In preparation for the upcoming Centenary Celebration of the Canonical Coronation of Our Lady of Peñafrancia this September, Mayor Nelson Legacion formally signed Executive Order No. 2024-007 yesterday, March 7, 2024. The Executive Order mandates the establishment of committees and support groups, along with the appointment of dedicated chairpersons, to ensure the seamless execution of the Peñafrancia Festival. This directive comes at a pivotal time as the Pilgrim City prepares for the grand celebration of the Canonical Coronation of our Beloved Ina.

As per the usual Executive Orders of the past, two main groups are being created under Executive Order 2024-007: the Event Committees and the Support Services. According to Section 3 of the order, “the Event Committee shall be responsible for organizing, coordinating, and ensuring the successful execution of the festival events.” The respective chairpersons for these committees are as follows:

1. Miss Bicolandia Beauty Pageant Committee – Hon. Jose Rañola, M. D.
2. Inter High School CAT/DRRM Marching Competition Committee  – Hon. Salvador Del Castillo
3. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts Parade and DXMC and Inter-School Mass Dance Competition Committee – Hon. Joselito del Rosario
4. Civic and Float Parade Committee – City Administrator Elmer Baldemoro
5. Peñafrancia Voyadores Festival Committee – Hon. Jose Perez
6. Bicol Regional Military Parade Committee – Hon. Ramon Melvin Buenafe
7. Tagboan Arts, Music and Gastronomy Festival – CEPPIO Department Head, Allen Reondanga

The Support Services group will be tasked with providing technical support before, during, and after the Peñafrancia Festival. These tasks include, but are not limited to, the maintenance of the cleanliness of the city, creation and fortification of festival structures, public information dissemination, marketing, and promotions, management of trade events and vending services, management of health and safety protocols, security, and many more. For a complete and comprehensive list of the standing committees, you may refer to the copy of the Executive Order attached below. Due to the nature of the upcoming celebration, the Executive Order mandates all heads of departments and offices within the City Government to be included in the various committees and ensure that all hands are on deck for this momentous occasion.

It has been almost 100 years since the Canonical Coronation of Our Lady of Peñafrancia as Queen and Patroness of Bicolandia. In 1924, Ina was crowned by the Apostolic Delegate, Most Rev. Guiglelmo Piani, DD, at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. And now, as we approach the Centenary Celebration, we look back on those 100 years and the more than 300 years of devotion to Our Ina, under the theme of Se Siempre La Reina – Pamanang Banal: Atamanon, Padanayon, Palakupon.