Every year, on the second Sunday of October, thousands of Filipino Catholics hold a religious procession in the Philippine capital in honor of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of La Naval de Manila.
The activity recalls the battles during the early years of Christianity in the country that gave birth to the annual observance.
In 1646, the Dutch attempted to invade the Philippines in an attempt to open trade in Southeast Asia.
The story goes that Spanish and Filipino defenders prayed for the intercession of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. They vowed that if their prayers were granted, they will walk barefoot to her shrine in Manila.
Young acolytes lead the religious procession in honor of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary La Naval de Manila on Oct. 13, 2019. (File photo by Jire Carreon)
Priests and seminarians of the Order of Preachers, or Dominicans, walk ahead of the religious procession. (Photo by Jire Carreon)
People raise lighted candles as the image of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary La Naval de Manila passes during the religious procession on Oct. 13, 2019. (Photo by Jire Carreon)
Devotees who join the religious procession whisper prayers as they walk several kilometers around town. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)
The annual religious procession attracts thousands of people who carry candles and pray the rosary during the event. (Photo by Jire Carreon)
Roads in the suburb of Quezon City are closed on Oct. 13 to give way to the religious procession. (Photo by Jire Carreon)
A devotee carries an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the religious procession in honor of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary La Naval de Manila on Oct. 13. (Photo by Basilio Sepe)
People from all walks of life carry candles and pray the rosary as they walk in solemn procession during the Feast of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary La Naval de Manila on Oct. 13, 2019. (Photo by Jire Carreon)
In 1593, a non-Catholic Chinese artist was commissioned to carve the head and hands of La Naval and the Holy Child. The 400-year old image was made of ivory, earning the distinction of being the oldest Marian ivory sculpture in the country. (Photo by Jire Carreon)
The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary used in the religious procession is not its first sculptured image. The original image—made of wood—was burned during World War II. It was brought to the country by Dominicans from Acapulco, Mexico in 1587. (Photo by Jire Carreon)
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