Hundreds of Antipolo residents reenacted a historic escape on February 14. They commemorated the 1945 flight from war to safety. The event is called “Paglikas sa Colaique.” Devotees brought the statue of the Virgin of Antipolo to a hill. This mirrored the actions of their ancestors during World War II.
In February 1945, Allied bombings targeted Japanese forces in the city. The town proper and church were destroyed. Fearing for their lives, residents fled. They carried their patroness, the Virgin of Antipolo, to a secluded hilltop. This place is now Sitio Colaique in Barangay San Roque. They believed the Virgin, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, miraculously protected them.
This year, despite morning rain, a dawn procession began. It started at the International Shrine. It ended at Sitio Colaique. Antipolo Bishop Ruperto C. Santos led the priests. Some participants reported a miracle en route. They said the rain stopped. A rainbow then appeared in the sky.
A Holy Mass was held on the hill. Rain began again only during the Mass. People were already sheltered. The story of the original evacuation is one of survival. After the bombings, the Virgin was temporarily moved. It stayed at Quiapo Church until the Antipolo shrine was rebuilt.
The Antipolo Cathedral said the event is more than history. It is a living testament. It shows the people’s deep faith and resilience. The bond to the Virgin Mary continues to unite them today.
