A Visit To Our Lady of Piat in Cagayan

Last All Saint’s Day, we paid a visit to our departed loved ones in Cagayan. It was a tiring whole day road trip with my family but it was worth it. I got to see my old folks and spent quality time with them.

Since we will be passing the town of Piat, we decided to stop and visit “The Mother of all Cagayanos”, Our Lady of Piat.

Quick info:  The Basilica of Our Lady of Piat (Basilica Minore Nuestra Señora de Piat) is one of the only twelve Minor Basilica in the Philippines. It is located in the outskirts of Piat in the province of Cagayan. The shrine is dubbed as the Piligrimage Center of the North, and a home to the 407 year old Black Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Piat.

It’s best to visit  on July 1 and 2 when the feast of Nuestra Señora de Piat or the Sambali Festival is celebrated annually.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org

How to get there:

By air: Cebu Pacific or Air Philippines  – Manila to Tuguegarao then proceed to Piat Van Terminal.

By land: Manila to Tuguegaro via Victory Liner or Florida Bus Liner  then proceed to Piat Van Terminal. It’s 30 minutes away by land from Tuguegarao City

At the back of the church is a staircase leading to a window exactly located at the back of the Virgin Mary wherein devotees can touch the dress of Our Lady.

Outside the church is long arrays of souvenir stores. Most of the items sold are Religious items such as Religious rosaries, rosary bracelets, chaplets, crosses, statues, rosary rings, bible key chains,, handkerchief with the image of the Our Lady of Piat, Folding fan etc.

Aside from that, you can also buy their famous delicacy such as the smooth, sweet and tasty rice cakeknown as Pawa. It’s made from sticky / glutinous rice and ground peanuts stuffed inside. You can also buy Cagayan’s version of Biko or Rice Cakes.

 

 

The famous Pawa of Piat, Puto and Banana bread

After that we continued our short road trip to Sto Nino Cagayan.

Buntun Bridge

I just can’t help but to take photos of the green rice fields and bright blue skies!

And lastly, I missed the Kalesa. I used to ride them a lot when I was still studying in Tuguegarao City.

Tugugarao City’s Kalesa.

That’s all for now. Did you like my blog post about my hometown? Let me know what you think!