(An Excerpt...)
Diocesan Shrine. 6:00 p.m.
It was just after the procession, the sun had already set through the sky remained illuminated by the vibrant colors of dusk. I was sprinkling the people with holy water, and for some good reason, I noticed that they were shouting and saying goodbye while looking at the direction towards the Sacred Heart Pastoral Center, the residence of the Bishop of the Diocese.
I thought that their hands were just trying to reach out for the holy water I was blessing them with.
But moments afterwards when I had completed my task, people began telling me about a miraculous thing they saw. I didn't see it myself. But a lot of people said that they witnessed a special occurrence like an image of the Mahal na Birhen ng Biglang-Awa on the horizon while I was blessing them with holy water. Many of them were dumbfounded, some could not speak, others were awed.
Among those who shared their experiences with me regarding this occurrence were Congresswoman and Hermana "Ate"Gina Reyes; Provincial LMD-PESO Manager Erma Reyes, Arlete Mapacpac, Tita Florence Agcaoili, Marivic Miciano, Crispy Martinez, Kathleen Fajardo, Pauline Manguera and other PESO Staff then in charge of candle distribution; Choir members of the Immaculate Conception Parish; members of the Legion of Morions; and many other employee of the provincial government. I was told that they saw a black smoke ascending from the structure of the Shrine and went towards the top of the Pastoral Center, and eventually such smoke turned into the image of the Mahal na Birhen ng Biglang Awa, the same image displayed in the shrine. The image, according to the witnesses, was there for about twenty to thirty seconds.
While this was occurring, many could not say anything. They were so dumbfounded, that some of them who were wanting to, could not immediately get their cameras to record such special occurrence. All I heard was a commotion, and I actually wondered why they were raising their hands. MANY OF THEM BELIEVED THEY SAW THE MAHAL NA BIRHEN NG BIGLANG AWA. And I believed them.
Rev. Fr. Renato M. Sapungan
Rector,
Diocesan Shrine of Ang Mahal na Birhen ng Biglang - Awa
Boac, Marinduque
