The Pilgrim City of Naga

FOR THE next two weeks all roads will be leading to Naga City as thousands of devotees of our Lady of Penafrancia make their annual pilgrimage to celebrate her feast day. This coming Friday will be the traditional “Traslacion” where the images of our “Ina” and the Divino Rostro will be transferred to the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, in a procession led by the Honor Guards of the Knights of Columbus and attended by representatives from different religious and civic organizations and schools from Naga and other municipalities in Camarines Sur. After the traslacion, the nine-day novena to our Lady begins at the Cathedral with different themes for each day of the novena and Eucharistic celebrations led by our revered Bicolano bishops. On Saturday, September 21, will be the Fluvial Procession where “Ina” will once again “return home” carried by her “andas”, as thousands of devotees watching by the Naga River banks wave their white handkerchiefs and shout “Viva La Virgen!”, “Viva El Divino Rostro! “ Devotees from the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Sorsogon and Masbate usually congregate in Naga on this occasion. Thus, Penafrancia Fiesta is not only a fiesta of Naga but is likewise known as the regional fiesta of Bicolandia. City officials of Naga under the leadership of Mayor Nelson Legacion and the Archdiocese of Caceres are all hectic in their preparation for the occasion. It has been our observation that devotees from other parts of the country also attend the fiesta of our “Ina” as can be seen from rented buses which are now making regular trips in Naga.

This is the pride of Naga, the Pilgrim City. It has united the whole Region for thousands of years now, and will continue to do so. Our Ina has been there for us and generations past, and will continue to be there for the generations of our grandchildren and for many other Bicolanos!

ERRATUM: In last week’s column, the title should have read “CONGENITAL LIAR”. Apologies to our readers for the unintended mistake.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: “THE GREATEST MIRACLE IS THE DISCOVERY THAT ALL IS MIRACULOUS AND THE NATURE OF THE MIRACULOUS IS - UTTER SIMPLICITY”. HENRY MILLER

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE: “THE LIGHT OF FAITH MAKES US SEE WHAT WE BELIEVE” ST. THOMAS AQUINAS