User:FatimaPilgrimPH/sandbox/National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima - Philippines

The National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima (Filipino: Pambansang Imaheng Naglalakbay ng Mahal na Birhen ng Fatima) is one of the original 50 statues blessed by Pope Paul VI in 1967 and was later brought to the Philippines by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin to the Philippines in 1984. The image was crowned as the "National Pilgrim Image" of Our Lady of Fatima during the launching of the National Marian Year on December 8, 1984. Commonly called as the NPI, it became the forefront of the first EDSA Revolution in 1986 where Our Lady showed her maternal protection to her children during the People Power Revolution. Since the image's arrival to the Philippines, the image continues to travel to different archdioceses, dioceses, parishes, and schools all over the country delivering the Message of Peace to every community of Filipino faithful.

The National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima is under the care of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Valenzuela City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Early Years
During the Golden Anniversary of the Apparitions at the Sanctuary of Fatima, Portugal in 1967, Pope Paul VI blessed 50 statues of Our Lady of Fatima to be distributed to different nations around the world including the Philippines. For some reason, the image was left for years unclaimed and hidden in the attic of a church in New Jersey. It was only in 1983 when the late founder of the World Apostolate of Fatima (then the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima), John Haffert informed the late Archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin through then Ambassador to the Holy See, Howard Dee that an image of Our Lady of Fatima meant for the Philippines was unclaimed.

In 1984, the image of Our Lady of Fatima intended for the Philippines arrived in Manila through Jaime Cardinal Sin and during the launching of the National Marian Year on December 8 of that same year, the image was crowned as the "National Pilgrim Image" of Our Lady of Fatima.

EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986
On the night of February 23, 1986, members of the Bahay Maria Foundation brought the National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima to EDSA in response to the call of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin to unite against the dictatorship that oppressed the nation for decades. Later, the image joined Fidel Ramos, then head the Philippine Constabulary, and Juan Ponce Enrile, former Minister of Defense. The NPI became the forefront of the first EDSA Revolution in 1986 where Our Lady showed her maternal protection to her children during the People Power Revolution.

The EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986 was known to be the bloodless revolution in history that toppled the Marcos Regime and hailed Corazon C. Aquino as the First Female President of the Republic of the Philippines. Aquino is the wife of the assassinated Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.

President Corazon Aquino, a known devotee of Our Lady of Fatima, attributes her presidency to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was given a rosary by the oldest visionary of Fatima Sister Lucia dos Santos in 1986. On May 13, 2000, Aquino made a visit the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima and led the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary before the NPI. She also appealed to everyone to observe the First Saturdays Devotion and pray the Rosary everyday.

Home of the National Pilgrim Image
Upon the arrival in 1984, the National Pilgrim Image (NPI) of Our Lady of Fatima was was initially entrusted to Bahay Maria Foundation. The organization was tasked to care and protect the NPI and take responsibility of making her available for all the archdioceses, dioceses, parishes, and schools in the Philippines.

On October 17, 1999, the National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima was formally turned-over to the National Shrine in Valenzuela City through an "Agreement for Acceptance of Responsibility for Care and Protection of the National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima". This was signed by Ambassador Howard Dee and Ms. Carmela Borres, President and Director of Bahay Maria Foundation, respectively, and Bishop Rolando Tria-Tirona and Msgr. Edgardo Villacorte, Bishop of Malolos and Rector of the National Shrine, respectively. The turn-over and signing was witnessed by Bishop Antonio Tobias, then Bishop of La Union.

Since then, the National Shine of Our Lady of Fatima in the Philippines has been the home of the National Pilgrim Image and responsible for the visitations to different churches and schools in the country.

Patroness of the City of Valenzuela
During the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the Parish of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in 2011, the City Government of Valenzuela declared Our Lady of Fatima as the "Patroness of the City of Valenzuela" through Ordinance Number 16, Series of 2011. The said ordinance was authored by Hon. Lorena Natividad-Borja and members of the City Council. the declaration was made to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary's maternal protection to the People of Valenzuela who remained devoted and faithful to her for years.

Every 13th of May, the National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima is brought out for the Grand Marian Procession along with other Marian images in celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.

Centennial Visits of the National Pilgrim Image
In 2017, the Catholic Church celebrated the Centennial of the Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. The National Shrine in the Philippines began the celebration with the nine-month Centennial Visits of the National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima to different National and Marian Shrine in the Philippines. The nine Marian Shrines visited by the NPI include:


 * National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Makati City)
 * National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians (Parañaque City)
 * The Manila Cathedral - Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (City of Manila)
 * National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (Quezon City)
 * Cathedral and National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo City)
 * National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Parañarue City)
 * National Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary - La Naval de Manila (Quezon City)
 * National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Muntinlupa City)
 * National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette (Silang, Cavite)

Various parishes, communities, and schools were also visited by the NPI in celebration of the Centennial Year.

Episcopal Coronation of the National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima
In celebration of the Centennial of the Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, the late Bishop of Malolos, Most Rev. Jose F. Oliveros, D.D., granted the honor of an Episcopal Coronation to the National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima on May 13, 2017. The Episcopal Crown and Rosary are gift of the Sanctuary of Fatima, Portugal through the rector, Rev. Fr. Carlos Cabencinhas, as an expression of the Sanctuary's union with the Philippines in celebrating the Fatima Centennial. The late Bishop Jose F. Oliveros is remembered as a fervent devotee of Our Lady of Fatima.

Monthly Apparition Anniversary
Aside from the May 13 Liturgical Feast, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima celebrated the thirteenth day of the month from June to October honoring the days Our Lady of Fatima appears to the three shepherd children in 1917. The National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima was processed inside the National Shrine after the Eucharistic Adoration, Chaplet of the Angel of Peace, and Holy Mass.

Return to EDSA
After 30 years, the National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima returns to EDSA during the Heal Our Land Sunday March on November 5, 2017. From EDSA Shrine, thousands joined the procession and prayer vigil for peace at the People Power Monument. Faithfuls held up their candles and waved their handkerchiefs as they sang the Hail Mary.

35th Anniversary of the Arrival
In the year 2019, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima will celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Arrival of the National Pilgrim Image (NPI) of Our Lady of Fatima to the Philippines. Presently, the NPI continues to visit various churches and communities in the Philippines to further propagate the Message of Fatima and the devotion to Our Lady and her Immaculate Heart.