Pope Leo XIV grants pontifical coronation of Albay's Ina
By Rhaydz Barcia
LEGAZPI CITY --- Pope Leo XIV has granted the pontifical coronation of the 250-year-old venerated image of Nuestra Señora de Salvación, the patroness of the Diocese of Legazpi and revered as the Heavenly Queen of Albay, in a historic recognition of the centuries-old Marian devotion in the province.
The Diocese of Legazpi, headed by Bishop Joel Z. Baylon, announced the approval through its official Facebook page, saying the Holy See had authorized the pontifical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Salvation and the image of the Infant Jesus enshrined at the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Salvation in Joroan, Tiwi, Albay.
The approval was granted through the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in response to a petition submitted by Baylon, together with the faithful of Albay.
According to the diocese, the decree was issued on Oct. 20, 2026, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the canonical erection of the Diocese of Legazpi.
The diocese received the news on Oct. 22, the Memorial of Pope Saint John Paul II, who visited Legazpi in 1981. The announcement added significance to the local Church's celebration of its Diamond Jubilee.
The pontifical coronation is scheduled for Oct. 28, 2026, during the solemn Diamond Jubilee Mass to be presided over by Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, dean of the College of Cardinals.
The diocese has invited the faithful to take part in the historic celebration, which will honor the Blessed Mother and renew the local Church's entrustment to her maternal intercession.
250-year devotion
The pontifical coronation comes two months after the Diocese of Legazpi commemorated the 250th anniversary of devotion to Nuestra Señora de Salvación and the 50th anniversary of her canonical coronation as the diocese's patroness.
On Aug. 22, 2026, Jose F. Cardinal Advincula, Archbishop of Manila, joined Archbishop Rex Andrew C. Alarcon of Caceres and Baylon in reenacting the solemn crowning of the image's new regalia during a ceremony at the shrine in Joroan.
The celebration also marked the Marian Jubilee Year 2026–2027 and drew Bishop Emeritus Lucilo B. Quiambao of Legazpi, priests, religious sisters, and more than a thousand pilgrims and devotees from different parts of the country.
The original canonical coronation took place on Aug. 25, 1976, under the leadership of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, then Archbishop of Manila, during the bicentennial celebration of the Marian devotion. The church in Joroan was subsequently proclaimed a diocesan shrine.
In his homily during the August commemoration, Advincula described Ina as a symbol of Mary's maternal closeness to her children, particularly during calamities such as typhoons and Mayon Volcano eruptions.
The cardinal recalled that the image, carved from wood in the 1770s, had become a source of comfort and hope for generations of Albayanos who turned to the Blessed Mother in times of hardship.
He also urged the faithful to care for one another, particularly the poor, the weak, and the vulnerable, emphasizing that serving those in need is a meaningful way of honoring Mary.
The image depicts Mary carrying the Child Jesus in her left arm while holding a human figure with her right hand. The figure symbolizes her maternal intercession and her role in guiding humanity away from sin toward her Son.
Centuries-old tradition
Devotion to Nuestra Señora de Salvación dates back to the 1770s, when, according to local tradition, residents sought the Virgin Mary's protection amid pirate attacks along the Albay coast.
Local accounts recount that Mariano Dacuba discovered a tree whose leaves remained green despite the surrounding conditions. Sculptor Bagacumba later carved three religious images from the tree: Nuestra Señora de Salvación, San Antonio de Padua, and Nuestra Señora de Soledad, or Our Lady of Sorrows.
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de Salvación was formally established on Aug. 25, 1776, beginning a religious tradition that continues to draw thousands of pilgrims to Joroan, Tiwi.
Affectionately called Ina by devotees, the image has become an enduring symbol of faith, gratitude, and hope among Catholics in Albay and other parts of the country.
The annual diocesan fiesta in her honor is traditionally held on the third Saturday of August. One of its highlights is the Aurora in the Sea, a maritime procession in which boats from coastal communities in Albay and Camarines Sur accompany the image across the waters.
Another major religious activity is the nine-kilometer procession from St. Lawrence Church in Tiwi to the diocesan shrine in Joroan, drawing devotees who gather to express their faith and devotion.
Meanwhile, Fr. Joseph Salando, rector of the shrine and parish priest of Joroan, is working toward the construction of a larger church intended to serve as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Salvation.
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