The Fort Pilar of Zamboanga City

The foundation of the stone fort were laid in 1635 by order of the spanish goverment. The construction was directed by the Jesuit Father Melchor de Vera. This fort was known as " The fort of Sat. Joseph" In 1662 the fort were abandoned by the spanish garrisons which sailed for Manila to help depend that City from the thread of the powerful Chinese pirate Kuesing. The Forts were totally destroyed in 1663.

The reconstruction of the new Fort on the same spot begun in 1718 and was finished on April 8th 1719, under the direction of another Jesuit Priest. The newly rebuilt fort which is the existing one was placed under the protection of La Nuestra Senora Del Pillar of Zaragoza, Spain.

As to how and when the present image was carved and happend to be where it is actually seem. there is no attesting to that effect except the testimonies of witnesses.

On a certian occasion an Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary was born in a religious procession to the forts The main entrance was located on that side of the fort where the present stone carved image can still be seem. While the services were in progress, the alarm was given that Moro forces were about to make an assult. The Frightened congregation rushed and crowded inside the fort. SSuddenly the entrance was closed and sealed with lime and stone, in confustion, the image was left in her carroza, as they check the area after the sudden re route of the moros the image could no longer be found but as they look up from the miraculously closed entrance they behold the image of Our Lady of the Pillar.

Now the Fort is called: FORT PILLAR.

Drawing of the Future Plaza del Pillar

The Apostolate has agreed to build a shrine to Our Lady of the Pillar at Lorenzo Heights Subdivision, Manga, Pagadian City, Philippines. This is a remote place high on a mountain facing the sea of Pagadian. The project was planned by Jeffrey D. Lumbay and his auntie Salva Victoria Dela Pena, as the frist Dela Pena offering to Our Lady.

Now the group has traveled around the City and to friends asking financial support in building this project.

For information about this shrine email us at: jeffreylumbay@yahoo.com

The Apparition of Our Lady of the Pillar

After the crucifixion , resurrection and ascension of Jesus, his Apostles began to spread the message he left throughout Israel and shortly thereafter, through the Roman empire. One of these Apostles, James (the Greater), reportedly travelled as far west as Spain to the village of Saragossa in north east Spain. While James was there, he became disheartened because of the failure of his mission. Tradition holds that while he was deep in prayer Jesus' Blessed Mother appeared to him and gave him a small wooden statue of herself and a column of jasper wood and instructed him to build a church in her honor:

"This place is to be my house, and this image and column shall be the title and altar of the temple that you shall build."
The jasper column and the wooden statue can still be seen on special occasions at a church that houses them. About a year after the apparition James arranged to build a small chapel in Mary's honor, the first Church ever dedicated to the honor of the Virgin Mary. After James returned to Jerusalem, he was executed by Herod Agrippa in about 44 AD, the first apostle to be martyred for his faith. Several of his disciples took his body and returned it for final burial in Spain. The local queen, observing several of the miracles performed by James' disciples, converted to Christianity and permitted James' body to be buried in a local field. Eight centuries later, a cathedral in honor of St. James was erected after his gravesite was rediscovered by a local hermit. The hermit found the burial site after noticing an unusual star formation. The site for the cathedral was called Compostella (starry field) and it is a major pilgrimage site to this day.

The Apostolate

The Apostolado de Nuestra Senora del Pillar was founded by Jeffrey D. Lumbay sovereign head of Mary Immaculate Association, After he has done his Birthdat consecration to Our Lady of Pillar. Base on his studies, he discovered the this devotion has a great connection to the Catholic faith of the Philippines. Since our faith comes from the Spanish missionaries. and Spain was Christianized by St. James the great ( Apostle of Jesus) in 40 A.D. with the Help of Our Lady.

Mission: To propagate the devotion of Our Lady of the Pillar.

And educate Catholics that Our Lady has contributed in the founding of our Faith

Started by her son Jesus.

Goal : That all catholics will recognize Our Lady of the Pillar as Mater Eclessia.