Delayed, but never deterred: Ina’s sakay, a flood of faith
By Rose Civico and Caceres News Correspondents
NAGA CITY, CAMARINES SUR — The river waited, but the people did not leave; and in waiting, the prayers and the sacrifices of the faithful Bicolanos revealed that devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia is a journey that excels time and circumstance.
As the low water level of the Naga River delayed the 2026 Fluvial Procession, thousands of devotees remained in prayerful anticipation, their eyes fixed on the waters and their hearts turned toward Ina. From the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral to the Danlugan, the sacred images of El Divino Rostro and Our Lady of Peñafrancia were set to journey toward the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. Along the riverbanks, families, pilgrims, and devotees gathered, transforming the long wait into an offering of faith.
“Viva la Virgen!” echoed through the crowd, a proclamation of love that rose above the uncertainty of the delayed procession.
A River That Tested Patience
The receding water level slowed the Fluvial Procession, but it did not diminish the devotion of those who remained. This year, for many Bicolanos, waiting for Ina is not merely an interruption to a religious celebration but a part of the pilgrimage itself.
“Haloy man an paghali ni Ina, an mga tawo naghahalat ki Ina sa pag-abot. Dai nagsuko an mga tawo, kundi padagos na nag-abang asin nagpangadyi.”
Though Ina’s departure was delayed, the people continued to wait and pray. Their perseverance reflected a devotion shaped not only by celebration, but also by patience, sacrifice, and trust.
Among those who endured the long wait was Rachelle Tipasi, a devotee from Lupi and an overseas Filipino worker in Israel. For her, devotion to Ina remains a source of strength, especially while living far from home.
“Kinikilabutan ako pag nahihiling ko si INA, sa gabus na inagihan ko sa buhay si INA ang naging gabay ko. Habang ako nasa abroad, an Mahal na Ina an sakuyang tigraranihan.” (I get goosebumps when I see INA, with all that I’ve been through in life, INA has been my guide. While I’m abroad, I always turn to Our Lady.)
Her words reflect the experience of many devotees who turn to Ina not only during the Peñafrancia festivities, but also amid the personal challenges of everyday life.
For Rachelle, Ina is a spiritual refuge—a motherly presence whose guidance reaches beyond geographical distance.
A Mother in Grief and Hope
For Francia B. Villano, 50, devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia is deeply connected to her identity and life experiences. Born on September 18, 1976, she was named Francia because her birthday falls on the feast associated with Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
Her devotion has become a source of comfort through moments of fear, difficulty, and loss.
“Kapag nahihiling ko si INA pagmati ko igwa ako nin kasurog, igwa ako mahihibian kan gabus na takot, problema ko sa buhay.”
Whenever she sees Ina, Francia feels that she has someone to turn to, someone before whom she can lay down her fears and burdens.
The death of her youngest child became one of the most painful chapters of her life. During that period, she sought strength through prayer, asking Ina to help her endure the grief.
“Kan nagadan su aki ko na bunso, tigpangadyi ko ki INA na makayanan ko an gabus. Sa tabang ni Ina, na tanggap ko na igwa ako nin anghel nagbabantay sakuya.”
Through her faith, Francia found the courage to accept her loss and the belief that her child remains an angel watching over her.
Her testimony reveals a devotion that extends beyond the public celebrations of the Peñafrancia fiesta. It is a relationship sustained through sorrow, acceptance, and the hope of divine companionship.
A Vow Woven Into Everyday Life
For Eva Bichoso, 54, of Canaman, Camarines Sur, devotion to Ina is expressed through a livelihood that has spanned 37 years.
Since the 1990s, Eva has been selling abanicos (fan) during the Peñafrancia fiesta. What began as a means of supporting her family has become both a source of livelihood and a personal vow to Our Lady.
“Saro ini sa paagi tanganing mapa eskwela ko an mga aki ko tapos garo panata ko naman diretso ki Ina.”
Selling abanicos allows Eva to help finance her children’s education while remaining faithful to her devotion. Her work also carries a prayer for her family’s protection.
“Asin sa debosyon kong ini, napapa gian an samuyang pamuhay-muhay saka sarong pangadyi na an sakong pamilya maka iwas sa disgrasya, helang asin mga katibaadan.”
For Eva, devotion is inseparable from the ordinary responsibilities of family life. Through her work, she seeks to ease their daily struggles and entrusts her loved ones to Ina’s care.
When asked who Ina is to her, she offers a simple yet profound answer:
“Si Ina an samuyang ina na nadodolokan mi sa buhay.”
Ina is our mother to whom we can approach in our lives.
Her words echo a central sentiment among Peñafrancia devotees: that Our Lady is not distant from their everyday realities, but a mother whom they approach in times of need, thanksgiving, and uncertainty.
The Waters Finally Moved
When the river water was finally enough to let the procession proceed, the lead barge, adorned with flowers and lights, carried the sacred images forward. Boats followed behind while prayers, songs, and cheers rose from the riverbanks.
Families, children, elders, and pilgrims accompanied Ina into the night. Each person carried a personal intention, a prayer, or a story of faith. The river became a place where individual hopes converged into a shared expression of devotion.
The Fluvial Mass and procession continued into the late hours, concluding at approximately 12:40 a.m. For those who remained, the delay became part of their offering. The river had slowed the journey, but it had not stopped the faithful.
For Bicolanos, the 2026 Fluvial Procession offered a reminder that devotion does not always follow a convenient schedule. Sometimes, faith is expressed through the willingness to wait, the courage to endure, and the quiet decision to remain.
In the stillness of the night, the faithful found meaning not only in seeing Ina pass through the waters, but also in the sacrifices they made to be there. Because for those who love Ina, the journey is never measured only by the distance traveled. It is also measured by the prayers whispered, the burdens surrendered, and the love that endured.
Viva la Virgen!
Photos by Niño Lyndon Civico & Janclio Guerrero
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