From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
Judiel Nieva |
 |
| Born |
1977
|
| Other names |
Angel dela Vega[1] |
| Occupation |
Actor |
| Known for |
claiming to be a visionary of apparitions by
the Virgin Mary |
Judiel Nieva (born 1977), also known as
Angel dela Vega,[1] is
a Filipino
trans woman notable for her claims of
seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary in Agoo, La Union, Philippines from 1989
until 1993 in what was then labeled as the "Miracle of Agoo".
Early
life
Nieva is the seventh of eight children. Her parents Pedro and
Julia sold goods out of two stalls which they operated in the local
market. Even as a young child, Nieva was believed to have special
powers and was sought out as a healer.[2]
Marian
visions
Nieva claimed to have begun seeing visions of the Virgin
Mary in 1987 when she was only 10 years old. On March 31, 1989,
she reported that the first of several public apparitions, in which
she claimed to have seen a bright light, then heard voices and the
sounds of trumpets while angels descended from heaven towards him
singing “Allelulia” and “Salve Regina”. The Holy Family next
appeared on a cloud, St. Joseph holding a shepherd’s staff and
the Virgin Mary sitting on a rock holding the baby Jesus on her lap.[2]
Other "miraculous" events associated with Nieva included a Host
turning into actual flesh and blood, messages reportedly coming
from the Virgin Mary, images of the Virgin Mary "weeping" tears of
blood and a "dancing" sun.[3]
Initial
reactions
The public was initially inclined to believe Nieva's claims. On
March 6, 1993, during a "manifestation" on "Apparition Hill", an
estimated one million people gathered to witness a "visitation"
from the Virgin Mary. Numerous government officials, media
personalities and even a Catholic bishop attested to the veracity
of these events.[3]
Declaration as
non-supernatural
In 1993, a theological commission established by Bishop Salvador
Lazo condemned the aforementioned events as Constat de Non
Supernaturalitate (Latin,
"clearly evident to be not supernatural"). Accounts reported in the
news media regarding the financial corruption of the discredited
seer's family and her own transsexualism were seen as proof of
this finding.[2][4][5]
Acting
career
In 2003, Nieva, who now calls herself by the screen name "Angel dela
Vega", starred in a film entitled "Siklo". In the film, she plays a
woman who falls in love with her neighbor.[6]
References
External
links
Wikis
Facts
Map
Search
