'Pagsungko
ki Ina', 2013
Jardin Real
de Naga Clubhouse
The annual traditional Pagsungko ki Ina
came a little late this year in Jardin Real,
…literally came two weeks late, last week of October
while it came on the first week last year,
…and chronologically came late in the afternoon,
a lot earlier compared last year.
‘Pagsungko’ is a pre- fiesta tradition where the
image
of Our Lady of Penafrancia is carried by devotees
on their shoulders and brought to a certain community
all over the Bicol Region for an overnight vigil.
We waited for the procession
to pass by our house,
...but it silently breezed away that the image was
already few blocks
away when we saw it.
So off we drove to the Clubhouse where
the mass and the vigil would be held,
...brought flower offerings for the makeshift altar
and waited for the image to arrive.
and waited for the image to arrive.
After about an hour- the procession
arrived at the clubhouse,
… and the image of the Lady of Penafrancia
was slowly brought to
her improvised altar…
…amidst devotees chanting and praying,
…singing hymns,
…and shouting ‘Viva la Virgen’.
In a little while, she was ready for
the mass, and the overnight vigil.
Another Pagsungko unfolded
and again would unfold next year
and the years to come-
…an unending testament of the Bicolanos’
tireless devotion to their beloved
'Patrona de Bicol'.
