from the lovely Child presented to us
on canvas by the great masters! During the feast held in its honour
(January 20), pilgrims from the remotest districts of the island and
from across the seas come to purify their souls at the shrine of "The
Holy Child." In the same room was a beautiful image of the Madonna,
besides two large tin boxes containing sundry arms, legs, and heads
of Saints, with their robes in readiness for adjustment on procession
days. The patron of Cebu City is Saint Vidal.

The legend of the celestial protector of Manila is not less
interesting. It is related that in Dilao (now called Paco), near
Manila, a wooden image of Saint Francis de Assisi, which was in the
house of a native named Alonso Cuyapit, was seen to weep so copiously
that many cloths were moistened by its tears. The image, with its hands
outspread during three hours, invoked God's blessing on Manila. And
then, on closing its hands, it grasped a cross and skull. Vows were
made to the Saint, who was declared protector of the capital, and
the same image is now to be seen in the Franciscan Church, under
the appellation of _San Francisco de las lagrimas_--"Saint Francis
of Tears."

Up to the seventies of last century, a disgusting spectacle used to be
annually witnessed at the Church of San Miguel (Manila) on December 8;
it was a realistic representation of the Immaculate Conception!

"Our Lady of Cagsaysay," near Taal (Batangas), has been revered for
many years both by Europeans and natives. So enthusiastic was the
belief in the miraculous power of this image, that the galleons,
when passing the Batangas coast on their way to and from Mexico,
were accustomed to fire a salute from their guns (_vide_ pp. 18,
19). This image was picked up by a native in his fishing-net, and
he placed it in a cave, where it was discovered by other natives,
who imagined they saw many extraordinary lights around it. According
to the local legend, they heard sweet sonorous music proceeding from
the same spot, and the image came forward and spoke to a native woman,
who had brought her companions to adore the Saint.

The history of the many shrines all over the Colony would well fill
a volume; however, by far the most popular one is that of the Virgin
of Antipolo--_Nuestra Senora de Buen Viaje y de la Paz_, "Our Lady
of Good Voyage and Peace."

This image is said to have wrought many miracles. It was first brought
from Acapulco (Mexico) in 1626 in the State ga