Republic of the Philippines

SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY

Sorsogon City
Magsaysay
Street,Sorsogon City

OUR LADY OF
GUIDANCE
(ART
APPRECIATION)
Submitted by:
John Mark E. Moratalla
BSCE-1B

Submitted to:
Mr. Michael John Jamora
Instructor
Our Lady of Guidance
Introduction

Art has many different forms. It can be through music,

paintings, sculptures, ceramics and a whole lot more. An art is

influenced by the

artist’s experience in life and it encompasses all of his ideals, aspirations,

insights and perspectives about the different context that the world has to

offer. It all interconnects when you see it through its “mere” artwork,

the purpose, the message, the medium and the influence.

The art I have chooses is one of the representation of the

different images of Mama Mary, Our Lady of Guidance. Our lady of

Guidance (Gula) is considered as the oldest Marian Statue in the

Philippines. The wooden Black Madonna is locally venerated as

patroness of navigators and travelers since the Spanish times,

the image is enshrined at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra

Señora de Gula, popularly known as Ermita Church in Ermita

Manila.

At present the Pandan Leaves are incorporated around the image’s

base as one of its iconic attributes. Local folklore meanwhile recounts the

Spaniards witnessing natives venerating the statue in a “Pagan Manner,”

by placing it on a trunk surrounded by Pandan plants.

 The image was given a Pontifical Coronation on Rizal Day,

December 30, 1955 by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines,

Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi.

In the older days, she was declared as the sworn Patroness of

Manila that signaled Patronage of the Immaculate Conception in the

Philippines due to numerous miracles attributed through her

intercession.

Through centuries, the Virgin of De Guia continues her

maternal guidance by the miracles that she wrought to her

devotees. With the discovery of her image, she formally initiated

the Christianization of Manila and the rest of the country. The

arrival of her image prior to the Spanish colonization is considered

as a plan from the Almighty God to put the newly discovered islands

of the Philippines under the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary as

the Immaculate Conception. She witnessed the turbulent yet glorious

history of the country and she never failed to give her guidance

through the course of our history. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the

Sworn Patroness of our land guide us as we continue in our

earthly pilgrimage until we reached our eternal goal - to be with His

Son for all eternity.

Reference: https://pintakasi1521.blogspot.com/2016/09/nuestra-senora-

de-guia-oldest-existing.html
Discussion

I interviewed 2 persons, 1 personal and 1 through messenger.

The questions I have asked to them with regards to the Our lady of

Guidance are as follows:

 Does the art form has a purpose or function? If it has, what is

it?

 What is the theme/s or message/s of the artist/s or craftsman

when he/she created the art form?

 What is/are the medium/s it was made of? Does the

selectionof these materials or elements add to the meanings it

conveys? How?

 Describe the technique used by the artist/craftsman increating

this art form.

 How does your community give importance to this art form?

The first person I interviewed is a seminarian and his answers, which I

have translated to English, are as follows:

 Does the art form has a purpose or function? If it has, what is it?

Yes, it does. Its purpose is to represent the image of our Mama

Mary as a guide.

 What is the theme/s or message/s of the artist/s or craftsman

when he/she created the art form? The artist wants to convey
that the
 beliefs of Christians are very broad, that is why there are a

lot of statues which is not generally being hailed as gods but

rather just for reverence of their pure beliefs and actions.

 What is/are the medium/s it was made of? Does the selection

of these materials or elements add to the meanings it conveys?

How? It as made out of wood and the technique used is carving.

I think that it the materials used does not relate much to the

message the artist wants to convey.

 Describe the technique used by the artist/craftsman in creating

this art form. The technique used is carving wood.

 How does your community give importance to this art form? As

an aspiring priest this image of Mama Mary shows our reverence

to our everlasting Mother.

The last person I interviewed was also my friend and his answer

can be seen through these screenshots of our conversation:

My own answers to the questions:

 Does the art form has a purpose or function? If it has, what is it?

Yes, it has a purpose. I have searched the purpose of this art

and one of its purpose is that it served as a beacon to incoming

ships in early times, particularly during bad weather. The statue

also serves as an image for reverence to Mama Mary.

 What is the theme/s or message/s of the artist/s or craftsman

when he/she created the art form? The message that the artist

wants to convey is his Christian belief.

  What is/are the medium/s it was made of? Does the selection

of these materials or elements add to the meanings it conveys?

How? It is made out of wood. I do not see any specific

connection of the medium to the message.

 Describe the technique used by the artist/craftsman in creating

this art form. The technique used is wood carving and some

cloth designing.

 How does your community give importance to this art form? As

a Christian, I also give reverence to this image. It serves as a

beacon of hope and faith.


Conclusion

Art truly is a creation of variety. It can be anything that has

purpose and function. Through this activity I have realized that

every one of us have varying beliefs and perspectives in our

lives.

The interviewees have provided me with great and honest answers

which makes it really worthwhile and successful.

Overall, the experience was great even in the midst of this

pandemic.