Buhi visit the Joroan shrine during the month of August just as the people of
Tiwi visit Buhi during its fiesta on 25 May.

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 Our Lady of Solitude replica

C. Our Lady of Anguish (Nuestra Señora delas Angustias)

Inorogan Shrine that houses the icon of Our Lady of Anguish similar to “Pieta” is
situated atop a hill in sitio Inorogan, Sto. Domingo, Iriga City, west of Tiwi, Albay.
Devotees celebrate its fiesta on January 4.

Aggressive development of the shrine is through the initiative of Nuestra Señora

delas Angustias, Inc. and financed by private donors. It is enriched by three-dimensional
realistic life-size figured Stations of the Cross, which is an on-going project. The shrine
has amenities and facilities like multi-purpose hall, information center and comfort
rooms, although needing renovation and perhaps relocation to ensure sufficient water
supply.

Devotees that visit the shrine every week are locals and from nearby
municipalities seeking the intervention of Our Lady and to give thanks for answered
prayers.

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 The icon of Our Lady of Anguish Inorogan Chapel

Inorogan Chapel interior One of the Stations of the Cross

Elderly pilgrims going down the stairs from The boulder rock where it is said that the original
the Inorogan chapel image of Nuestra Señora delas Angustias was found
by three Agtas.

D. Our Lady of Sorrows (Nuestra Señora de Dolor)

The icon of Our Lady of Sorrows is enshrined in Batong Paloway, San Andres,
Catanduanes, northeast of Albay. It is a picture, which looks like being glued and
laminated to a hard stone tablet, adorned in a glass frame. But, tradition says that the
image was painted on that stone. And, interestingly, according to observant devotees,
this icon, together with the stone upon which it is laminated, is slowly growing bigger
without any distortion.

The image of our Lady on this stone should have been named as Our Lady of the
Finger (Nuestra Señora del Dedo) because notable in this icon is her finger, which is
coming out of her veil pointing to something or someone. Nuestra Señora del Dedo was
not yet known then in the Philippines so the people simply called her Our Lady of
Sorrows, whom the people are more familiar with during Holy Week when the image
goes with the traditional processions.

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 Noticeably, the face of the Blessed Virgin in this icon is strikingly similar to that of
Our Lady of Guadalupe except that the former is turned right side (viewer’s view). The
image is not at all dramatically sorrowful but more of being pensive and is
communicating by gesture. It could be that this is a rift-off from a larger picture showing
the crucified Christ or perhaps the Eucharistic Christ in her left side thus justifying the
significance of the pointing finger.

The people of Batong Paloway have their own stories to tell about the image, the
miracles attributed to it and fantastic stories as regards the icon itself like how the finger
and the hair on her forehead became prominent.

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Our Lady of Sorrows of Batong Paloway Close-up: icon of Our Lady of Sorrows

E. Our Lady of the Assumption (Nuestra Señora dela Asuncion)

The image of Nuestra Señora dela Asuncion, which is a bas-relief icon on an oyster
shell, was found by certain Valentin Tapalla sometime in 1917 floating on the sea that
is part of the barangay named Bote, by the beach of sitio Sacahon. The time it was
found, the community and the local clergy could not name it since nothing was
scribbled on the shell. The clergy decided to send it to the Vatican for study and when
it was returned, the name Nuestra Señora dela Asuncion was given. Embellished in a
pillow that is shaped like the Star of David and framed, the image is now enshrined in
the chapel of Sitio Sacahon of Barangay Bote.

The hermana mayora Nieves Bonion testified on the miraculous intervention of

Our Lady under this title in the lives of the people of Sitio Sacahon and that the image
was originally flat but through the years it has become more prominent.

Another related interesting story is that it is on the beach of Sitio Sacahon that
Fray Diego de Herrera of the Order of St. Augustine first stepped when Galleon Espirito
Santo was grounded in Nagnangang Buaya point before walking through the woods
and ending up in the barangay of Batalay where he was eventually martyred.

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 The devotees celebrate its fiesta every March 25.

Nuestra Señora dela Asuncion of Close-up shot of the icon of Nuestra Señora dela
Sitio Sacahon, Brgy. Bote, Bato, Catanduanes Asuncion

Hermana mayora Nieves Bonion being interviewed by a media practitioner

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