Church-led essay writing tilt promotes Peñafrancia devotion

By Julma M. Narvadez

Sixty-nine (69) young devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia joined the First Peñafrancia Pilgrims’ Essay Writing Contest held on September 14 at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, Naga City.

“The contest was a perfect avenue for the students to showcase their skills in writing. At the same time, it allows them to express their understanding of their faith and devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia. This kind of activity encourages the youth to get to know Inâ and help spread the religious tradition through their writing. It was also a joy seeing the youth eagerly partake in this event,” says Carrie Botardo Bien, one of the proctors. Bien is a professor at the University of Nueva Caceres, School of Business and Accountancy.

Meanwhile, Ana-Liza Macatangay Philippine Information Agency Assistant Regional Director for Region 5, says “I felt reassured that the devotion to Inang Peñafrancia and the faith will continue to be passed down to future generations, especially after witnessing the strong participation of students in the first-ever essay writing competition organized by the Caceres Commission on Communications (CCCom). It was heartwarming to see such enthusiastic responses from the schools, with some coaches even accompanying their students to the event.”

Bien and Macatangay are long-time volunteers of CCCom. The contest was held in celebration of the centenary of the canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. In his opening remarks, CCCom Director Fr. Francis A. Tordilla revealed plans to hold an annual essay writing contest and congratulated the participants for being the pioneer batch.

The contestants competed in English and Bikol categories, by age group: 16 to 19 years old, and 20 to 25 years old. They represented either their schools or parishes.

Participating parishes of the Archdiocese of Caceres were: Christ the King, Pili; Our Lady of the Annunciation, Magarao; Our Lady of the Assumption, Canaman; Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Naga City; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Canaman; San Antonio de Padua, Camaligan; St. Jude Thaddeus, Naga City; St. John of the Cross, Agdangan, Pili; St. Raphael the Archangel, Pili;

Schools were either private or public institutions, Catholic or non-sectarian. Schools represented were: Universidad de Sto. Tomas – Legazpi; Universidad de Sta. Isabel – Naga; Universidad de Sta. Isabel – Pili; University of Nueva Caceres; Saint Joseph School, Naga City; Siena College, Tigaon; Naga Parochial School; Naga College Foundation; La Consolacion College – Baao; La Consolacion College – Iriga; Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, Naga City; Colegio de San Raphael Archangel, Pili; Colegio de Santisimo Rosario, Libmanan; Central Bicol State University of Agriculture – Calabanga Campus; Camarines Sur National High School, Naga City; Calabanga Community College; and Ateneo de Naga University.

The heavy rains prevented some of the registered contestants to attend. They come from schools and parishes, namely STI College - Naga, St. Benedict’s Academy of Guinobatan, Albay; Dominican School of Camalig, Albay; and the parishes of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Naga City and Our Lady of Most Holy Rosary in Bombon, Camarines Sur. The congested traffic along Naga City’s major streets also delayed the program. Scholars of the Consuelo “Chito” Madrigal Foundation – Bikol and the seminarians of the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary provided logistical support to the event.

The winners will be announced on September 23. The awarding of prizes will be made on a later date.