Marian devotees bless West Philippine Sea

She responded to an inner call on the birthday of Mother Mary last 8 September "to bless the Palawan West Philippine Sea with Holy Water and exorcised salt, promote the power of the Holy Rosary and pray for our country and our leaders for peace and unity with the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary."

Multi-awarded film and television director, screenwriter, and producer Maria Luisa Fatima "Baby" R. Nebrida, leading light and foundress of  Mary's Army to Save Souls (MASS) Media Movement, organized a Eucharistic Marian Prayer event on observe the Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Puerto Princesa City.

The two-day spiritual gathering brought together Marian devotees who attended a Marian Recollection by the Barangay Bacungan seafront on 26 November and participated in a Fluvial Procession of a flotilla of 20 boats honoring Our Lady, Star of the Sea on 27 November.

Nebrida, who led the Consecration prayers to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, also spearheaded with her co-chair, Baba Pajarito, the distribution of sacramentals including miraculous medals and St. Benedict medals among the Catholic faithful of the barangay and assisted in the blessing of 20 fisherfolk.

A most fitting venue for the religious activities was the Pakpak Lauin Beach Resort, which Nebrida described as "a beautiful mystical place owned by the Rocamora family." Located northwest of Puerto Princesa City, it faces the West Philippine Sea.

In attendance were local farmers and families, Armed Forces of the Philippines soldiers, Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, and Philppine Red Cross personnel.  Also present were Barangay Bacungan chair Gina Valdestamon, the Sangguniang Barangay, the Pastoral Council, and Rev. Fr. Jimmy Mattew, parish priest.

According to Nebrida, "Our group, Mary's Army to Save Souls Media Movement, is not a structured type of an organization. We usually network with other local and international Marian organizations. Our common goal is to evangelize, to make the approved messages of the Blessed Mother known to others and to promote the power of the Holy Rosary, confession, and the strict devotion to the Holy Eucharist and The Blessed Mother.  We are called to respond globally to her call."

Nebrida added, "Through the years, I have done many international and national prayer events and I am used to messages via locution. But this time, it came as a big surprise. My son Jodi Nebrida Halikman and I were in the middle of organizing our next international film. Definitely, it was not in my subconscious to do such a gargantuan prayer event in Palawan in these uncertain times.

"While we met many challenges in organizing the event, with a number of top provincial government officials ignoring our pleas for assistance, it turned out to be a great success, with the support of barangay captain Gina Valdestamon, the Kagawad of Bacungan, parish priest Rev. Fr. Jimmy Matthew and members of the pastoral council of Bacungan. For sure, the Lord and Mother Mary guided and blessed us all the way to the completion of our mission."

Relating her personal story, Nebrida, who is celebrating her birthday today, 11 December, said, "It was September 8th, the birthday of the Blessed Mother while I was with my family kneeling down and praying silently when Our Lady of Guadalupe inspired me to become a disciple of the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  It was a request I could never refuse."

She then enjoined the faithful "to pray for our beloved country, the Philippines, and our leaders to give honor, praise and glory to our Heavenly Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with the Blessed Mother of all Mankind leading us on to the triumph of her Immaculate Heart."