An image believed to be that of the Virgin Mary and a heart that suddenly appeared on the trunk of a cotton tree along the highway at Sitio Bug-as, in Barangay Balintawak, Escalante, City was drawing crowds yesterday.

But Fr. Christopher Exala yesterday said he does not believe the appearance of the image on the tree is a miracle and it will have to be looked into.

Ernie Gutierrez, an employee of the Escalante City government, said he and his co-employees went to see the image of the Virgin Mary on the tree during their lunch break and saw people lining up to get a glimpse of it.

Gutierrez said he and his companions took pictures of the image on the tree.

Some people had handkerchiefs and pieces of cloth that they pressed on the image, believing that it may have some curative powers, he said.

There were also those who placed flowers and candles beneath the cotton tree and prayed.

Escalante Mayor Santiago Barcelona said he did not know how the image got on the tree, but it was luring curious people and the faithful to the site.

Barcelona yesterday instructed his staff to send the DAILY STAR a photo of the image on the tree.*CPG

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