Hey there! Thanks for dropping by lifeisacelebration! Take a look around and grab the RSS feed to stay updated. See you around! Turumba or Tarumba? But what is Turumba?
That was the first question we asked Brother Erning, the Church Marshall. Interior Shot. Altar with 14 icons behind in separate niches, veiled in purple satin this Lenten Season.
It was Lent that Friday we visited. All 14 icons in separate intricately carved niches behind the main altar, veiled in purple satin. Built in , the Virgen has been enshrined here since when it was fished out of Laguna de Bay. The legend goes that no one could lift the image till the parish priest came to bring it to this Church followed by locals singing and dancing in glee. The trance-like dance was called Turumba. It is also the sound of drumbeats during the processions marking the feast of Turumba culminating sometime in September of each year.
He regaled us with stories about the Virgin and brought us to this tiny, lovely Chapel where the image is enshrined. He reminded us to ask permission from the Virgin before taking any photos. Then he proceeded to tell us how a magical cloud floated over the 18th century church as US bombing squads hovered above during the Second World War.
The count to date per Brother Erning is 50, gowns donated by the faithful! My earlier research pegged it at only The Virgin changes gowns every 2 weeks, and each worn gown is cut up in small patches and distributed to the faithful. We were fortunate to go home with patches of these embroidered and beaded gowns. Brother Erning is a legend himself. His love for the Virgin, this Church and his hometown is legendary.
