THE IMAGE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN OF THE COTTA OF MISAMIS By

One of the enduring religious accounts of Misamis (now Ozamiz City) is that of the image of the Blessed Virgin in the old Spanish Fort or Cotta that still stands today, guarding the entrance to Panguil Bay. The Port was built in 1 755 by Father Jose Ducos to serve as an outpost of Spanish suzerainty in Muslim Mindanao. Father Ducos placed the fort and the town that grew around it under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Immaculate Conception. A special chapel was built inside the walls of the fort and an image of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, in the pink and blue attire, was enshrined in the chapel. Outside the fort on the wall facing the bay there was carved also the image of the virgin.

The image has been referred to simply as the Birhen sa Kotta or Virgin of the fort, although its actual title is Nuestra Señora de/ Triunfo (Our Lady of Triumph), a name taken after the flagship of Father Ducos, the Triunfo. The feast day of the Virgin was set on July 16, which is the feast of the Triumph of the Cross, an old Spanish feast commemorating the victory of the Christian Spain over the Moors. Hence the image is variously called Nuestra Señora de/ Triunfo de la Cruz. In the beginning the celebration of the Virgin's feast day was confined within the walls of the fort, but when the town of Misamis grew and the number of her devotees increased, the feast day became an important holy day, a cause for celebration, for the whole town as well.

NUESTRA SRA. DEL TRIUNFO DELA CRUZ /

OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL
The image on its wall of the Cotta believed to be miraculously growing and has been the object of pilgrimage to the City of Ozamis.

Legend tells of the miraculous intercessions of the Virgin during the Muslim raids to which the fort was often subjected. Oftentimes the fort was undermanned due to its distance from the main Spanish garrisons and the infrequent visits of the armada whose principal anchorage in the south was Cebu. But the fort had always withstood even the fiercest Muslim attacks, a feat which they could attribute only to the Blessed Mother's intercession.

In 1876, the Spanish priest assigned in Misamis noted that the chapel and the image were not properly cared for. He ordered that the precious image be transferred to the parish church of the town. From that time on his ancient and historical image was kept on the side of the altar of the church, encased in a crystal urn, and its feast customarily observed on July 16 Since July 16 is also the feast day of our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the image has been erroneously taken for that of the Lady of Mt. Carmel. It was therefore repainted to conform to the brown habit of the Carmel image. The actual image of the Lady of Mt. Carmel is one with the child Jesus in her arms.

The old church was destroyed by the strong earthquake in 1 955' but the image of the Virgin was left intact. When the new Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built, the image was enshrined on the right side altar. On its feast day the miraculous image is taken by devotees in procession around the city and the old Kotta where Holy Mass is offered in her honor. Today many devotees from far and near trek to the Kotta to importune the Blessed Mother for favors and light candles in front of the craved image that once was enshrined within the fort.

Then in December 1975 the image disappeared. Most people say that a sacrilegious antique dealer or collector must have stolen it.

There have been several attempts to recover this religious object d'art. Religious organizations, provincial and city official and concerned citizens have asked the help of the Philippine Constabulary in nationwide search for the image. There had been no encouraging news so far. Meanwhile the people pray for its return especially in the month of July and December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the fiesta day of the City.

Reference: Extracted from the “Ozamiz City – The Historical, Cultural and Pilgrimage Destination” Tourism Booklet courtesy of Annie L. Abad, Ozamiz City Tourism Office.