A STREET SCENE IN A VILLAGE OF ALBAY, LUZON 1886

Street scene in a village of Albay, Luzon - 1886

A STREET IN LIBOG, ALBAY

A Street in Libog, Albay; Drawing after a sketch from the author.

MAYON VOLCANO LOOMING OVER LEGAZPI VILLAGES 1926

Mayon Volcano looming over Legazpi villages; 1926

PHILIPPINE OLD COINS: FEATURING THE MAJESTIC MAYON VOLCANO OF ALBAY , P. I.

PHILIPPINE OLD COINS: FEATURING THE MAJESTIC MAYON VOLCANO OF ALBAY , P. I.

CABAYONG TABLA: BUHAY NI DON PRINCIPE DON JUAN ASIN SI PRINCESSA DONA MARIA

1

Nagtao nin galang sa saindo gabos

sa magña madunong o aki pang pospos
acong minalagda historiang masayod
sa sacong pag-iisip togotan man logod.

An magña sacayan can panahon una
may apat na bitis iyong naghihila
gñonian magña tugang sato nan nakita
igua na nin pacpac naglalayog na makina.

Dai man nagsala can enot na aldao
an hula sa sato nin magña magurang
kitang magña aki maheling ta gñonian
sari-sari sana magña gñagñalasan.

Can magña panahon olay ponograpo
asin pa an iba gñaran na de cuno
gñonian man manangad nagpaca-totoo
sato nang nakita an gñaran na radio

Igua na nin auto na nagdadalagan
magña telepono asin cine dian
vapor eroplano daing pagdarang-gan
dian sa tinampo maghay paglunadan

2

Idtong magña hula totoo mananggad

dai suminala sa banal na surat
na con domunong na an liualang liuat
magña sari-sari dian magluluas.

Bayaan co mona testong iniho
na mapapadapit cainihong mundo
an sarong historia an isosonod co
na Cabayong Tabla an isosonod co.

Gñonian poponan co an sarong historia
na gñinagñaranan na Cabayong Tabla
agua man nin cuerdas na orog caogma
na agui sa daga asin itaas pa.

Oh Dios na halangcao may capangyarihan
acong ovejas mo saimong tabagñan
na macapaglagda o maca pag saysay
na sarong historia na orog carahay.

Ta ica an Virgen na orog caogma
itaas nin lagñit sarong emperadora
an sacong pag-iisip dagdagan mo Ina
na dai cumolang an sacong historia.

Magña Evangelistang apat iyong cagsurat
digdi sa kinaban iyong nagtalastas
iyong pag sonodon na pigpapahayag
si-iisay man digdi mundong maliuanag.

Hagad co saindo na aco tabagñan
an sacuyang isip asin boot na man
na macapaglagda sa saindo gñonian
nin sacuyang dila na macapag saysay.

Sa catiriponan gñaran auditorio
selinciong cadikit an hinahagad co
hinanioga tabi an sasabihon co
na sarong historia gñonian sa saindo.

Can magña panahon nin tiempong haloy na
digdi sa kinaban can nabubuhay pa
ining sarong Hade na si Don Mendoza
iyong naghahade sa Reinong Valencia.

Iguang sarong aki na pinacamahal
si Don Juan baga iyo an pagñaran
marhay an ugale sa kiisay pa man
tolos mina cuyog pag sogo nin gurang.

Asu sarong aldao an oras malipot
ining si Don Juan saiyang inapod
dai man nahaloy sia dominuloc
an boot nin ama mag agom na logod.

MOROS-MOROS - DRAMA AND BALLET ALBAY THEATRE

Moros -Moros, Drama and Ballet in Albay Theatre; 1886

AGUI-AGUI NI DONA FLOSERFIDA ASIN NI DON JUAN TIÑOSO

1

Halangcao na Virgen Abogada Nuestra

dating maugayon na parasorog sia

tabangan mo gñani halipot cong ciencia

caining ioosip na sarong novela

Pinaglalaom co an pagcaherac mo

Virgen na nagñidam sa Verbo Divino

tagñaning manoltol an isusurat co

na pakinabagñan nin capua tauo.

Cun caya po gñani o magña tugang co

aco minahagad dikit na selencio

paghinaniog gñani camahalan nindo

can sarong bareta na sasabihon co

Duman sa ciudad sa Reinong Ungria

bantog na Don Diego can nabubuhay pa

haloyon nang aldao na nabalo sia

asin iguang aqui apat na princesa.

An matua gñani gñaran Dña Juana

icadua naman ining Dña Laura

inihong icatolo an gñaran Flora

asin an icaapat Dña Floserfida.

Nagpaorog orog cagayonan ninda

siring sa bitoon o sarong cometa

cun caya pa gñani sinda an daraga

papagñaninohan paghilgñon nin mata

2

Orog pa sainda ining icaapat

ining Floserfidang dai nin casugad

an cahalimbawa idtong sarong burac

na sa Jarden gñani sia minabucad

Balakid na gayo an nagñagtutuyo

Hade man Principe taga ibang Reino

Duque, COnde, Marques magña Caballero

parating nasakat sa real Palacio

Tara ini sinda lihisan co gñona

iyo cong sabihon hade sa Valencia

an gñaran si Artus daculang monarea

Dña Blanca naman iyo an esposa

Iguang sarong aking principeng hagbayon

Don Juan Tiñoso, gñaran manoyoon

dai nin cabarang lalaking magayon

mabagsic, malicsi orog pa sa rigon

Aki siang maboot iguang cabanalan

pagñaco sa Dios Hadeng calagñitan

asin an saro pa iguang cabagsican

patin may devocion sa Virgen na Mahal

tara an nangyari cadtong sarong aldao

lipogñao dumatong sa Principeng mahal

huminilig sia ta nagpuropasiar

caidtong plaza caiyan cahadean

Tolos pagcatogñod duman cadtong fuerta

Principe lominaog sa carcel nagdagos na

an mauot nin puso hihilgñon nia

an gabos na priso, vivisitahon pa

Digdi nia nadagñog idtong panambitan

an magña pagtagñis macaporopogñao

nin sarong Giganteng pinagdudusahan

sarong bartolina an namomogtacan

Na an pag-agagha an olay iniho

o principe gñaya na cagurangnan co

magdalita Señor na hinaniogon mo

acong nagtatagñis sarong pobreng preso.

A STREET SCENE IN ALABAY

Albay is the principal sugar district of Luzon. Notice how native houses are set upon bamboo poles, high from the ground; the entrance is effected by means of ladders reaching to the floors. At night the ladder is pulled up and the native feels safe from intrusion. The bamboo around the palm leaf and bark are about all the material the Filipino needs to build his house.

HISTORIA CAN VIDA NIN SIETE INFANTES NA MAGNA AQUI NI BUSTO DE LARA - PRIMERA PARTE

1

Caidtong panahon Españang banuaan

may dua catauo magtugang na mahal

si Rubio Velasquez sa lalaking gñaran

asin Doña Sancha an babae naman.

Idtong Doña Sancha napagñagom sia

can aki ni Señor Gonzalo de Lara

an apod can gñaran si Busto de Lara

nagñaki nin pito nagadan an ina.

Dorogñan, pig-aki an pitong lalaki

idtong magcarambal an sa libro sabi

asin ta paradis an gayon na labi

cayacon apodon ay Siete Infante.

Idtong magturogang Infantes de Lara

pararehong cosog, caisogan ninda

nabaretanghayag na catacataca

pinagcatacutan bilog na Morisma

Si Rubio Velasquez Villarin na señor

sa pitong sobrino tunay na amaon

napacasal gñani sa sarong magayon

na si Doña Lambra gñaran con apodon.

Sabihon pa baga an ogmang totoo

pagcasal sainda can aldao na idto

ogmang gayagaya kinamtan na gayo

magña panaohon grandes maguinoo.

2

Tara sa pagcacan duman sa lamesa

an novia nagtaram na si Doña Lambra

tadao nagtucao man Infantes de Lara

magña akion pa makiharampang na.

An de Larang gñohod aking icapito

iyong sominimbag gñaran si Gonzalo

lamesa nin Hade minatucao aco

gurano pa baga lamesang iniho.

Agom ca pa sana ni Señor Villarin

baco pa man Reina, marhay ca na saguin

dimo cami sucat sopogon nin siring

sa dacul na tauo matang naghihiling.

Sa angot ni lambra sa ki Don Gonzalo

pinalagan tolos nin dugo an vaso

olay sa oripon lacao ulaan mo

an gubing sa hauac Gonzalong letrado.

ta ugaleng dati can enot na aldao

bububuan dugo an na aangotan

tanda gñaning sayod can saiyang buhay

na iyong mapatod canayon madamay.

Nagsonod man tolos oripon na hayag

gubing ni Gonzalo sa dugo tinogmac

saca dumalagan an tulin di hamac

na sa cagurangnan dumoloc nangad.

Angot si Gonzalo dai nin casama

oripon linamag, lapnot an espada

an guinibo lalang nin Señorang Lambra

tolos sinocloban can saiyang saya.

Sa lugar man sana can saiyang tinabon

guinadan man tolos nagtagong oripon

dagñan paghiling co sa sacong amaon

sa ining Don Rubio damay sa canayon.

Sa bagay na idto sabihon pa baga

pagtagñis sa agom caidtong si Lambra

sa saimong sobrino guinibong venganza

icagagadan co na daing pagsala.

Con di mo bogtacannin bolong na tapal

sa saimong sobrino na capagpahasan

maghohogot acong rogaring magadan,

di magñagñanogon sa capot con buhay.

An simbag nin Conde sa agom na ragña

baga man aram co na icang may sala

pagcamoot simo orog sa sainda

ama nia, aki iyong magdudusa.

THE STRANGE WAGON OF ALBAY

The strange wagon of Albay.

The eighty-odd different tribes who inhabit the Pihilippines have varying dialects, manners and customs. The peculiar house-roofed wagon, shown in the above illustration, are found in only one locality.

VOLCANO MAYON IN THE HEMP-PRODUCING DISTRICT OF LUZON

Mayon Volcano

1899 : This is said to be the most beautiful volcano in the world. It is 8,233 feet high, its shape is a perfect cone and its crest is always fiery. It has indulged in several destructive eruptions. In 1814 many houses were destroyed and 2,500 people were killed... and wounded. At its base are famous hot springs of great medicinal virtue.

HISTORY OF OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA

About thousands of devotees who come from different parts of the Bicol Region and the country to attend the annual pintakasi, the origin of the Holy Image not altogether known. It is a mystery to a great many especially the youth.

Many believe that the Holy Image its origin in a pineapple plant which since time immemorial grew abundantly in Francia, the place where the Sanctuary in her honor stands today. There is even a painting, purposely for commercial sale of the Holy Image, representing the Blessed Virgin as coming out of a pineapple fruit. The native word for pineapple is “piña”. Peña de Francia sounds very much like Piña de Francia hence many believe that the Blessed Virgin must have really come from the pineapple fruit of France.

Peña de Francia, literally, is Rocky hill of France, where the Image of Our lady of Peñafrancia is believed to have been discovered by a hermit named Simon Vela.

The discovery of the Holy Image is a wonderful story of providence whose retelling will never fail to evoke a sense of wonderment and mystery in the hearts and minds of believers and cynics alike.

On September 4, 1401, in the city of Paris, capital of France, a child was born to pious and religious parents, Rolan and Barbara. He was christened Simon.

They were quite well off; their property was more than sufficient to maintain a family of four. Early in youth, however, Simon despised wealth although his parents could well afford his wishes. He was rather of a religious turn of mind and was wont to kneel before the altar of the household shrine to pray. He was no ordinary boy who, instead of taking part in boyish games and pranks, found delight in things spiritual. Nothing the religious bent of their child, the parents sent him to school at age of ten to study grammar and, alter, philosophy to prepare him for the priesthood. Not being bright, however, he was not able to finish his studies and was not ordained therefore to the priesthood. When he was old enough, his parents advised him to marry, but marriage offered no allurement to him as he made a vow to the Holy Virgin to devote his life to works of piety.

When his parents and his only sister died, Simon inherited all their property. To avoid trouble which he thought might ensue from his possession of such wealth, he sold his patrimony and donated the proceeds to the church, the poor and the destitute, and to charitable institutions. He then applied for a position as chamber boy in a convent of Franciscan church in Paris.

Simon frequented the church and would spend hours in prayer before the altar of the Virgin Mary. Many times, in his deep meditation, he would ask the Holy Virgin to inspire him what he might do to please her. Once, while he was absorbed in the spiritual contemplation of the beauty of the Holy Mother, he lost consciousness. His prayer then found its answer for he heard a clear voice that tried to rouse him from slumber: “Simon, wake up; be on the watch…. From now on your name will be Simon Vela. Go to Peña de Francia west of his country, and there you will find the shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

On the morning of the next day, Simon confessed what he had heard the night before to Father Ortuño, guardia of the convent. The wise father advised him not to divulge the secret to anyone for the priest feared that it might have been the voice of the temptation or the effervescence of a fevered mind. Apparently, Father Ortuño learned of Simon Vela’s losing consciousness, and may have thought that the voice and the message were but vapid figments of the imagination.

Several days after, Simon was praying as usual before the altar of the Holy Virgin, when he heard again the voice saying: “Simon, go to Peña de Francia and there you will find what you have been longing to see.” The next day he asked for the blessing of Father Ortuño and set out to search for the place called Peña de Francia.

For five (5) years Simon Vela traveled far and wide among caves, hills and mountains, in search of Peña de Francia but he could not find the place. He wanted to give up the search, and was in fact already on his way back to Paris, when one night he heard the same voice once more saying: “Simon, do not give up the search; do not give up what you have begun. Persevere and your labors will be recomposed.” This suddenly buoyed up his spirits and so he resumed his search the next day.

Simon went to the Church of Santiago de Galicia. And while he was passing the market place of Salamanca, he saw to men quarreling. One was seriously wounded and fell at Simon’s side. The offender was caught by the crowd who milled around them and he brazenly remarked: “Had I killed my enemy, I would have escaped to Peña de Francia where no one, not even the king, could find me.” Simon was overjoyed when he heard this for now he knew that such a place did actually exist.

Several hours afterwards he resumed his way to the church of San Martin. On his way he met a man selling charcoal. Simon asked the man where he came from a place called Peña de Francia. This was the second time that Simon heard the name of the place mentioned. He then begged the man to guide him to the place called Peña de Francia but for some reason the latter refused to do so.

Simon traced the road through which he thought the man has passed. He then reached a villa called San Martin de Castañar on May 14, 1434. He went to church and after the mass a man to kindly indicate where Peña de Francia was. The man took Simon Vela to a place some distance from the church and pointed to him a hill in the far distance saying that the hill was the Peña de Francia he was looking for. Simon was very grateful and thanked God for having found the man who showed him the place of his dream.

Simon then set out for the place indicated and, after a long weary journey, came to a steep rocky hill. By this time his supply of provision had already been depleted and he was beginning to feel the pangs of hunger. The climb over the hill had considerably weakened him but he lost no heart for he knew deep within him that God had not forsaken him to a fruitless and useless search. And indeed how right he was for on the road otherwise abandoned he found a packet containing a loaf of bread and piece of meat. This relieved him so much until night overtook him and he sought shelter in a cave. Inside he prayed for guidance and soon he was lost in deep slumber.

Early in the morning of the next day, Simon began the search for the shrine in every cave where he had slept the night before. He felt distressed and discouraged for his seemed as distant as it was when he started. He knelt and prayed for strange and courage. And soon he heard the same voice he had heard before sounding clearly through the cave: “Simon, be awake: do not sleep.”

Simon continued the search with more zeal in the morning of the next day. At a distance on a rocky hill, he saw a glaring and dazzling light filling the place with its brilliance. Trembling with joy, he approached it and there he found the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in her arms sittings on a golden throne. He Knelt before her and prayed with all the fervor of his soul. Overflowing with ineffable joy he said: “Oh, Lady, the dream of my soul, the inspiration of men and women! My labors are now ended. Many years have I traveled far and wide to seek you and to drink in the beauty of your eyes! Do not forsake me: be my protection.”

In sympathy for Simon, the Lady answered: “Simon, rejoice! Your constancy will be rewarded. Your dream will be realized. Your labors are now ended. Take heed and keep in your heart what I wish you to do. Dig in this spot and take what you can see and place it on the summit of this rocky hill. Build on this hill a beautiful dwelling. You are to begin it and others will come to finish it.. This must come to pass as it has been the wish of my child.” Then the Lady suddenly disappeared and Simon was left standing alone and rooted in the spot with wonder and awe.

On the morning of May, 1434, on the spot where the apparition of the Holy Virgin disappeared, Simon began the work of digging and excavating. He, however, heard the same voice again saying: “Simon, do not attempt to undertake that big task alone. Undertake it in the presence and with the help of two, three, or more persons.” Evidently this was to avert any doubt or suspicion from people as to a veracity of the miracle and the credibility of Simon. So Simon went to San Martin de Castañar, a nearby town from the spot, and asked five men to help him. They were Antonio Sanchez, the parish scribe of the place

These men thought that they were digging for hidden treasure but they were informed that they were going to dig for the objects worthier than world goods their hearts could cherish. They dug and dug, clearly following directions from divine inspiration, and, finally, on May 19,1434, after removing a huge stone, they found imbedded among the rocks, the most coveted image of the Holy Virgin with the Child in her arms.

Right then and there, all these men received special graces from the Lady. Simon Vela’s wound in the wound in the head was instantly cured; Pascual Sanchez’ defect in the eye disappeared; Juan Fernandez was relieved of a stomach trouble that has been nagging him for ten years; Antonio Fernandez who deaf began to hear; and, finally, Benito Sanchez’ finger which was defective from birth, recovered its normal stage. The official document of these miracles and this discovery, duly signed by those present and the Notary Public of the place, is reserved in the archives of San Martin de Castañar to serve as eloquent, if mute, witness to the past, present, and future generations of the veracity of this wonder

Contrary to what its name seems to indicate and the claim of some writers, therefore, the Peñafrancia devotion is not of French origin. It started in the place where the holy image was discovered and that is on the slopes of Sierra de Francia, a mountain range situated between Spain’s two famous provinces: Salamanca and Caceres.

It is a noteworthy coincidence that while the primitive image was found near Caceres in Spain, its most venerated reproduction has come to stay in the Archdiocese of Caceres.Which brings us to the story equally touching and wonderful as the story of the original image found in Caceres, Spain of the Virgin of Peñafrancia venerated in the Archdiocese of Caceres in a shrine located in a place locally named Francia.

Way back in the seventeenth century, a Spanish family came to the Philippines and settled in the port of Cavite. They were from San Martin de Castañar. They had a son named Miguel de Cobarrubias.

Miguel grew up under the influence of the Dominican Fathers of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila where he was an intern student in that venerable institution. He studied grammar, philosophy, and theology in preparation for the priesthood. He had with him an image of Our Lady of Peña de Francia and he had been since youth an ardent devotee of this miraculous image.

While he was a student in the university, he was a victim of frequent illness. In some cases he suffered from serious diseases. He used to complain of unexplained pains which often paralyzed his normal movements.Fortunately for him. However, he had this holy image to whom he would have recourse in moments of great pain, anguish, and adversity. He recalled that by putting the image on the part of his body that ailed him most, he would recover from his illness.

This image was actually found on the cover of a book on the history of the Blessed Virgin of Peñafrancia and Miguel de Cobarrubias carried this book with him all around and even in his sleep. Sometimes relief from his illness would be delayed but Miguel, the fruitful devotee of the Lady, never lost heart for he believed that the Blessed Mother, ever solicitous and maternal, purposely delayed the cure to make him repent his sins better.

So many miracles were wrought upon the holy person of Miguel de Cabarrubias but he was always wont to exclaim: “all I can say is that I am the miracle of her miracles because I firmly believe that on many occasions, I owe my life to her.”

In gratitude for the many blessings he had received from the Virgin of Peñafrancia, Miguel de Cabarrubias vowed that, when he shall be in a financial position he would erect a stone church on the bank of the Pasig River in Manila in honor of the Blessed Virgin. He looked for a sculptor to make a replica of the image of Our Lady of Peña de Francia but it took him time before he was able to find one.

Meanwhile, after his studies in theologate, Bishop Andres Gonzales of then Diocese of Nueva of Caceres, ordered Miguel to proceed to Naga City to be ordained priest. He was later given a small parochial church, and six months afterwards, was made parish priest of the Cathedral Church and, subsequently, made the Provisor and Vicar-General of the bishopric of Nueva Caceres which, at that time, covered the entire Bicol Region in its ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

It is recalled that during his trip to Nueva Caceres, a very strong and furious typhoon developed that the was riding was almost on the brink of sinking. Everybody thought that would be their fateful end. Miguel, however, was confident that he was called to a further mission and so he invoked the help of his Patroness Virgin of Peñafrancia and, thanks to his prayer and devotion, the storm subsided and everybody reached the place safe and sound.

Many other miracles were experienced by Miguel de Cabarrubias through the intercession of the Virgin of Peñafrancia and all of these were documented in his letters of 1710, 1711, and 1717 which he sent to the Chaplain of Peñafrancia of San Martin de Castañar.

Having been given a ranking position in the diocese, Father Miguel knew that his stay in this place would be longer and he realized that it would render him incapable of fulfilling his vow in the place where he originally intended to build the stone church. He therefore asked permission from his superiors to build the promised church in Nueva Caceres. The permission was granted but the first difficulty was the location on which the church would be constructed. The solution to this problem proved to be an incident drawn by the hands of providence.

It is said that the cimmarones from the base of Mount Isarog came to see Father Miguel one day and begged him to build the church or ermita on a site which would be reached in less than thirty minutes from the poblacion. Accordingly the cimmarones who have been Christianized much earlier by the Francisca missionaries, Wanted a church where they could hear mass and receive the sacraments. This made Father Miguel very happy because it opened the way to the fulfillment of his vow.

Father Miguel then promptly had a chapel made of straw and other local materials erected in the site indicated by the cimmarones. This must have been around 1710. In addition, Father Miguel asked a local sculptor to carve a statue of the Virgin Mary patterned after the picture of Our Lady of Peñafrancia who has been very instrumental in the many miracles wrought upon the person of the Father Miguel. The image was made from a santol tree.

As a practice in those times, to serve as paint and wood preservative, the blood was used to color the statue. So a dog was caught, its feet body of the dog was afterwards thrown into the river nearby. Father Miguel, at this instant, remarked: “The Virgin will work her first miracle in Caceres. She will bring back to life that innocent animal that gave blood for her.” Upon hearing his words, those who ere around laughed sarcastically. To their surprise, however, the dog began to swim and upon reaching the bank fast to the house of his master. This miracle was also witnessed by some Dominican Fathers who were then vacationing as guests of Bishop Gonzales.

The news of this miracle spread like a prairie fire. It went from mouth to mouth and from town to town. People from all places and all walks of life, suffering from various ailments, mishaps, pains ad other misfortunes both spiritual and physical, began imploring her powerful intercession. And Our Lady of Peña de Francia did not disappoint them but only because they had put so much faith on her. In no time she was proclaimed as the foremost and miraculous Patroness of Bicolandia.

The official coronation of Our lady of Peñafrancia our Patroness of Bicolandia took place on September 2, 1924, offiaciated by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Guillermo their Apostolic to the Delegate. The image therefore of Our lady of Peñafrancia enshrined in her sanctuary in Calle Balatas is about 275 years old. It is an antique statue that has even become the object of desire for many an antique collector. On the morning of August 15, 1981, this miraculous image was stolen from her shrine at the Peñafrancia Church. The entire region was shocked by this news and every devotee of Our Ina could not believe that such a dastardly and sacrilegious act could be perpetuated. Immediately a network for the massive search of the image was military and civilians alike. In the course of following leads to the theft, a policeman was killed and a police lieutenant was wounded when the jeepney they were riding in were ambused by heavily armed men somewhere in Bolo Sur, Sipocot, Camarines Sur.

It seemed that the search would be futile altogether and people almost resigned to the sorry fate of having lost a most beloved image. Most of the leads proved a haux. Meanwhile the approaching feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia necessitated an image to be borne during the translation and the colorful fluvial procession. One was made at the instant of church authorities and another image was donated by the First Lady.

A little over a year later, the region was shocked, with equal unbelief, with the news that the image has been returned to Rt. Rev. Msgr. Florencio Yllana, P.A.,Liaison Officer of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and former Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia here in Naga City. On September 8, 1982, Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, the motorcade from Manila bearing the Image arrived in Naga City at the height of typhoon Ruping. The inclement weather did not deter thousands of devotees who braved the raging winds and the devastating floods to welcome the image of Our beloved Ina. At 10:00 in the evening of the same day, the image was safely enshrined at the Metropolitan Cathedral where a pontifical concelebrated mass offered in thanksgiving for the return and safe arrival of the image.

The image is now enshrined at the Basilica Minore at Calle Balatas in the City of Naga. She has returned to her flock and her people have gratefully built her a home worthy of her dignity, honor, and maternal position.

PENAFRANCIA TERCENTENARY COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS

The Philippine Postal rporation is coming up with the 300 Years of Devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia stamps which will be issued on September 8, 2010. It is classified as a “Commemorative” kind of issue with a denomination of P 7.00 and quantity of 160,000 pieces.

One of the many Catholic traditions is the Marian devotion. We, the Filipinos, especially the Bicolanos, have that extraordinary, exceptional, and devoted love for Mother Mary — the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, too. We believe that she will intercede for us and will lift our prayers up to God. Thus, there is strong belief and unshakable faith that our prayers are answered through the intercession of the Blessed Mother. She has been called many names in different regions of the Philippines. Some of them are the following: Nuestra Señora de Caridad to Ilocanos; Our Lady of Manaoag to the people of Pangasinan; Lady of Piat to Cagayanos; Nuestra Señora del Rosario de la Naval or Nuestra Señora de Antipolo to the Tagalogs and many others. Perhaps, one of her most notable names is Our Lady of Peñafrancia, more warmly called INA or Mother, to the Bicolanos. This intense devotion to Mother Mary by the Bicolanos can be traced back in Spain. The Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is a one-week affair that starts on the second Friday of September when the miraculous Ina is transferred

from her shrine to the centuries-old Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. This procession is locally called traslacion where the miraculous images of Our Lady of

Peñafrancia and of the Divino Rostro journey to the  Metropolitan Cathedral of Naga City for a Novena and Holy Masses. This began in 1885 and ushers in the week long festivities in the locality. A nine-day novena and prayers are held in her honor. This event is considered as the biggest and most popular religious event in the Philippines.

PAMIBI KI NUESTRA SENORA DE PENAFRANCIA

Lilingya man sa sako, O maheherakon na lna,

Virgen de Peñafrancia, an saimong mahamis na mga

mata asin kaheraki man ako na minadolok saimo,

pano nin pagsolsol. Ampona an sakong familia, an

sakong mga pinsan, katood asin parasorog. Tabangi

an saimong mga devotos, si buhay pa asin mga gadan

na orog na idtong maninigo kong tabangan. Sa oras

nin sakong mga pag-alaman, kakundian asin pagtios,

orog na sa sakuyang pagkagadan, antabayi man ako

sa atubang nin Saimong Mahal na Aki. Tanganing

matindogan asin matabangan mo ako, sabihi na ako

devoto mo na dara nin dakulang pagsarig sa saimong

pag-ampon minaluhod sa saimong pamitisan sa

paghagad kan saimong mahalagang pagtabang.

Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, pamibian, tabangi,

rangaha asin ligtasan man ako. Amen.

Download original 1600x1200 Penafrancia Wallpaper

HISTORY OF DARAGA

During the 12th century, the second wave of Malay migration to the Philippines stretched to the Bicol Region at the height of the power of the Sri Visayan Empire. The surge of migrants that included mostly traders and settlers ventured to almost all places in Bicol. One group decided to settle on the southern slopes of Mount Mayon. A village was then created and people began living peacefully and harmoniously.