Beware of these women who sell candles in 'Lapu church

Pilgrimage.

Two Cebu City residents and one from Talisay decided to make a pilgrimage to a church in Lapu-Lapu since they were told of the miraculous Birhen sa Regla. They were greeted by a smiling woman who directed them to the shrine and offered to pray for them. After her very short dance and prayer, she gave seven candles to one of them and asked for P100. The group was shocked at the insane price for just seven measely candles. One of them said, “Ha! Naunsa gud. P100 gyud? Grabe na man na!” The group walked away grumbling, “Daghan gyud og mangingilad diri. Negative na gyud og image ang simbahan tungod aning mga tawhana. Mora’g wala gyud nakabadlong ang mga pari ani nila.”

Negative experience. Another group of pilgrims also had a negative experience when they last visited the said church. They brought baskets of flowers as offering. They were also met by women who forced them to buy candles. When they refused, the candle sellers sneered at them. “Aw, ingna lang gud kung wala moy kuwarta!” The pilgrims got so upset they were in near tears when they got inside the shrine. They said, “Ka ngil-ad og mga batasan aning mga bayhana diri uy. Kung dili pa lang mi deboto sa Birhen sa Regla, dili na gyud mi mamalik diri.”