A Young Tradition Lives On

There is no available written document (maybe there is but nobody has told me yet of its existence) that shows the actual year from where the Peñafrancia Celebration in the Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer begun. Although the Peñafrancia Celebration is a hundred years old tradition started by Miguel de Cabarrubias some 300 years ago at the old Nueva Caceres, now more prominently known as Naga City, nobody can’t really tell (from those that I have asked) when and how our local celebration has started. From where I stand, I can tell that this tradition of ours is still on its young age and I’m glad (just like the thousands of devotees) to be part of this majestic celebration.


As far as my memory can recall, I remember sometime about 14 years ago, while serving my term as a youth leader, our group had organized an activity in lined with the Peñafrancia Celebration. We had the Regatta Festival, a boat racing event that uses paddles and nothing more, from Aguirangan Island to the coastline, an All-Star Basketball game featuring the court veterans and upcoming stars, and of course youth representation in the Fluvial Procession the following morning. Today, more activities have been added to add vibrant colors to the festivities. There’s the Military Parade, Civic Parade, Street Dancing and Beer Plaza for the beer lovers.


Our local Peñafrancia Celebration has slowly become a regular event in the calendars of all parishioners of St. Vincent Ferrer. Several days prior to the main celebration, the image of our Ina, our Lady of Peñafrancia, is doing a “Pagsungko” (visit) in all the barangays (villages) covered by the Parish. The image is being transported in places such as Lidong (the farthest village at the heart of the Caramoan Peninsula Mountain), Kinahulugan and Lagha. Each village has a designated point man (called Kairos) that handles the preparation and information dissemination relative to the visit of our Ina.


On my part, this celebration has been part of personal devotion to our Ina, our Lady of Peñafrancia. Since the grand festivity is held on a Sunday, there’s a more compelling reason not to miss this special appointment especially now that I’m just an hour away from the parish unlike before where I have to travel all the way from Manila just to be present. More so, I consider myself as one of the early persons who is, in one way or the other, part of the small core group who has been active since this celebration had started. Today, the small group has risen to become bigger with the entry of younger devotees from home and the nearby environs.


It’s a prestige to be part of this celebration. Either by just taking pictures, securing the lines, providing the lead and shouting Viva La Virgen, shouting a response, carrying the heavy “andas” and walking barefooted. For 2 years now, I have been tagging Xavier along with me during the celebration. He wears the same uniform and head band with the Voyadores and rides the same boat. At his young and tender age, this is one of the legacies I wanted him to continue. By the time he learns to write a full paragraph, then this piece can form part of his own documentation of the tradition that goes beyond the bond between father and son, time and tide, faith and hope.


The Voyadores (now called Guardias de Maria) Core Group is composed of William “Kuya” Relleta Sr., Matt Villanueva, Boy Relleta, John Villareal, Owen Royo, Elmer & Emer Verdejo, Dean Relleta, Felix Pantila, Jun Vargas, Ruben Padayao, Efren Alamo, Roman Villaralvo,Juanki Villanueva, Angel Royo, Nep Cometa, Fred Relleta, Noli Hilo, Dennis Macasieb, Dan-Dan Correo, Kevin Villaralvo, Nicko Onio, Jay Cuadro, Teeth Durana, Emer Villanueva and myself.