SOLEMN DECLARATION OF BADOC CHURCH AS A MINOR BASILICA

 On February 5, 2019, the church of Badoc, Ilocos Norte was officially declared as the Minor Basilica of Saint John the Baptist.  It is also the Shrine of the La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc Coronada. 

The Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc.

The symbols of a Minor basilica: the ombrellino (umbrella), tintinnabulum (bell) and the papal chair. 

Cardinal Maeda of Osaka, Japan giving his message.

Bp. Rene Mayugba, the bishop of the Diocese of Laoag giving his words of thanks.

Aside from the 16 Filipino bishops, the Cardinal of Osaka, Japan, H.E. Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda was also present. The Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc which was retrieved from the sea is believed to have come from Japan during the Christian persecutions in Japan in the 17th century.  Cardinal Maeda is descendant of the Japanese samurai, Justo Takayama Ukon who became a Christian and was exiled in Manila where he died. 

The interior of the church of Badoc when I first visited it in 2011 (left) and the present interior of the church.