Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga (, ), also known as the Virgin of a Thousand Miracles, is a Roman Catholic Marian title of Mary, mother of Jesus, following a Marian apparition in 1667 to a Spanish soldier during a night storm as he was posted at the Porta Vaga of Puerto de Cavite. Later the next day, the icon was discovered on the shores of Cañacao Bay. The Virgin of Soledad is a venerated Marian icon associated to the Our Lady of Solitude. The province of Cavite and the city of Cavite consider her patroness.

The oldest dated Marian painting in the Philippines,National Museum Declaration and Resolution no. 2-2017: WHEREAS, written records verify and validate that the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga is the "oldest existing dated Marian painting in the Philippines";Cavite before the Revolution (1571 - 1896) by. Prof. Isagani Medina. Our Lady of Porta Vaga being part of the "Sociocultural Structure" of the province of Cavite. p. 198 -199 Chapter 5Vignettes of Philippine History by Teodoro Agoncillo p.41 History of Cavite : the mother ground of the Philippine Revolution, independence, flag, and national anthem by: Alfredo B Saulo; Esteban A De Ocampo; Cavite Historical Society. p. 22In the message of His Excellency, Luis Antonio Cardinal Gokim-Tagle, Archbishop of Manila and former Parish priest of theparish of the Blessed Virgin Del Pilar, City of Imus and Bishop of the Diocese of Imus which covers the whole province of Cavite, he acknowledged indeed the Blessed Virgin Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga is the Patron of the Province of Cavite. the icon is permanently enshrined at the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga, Church of San Roque.Aluit, Alphonso J. (1969). "The Galleon Guide to Philippine Festivals", p. 97. ASIN: B004CWODBO.

The image was ceremoniously crowned on 17 November 1978, though the act was disputed as illegitimate for lack of recognition by the Holy See. On 27 September 2017, the image was designated a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines. On 19 March 2018, new documents were submitted to the Holy Office, and the image was granted an official decree of canonical coronation by Pope Francis.

Title and description

The image is known in its province as the "Queen of the City and Province of Cavite" and "Exalted Patroness and the Celestial Guardian and Protectress of the Province of Cavite and its Port" ( and ). The icon was used to bless departing trade galleons plying the route between Cavite and Acapulco, Mexico, earning her the title "Patroness of the Galleons", while claims of miracles associated the icon as "The Virgin of a Thousand Miracles". According to historical records, the image is sometimes called "Mother of Candles" ("Ynang Magkakandila") due to her prayerful iconography of two candles, hundreds of bottles of candles was offered in front of the image in the weeks of her festival in Cavite. Accordingly, a separate feast was celebrated supported and funded by candle makers in gratitude for their income from the recent days feast. The youth also calls the image affectionally as "Nay Choleng" (Mother Choleng) using the name "Choleng" a pseudonym of "Soledad".

The Blessed Virgin Mary is depicted as garbed in black and white, kneeling before the instruments of Passion of Jesus Christ.Panlilio, Erlinda Enriquez (2003). "Consuming passions: Philippine collectibles", pg. 70. Jaime C. Laya. . The icon is painted on canvas and framed in carved wood. The painting itself is set in gold and silver accoutrements of precious gemstones donated as ex votos from devotees.

A Spanish inscription on the reverse of the icon reads:

Historical timeline 1600s 1602 – The Spaniards constructed a massive wall protecting the port town of Cavite. With this wall was a main gate which gave entry to Cavite Puerto, which was labelled on a 1659 map as "puerta nueva que sales a San Roque". In Chabacano dialect, it was called Puertang Bago, with Bago ("new”) transformed to the more hispanic Vaga, hence Porta Vaga.Cf. Virgilio Saenz Mendoza, Canticos de Amor para la Reina de Cavite (A Collection of Poems in Honor of the Virgen de la Soledad de Porta Vaga), Cavite City:2018, p. 2. 1667 – Tradition says a miraculous lady appeared before a soldier of the Guardia Civil. Identifying herself as Mary, mother of Jesus, she sought entrance through Porta Vaga to Cavite Puerto. The next day, fishermen and workers at the Cavite Royal Arsenal found the image of the Virgen de la Soledad floating on the waters of Cañacao Bay. 1669 – 1689 Tomás de Andrade, rector of the Jesuit Colegio de Cavite, wrote the poem Himno a la Virgen de Cavite. This became the lyrics of the hymn, Reina de Cavite. 1692 April 12 – An inscription on the back of the painting states "A doze de Abril 1692 años puso S.ima himagen Juan de Oliba haqui ("On the twelfth of April the year 1692 this most holy image was placed by Juan de Oliba here"). This date was the basis for Nuestra Señora de la Soledad's Tricentennial celebrations.

1700s

1739 – The first time that the Ermita de la Virgen de la Soledad is mentioned in the map of Cavite Puerto. 1739 – The chaplain of the Ermita de la Soledad was Nicolás Melo. 1739 (October 5) – Marcos Zamora was appointed as administrator of the Capilla Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. He was asked to submit an inventory of the properties of the said chapel. 1742 – Soledad Patrocinante de María, Oración Evangélica de Nuestra Señora de la Soleded apellidada de Puerta Vaga was printed. This was based on the preaching given by the Dominican preachers Fray Juan de la Cruz in the Ermita de la Soledad in 1741. 1747 (December 16) – Vicente de Segueyra was appointed chaplain of the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. 1748 (January 22) – de Segueyra asked Don Patricio de Mena, Rear Admiral of the ship Príncipe de Asturias, to ask for alms in his trip to China and Canton for the said sanctuary, the Ermita de la Soledad. This was approved by Basílio Tomás Sancho Hernándo, Archbishop of Manila. 1751 (January 16) – De Sousa was granted permission by Archbishop Sancho to ask for alms from passengers aboard the ship Santísimo Rosario bound for Acapulco for the greater glory of the cult and adornment of the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. 1752 (July 7) – de Sousa solicited alms for the image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad aboard Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Juan Bautista. 1755 (November 21) Antonio Gil Adriano was appointed chaplain of the Ermita. 1757 (November 6) – A document mentioned the existence of Obras Pías de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad under the administration of Don Miguel Cortés de Arrendenio y Oriosolo, Vicar-General of Manila. 1768 (January 17) – José Aranzana was appointed chaplain of the Ermita de la Soledad. 1768 (July 20) – Aranzana was given permission to ask for alms for the Virgen de la Soledad aboard the frigate San Carlos. 1768 (August 11) – José de Jesús Díaz Vardona was appointed chaplain of the Ermita. 1768 (October 1) – Vicente Hipólito was assigned as mayordomo capella of the Ermita. 1769 (July 19) – Hipólito was given permission to solicit from the galleon San Carlos. 1770 (March 1) - Tomás Nazario Benítez was appointed chaplain of the Ermita. 1771 – The sanctuary of the Ermita was painted, while floors, leaks and windows were repaired. 1773 (March 1) – Raphael Ochoa was appointed chaplain of the Ermita. 1774 (April) – Dionicio Vicente Esguera de Leyba was appointed chaplain of the Ermita. 1775 – Archbishop Sancho of Manila approved the rebuilding of the retablo with gold and silver leaf imported from Canton. 1775 – 1792 – Don Mateo Joaquín Rubio de Arévalo, Bishop of Cebu, granted 40 days indulgence to devotees of the Virgen de la Soledad. A popular art form were estampas printed on silk, and devotees adorned such copies featuring the Virgin with gold and silver embroidery and ivory. 1776 – 1788 – Archbishop Sancho of Manila granted 80 days indulgence to devotees of the Virgen de la Soledad. 1787 – An inventory of the Ermita described four altars, much silver vessels and decoration, and curtains of different colors hanging inside. 1830 (June 2) – Lightning struck the altar of the Ermita, razing it to the ground, but leaving the image of the Virgin remained intact amidst the ashes and debris.

1800s

1832 – Novenario Consagrado a la Piadosa Vrigen de la Soledad llamada de Puerta Vaga printed by the Real Colegio de Sto. Tomás, Manila 1848 (April 22) – Macario Goco was appointed chaplain of the Ermita. 1848 – The church was closed because of its ruinous state and the dome was in danger of collapse. José Julián de Aranguren, Archbishop of Manila, allowed the immediate repair of the chapel. 1849 (April 6) - Clemente Custodio was appointed chaplain of the Ermita. 1851 – The chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad was reported to be well built. The interior is decorated with paintings showing miracles of the Virgin. 1856 – A terrible typhoon flooded Cavite Puerto leaving houses and buildings underwater except for the Ermita and its patio. Caviteños sought refuge there and prayed to the Virgin; the flooding subsided thereafter. 1857 (June 30) – Cavite-based Spanish frigate Lucero was caught in a violent typhoon between the shallow reefs off Rauis (now Barangay Rawis) in Legazpi, Albay. The crew asked for the Virgin’s assistance and she appeared to them. After 22 days, the frigate floated away from the reefs and sailed safely to Cavite. 1859 (December 22) - Bernardino Tongco was appointed chaplain of the Ermita. 1861 (August 31) – Cándido Ureta Manzanares, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Manila, approved the Tagalog novena to the Virgin. 1863 – A novena in honor of the Virgen de la Soledad is published by Imprenta Ramírez y Giraudier. 1863 (June 3) – The powerful 1863 Manila earthquake, with its epicentre in Manila Bay around 7.74 km north of the Ermita, destroyed the shrine and many other buildings. The image of the Virgen de la Soledad was temporarily housed in San Juan de Dios Church. 1865 – Another printing of the novena by the Imprenta de M. Sánchez Calle Anloage Binondo, included a Spanish translation of the Stabat Mater and a prayer in Latin. 1869 (July 6) – Timoteo Sánchez was appointed as chaplain of the Ermita. 1870 (August 12) – Román Pilapil was appointed as chaplain of the Ermita. 1871 – The convent of the Ermita was repaired extensively. Some properties owned by the Ermita were sold to subsidize the expenses. 1874 – A running balcony was constructed on the second floor of the sacristy, initiated by Juan Dilag. 1879 – A big bell was donated to the Ermita by various devotees of the Virgin. This bell was recast in 1890, and still hangs in the belfry of San Roque Church. 1880 – The church was closed due to heavy damage following 1880 Southern Luzon earthquakes. Only the dome and presbytery did not have cracks. 1882 (October) – A cholera epidemic spread in Cavite and many residents died. Even the politico-military governor Don Juan Salcedo was afflicted, when an old lady appeared to him. She asked that the fiesta of the Virgen de la Soledad be celebrated with the greatest possible pomp, and the epidemic will subside. After the governor agreed, he was cured and the cholera epidemic was checked. 1883 – 1886 – Height of the fiesta, with the whole province participating. Streets covered by the route of the procession were carpeted and canopied and lighted with crystal lanterns.