‘Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage’ Makes Rare Pilgrimage to Central Philippine Diocese

For centuries, pilgrims from across the Philippines have traveled to Antipolo, a Catholic pilgrimage city in the hills of Rizal province east of Metro Manila, to seek the intercession of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage before embarking on journeys by land or sea.

This year, however, the centuries-old tradition has taken a historic turn. Instead of welcoming pilgrims, the revered Marian image has left its shrine to visit the Diocese of Dumaguete on Negros Island in the central Philippines, bringing its message of hope to coastal communities, seafarers, and fishing families.

The pilgrimage commemorates two significant milestones: the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the wooden image in the Philippines aboard a Spanish galleon in 1626 and the 100th anniversary of its canonical coronation in 1926.

Jointly organized by the Diocese of Antipolo and Stella Maris Philippines, the Catholic Church's ministry for seafarers and people working at sea, the visit highlights the enduring importance of Marian devotion among communities whose lives and livelihoods are closely tied to the ocean.

In a message released on July 29, Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos of Antipolo described the pilgrimage as a sign of a mother's love reaching out to her children.

"A mother always comes to her children," Bishop Santos said. "She travels, she visits, she seeks them out. No distance is too far, no hardship too great, for a mother who desires simply to be near those she loves."

Addressing Bishop Julito Cortes of Dumaguete and the faithful of the diocese, Bishop Santos said the visit reflects the Church's desire to accompany people living in coastal communities.

"A Mother wants to see you. A Mother desires to speak to you. A Mother chooses to stay with you," he said. "Together, we carry her maternal love to every shore that longs for peace, healing, and renewal."

The image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage has long been associated with the protection of travelers, pilgrims, seafarers, migrants, and fishermen. Devotion to the image began after it was brought from Acapulco, Mexico, to the Philippines in 1626 aboard a Spanish galleon and has remained one of the country's most cherished Marian traditions.

By bringing the image to Dumaguete, the pilgrimage reconnects the Marian devotion with the maritime heritage that marked its arrival in the Philippines four centuries ago. It also offers Catholics in the Visayas an opportunity to venerate the image without traveling to Antipolo.

The visit underscores the Church's pastoral outreach to island communities and those whose lives are shaped by the sea, reaffirming a message of hope, protection, and accompaniment for people navigating both physical and spiritual journeys.