My friendship with events specialist Billy Roces since the 1970s has made me aware of how beautiful the Bicolanos are as a people. When his mother, the late Legazpi City Mayor Imelda Crisol Roces, invited me to attend the “Ibalong Festival” in 1994, I became educated about the history of the people of Albay through the legend of “Ibalong.”
Now on its 20th year, the “Ibalong Festival” is being held this year with the awarding of the “Rokyaw Ibalnong” to 11 Bicolanos as the highlight.
To be held on August 13, 6 p.m., at the Concourse Convention Center in Legazpi City, a grand show titled “Homage: Tribute to Beauty and Excellence” will be mounted by Roces whose mother the late Mayor Roces conceived it in 1997. Legazpi City Mayor Geraldine Rosal is honorary chair, while Sol Fernandez is festival execom chair.
The term “Rokyaw Ibalnong” is taken from the ancient Bicolano dialect that is loosely translated to “Hail to the Bicolano.” It is a recognition of distinguished Bicolanos who have shown brilliance, extraordinary talent, exceptional achievement or rare courage in their endeavors and/or human activity.
Awardees
The “Rokyaw Ibalnong” honors this year a rich, interesting and multi-hued mix of Bicolano achivers: Noel Perdigon for international enterpreneurship; lawyer Rodolfo V. Salalima for telecommunications; Ma. Lourdes C. De Vera for visual arts; Wilbert Lee for business and industry; professor Jerome E. Balisnomo for education; Venus Raj for international understanding; Derek Lee Beisheuvel and Jose H. Matias for sports development; PC/Supt. Reynaldo Rafal for police community service; Secretary Leila de Lima for public service; and Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero for government service.
‘Ina’ at Quirino Grandstand
Metro Manila devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia will gather on the grounds of the Quirino Grandstand facing the Manila Hotel on Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. to await the procession to the Manila Cathedral for the 6 p.m. Mass.
Jose Cardinal Sanchez will officiate the Concelebrated Mass with other Bicolano priests. The image will be brought to the Luneta on a motorcade from the Don Bosco Parish in Makati after the 11 a.m. Mass on Sept. 11.
Triduum of Masses at Don Bosco Parish in Makati: Sept. 8 at 4:30 p.m. with Fr. Ting Miciano, SDB officiating; Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. and Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. Organizers are Metro Manila Devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia Association. More activities will be announced in a future column.
Sisters of the Holy Face
Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales will lead he list of performers of the HFG@25 “Fireworks Concert for a Cause” on Aug. 12, at 6 p.m. at the Philamlife Auditorium to raise funds for its operational needs and for the completion of the convent.
The congregation will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Oct. 1.
Founder was the late Rev. Mother Mary Therese L.Vicente.
For tickets, call 7339928, 735-9717. Tickets prices range from P2,000, P1,000 and P500. Please look for Sr. Guadalupe David, HFJ or Sr. Agnes Daniel, HFJ at the Holy Face center and convent.
Religious images needed
The Pope Paul VI Minor Seminary in Maasin City, Southern Leyte needs a statue of St. Joseph. The seminarians are praying daily to St. Joseph, but there is no statue of the saint in their chapel.
Another statue of Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace, St. Francis of Assisi and of St. Tarcisius, patron of the Knights of the Blessed Sacrament are needed for the FCIC Chapel in Leyte.
Edgar Lozano has ordered the statues already from Loy Aguirre Religious Arts in Colgante, Apalit, but they need to be paid.
Please text Edgar at 0918-6390174, if you want to help. Thank you for your kindness.
Guadalupe church
If you are a devotee of Our Lady of Guadalupe, you will be happy to know that a beautiful church dedicated to her stands on Barangay Javalera in Gen. Trias, Cavite. Built by Gene de los Reyes in 2007, the church design was patterned after the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. When Francisco Ortigas was Philippine ambassador to Mexico, he invited Msgr. Diego Monroy Ponce, vicar general of the Guadalupe church there, to visit the Cavite church, which the Mexican priest did on Oct. 26, 2009.
Msgr. Monroy brought the “travelling tilma” with him. He was amazed at how the people touched it and prayed to the “Guadalupe.” Much later, he sent a 6-foot high tilma which is now enshrined in a small chapel inside the church.
Masses on Sundays are: 6 a.m., 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (Tagalog); and 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. (English). Fr. Reuel Castañeda is parish priest. Thank you, Gene de los Reyes, for building the church for us.
Marian devotions: Our Lady of Caysasay is visiting at the Chapel of SM Megamall until Aug. 13. Bishop Jesse Mercado will officiate the “Missa Solemne” honoring Our Lady of Buen Suceso on Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in La Huerta, Parañaque.
