OUR LADY OF PIAT CAGAYAN
Our Lady of Piat (formally: Nuestra Señora de Piat,) is a 16th century Roman Catholic icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the central figure at the altar of her shrine in Piat in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. Locally known as the patroness of the town, it is one of the most venerated Marian images of Mary in the Republic of the Philippines and is referred to as the Mother of Cagayan. The image of Our Lady of Piat is one of the most revered images among Catholics. Flocking everyday to the shrine are devotees queueing to touch the image’s feet seeking her intercessions. Her devotees include the rich and powerful who spare no expense at showering the Blessed Virgin’s shrine with donations and gifts.
She was originally called Nuestra Señora del Santissimo Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary) by the Dominican friars. The lady has been attributed to many miracles including an end to a drought that threatened famine in the Itawes region. Piat is now dubbed as the "Pilgrimage Center of Cagayan Valley" because of the thousands of devotees and tourists who come here to pay homage. She continues to be the source of inspiration and object of devotion of many Catholics in the region.
The lady is also called as the "Black Virgin Mary" because of its color being brown or "muy morena". That was referred to as the appealing characteristic of the Blessed Virgin.[1]
Our Lady of Piat is one of the oldest Marian images in the Philippines. On June 20, 1954, in a ceremony led by Papal Delegate Egidio Vagnozzi, she was named “Queen of Heaven and Earth”. The Ibanags call her “Yena Tam Ngamin” (Mother of Us All) and to the natives of Piat, Cagayan, she is known as “Apo Baket” (Grand Matriarch).
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