A New Era in Caceres: “Bayanihan Spirit” Eventually Accomplishing the Impossible for the Love of the Divino Rostro and Ina

CENTENARY of the Pontifical Coronation of the Image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia from 1924-2024 is a great privilege that this once-in-a-lifetime milestone is celebrated in our time reminding us of our collective mission to Nourish, Preserve, and Share our Divine Inheritance. “Se siempre la Reina de nuestra region” being sung by Bicolanos even before the Feast of the Queenship of Mary was instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1954. Ina, our Queen and loving mother pours abundant wonders and graces into her devotees. Her gentleness and solicitous intercession to the cries of the poor, sick, abandoned, impaired, addicted, dying, despairing, helpless and the downcast brought comfort, healing, hope, life and joy sought in faith. Her relentless force in fighting for the rights of the poor, the voiceless, and the suffering is worth emulating and being asked of us as well.

Our devotion to Ina and the Divino Rostro paved the way for stakeholders from the church, government agencies, NGOs, academe, scouts, uniformed men and women, religious organizations, socio-civic groups, politicians, private companies and individuals, fraternities, batch groups and devotees from all over the globe to initiate ,participate and support the Bayanihan para ki Ina projects with the Theme: “Bayanihan sa paglinig kang Naga River (Danlugan-Landingan), pagtanom, pagpakaray asin pagpagayon kang Naga Riverside asin Rotonda Historical Marker”, andam sa selebrasyon kang sentenyal na pag korona ki Ina”.

Initial phase of the projects was successfully achieved despite delays, lack of funding, oppositions, ravages of typhoons and heavy rainfall. Beautiful memories were woven as the heroism of each one emerged during the course of the bayanihan activities. People were drawn to share their time, talents and treasure for the love of Ina and the Divino Rostro. Friendships were formed, generosity of people were almost tangible, volunteerism and acts of charity became the name of the game which transcends beyond the call of duty. High ranking officials from the government extended support and eventual endorsement of the Office of the President to Secretary Garcia-Frasco of the Department of Tourism was made which can be an impetus to the re-launching of faith tourism in the region and nation. Thanksgiving and Eucharistic Celebration was held last September 12, 20204 at Basilica Minore with the Most Reverend Monsignor Noe Pastor Badiola as main celebrant attended by all sectors in society. Blessing of Naga River and the DPWH Regional Office Dredging Equipment, ribbon cutting at Rotonda Historical site, “Konsierto nin Pag omaw ki Divino Rostro asin Ina” and the NCF Culture and Arts play on the historical dramatization of finding Ina in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Caceres, Our Lady of Peñafrancia Association-Basilica Minore and Bayanihan para ki Ina were manifestations of the hand of God in all these Divine undertakings accomplished in a very limited time and dwindling resources. Cooperation and participation of everyone touched by the Holy Spirit, made the impossible possible. We were never alone in all the activities, Jesus, Mary and St Joseph were with us throughout the synodal journey, Mural making at the danlugan area in time for the fluvial procession to depict the historical proceedings of Ina under the leadership of world acclaimed muralist and artist, Mr Pancho Piano, is our humble expression of love and devotion to our Ina and the Divino Rostro; to give Him glory, to give Him honor, to show to the world that we do not worship Mary rather, we venerate and respect her as she bore our Savior and our God in her womb.

Entrusting and consecrating Naga, Camarines Sur, Bicolandia and the Philippines to our Ina - Our Lady of Peñafrancia and the Divino Rostro is our battle cry for unity, charity, harmony and peace to a divided and wounded humanity, seduced by evil, malice, selfishness, enmeshed with corruption and abuse, blinded by power and hate, engulfed by dispute due to differing religious beliefs, cultural diversity, socio-economic disparities and political rivalries, a most pressing matter to our city, province, region and nation. Truly, the bayanihan projects are manifestation of synodality in the life and mission of the church.   Missionary cooperation is rooted and lived, above all, in personal union with Christ. Only if we are united to Him as the branches to the vine can we produce good fruit. Through holiness of life every Christian can become a fruitful part of the Church’s mission. The question Jesus asks each one of us today as we give honor to His mother and ours is not only “Who am I and my mother to you?” but also, “Are you willing to deny yourself, take up your cross through your sacrifices and pain, and follow me as you emulate the values and virtues of my mother?” The world teaches us self-fulfillment and self-preservation. Jesus teaches us self-effacement and self-abnegation. Mary teaches us humility and life of prayer and surrender to the will of God. We are all called not only to profess our allegiance but also to accept discipleship which involves suffering, rejection, and persecution. Beyond lip service, Jesus calls us to true, real, life service as animated by our Ina. Her reign starts now when the pomp is gone, when the euphoria has died down. The Holy Spirit’s presence during the bayanihan activities affect not only the individuals but also society and history, peoples, cultures and religions. Indeed, the Spirit is at the origin of the noble ideals and undertakings which benefit humanity on its journey through history. The Spirit of God with marvelous foresight directs the course of the activities and introduces a renewal in church of Christ and communities in Caceres. This undertaking has never been an act of self-promotion. By emulating the example of Jesus as the “first and greatest Evangelizer,” we too are asked to “cooperate with Him, listen to His voice who leads us on by the power of His Spirit. Providentially, in the midst of the seemingly insurmountable works to be done and challenges to be faced, our Lord and Ina placed circumstances and opportunities for us to do acts of mercy both corporal and spiritual. The hearts of the volunteers are filled with joy for the chance to be of service even in a small way to our underserved and marginalized brothers and sisters. Igniting love and inspiration to serve Jesus through others. We have one life, one chance to do something worthwhile. We will only pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that we can do or any kindness we can show to our fellow being , let it be done now, not defer or neglect it, for we shall not pass this way again.It may seem like an impossible dream. But even now, apart from the fact that if the relationship among Christians is one of mutual love, then the relationship among Christian peoples cannot but be one of mutual love, because of the unchanging logic of the gospel, there exists a bond that powerfully unites peoples to one another. The entire missionary movement of the Church has always been the work of the Holy Spirit and through the bayanihan projects, opportunities for evangelization were realized on the three transcendentals: truth, goodness and beauty .May we, like Mama Mary, learn to endure, to be patient, and to persevere as we journey through this “valley of tears and fears”.

May we, like Mama Mary, keep magnifying the Lord, make Him bigger than our sickness, pain, deprivations, and suffering, and make Him bigger than our worldly possessions and so-called achievements! “Love and practice simplicity and humility and don’t worry about the opinion of the world because if this world had nothing to say against us, we would not be real servants of God” says St. Padre Pio. We can worthily crown her as such only if, through our conversion, through our prayers, and through our actions, we take away the veil that still covers her crown. Though the crown was given to Ina a century ago, we must each place at her feet a heart on fire animated to spread love. Ina will be the bond of unity inviting each one despite dissimilarities to look beyond divergences and to love the other as our own, as a logical extension of the new commandment of mutual love, that day would mark the beginning of a new era in Caceres, we will eventually find ourselves accomplishing the impossible.