Ave Maria!
This one is interesting. Marian devotion takes all forms in the Philippines!
Divers from different groups say a prayer and offer flowers at an image of the Virgin Mary 80 feet underwater in Bien Unido, Bohol. The dive was in line with the birthday celebration of the Holy Mother yesterday. FERDINAND EDRALIN
BIEN UNIDO, Bohol, Philippines — Devotees of the Virgin Mary here, as well as divers, commemorated her birthday yesterday with a solemn prayer at an area in Danajon Bank where her 14-foot statue lies about 80 feet underwater.
There was a brief fluvial parade attended by Bien Unido residents, mostly coming from the neighboring small islands. Flowers were offered to the Virgin Mary while the “Happy Birthday” was sung. The divers, meanwhile, went underwater to clean the Virgin Mary’s statue from algae.
This was the second time the town held a similar event. During last year’s celebration, divers from all over the country participated in the underwater pilgrimage.
