UP Ibalon Bicol

A rumble among a group of teenagers during the traslacion, a rock-throwing incident, a devotee suffering a heart attack, and a deranged man firing gunshots, later arrested, as he took school children hostage in a chartered bus from La Consolacion Academy prompted Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi to seek more security measures as the fiesta starts. (www.cbcpnews.com)

As part of the crowd control being readied, Church authorities, veering away from tradition to keep peace and order, are considering to disallow the people from carrying the image of the Virgin of Penafrancia. The ugly incidents may be interpreted as signs of modern influences in the traditionally faith-based celebration affected by present-day commercialism and secularism. =0=