“Protect my People”: The Story of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage

The Municipality of Malabang is part of the Prelature of Marawi, under the patronage of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. Around 2% of the population are Catholics, and the rest are Muslims.

Due to our curiosity of the place we asked a certain local about how it was living with our brothers of different faith. As they say, before it was hard to practice the Catholic Faith publicly, Catholics were a sort of threat to them. And as expected, some were harsh and would even throw pebbles or stones around the church or at the facade or gate.

During their fiesta every January 24, Masses would be said on the day but two Military trucks are outside the church blocking the roads, one on the right and one on the left, assuring no one, aside from church goers would pass through the front of the church, to avoid chaos. It’s ironic to think that they are celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage but somehow peace cannot be realized at times.

But here is a story, there was a time that the Muslims and Catholics at the said place were rivals, but to think that Catholics are just a minority of Malabang. Hence we can already foresee what will happen next.

The townspeople are obliged to be home before the sun sets. Also up to now, we were obliged to be home before the sun goes out! And it’s a big NO walking alone without a local guide.

As the story goes, one night while military men were roving the roads of Malabang, passing through the church and heading straight, they had crossed paths with this Woman, who was wearing white and something blue around and had a long curly hair, walking her way on the road and going inside the church. The next morning passing again the same route, they noticed the woman on the facade of the church exclaiming to themselves “this is the woman we saw!”

On other occasions, people would see a lady inside the church walking around its vicinity, peeping or would just have her way around the church. And again with the same description of wearing a white dress with something blue around, a long curly hair. Should you ask some parishioners about this, giving the description they already know who is this lady they are talking about.

But this story is one of a kind, a certain politician of the place received a visitor in his office, again the lady with the same description, in his kindness he asked “what can i help you with?” The lady answered in a short but powerful words “PROTECT MY PEOPLE” and went out leaving no trace. Somehow days passed this politician passed through the front of the church, to his amazement the visitor whom he welcomed, was no other than the Lady of Peace. A promise he kept until descendants took over and would not honor this command.

Somehow, it made us all realize that Catholics living in that place indeed have a huge trust to this Lady. They would even say “it’s sometimes hard to practice the faith here”.

We were somewhat afraid to go to this area but we have to since they need the Presence of Our Lady more!

As of now, we continue to pray for Peace and end of War in these areas. May brotherhood arise amidst the differences in faith. And also for progress in their land. The places we went in the Prelature of Marawi have no electricity, only generator and solar energy are their sources of electricity for about 6 years. (Lawrence Vidanes | Volunteer)