Our Lady of Peñafrancia – CITY OF NAGA

Commission assesses 150-year-old image of ‘Divino Rostro,’ centuries-old icon of ‘Ina’

CEPPIO Naga — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 03:30:55 +0000

THE National Shrine of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia and the Arts Culture and Tourism Office (ACTO) of the LGU Naga await the final results of the assessment conducted by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) on the original images of El Divino Rostro and Nuestra Sra. de Peñafrancia.

On Monsignor Rodel Cajot’s request the NHCP visited the shrine and assessed the 150 year old painting of El Divino Rostro last October 27, this year. The priest is the rector of Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Barangay Balatas, here.

In an interview, Rev Fr. Juan Pablo Carpio, vice rector, told Bicol Mail that the results will serve as very important guide in the conduct of the restoration process.

Carpio said, sometime in 2018 and 2019, Monsignor Cajot, expressed his request to restore the original image of El Divino Rostro (The Holy Face) due to deteriorating molds seen in the image.

He added that for years, before the Covid-19 pandemic, the original image of El Divino Rostro was paraded during Traslacion and Fluvial processions and was exposed in natural elements, causing deterioration of the image which is highly revered by the Catholic believers for around 150 years.

The pandemic slow down made the priests to decide to formally inform the NHCP about what they observed on the images and asked the commission for assistance. The Basilica’s vice rector was confident that their request will be granted because NHCP Chairman Renne Escalante, is a native of Sorsogon province and a devotee of Ina and El Divino Rostro.

“We are lucky enough because the present NHCP chairman is a Bicolano from Sorsogon and also a devotee of Ina and El Divino Rostro,” he said.

Carpio elaborated that the team have found salt deposits in the original image of El Divino Rostro. They also found white stains embossed from the image’s surface which was, hypothetically caused by high humidity at the Basilica’s camarin where the image was displayed.

He narrated that during the assessment, the team discovered the base that support the entire frame of the image was made of lawanit thus they suggested to change it with hardwood. They added, that the transparent mirror used to the image as protective screen should have placed few inches away from it few.

Meanwhile, Alec Francis Santos, head of the Arts Culture and Tourism Office said that based from the initial result of the assessment to El Divino Rostro, the paint was made of natural ingredients.

Santos assured that experts from the commission possess the knowledge to recreate the materials which was used in painting the Divino Rostro. He added, the NHCP was able to determine the specific composition of the paint without compromising the image’s original colors.

Asked about how much funds are needed for the restoration, Santos said that once the evaluation’s final result is released, his office will request the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for the funding since the agency is mandated to provide assistance for the restoration of cultural artifacts such as El Divino Rostro and Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

The restoration team, on the same day, also assessed the original image of Ina by removing her manto.

Santos said, the restoration of the original image of Ina was also considered in time for her tercentenary anniversary of canonical coronation as the Queen and Patroness of Bicol in 2024.

The city’s tourism officer disclosed that the image’s restoration will take place depending on the NHCP’s final recommendation. It was sculpted more than 322 years ago.

With regards to what kind of wood will be used in restoring Ina’s image, Carpio said that they have already consulted the Forest and Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on the matter and that they are waiting for the government agency’s response.

It is believed that her original image was carved in santol wood, he said.

Sakramento nin kumpisal durante kan pyesta

CEPPIO Naga — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 00:30:31 +0000

PIGPAGIRUMDOM ni Rev Fr Juan Pablo Carpio, parish priest kan Basilica Minore de Peñafrancia sa mga debotos kan Mahal na Ina an importansya kan kumpisal.

Ini katakod kan mga pakumpisal durante kan nobena sa El Divino Rostro na pigtalaan kan Arkidyosesis kan Caceres sa Peñafrancia shrine alas-4:00 sagkod alas-5:00 nin hapon, poon Agosto 30 sagkod Setyembre 8.

Apwera digdi, nakatalaan man na magpakumpisal an simbahan durante kan nobena ki Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia sa Holy Rosary Minor Seminary alas-3:00 nin hapon sagkod alas-7:00 nin banggui, poon Setyembre 10 sagkod 16 asin sa Setyembre 17 sa Basilica grounds, alas-4:00 nin hapon sagkod alas-6:00 nin banggui.

Segun ki Carpio, an debosyon sa Mahal na Ina nagrarani sa lambang deboto sa kagurangan sa paagi kan komunyon alagad maninigo na magpasairarom nguna sa nasambit na sakramento para sa kapatawaran kan naginibong magabat na kasalan.

Dugang kan padi, susug sa katugduan kan simbahan, pigpapangaladan an lambang katoliko na mag-ako nin ostya kun nakakomiter nin mortal sin.

(Paulo S. Delos Santos, CEPPIO)

Civic and religious activities durante kan nobenaryo sa Mahal na Ina

CEPPIO Naga — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

PIGTAWAN nin du-on ni Rev. Fr. Juan Pablo Carpio, parish priest kan Basilica Minore de Peñafrancia, na dae nagsisiriblagan an mga civic asin religious activities sa syudad nin Naga sa kada pagselebrar kan Penafrancia firsta.

Pigtaong halimbawa ni Carpio an mga civic events na gigibuhon sa Setyembre 9, aldaw nin Traslacion sagkod Setyembre 18, aldaw kan pyesta. Huli kaini, mayo nin ribaraw sa parte kan mga bisita na mapasiring sa syudad dahil kan nagkakaoroyon na aktibidad.

An syudad nin Naga midbid bilang pilgrim capital sa Bicol susog sa Presidential Proclamation No. 33, Series of 2010.

Pigsabi pa kan padi na bastante an pag-avail kan mga bisita sa mga hotel asin iba pang mga serbisyo asin produkto na masusumpungan sa laog kan syudad na madara nin karahayan sa dalagan kan ekonomiya kan Naga kaya dae na man kaipuhan na mag-organisar nin mga aktibidad na dae kontra sa selebrasyon kan pyesta asin novenario.

Marurumdoman pigkondenar ni Mayor Nelson Legacion asin kan mga kapadian an Beer Plaza and Search for Hot Bodies 2022 na nakatalaan sa Setyembre 10, an ikaduwang aldaw kan nobena. An Beer Plaza and Search for Hot Bodies 2022 mayo nin permiso sa lokal na gobyerno.

(Paulo S. Delos Santos, CEPPIO. Retrato ni Jose Collera)

A trip down memory lane with Ina | Peñafrancia Museum

CEPPIO Naga — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 09:40:17 +0000

If you are a tourist in the city, you are spoiled for choice on places to go. Especially if you are a neophyte in the pilgrimage to our Blessed Ina, it can be a daunting task to think about where to start. Where can you learn more about the Patroness of the region? Where else, but at the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Museum!

The Our Lady of Peñafrancia Museum houses various regalia, dioramas, and souvenirs of all things related to Ina. It even houses the pagoda that is used during the Fluvial processions. It really is the place to go to when you need to learn about the history and intricacies of how Ina came to Bicol; From Simon Vella, to the spread of the devotion of Ina in Bicol, up to the present day. You can even look through the many mantos or capes that has been used with the image of Ina through the years. It really brings you to a whole new time period in a way whenever you get to read about the stories behind the different mantos.

All this, for an entrance fee of only PHP 15.00! Honestly, that’s an incredible way to spend a few hours at that price. The chance to just be able to learn more about Our Lady of Peñafrancia is truly a priceless experience if we’re being real here.

So don’t miss this opportunity. If you can, aside from visiting the churches and the Image of Ina itself, make it a point to visit the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Museum as well. It’ll be worth your time and if you feel so inclined, you might even snag a souvenir along the way!

The Our Lady of Peñafrancia Museum is open from Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

(Words by Agnete Jonathan Noble, Photos by Vic Villaflor. CEPPIO.)

One of a kind in the region, the home of Ina | Peñafrancia Basilica

CEPPIO Naga — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 09:30:04 +0000

It is no secret that Naga City’s roots in Catholicism run deep in every part of the metropolis. Whatever your orientation may be, you are aware of what makes the city tick, and what it stands for when it comes to one of the biggest Marian celebrations held in the city: the Peñafrancia Festival. And with the festivities starting to kick off once again, it’s always a good time to get reacquainted with one of the many Churches in the city. In particular, among locals, the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, or just the Basilica Minore.

This Basilica is unique for many reasons. For one, it is the only Basilica in the entirety of the Archdiocese of Caceres and of the Bicol Region. It also enshrines the image of the Virgin Mary that was sculpted in 1710 and commissioned by Miguel de Cobarrubias himself. Gaze up above the rafters and stained glass windows. Each stained glass fixture tell a story. Lots of history in one location alone!

Your trip to the city isn’t complete if you don’t get to visit at least one of the churches here in Naga. If you’re strapped for time, make it a point to visit the Basilica Minore and visit Ina. Get acquainted with that feeling when you visit Ina, because that’s key to enjoying the Peñafrancia festivities.

(Agnete Jonathan Noble, CEPPIO Naga. Photos by Vic Villaflor.)

RC Naga inaugurates monument for 500 years of Christianity

Jason Neola — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 08:22:54 +0000

By Zyra Ponce

The Rotary Club (RC) of Naga in partnership with the Archdiocese of Caceres inaugurated a commemorative monument of the Holy Cross of Jesus Christ on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Parish Compound in Naga City.

Amazing Life Changing President (ALCP) Salvador “Nong” Aldecoa of RC Naga said the monument was erected to celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines and to give honor to “Ina,” Our Lady of Peñafrancia, whose Son “did not come to be served, but to serve “(Matthew 20:28), which is the inspiration of every Rotarian in the world: “Service Above Self.”

“We proportioned the total height of this monument to 15.21 meters signifying the year 1521. The image of “Ina” is at the center and on the right side is St. Joseph, and on the left, St. Peter the Baptist, the patron saint of Archdiocese of Caceres, and below is the logo of the archdiocese,” Aldecoa, who is the designer and structural engineer of the monument, said as he explained its concept and design.

“On the top of the Corinthian capital is a stainless cross of Jesus Christ, which is a replica of the Cross of Baldacchino in Saint Peter’s Basilica, fabricated by Boboy Mendoza of Mass Steel Fabricators,” Aldecoa said.

“I am honored to present to you this completed monument, our club’s legacy project that will last through a lifetime and will be visited by generations, immortalizing the seed of Christian Faith in our Motherland,” Aldecoa said in his speech during the inauguration rite.

He added that the cost of the monument is over P 1 million, which came from the voluntary contributions of the RC Naga members. The ground breaking for the same was held on May 1, 2021.

In his message during the inauguration ceremony, Caceres Archbishop Rolando Octavus Joven Tria Tirona, O.C.D., described the monument as “majestic and solemn.”

Bishop Tirona said “Rotarians are not to be lighthouses, lighthouses are fixed. Rotarians are meant to be torches, meaning to say, you go where the people are.”

He said the monument is fixed but what makes it dynamic are the Rotarians.

Aside from the Caceres archbishop, also present during the event were: Most Rev. Rex Andrew Alarcon; Peñafrancia Church parish priest Rev. Fr. Felipe Culvera; Rotary Club District Governor Angelita Sunio; ALCS Annabelle Lee; past presidents and members of the Rotary Club of Naga.