Bogo City, Cebu

Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Odlot - Cebu's Lady of Numerous Miracles THIS is one of the 29 barangays of the Municipality of Bogo, Cebu which probably got its bane for its location. It is said to be the topmost or the tipmost Barangay of Bogo as far as its position or location is concerned. In Cebuano language, the tip is called “tumoy” and the topmost part when referring to a grass, plant or tree is called “odlot”.             When people in the Barangay decided to name their Barangay based on its location, it has become natural for them to choose “ODLOT” instead of “TUMOY” because the latter, although applicable, sometimes has some bad connotations.             It was rumored that this Barangay must have been previously called Barangay Alegria as may be seen marked on the barangay’s popular well called “Tabay sa Odlot” which has the only truly drinkable...

The Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal CEBU, Philippines - Paris is one of the most visited places on earth because of its heritage and culture. But for Catholics, a must visit destination in Paris is a narrow street called Rue du Bac where on July 19, 1830 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared before a young postulant named Catherine Laboure in the main altar of its chapel. This apparition preceded the more famous pilgrimage sites of Lourdes (1858) and Fatima (1917). The story of Catherine Laboure is so beautiful. When she was 9 years old, her mother died and one morning, their family servant caught the little girl trying to reach the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary embracing the statue in her arms saying, “Now, dear Blessed Mother, now you will be my mother!” From the time she received her first communion, she arose early in the morning to walk many miles to attend Holy Mass. Once in the Village Church, she saw a vision of an old priest saying Mass. This ...

St. Vincent Ferrer was born at Valencia, in Spain on the 23rd of January, 1350.  Excitement foreshadowed the child's birth. His mother, Constance, experienced only joy and painlessness during her expectancy; furthermore, his father had a prophetic dream in which an unknown Dominican preacher appeared to him and told him that he would have a son whose fame would be world-renowned. Also, a poor blind woman predicted that the child Constance bore within her was an "angel who would one day restore her sight" – which he did years later. St. Vincent brought with him into the world a happy disposition for learning and piety, which improved from his cradle by study and a good education. In order to subdue his passions, he fasted rigorously from his childhood every Wednesday and Friday. The passion of Christ was always the object of his most tender devotion. The Blessed Virgin he ever honored as his spiritual mother. Looking on the poor as the members of Christ, he tre...

Bogo was named from a tree, Garuga Floribunda that flowers into full bloom in the short summer of October. Bogo trees abound in the locality and have been part of the trading culture of the population before the turn of the 19th century. The people were highly engaged in fishing, agriculture and commerce and trading is done at the shade of the Bogo trees. In the late 1500’s, Bogo is part of the Augustinian mission settlement of the parish of Bantayan Island and was established as visita or capilla in 1850. Bogo’s local administration was first recorded to have been set up in 1864 under the leadership of Capitan Pedro Aballe, the first gobernadorcillo of the pueblo or town. The first mass was celebrated in the hastily built chapel of cogon roofing and mixed bamboo and lumber materials on April 5, 1850, to coincide with the death anniversary of the patron saint. Unfortunately, however, this chapel was gutted by fire of undetermined origin and a new stone church was construc...