The Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, also known as “Ang Iloy,” is a limestone sculpture of the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus, traditionally said to have been discovered by local fishermen in the Iloilo River. It stands about 60 inches tall and exudes a regal appearance, with both figures crowned and the Virgin adorned with doce estrellas or twelve stars and a finely embroidered cape. It has been serving as a major pilgrimage site, with devotees visiting for prayers, healing, and requests for blessings. In 1981, the image was crowned by then-Pope John Paul II, making this Marian image ...