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Since the arrival of the Spanish on the shores of the Philippines, their religion has shaped the culture into one quit unlike any other found in Asia. As one of the few countries in Asia with a Roman Catholic majority, a church feast day is celebrated with great reverence and festivities involving the entire community. Manila, the cosmopolitan capital of the Philippines, is home to many of the country's oldest and most important churches and cathedrals. The stone masonry of some of these buildings is almost 400 years old. Amongst these is the Church of Our Lady of the Abandoned in the Marikina district of the city. In 1791 the building was consecrated with this title to be the home of the statue of Our Lady of the Abandoned. The statue, which is an image of the Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados statue of Mary in Barcelona, Spain, represents Mary who cares for social outcasts. During the Philippine-American war of 1890, the original image was destroyed along with church records, but another replica was produced to stand guard over the parish. It is generally believed that the prayers to Our Lady of the Abandoned saved the church from being destroyed during WW II, when the city was heavily bombed by the Japanese. In 2005, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales crowned this statue in the name of Pope Benedict XVI amidst great pageantry. The beautiful figure depicts Mary in golden regalia carrying a child that symbolizes the oppressed and deserted souls. Initially, the child would have symbolized the infants killed by King Herod as he looked of the baby Jesus. The feast of the church, or the Feast of Nuestra Senora Delos, is celebrated in May, the month dedicated to Mary by the Catholic Church, usually on the second Sunday of the month. Flags, lights and flowers decorate the outside and inside of the building for about a week in advance when the parishioners begin their spiritual preparation. After the Fiesta Mass the venerated image is taken on parade around the area, accompanied by devotees dressed in their best attire and singing hymns, to bless the parish and its people. Celebrations and festivals are common after the end of the mass and procession. Visitors in the month of May can see many such feasts that show the devotion and love of the Filipino people to Our Lady of the Abandoned. Those visiting the city during this time and looking for a Manila luxury hotel from which to experience the local sights can stay at The Peninsula Manila. This 5 star hotel Manila features luxurious comforts and is ideal for business and leisure travellers alike.
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