“Pagbisita ni Inay Salud” inspires building bigger and more generous hearts in Antipolo

The nearly 400-year-old original and miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de la Salud (Our Lady of Health) made its first appearance in the fertile soil of the St. Ezekiel Moreno Novitiate-Recoletos (SEMoNoRe) in Antipolo City on Sunday, April 3, 2025.

With hearts full of hope, gratitude, and thanksgiving, the SEMoNoRe community, led by Fray Rommel L. Rubia, OAR, Prior, Fray Joseph Cyprian J. Panaligan, OAR, Vice Prior and Procurator, Fray Bob T. Cabanag, OAR, Novice Master, and Fray Paul S. Demilliones, OAR, Pre-Novice Director, welcomed the image of Inay Salud. She was accompanied by members of the Cofradia de Tránsito de Nuestra Señora, along with their Spiritual Director, Fray Robin Ross S. Plata, OAR, who came from Quezon City.

“Viva Nuestra Señora de la Salud!”

These were the joyful greetings from the community people of SEMoNoRe as the procession of the image of Inay Salud went through at 6:45 AM in front of the gate going to the SEMoNoRe Chapel. With a short stopover in front of the seminary façade, the members of the Recollect Augustinian Youth – Antipolo Chapter (RAYAC) added to the festive mood of the celebration with their welcome dance in honor of Inay Salud. Entering the seminary door to the chapel altar, rose petals were showered down to Inay Salud. Fray Rommel L. Rubia, OAR, Community Prior, led the prayers for the enthronement of the image of Inay Salud.

“Let us build bigger, more generous hearts than bigger barns…”

Using the Gospel Reading on the Parable of the Rich Young Fool, Fray Robin Ross S. Plata, OAR, the Mass Celebrant and Homilist, emphasized the beauty of sharing as exemplified by the generosity shown by Inay Salud when she said her “Yes” as a sacrifice for she allowed herself to be the Mother of God and for us to experience the love of a Mother. “Instead of building bigger barns, let us build bigger and more generous hearts so that, like St. Ezekiel and Inay Salud, we can become generous to others,” he said.

Fray Robin Plata, OAR, also shared how they started to revive the devotion to Inay Salud by bringing the image to various churches, chapels, and hospitals. He confessed that they have only brought the original and miraculous image twice: first at the Manila Cathedral and second at SEMoNoRe. With this, he announced that Inay Salud’s visit to SEMoNoRe every 1st Saturday of August will be made a yearly tradition not only because SEMoNoRe is the womb of the religious life of the Province but also because this is the home of St. Ezekiel Moreno, who, like Inay Salud, is a patron of healing.

The Holy Mass ended with the traditional rite of pagmamanto, where the veil used by Inay Salud is placed on the forehead of the faithful people. Anointing of the sick was also administered.

Intercessions for Healing

Devotees continued to storm God through the intercession of Inay Salud with their prayers of healing during the Holy Hour with the Blessed Sacrament, Holy Rosary, and perpetual Novena in Honor of Inay Salud. Members of the Cofradia de Tránsito de Nuestra Señora, SARF, RAY, some devotees, Novices, and Pre-Novices took part in various prayer services.

Afterwards, Bro. John Rex Jardinero, the President of the Cofradia de Tránsito de Nuestra Señora, awarded the certificate with a portrait of the original image of Inay Salud to the SEMoNoRe community as a sign of gratitude and thanksgiving for the warm welcome.

With bigger and more generous hearts, the SEMoNoRe community bid their farewell to Inay Salud through the celebration of the Rite of Departure. This original image of Nuestra Señora de la Salud (Our Lady of Health) was brought by the Augustinian Recollect missionaries to the Philippines in 1634.