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History of the Barangay of the Virgin

The picture of the Virgin of the Barangay is a version of the original Icon painted by Mr. Crisonogo A. Domingo, a poor inmate of Sta. Barbara Leprosarium, Iloilo. After professional painters had failed to execute the vision described by Antonio Gaston, the BSV Founder, Bishop Yap, D.D. of Bacolod approved and blessed the Icon on October 16, 1955. This image attracted millions to respond to Our Lady’s message in Fatima to pray for peace, convert to God and recite the rosary in the family. This has been the Filipino response to Fatima.

The Icon depicts Our Lady as a mother manifesting Her tender love and solicitude for the people of a “barangay” (a village), even as Her Son, the Child Jesus offers them the rosary. This Image demonstrate eloquently the motto adapted by this movement “Ad Jesum Per Mariam” (to Jesus through Mary). The village is ideally organized into the traditional barangay rosary unit of 15 families/homes.

The Barangay of the Virgin, as a Marian organization and a lay catholic action movement, attracted thousands of Filipino families and became a powerful force to counteract communism in the Philippines. On May 2, 1955, the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines “approved and mandated” the Barangay of the Virgin as a catholic organization with all the rights and privileges granted by law to such lay association in the church.

The original painting was personally blessed by His Holiness Pope John Paul II on February 20, 1981 at the Bishop’s Palace in Bacolod City. The Icon was then returned to the Pilgrim Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Bacolod City.

Barangay of the Virgin in the US

In 1978, the Filipinos who had migrated to the United States were introduced to this devotion in New York and New Jersey by Mr. And Mrs. Paul Holganza and Mrs. Venancia Cornelio.

It started in early 1985 in Livingston, New Jersey, in the home of Dr. Ted and Brenda Pascual. Through the relentless effort, devotion and dedication of the first few people visited by the Blessed Mother, a large donation from the devotees was received. This enabled the formation of the Barangay of the Virgin, Inc. (USA) on October 28, 1985. The two main purposes of the Barangay of the Virgin USA are: 1) Charitable and 2) Religious as described in the Certificate of Incorporation.

The Barangay USA is an outgrowth of the Barangay Sang Virgen (Philippines). Both organizations are independent of each other but have the same objective of spreading the devotion of the Blessed Mother by praying the Holy Rosary. However, Barangay USA has an additional purpose of receiving donations and distributing these to the less fortunate people in the Philippines.

The Barangay of the Virgin, Inc. Is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code effective January 22, 1987, the date of which it was organized and incorporated. All money received through its activities is donated to religious and charitable institutions, mostly in the Philippines. All services rendered by the officers and members are voluntary.

Barangay of the Virgin, Inc. is a registered United Way Agency (No. 030335).

At present, we have several active chapters in New Jersey, New York, Texas, Florida, Maryland, California, Virginia and Canada. More chapters are in the process of organization.

The Statue of the Blessed Virgin of the Barangay was brought to Rome by the Barangay of the Virgin officers and members from New York and New Jersey in the historic day of May 2, 1992. The Image was blessed by His Holiness Pope Paul II. Our Barangay of the Virgin was then presented as a gift to the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome, in the occasion of the 30th Feast Day celebration of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.

October 16 is the recognized feast day of the Barangay of the Virgin in the Philippines and USA.


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