Apparition of Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ in Bolinao?

BOLINAO, Pangasinan — Hundreds of curious residents in this beautiful coastal town and in nearby towns troop here nightly since Tuesday over the reported apparition of Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ’s face in front of the 430-year-old church’s facade.

Catholics are coming in droves, some from as far as Manila, after news spread that the face of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ are allegedly visible from the St. James Cathedral’s frontage made of bricks every night from 6 to 10 p.m.

The "apparition" started on Tuesday when two lovers were around the churchyard under a bright moonlight night and saw the images. Since then, news spread like wildfire and curious onlookers, Manila-based newsmen included, keep coming to see for themselves how true the news was.

No less than lawyer Virgilio Solis, provincial administrator who is from this town, told The STAR that on the second night, he also joined hundreds of spectators to see the "apparition."

He swore he saw the faces of Mary and Jesus.

Senior Inspector Larry Toledo told The STAR that he too proved it was true although he said he could not blame other "Doubting Thomases."

"If you are facing the church, you could see the face of Virgin Mary and when you are at the right side, the image looks like Jesus Christ," Toledo said in Pangasinense.

The apparition was timely because Sept. 8 is being celebrated by the Catholic faithful as the feast of the Immaculate Conception. But residents said they do not know what could be the message of the "apparition."

Church officials, however, kept mum over the matter. — Eva Visperas