Members of the Ateneo Community join Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Procession in Tornaviaje

Students, staff and faculty members alike took part in "Tornaviaje," a procession of the image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage held on November 23, 2015 at the College Lane. This special event was organized by the School of Humanities, the Department of Modern Languages and the Loyola Schools Office of Campus Ministry.
"Tornaviaje," a Spanish word meaning "journey home," signifies all 6 return trips of the image of the Virgin Mary aboard the ships that sailed the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade route.

In her opening message, School of Humanities Dean Dr. Ma. Luz C. Vilches stressed the importance of commemorating the Hispanic culture of the Filipinos which includes traditions of song, poetry, dance and prayers. She also mentioned that this event “reminds us of the guidance and protection the Blessed Mother gives us in our journey through life as she leads us to her Son.”

School of Humanities Dean Dr. Ma. Luz C. Vilches talks about the history of the "Tornaviaje"

Some of the students and faculty members present were also in Filipiniana to honor the importance of the event in Philippine history. Also present among the Ateneo community was a guest of honor, Sr. D. Fernando Zapico, Education Advisor of the Embassy of Spain.
Starting at the College Lane, dubbed as "Acapulco" or where the "galleon route" starts, the image of Mother Mary was sent off with Marian hymns sung by members of the Ateneo College Glee Club after a speech in Spanish by alumnus and Ateneo High School faculty member Mr. Barth Mariquit who played the role of Governor General.

The Ateneo community followed the procession to the Dela Costa Hall where an Ateneo Entablado performer, Mr. VJ Serag, recited Dr. Jose Rizal's poem, A la Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary), accompanied by Mr. Franz Ramirez, an oboist of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra. The carroza, alluded as the "galleon" or ship, was also met with a shower of flower petals while passing under a canopy.

The procession ended at the Gonzaga Driveway where the image of the Virgin Mary was welcomed by Sra. Heide Aquino of the Department of Modern Languages as "Inang Pilipinas" and with a folkdance called “Bulaklakan” to simulate the galleon's arrival in Manila. The image was then brought inside the Gonzaga Chapel where the Salve Regina was presided by Fr. Vic de Jesus, SJ.

While the image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage was brought to the Philippines by Governor-General Juan Niño de Tabora in 1626 and was later passed on to the Jesuits in the church of Antipolo, the “tornaviaje” was discovered by Fray Andrés de Urdaneta, a Spanish navigator, in 1565.
There was also a lecture by Dr. Francis M. Navarro of the Department of History on November 27, 2015 (Friday) at 4:30 PM, CTC 416, that aimed to shed more light on the cultural exchange brought about by Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade.

For more pictures of the procession and the lecture by Dr. Navarro on Google Photos, click here.