Close to a hundred grandiose icons and images of Her Blessedness, The Virgin Mary solemnizes the Museo Valenzuela as the Grand Marian Exhibit 2011 officially opens.

The 2-storey modest Museo started to feel sacred last May 1 with the unveiling of the banner and the blessing of the icons and images.  The featured icons, ranges from about a feet tall to more than 12 feet tall; from the well-known to the little-known representations and titles of The Virgin, from the La Bambina Maria (The Baby Mary) to Nuestra Senora De Buena Muerte (Mary grieving the death of Jesus) and from the simply-adorned to the fabulously bejeweled.

The Grand Marian exhibit has been running for 13 years now and is being participated by icon camareros or owners not only from Valenzuela City, but from neighboring cities and provinces all over the Philippines.  “During the first Marian Exhibit, the Museo Valenzuela was then just formally inaugurated as the center of cultural heritage of the City.  Now, The Museo Valenzuela Foundation and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima have an established Memorandum of Understanding that cements the partnership in organizing the Annual Marian Exhibit.”

“Most of the images are official replica of the original image with certificate and seal of authentication,” this year’s Hermano Mayor, Mr. Carlo Verdadero said.

Viewing hours are 9:00AM to 12:00PM and 2:00PM to 8:00PM Mondoys to Saturdays; and 7:00AM to 12:00PM and 2:00PM to 8:00PM on Sundays.

On May 13^th, Friday, the actual feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the Annual Grand Marian Procession will be held featuring some of the icons on exhibit. 

The exhibit will be formally closed on May 22, 2011.

For inquires, call The Museo Valenzuela at 291-0672.  Look for Ms. Tess Baetiong.

- Lauro Zyan F. Caiña