Luna is a town situated in La Union province, it is known for its beautiful beaches and other tourist destination that includes the ruins of an old Spanish tower  named as Baluarte. The town also serves as a pilgrimage site as it homes the Miraculous Shrine of Our Lady of Namacpacan in the St. Catherine of Alexandria Church.

St. Catherine of Alexandria is the town’s patron saint but the church is famous as it houses the shrine of Our Lady of Namacpacan. Namacpacan is the original name of the town, it is an Ilocano term for “one who feeds”. It is said that there was an old woman that appeared to the indigenous people of the Cordilleras and offered them food.

They later named her as the Our Lady Apo Baket of Namacpacan. As a sign of respect they call the elderly woman as Apo Baket.

The main story on how the image of Our Lady Apo Baket of Namacpacan reached the shores of Luna and consequently became a miraculous figure was way back when the Galleon Trade is still happening. It was in the year 1871, when an Augustinian priest ordered an image of the Virgin Mary from Spain to be brought to the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Brought to the Philippines in a galleon, the ship was headed to the province of Ilocos Sur when a typhoon forced the ship and its crew to seek refuge at Darigayos (a barrio then named Namacpacan). When the storm subsided, they tried to resume their voyage, but the high winds forced them to return to the port.

At long last, the captain of the ship chose to carry the statue to the port and have it carried overland to its original destination but the natives have some difficulties in carrying the box containing the figure of the Our Blessed Lady. So after several failed attempts, they presumed that the Our Blessed Lady chosen the town of Namacpacan as her haven.

Rev. Fr. Marcelino Ceballos, the Parish Priest of Namacpacan negotiated with the Augustinian Friar to let the image stay in Namacpacan. Through the negotiations, the figure of the Our Blessed Lady remained in Namacpacan and thus, the figure was known as the miraculous Our Lady Apo Baket of Namacpacan.

Later on, many miracles happened on the shrine of Apo Baket including the instant healing of Rosa Roldan, a thirteen year old who was deprived of the ability to walk. She claimed that one day, there’s an old woman who knocked on their home and asked for drink and food. She let her come in and gave her some leftover food.

The old woman drank some water and some of it fell on Rosa’s feet. Before she left, she told Rosa to meet her at the shrine and from there, Rosa began to walk. When she came to the shrine, she was surprised to see the figure of the Our Lady Apo Baket of Namacpacan and recognized her as her visitor. Since then, Rosa has become a devotee of the Our Blessed Lady and started healing the sick and offers charity service to those in need.

Meanwhile, before Pope Pius XII died, he saw the Our Lady of Namacpacan in his dream. He then asked the Vatican staff if where Namacpacan was. Since the image was in a remote town in the Philippines, no one could give him the exact location. It was only after his death, when the request for the canonization of the Our Lady of Apo Baket was raised.

On November 24, 1959, Our Lady of Namacpacan was venerated and canonically crowned by the high-ranking officials led by Papal Nuncio Salvatore Siino. The Our Lady is acknowledged as the Filipino who generously grants wishes particularly in the times of economic crisis, the refuge of farmers, fishermen and planters who is threatened by calamities, pests and drought.

Today the church is flocked by devotees who are expected to fetch water from a well that is believed to cure diseases. The well was created because of a dream of a “balikbayan” woman, who is also a devotee, Apo Baket appeared in her dream and told her to dig a well near the church.

The woman asked volunteers to dig a well and some people after attending the mass drank water from the well. Many professed that they felt stronger and there was a physically ill man who claimed that the water from the well cured him. Afterwards, the Department of Health (DOH) sent a delegate to investigate the water’s chemical substance and discovered that it has alkaline which is safe for drinking.  

These are just one of the many reasons why there are many devotees who visit the Saint Catherine of Alexandria Church aside from the religious atmosphere; one can enjoy the tranquility that the Our Lady of Namacpacan offers.

How to get there

From Manila, there are different transport lines that offer trips to La Union. Air conditioned buses from Dominion Bus Lines, Philippine Rabbit, Partas, Fariñas, Maria de Leon, and Viron depart from terminals in Manila that is bound for Ilocos. Destinations can either be La Union, Narvacan, Vigan, Laoag or Abra. Just tell the bus attendant that you are going to Luna.

Getting around La Union: Tourists can take a ride in a mini-bus or a jeepney with fixed routes. Tricycles are usually  used to access must-see places in the town. There is also available rented transportation that will bring you to the city proper.

Accommodations Nearby

There are many inns, pension houses and hotels located in and around the town of Luna.

• Morning Seven Resort Hotel — Brgy. Nalvo Sur, Luna, Luzon 2518, Philippines
• Pebble Beach Resort and Restaurant — Nalvo Sur, Luna, Luzon 2518, Philippines
• Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point — Pennsylvania Avenue | VOA Compound, San Fernando La Union, Luzon 2500, Philippines 
• China Sea Beach Resort — Paringao, Bauang, Luzon, Philippines
• Sea of Dreams Resort – Spa —Santiago Norte, Caba, San Fernando La Union, Luzon, Philippines
• Hotel Ariana — Paringao, Bauang, La Union, La Union, Philippines
• P&M Final Option Beach Resort — #320 Eagle Street | Ili Norte, San Juan, Luzon, Philippines
• Bali Hai Beach Resort — Parungao, Bauang, La Union, La Union, Philippines