City Commemorates 5th Feast of Our Lady of Fort

(Cebu City – Public Information Office) – The Cebu City Government through the Fort San Pedro Management Office and the Office of the Mayor celebrates the 5th commemoration for the Feast of the Our Lady of Fort also known as Virgen de la Cotta y de los Remedios de Cebu, last December 18, 2014, at the Fort San Pedro.

A con-celebrated English Mass was offered and led by Msgr. Ruben Labajo, the parish priest of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. Right after the Eucharistic celebration, a solemn procession was carried out along the vicinity of the Fort San Pedro and the jogging area around the Plaza Independencia.

Cebu City Mayor Michael L Rama who graced the annual event pointed out in his message the importance of faith and devotion. He likewise urged everyone to continue the devotion every year, and likewise to attend the Misa de Gallo especially in the Carbon Market Area.

Meanwhile, history reveals that the Virgin of the Fort is the oldest Cebuano Marian devotion dating back to 1570 to 1575, when an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary was found in a well inside Fort San Pedro. It was believed that it was the very same image that Magellan gave to Queen Juana of Cebu on April 14, 1521 right after her baptism.

The small image of Mary carrying Child Jesus in her arms was enshrined in a chapel inside the Fort, and became known as the Our Lady of the Fort or Virgin de la Cotta. The water of the well where the image was found was said to have provided cure to various ailments of devotees who prayed to the Virgin and drank the water.

Looking back, Rama led the city government employees, devotees, and respected members from the academe and the media among others in enshrining the Virgin of the Fort to its original location last December 18, 2010, coinciding on her feast which is every 18th day of December. (By Greggy Jiggs P. Senados, PIO Staff)