Our Lady of Turumba - History of The Virgin of Turumba

History of The Virgin of Turumba

Turumba is a Spanish word meaning crazed or insane this is how then the Spanish friars viewed how the townspeople danced their dance in honor of the Virgin Mother. The Image of Our Lady is a 9" x 11" oil painting on canvas. The Face of Mary is contorted by pain from the daggers plunged in her heart. This relic is presently kept at the Parish of San Pedro Alcantara in Pakil, Laguna The second image of the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows is a replica of the image of Nuestra Señora de las Antiguas from Spain.

The image, according to tradition, belonged to some missionaries who crossed Laguna de Bay in a launch. When the launch was shipwrecked, some of its relics were washed ashore including the image of the Virgin. One Friday morning, some fishermen found the image in the nets. Believing it was a religious image, they decided to drop it off at a parish church. When they started to carry the painting, they found that it was heavy. They tried to carry it in many directions, until it was near the church of Pakil. While they headed that way, the wind and current aided their course; and when they landed, they left the image on a rock so they could continue their fishing duties.

A group of women found the image one Sunday morning. Although it had rained during the night, the canvas was dry. When they tried to take it away, they could not move it; even the strongest among them, Mariangga, could not lift it. They quickly told the parish priest, who in turn called the sacristans, choir members and churchgoers to get the image. As they lifted the image, the people around begun to sing and dance. To their surprise, the image gave way. And So the Turumba to Our Lady was born.

The word turumba is from the Filipino phrase "natumba sa laki ng tuwa" or tremble in great joy. The first Turumba in Our Lady's Honor was held on September 15, 1788.

By order of Pope Pius XII, likewise, and in recognition of the miracles credited to it, the Nuestra Senora de las Antiguas was crowned by the Bishop of the Diocese of Lipa, His Excellency Alejandro Olalia on 23-24 May 1953.