ARTICLES

Filipinos celebrate Penafrancia Fiesta

The Bicol Association of Tidewater, made up of a large group of Filipinos, recently celebrated its 34th Peñafrancia Fiesta Sept. 1 and 2 at Little Creek Amphibious Base and at Church of the Ascension in Virginia Beach.

Msgr. Thomas Caroluzza, a retired diocesan priest who is the former Vicar for the Eastern Vicariate of the Diocese of Richmond, presided at Mass, a separate event at Church of the Ascension which drew more than 700 people. Concelebrants included five Filipino priests and Father James Parke, pastor of Ascension. The Knights of Columbus also participated.

After Mass there was a reception at Ascension Hall featuring native foods. Entertainment was provided by the Bicol Youth Association of Tidewater and SCAPA. Virginia Governor Tim Kaine made a visit.

In a separate event at Lake Bradford inside Little Creek Amphibious Base, there was a procession of boats one of which carried an icon of Our Lady of Penafrancia, or the “INA,” on a wooden litter, bedecked with fresh flowers. The boats had banners representing the six provinces of the Bicol region.

At the edge of the lake, with religious songs and prayers, the “INA” was lowered into a canoe which maneuvered around the lake with six canoes behind her, also representing the six provinces of the Bicol Region.

The “INA” was brought back to land and with the band playing music, the devotees were treated to a light snack. The land procession concluded at the Chapel of Little Creek base where a Benediction of the INA was held, with incense, song and prayers presided at by Msgr. Caroluzza.

“The fluvial procession is significant in that during one of the most severe droughts in the Philippines, the farming towns of Bicol were devastated due to a lack of produce on the farms,” explained Richard Alagaban.

People marched the icon through the dry riverbeds and the rains started to come.

“Since then, the people of Bicol have regarded the incident as a miracle which saved many lives and have since venerated the icon by sailing her in a boat in hopes that the river would not dry up again,” Mr. Alagaban said.

About 400 people attended the 34th Peñafrancia Fiesta Gala Ball at the Philippine Cultural Center. People came from as far away as California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Florida, Bahrain and the Philippines.

The net income from the Gala Ball was earmarked by the Bicol Association of Tidewater to assist the typhoon victims in the Bicol Region of the Philippines.

back to top