PostHeaderIcon Clash between Penafrancia tradition & the secular festivities of Naga City government



With the backing of the Archdiocese of Caceres and the Roman Catholic clergy, religious groups of Naga City complained to the Naga City government for reneging on a bilateral agreement to ban activities that didn’t reflect the faith-based observance of the Penafrancia fiesta. In part, the letter sent by the laity to City Mayor Jesse Robredo read:

“We are disappointed and dismayed when we saw the calendar of activities prepared by the city government of Naga published in its widely distributed Viva Naga, Viva Bicolandia pamphlet. Viva Naga and Viva Bicolandia Festival include activities that have been banned within the novena on moral grounds. In the joint statement, it is very clear that pageants and beer plazas should not be held within the period of the novena.”---Vox Bicol (09/13/09)

The letter was sent by concerned citizens representing groups like the Archdiocesan Council of the Laity, Apostleship of Prayer, Our Lady of Peñafrancia Association, Holy Name Society, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Mother Butlers' Guild, Parish Renewal Experience (PREX), Couples of Christ, Pastoral Council of Bagumbayan Sur, Knights of Columbus, Children of Mary, and Visita Domiciliaria among others, airing their disapproval to government-sponsored revelries like gay beauty pageants, street parties, and drinking fests.

Demanding for accountability from those who plan and implement the highly secular civic celebration, the church-affiliated groups considered the vulgar activities disrespectful to the tradition of prayer to God and Ina that the Bicol-wide Penafrancia celebration is known for.(Photo Credit: Jerry Lim Lee) =0=

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