Over a million devotees join Bicol’s Marian festival

More than one million pilgrims, devotees and tourists flocked to Naga City in Bicol to join the traditional nine-day festivities in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said in its website, www.cbcpnews.com, this was a good start for the three-year preparation leading to the 300th anniversary of the devotion. The Lady of Peñafrancia had been Patroness of Bicol, endearingly addressed by Bicolanos as “ina (mother)." The festivities began on Friday with the famous Traslacion procession where barefoot men brought images of the Lady of Peñafrancia and the Divino Rostro (Holy Face) from the Basilica through the main streets of the city to the cathedral. The devotion started three hundred years ago, in 1710, when Fr. Miguel Robles de Covarrubias had an image carved, a chapel built and processions held in honor of the miraculous image of the Virgin of Peñafrancia on account the many favors he received through the help of the Virgin, especially pertaining to his health. “Since then the devotion has grew and has even reached abroad. Devotees’ accounts of healing and favors received through her intercession were enough reasons for the devotion to spread. Many have come to Naga as curious visitors and left as devotees of the Virgin. In 2010, the devotion will celebrate its 300th year," the CBCP said. The Archdiocese of Caceres has outlined a three-year preparation for the tercentenary with each year centered on a particular theme and objective. In the first year this year, the activities will be dedicated to revisiting the history of the devotion in view of a deeper understanding of the same devotion. From September 2008 to September 2009, devotees will renew the faith through “Ina." On the third year from September 2009 to September 2010, devotees will envision the future with the intent of sharing the fruits of the devotion to the next generations. In September 2010, the church in Bicol will celebrate the 300th year of devotion to the blessed mother. - GMANews.TV