MANAOAG, Pangasinan — For Salvacion Peralta, devotion to the Blessed Mother has been a constant companion beginning in her childhood in San Carlos City in the Philippines to her new life thousands of miles away in San Diego, California.
A native of Pangasinan, Peralta grew up with a deep love for Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag, affectionately called by devotees "Apo Baket," a local term that literally means "Old Lady" but conveys deep reverence for the Blessed Mother as a venerable matriarch.
After marrying her husband, a serviceman in the United States Navy, Peralta relocated to California, where they began raising their family. Despite the distance from her homeland, Peralta said her Marian devotion remained central to her life, especially during moments of suffering.
Her faith was put to the test when doctors diagnosed her with malignant tumors in her thyroid. During that difficult period, she turned constantly to prayer before a replica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag enshrined at her parish church in San Diego.
"There was no single day that I didn't pray to Our Lady of Manaoag and to Our Lord Jesus, who is really our healer," Peralta recalled.
After undergoing a series of medical tests, she said her physician was surprised when a subsequent biopsy showed no trace of cancer.
According to Peralta, she initially kept both her diagnosis and her healing private. But her story eventually came to light when a fellow Filipino-American parishioner approached her one day after Mass saying she had dreamt of the Blessed Mother inviting her to visit her shrine in Manaoag.
The parishioner shared that she had purchased a plane ticket to the Philippines for the visit. Peralta, who had also quietly arranged a trip with her husband to give thanks for her healing, was struck by the unexpected confirmation.
News of her recovery quickly spread within the close-knit Filipino Catholic community in San Diego, and she soon found herself sharing her testimony with fellow Marian devotees.
On April 22, Peralta and her husband will be among the millions of pilgrims in Pangasinan marking the centenary of the canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag, enshrined at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag.
A canonical coronation is a formal act of the pope typically expressed through a papal decree or bull that bestows the pontifical right to "crown" a specific, highly venerated image of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or St. Joseph.
A devotion rooted in centuries of faith
The devotion to the Lady of Manaoag traces its origins to a reported apparition in 1605 when a farmer is said to have seen the Blessed Mother holding the Child Jesus atop a tree located on the present-day site of the basilica.
According to long-standing tradition, the farmer heard a voice calling him by name. Following the sound, he saw a radiant cloud resting on a leafy tree. From there, the Blessed Mother identified herself as the Lady of the Rosary and asked that a shrine be built in that place so that the faithful could come to seek her maternal protection.
Word of the apparition spread quickly among neighboring communities, drawing pilgrims to the site. Over time, the area came to be known as "Manaoag," a term derived from the local expression "Dimad Virgen ya Mantataoag," meaning "to the place where the Virgin calls."
Missionary activity in the region was first undertaken by Augustinian missionaries who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan's expedition. Later, administration of the mission was entrusted to the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), whose members eventually built the church dedicated to the Blessed Mother.
The centuries-old ivory image of the Virgin Mary housed in the basilica has since become one of the most beloved Marian images in the Philippines. Devotees widely attribute to her powerful intercession countless testimonies of healing, protection, and answered prayers.
The image was solemnly crowned in April 1926 by Archbishop Guglielmo Piani, then the apostolic delegate of Pope Pius XI to the Philippines, in recognition of the deep and enduring devotion of the faithful.
Centennial celebration of faith
The centenary celebration marks a historic milestone for Filipino Catholics and Marian devotees worldwide.
Father Felix Legaspi III, OP, basilica rector, said in a statement that the celebration commemorates a century of faith and grace experienced by pilgrims who continue to entrust their lives to the Blessed Mother.
"This historic celebration marks 100 years of faith, devotion, and grace for countless pilgrims and devotees who frequent the shrine of the Blessed Mother, asking for her unwavering help and intercession," he said.
A series of novena Masses is being held in preparation for the April 22 commemorative liturgy marking 100 years since the 1926 canonical coronation.
The solemn pontifical Mass will be presided over by Archbishop Charles John Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, and concelebrated with Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas. Cardinal Jose Advincula, archbishop of Manila, will be the homilist. National and local dignitaries are also expected to attend the celebration.
A devotion shared across oceans
Devotion to the Lady of Manaoag continues to flourish not only in the Philippines but also among Filipino communities abroad.
Peralta is one of many Filipino-American devotees who helped establish associations in the U.S. dedicated to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag, including the Devotees of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag-San Diego.
The group gathers annually to celebrate the Blessed Mother's feast in May at San Rafael Parish in San Diego as well as during October, the month traditionally dedicated to the holy rosary.
This year, many Filipino-American pilgrims have traveled to Manaoag to join people from across the Philippines and around the world to honor "the lady who calls."
For Peralta, returning to the shrine is more than a pilgrimage — it is an act of gratitude.
Her story, like those of countless others, reflects a faith rooted in trust and sustained by prayer — a devotion that continues to draw generations of believers to the shrine where, according to tradition, the Virgin Mary once called her people to come.
