In Philippines, popular piety meets global conflict in 15-mi Walk for Peace

MANILA, Philippines – As the U.S.-Israel war on Iran puts the world in a state of anxiety, thousands of Filipinos turned to a post-World War II religious tradition to pray for peace in the Middle East.

The bishop of the Diocese of Antipolo, Ruperto Cruz Santos, spoke to Crux Now about popular piety in the Philippines amidst a conflict that is disrupting life around the globe — and also hitting close to home.

Thousands of Filipino seafarers remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane for energy resources and other goods, which remained completely closed for weeks during the U.S.-led bombardment of Iran and is currently only partially and intermittently open at best.

Santos, who is also the bishop promoter of the Church’s apostolate to maritime communities, Stella Maris Philippines, told Crux Now Stella Maris and the faithful are caring for the families of stranded Filipino seafarers with concrete support and prayerful solidarity.

“We are taking care of [their families] regarding provisions and schooling. We pray for peace and a solution, and that you can travel safely and peacefully, with the assurance that we are always helping those you have left behind.”

The global disruption is one reason Catholics in the Philippines — pastors and faithful alike — have experienced this year’s Alay Lakad (Walk for Peace) pilgrimage tradition with particular poignance.

Alay Lakad is an annual 15-mile overnight procession from Quiapo Church in Manila — which houses the famous icon of the Black Nazarene — to the Antipolo Cathedral in a mountainous city east of Manila.

The procession begins around 7 pm at Quiapo Church every April 30, and ends at the Antipolo Cathedral, where a dawn Mass is held at 5 am on May 1. Many Alay Lakad participants, including teenagers, walk barefoot from Manila to Antipolo to symbolize both penance for sins and gratitude for graces received.

The procession gains added significance because the Antipolo Cathedral, dedicated to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, was declared by the Vatican in 2022 as the Philippines’ first international shrine.

This puts the Antipolo Cathedral on the same plane as 10 other international shrines approved by the Vatican, including the famous basilicas of Lourdes and Fatima.

The bishop said Alay Lakad shows the world “the true face of the Filipino” — a people known for their centuries-old rituals coming from three centuries as a Catholic Spanish colony.

The 68-year-old Santos, who holds a licentiate in history from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, also offers a glimpse of the decades-long history of Alay Lakad and the much older roots of the popular devotion — dating back to the 17th century — of the dark-skinned Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.

Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, which arrived in the Philippines from Mexico in 1626, was known to accompany the Manila-Acapulco galleons on their months-long voyages during the Spanish colonial period.

She is now considered a patroness of millions of Filipino migrants, including the thousands of seafarers whose safety in the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere in the globe has become a source of national concern.

Here is our conversation with Bishop Santos at the end of Alay Lakad on May 1.

Crux Now: What is Alay Lakad?

Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos: Life is a pilgrimage and a journey. It is in our nature to visit our parents, just as parents always come to their children.

The Holy Family was also a migrant family. The Lord Jesus traveled from heaven to earth to preach before returning to heaven, and our dear Mother did the same. We imitate this journey in obedience to His footsteps. But it is not just following; it is about guiding others. We ask, “Where are you going? Can I come?” This is companionship, friendship, and partnership. Because we accept others as family, we are ready to lead them and offer ourselves.

What do we offer? Our presence. We assure one another: “I will walk with you, I will watch over you, do not be afraid.” We offer the sacrifice of the walk — the fatigue and the sweat — but the most beautiful offering is being there. It is the assurance a child feels when a mother says, “I am here.” We give that presence, provision, and protection.

This Alay Lakad is a visit of the mother to the child. The Blessed Virgin of Antipolo and the Señor Nazareno (Black Nazarene) are connected through the history of World War II.

When Antipolo was threatened by a bombing, the Virgin of Antipolo’s image was hidden in a petrol drum and eventually brought to Quiapo for safety. While the church here was destroyed, no lives were lost. We commemorate this by having the mother visit the son, and later, the son visits the mother in November.

We offer this for peace, serenity, and healing. War has no victors; all are victims. This is why we answer the Blessed Mother’s appeal at Fatima to pray for world peace.

What does it mean to hold Alay Lakad in an international shrine such as this?

Now, here we can show them the true face of the Filipino, especially in matters of faith and religiosity. That in these trying and difficult times, there is still hope. And our hope is God.

In these difficult times, with war threatening us, God will always help and assist us; God will not abandon His people. Despite the economic uncertainty and political divisions we experience, God will heal us and provide what is beneficial to keep us safe.

Being an international shrine, here we can see the face of the people. In spite of everything, we have a solid and pure faith. In spite of everything, there is one that we can have and hold, and that is God. This is the faith of the Filipino: that we are very strong in faith, and we always cling to God, and we always believe God is there to help us.

What has been the most touching experience you have had as the bishop of Antipolo and as the parish priest of the shrine? Can you recall specific examples or anecdotes?

I have been here in Antipolo as a bishop for almost three years. This will be my third year. Antipolo is the pilgrimage center of the Philippines. People come from all over — not only from Rizal and Metro Manila, but from every corner of the country to visit us.

We experienced this during the first replica processions of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buenviaje. When we invited all the titular churches, whose patroness is the Virgin of Antipolo, Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buenviaje, or Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, we found out that we have 42 parishes all over the country that recognize Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buenviaje, or Virgin of Antipolo.

Especially during bar and board exams, many come for blessings. And the gifts to us are pencils. There was a time when someone offered us a computer. We asked, “Why a computer?” We learned that for the bar exam, they now use computers. And he passed the bar, and he offered it. Oh, no, just give us something that you use, even just a pointer or a pencil.

We also found out that when a person’s name is Anne, such as Catherine Anne, and we ask, “Why Anne?” Because, they say, “I am the Virgin’s answer. My mother prayed to have a child, and I was named ‘Arlene Anne’ in honor of Antipolo.”

The real experience is when Sunday comes, it is full here — not just with those from Antipolo, but with most from different places, especially the balikbayans (Filipino migrants who came back home).

What do these expressions of faith say about the faith of the Filipino?

What it really says is, if you have strong faith in God, God will always be there to answer your prayers. And whenever you are faithful to God, God will make you fruitful.

And you give back.

Yes, you give back. Acknowledge Him through your prayers and offer Him something.

This Alay Lakad is called Walk for Peace. Why is it important for us to have that as the theme of Alay Lakad this year?

This has always been the theme of Alay Lakad, a petition for peace. And because that was the request, that was the appeal of the Blessed Mother, when she appeared at Fatima: “Pray for peace.”

This also commemorates those [17th-century] voyages when the Blessed Mother arrived — seven voyages during the galleon trade — all the voyages were successful and peaceful. No shipwrecks, nothing lost, nothing destroyed.

This is also a sign of peace. And we know, this is what God wants, peace. Among people, people and the world, people and the Lord God.

You are also the bishop promoter of Stella Maris Philippines, the Church’s apostolate to maritime communities. What is your take on the current situation in the Middle East that is putting the lives of our seafarers at stake, especially in the Strait of Hormuz?

Especially those seafarers who have been stranded. Our assurance for them is: We are praying for you. Our assurance for them is: Don’t worry about your families here. We are taking care of them regarding provisions and schooling. We pray for peace and a solution, and that you can travel safely and peacefully, with the assurance that we are always helping those you have left behind.

What is your prayer to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage for these seafarers?

We always pray and commend them to the Blessed Mother that through her, with her maternal embrace and protection, there will be peace, there will be a solution, there will be an agreement. That the war will be over, and there will be harmony, and all can travel safely, and they will always think of the goodness of one another and contribute to the goodness of one another.