Thousands of devotees joined the La Naval de Manila festival held in Quezon, the Philippines, on October 8.

The first celebration of the Feast of La Naval de Manila was held in 1646 in Manila to mark the naval victory of the Spanish and Filipino Catholic forces against the invading Dutch fleet.

In thanksgiving to God and the Holy Mother for the victory, Spanish church leaders initiated the celebration of the first feast of La Naval de Manila, which has since then been annually marked with holy masses and a grand procession of the sacred image.

During the Feast of La Naval de Manila on October 8, 2023, a grand procession of the image of La Naval was held in Quezon City, Philippines which was attended by thousands of Marian devotees..

The first celebration of the Feast of La Naval de Manila was held on Oct. 8, 1646 in Intramuros, Manila to mark the naval victory of the Spanish and Filipino Catholic forces against the invading Dutch fleet.

Reminiscent of the victory of the greatly outnumbered Christian naval forces against the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, which was attributed to the intercession of the Blessed Mother, the joint Spanish and Filipino forces, upon the advice of the Dominican friars, prayed the Holy Rosary before each encounter with the invading forces between March 15 and Oct. 4. Finally, the Dutch fleet gave up and left the country.

In thanksgiving to God and the Holy Mother for the victory, Spanish church leaders initiated the celebration of the first feast of La Naval de Manila, which has since then been annually marked with holy masses and a grand procession of the sacred image.

Thousands of Marian devotees attends the grand procession of the image of La Naval de Manila