Virgin’s escape

The people of Antipolo City hold a procession to celebrate the 75th Paglikas ng Birhen Patungo sa Colaique on Feb. 22. The event traces back to February 17, 1945, when Antipolo was heavily bombarded by American planes. Its residents evacuated to Sitio Colaique and up to the towns of Angono, Santolan and Marikina. To protect the image from being destroyed, Stevenson Sayson, then the sacristan mayor, and members of the community brought with them the Virgin of Antipolo. The bombings destroyed the church, but after the war, a temporary church was built and the Virgin of Antipolo was returned from the Quiapo Church on October 15, 1945.