Episcopal Coronation of Sto. Rosario de Malita

Sept 19 – After 7 months of restoration in Iloilo, the image of the Sto. Rosario de Malita arrived in Davao City and was venerated by devotees at the San Pedro Cathedral Parish.

Beginning Sep 19, until the Diamond Jubilee of the Sto, Rosario Parish in Malita on Oct 7, there had been a Marian Pilgrimage among 6 Barangays within Malita. It is with pride that the people from Malita have this century old image of the Blessed Mother. Moreso, that it is the first image to be episcopally crowned in Southern Mindanao.

Within the Pontifical Mass during its feast, the rites of the Episcopal Coronation to the image of Sto. Rosario de Malita happened. Most Rev. Guillermo V. Afable himself placed the crown on the virgin’s head.

The devotion of Birhen sa Santo Rosario is an important part of the longstanding and well-known tradition of the residents of the municipality specifically during fiestas. It is a known fact that, Malitaňos are used in collecting petals of the flowers showered to the image of Santo Rosario during processions, especially during “Sugat” on Easter Sundays, inspired by the belief that the petals are blessed thru the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and will give them protection and good luck. This tradition is even embraced by non-Catholic fisher folks as they too claimed to have the same personal experience while keeping the petals with them when they go fishing. Could this be true or not, the fact remains that Birhen sa Santo Rosario, the patroness of Malita Parish, played an important role in the spiritual growth of the Christian communities in Malita and in the whole province of Davao Occidental.