Anecdotes about the Virgin Mary

"Ina, the Mother of Bicol, and the Naga River"

Naga, Camarines Sur (Philippines)

In the city of Naga, in Camarines Sur, the heart of the Philippine region of Bicol, Our Lady of Peñafrancia is venerated. The faithful affectionately call her "Ina," which in the Bicol language simply means "Mother." She is the patron saint of the entire region and the focus of one of the largest Marian devotions in the Philippines.

The devotion, of Hispanic origin—its name refers to the Peña de Francia in Salamanca, Spain—took root in Bicol and gave rise to a much-loved image and a cult that dates back to colonial times. The most characteristic feature of its festival in September is the "Translation" and, above all, the river procession: the image is carried along the Naga River in an adorned boat, escorted by a vast crowd of devotees, mostly men, who accompany "Ina" with songs and cheers. It is one of the most moving religious images of Philippine popular piety.

It is wise to be cautious with the details. The deep roots of the devotion in Bicol, its origin linked to the Spanish invocation of Peña de Francia, the popular title of "Ina," and the grand festival with a river procession in Naga are all widely documented. However, the specific details of the image's remote origin and ancient accounts of miracles vary according to the sources, and anything not found in solid documentation should be considered pious tradition. Where there is no certainty, it is honest to say that it is not documented.

The Rosary naturally accompanies the Marian devotion of Peñafrancia and its celebrations, without there being a singular episode that specifically links it to the origin of this devotion.