President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos presided over the ceremonial arrival and blessing of the Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Malacañang on Thursday. The event served as the official commencement of the Philippine Pilgrimage 2026.
This initiative underscores the deep-rooted Marian devotion within the country and aligns the Philippines with the global “Novena Intercontinental Guadalupana.”
The event is part of a broader spiritual campaign building toward the 2031 commemoration, which will mark the 500th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
As a replica of the sacred image housed at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, the statue holds profound spiritual meaning for the Filipino faithful.
Following its reception at the Palace, the image is scheduled to travel throughout the archipelago for a six-month mission, visiting more than 40 cathedrals and shrines across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
The nationwide itinerary is being managed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in partnership with the Guadalupe Pilgrimage Committee.
A notable highlight of the tour will include a scheduled visit during the 132nd Plenary Assembly of the CBCP in Ozamiz City.
Upon the conclusion of its extensive journey, the pilgrim image is slated to be permanently enshrined at the Manila Cathedral. The mission intends to foster spiritual growth and bolster the faith of Filipino Catholics as part of the international lead-up to the 2031 milestone.