by Noel Sales Barcelona
A Marian exhibit is set to open today, September 8, in line with the celebration of the Blessed Mother’s birthday at the Ang Panublion Museum, Annex Area, in Roxas City, Capiz.
Titled “Gratia Plena: A Celebration of Devotion,” 45 Marian devotees shared their precious images of the Theotokos (Greek term for the Mother of God), some are heirlooms of their respective families. Brother Stanley Maveric Castro, a Marian devotee, member of the Third Order of Brothers and Sisters of Penance, and one of the pioneers of the Marikit na Bulaklak ng Sampaga—a mystical organization of Marian devotees—has flown to Roxas City to join the event.
In a Facebook messenger interview, Mataji Villareal, one of the organizers told Agimat.net that this would be the fifth time that they hold this kind of exhibit, honoring the Catholic faith through its saints.
“The exhibit was also co-organized by the Roxas City government local museum, through our mayor’s sister-in-law, Cheryle Ann Del Rosario, who is the head of the museum,” Mataji shared with Agimat.net.
“Our local chief executive’s (Mayor Ronnie T. Dadivas) wife [Joanne Beatriz del Rosario], she’s a devotee of Mama Mary and the Señor Sto. Niño,” Mataji told Agimat.net.
It was in 2018 when Mataji and other fellow devotees started religious exhibits like this, with an aim to rekindle the faith of the faithful and to encourage the public to emulate the holiness and the piety of the saints, particularly, Mary. Roxas City is predominantly Catholic.
Meanwhile, Mataji revealed that their annual Marian exhibit targets to transform Capiz as “the Marian Capital of the Philippines.”
“We have Marian pilgrimage sites here, in the mountains. We are positive that Marian devotees will flock, not only here in Roxas City, the province’s capital, but other parts of Capiz. And hopefully, we can organize more provincial wide activities in the future,” she said in Filipino.
The Gratia Plena exhibit will open today, 4:00 PM and will run until October 8th.
