Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared to be the "Patroness of the Philippines" by Pope Pius XI in 1935. In 1942 she became
the secondary "Patroness of the Philippines", and her feast day is still celebrated in the archipelago. The Pro-Life
Patroness is especially invoked by people working against the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill.

The Filipinos in general, though, identify more with the Sto. Niño (Holy Infant Jesus), perhaps because of our family-oriented
culture and/or of the child-like ( did someone just quip: "childish" ?!! :-D ) characteristic that the people share with Him. :-)