CamSur marathon nears starting line

Gov. Villafuerte

PILI, Camarines Sur – Governor LRay Villafuerte brings once again another sports spectacle to the province with the staging, in joint venture with Summit Water and Smart, of the first ever CamSur Marathon 2010 on Sept. 26.

Dubbed “The Race to Rebuild the Nation,” because proceeds of the competition are earmarked for the benefit of humanitarian groups, the race is anticipated to draw thousands, including runners from other nations. It is billed as the biggest sports event ever in this part of the country if not the entire Southeast Asia region.

A huge turnout of runners that include distinguished personalities not only from the sports circles but also of big-time businesses, the arts, showbiz and other sectors as well as foreign visitors is expected to make for a historic event worthy of international stature.

“This will not be an ordinary race,”  Villafuerte said during the event launching. “There are very many marathons, but this one is different because it will also be for a humanitarian cause.”

Beneficiaries are: Gawad Kalinga, which is into providing decent shelter and empowering less privileged Filipinos; Organ Donor Card, which is focused on promoting organ transplant awareness and donor recruitment; and the K.I.D.S. Foundation, which advocates the protection and upliftment of the welfare of children.

The Summit Water CamSur Marathon will be staged in six runs – distances of 3, 5,10, 21 and 42 kilometers and the special Gawad Kalinga Run where runners will race in teams of 15 and pledge to help raise funds for the GK community-building fund.

The races will center around the world-famed Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC) right within the CamSur Capitol Complex in Pili town and will be supervised by a team of veteran race organizers headed by race director Rio de la Cruz.

Just like many other national and international sports competitions held at the CWC including wakeboarding and other cable sports, dragon boat racing, the Ironman 70.3 triathlon series and other sports disciplines, the CamSur Marathon 2010 is envisioned to further boost the province’s growing popularity as center of international sports.

Villafuerte’s comprehensive program to promote sports tourism and eco-tourism has prominently put CamSur on the world’s tourism map. – GBClaveria

Poverty Alleviation

Opinions Unlimited

by Atty. Tony(APA) Acyatan (Atty. APA – chairman of Acyatan & Co., CPAs-DFK International is president of PICPA in 1990 and ASEAN Federation of CPAs (1998-2000) and Accountancy Hall-of-Famer (2006).

STATISTICS:  Formal surveys showed that almost one-third of our Philippine population lives below the poverty line.  And if the people are asked to rate their own stature, the statistics are even higher – almost one-half.  The P-Noy administration vowed to lower this to half of the 1990 levels via the Millenium Development Goals.  Now the current score reveals that the target cannot be accomplished as planned.

There are so many imponderables in the poverty equation.  Despite the continuing labor migration for abroad – the incidence of unemployment continues to haunt our economic strides.  Opinions Unlimited traces this to several factors:  indolence of many of our countrymen (reliance on OFWs for their families’ day-to-day subsistence), mis-aligned educational system (stressing on white collar jobs instead of entrepreneurship and technical expertise) and inadequate systems to spur growth.

SMALLTIME:  Rural banking was institutionalized in this country more than six decades ago to provide financial services for the countryside.  As created by law, rural banks were meant to be small right from their birth.  They are defined as providers of banking services for farmers and “small” businessmen.  Now that the countryside has progressed economically – the erstwhile exclusive domain of these banks are now being invaded by the bigger banks.

As these smaller retail banks are eased out by competition – many rural banks are falling by the wayside.  The Program for the Strengthening of Rural Banks jointly launched by the Monetary Board (BSP) and the PDIC encourages the beneficial merger of the stronger RBs with the weaker ones via a package of incentives.  Hopefully, with this, the retail banking system could be strengthened further and continually provide assistance to our countryside folks.

ELECTRIC POWER: Energy consumers should know that power is now salable in advance.  The Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) facilitates these transactions. Speculation is involved here – and the transacting parties – just like in other spot markets, take risks – “betting” in advance on what they perceive would be the energy market situation in the months to come.

The individual power producers (IPPs) have big roles in the pricing of power – depending on their capacities and delivery records.  If they have ample “volume” to sell the possibility is that they will sell at lower per KwH prices.  They say that both IPPs and WESM shall have registered lower rates starting last month (August) and so consumers will feel the benefit in their September billings.  The CASURECO II subscribers are praying hard!

DEAR “INA”: As we write this column, we were barely able to squeeze in our hotel reservation for our overnight stay.  Bikolnons and their guests have started coming in to celebrate the 300^th Year of the graces of the beloved Virgin of Penafrancia to the Bicol Region and its people.  No doubt – it is our reverence for “Ina” that facilitates the unity and fraternal  love among Bikolnons.  Through her grace – we have to bind ourselves together so we may, one day – have a Bikolano president!

Whether or not this dream comes to pass – we have to thank the Lord – by the guidance of our Virgin Mary – that our lives and livelihoods have been graced by magnificent blessings from Providence.  Despite natural disasters, our natural environment continues to sustain food production and services for our people.  Our abiding faith in our Creator and Savior is the main reason why we are blessed.  Let us call on “Ina” to intercede for us to our Lord.

PSALM: He who walks uprightly and works in righteousness will always speak the truth in his heart.

That old self

Weekly Reflection

By FR. ALLAN S. FENIX

While the new is attractive and fragrant, nothing can replace the old ones. For the old is classic. It is the original.

For my college graduation gift, my family gave me a diver’s watch. It was the kind that was so in vogue then. In two years time, it got lost. I cannot forget it. For, it was mine and given to me at a very momentous time in my life.

Many years had already passed since I lost my watch. Nearby our parish church is a watch store. Everytime I pass through it, I make it a point to stop by and stare at the various watches on display. I don’t know but everytime I do this, amidst those newer and modern models of watches, it is as if I still kept on looking for my old lost watch. For me, no amount of watches can be able to replace it. For with it, goes the happiness that I felt the day I graduated from college with my whole family in attendance and who attached that watch on my left wrist.

From our town and playmates, classmates, teachers, colleagues…  all of us know people in our lives. Everytime we meet them, during reunions and other special occasions, who, by now,   might be dressed  very differently from us, driving expensive cars…, we always look for the old person as we came to know them. If they come across as already different, we will immediately say that they have already changed. It is good if the change that happened is for the better. But, what if it is for the worst?

We have known good people in our lives, whom we have lost through vices like drug addictions and other forms of addictions. We say that the person is not anymore the person whom we know, back then. We wish they they get well and we get back their old usual self.

God loves the old. No matter what we do. No matter how far we flee from him. He will always and surely find us back. In death, he takes back the life he deposited in the human body. One by one, when the apt time comes, he will this. So, in death, what is left of us is merely a corpse- the material component. In their wakes, in front of their coffins buried in flowers and accolades, we just sit by and talk about the old person who have gone before us. The person whom we lost through death and is now found at the bosom of our Heavenly Father.

I just recently met a person who upon knowing that I am a Catholic told me that I belong to the old church. We live in the modern age. New things come and confront us. We, then, take and exchange it for the old ones. For a time, we will put the old in the back draft of our lives. But, in time, it will come back to find  and take all possession of us. GOD is the GOD of the OLD, the NEW and the FUTURE.

Guidelines for Covering Hostage-Taking, etc. For Journalism values

FROM MY WINDOW

By NENITA FUENTEBELLA-PEŇONES

After that hostage-taking incident at the Quirino Grandstand, Manila last week, there are Filipinos saying that they are ashamed of being Filipinos just because not all the Hongkong tourists were saved. Eight died and four were injured. But I am not ashamed of being a Filipino. It was done by only one hostage-taker, policeman Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza who claims to have been dismissed from service without due process by the Ombudsman. That was the fault of only one man and not all the people.

The Filipinos did not like what happened. The Filipinos feel sorry and have sympathy for the victims, but we should not be ashamed of ourselves. Hostage-taking happens not only in the Philippines but also in many parts of the world like the US, Europe, etc. Their governments have their own strategies on how to handle such crisis. I believe if President Aquino did not assign police matters to DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno, Sec. Jesse Robredo could have contributed his expertise on coordination having been director of BRBDP which is primarily a Planning and Coordinating Office. There was failure of coordination with media.

Let us not forget that millions of foreign tourists come to our country every year. Right here in Bicol, they come in great number yearly during the Penafrancia fiesta. So it is wrong to conclude that the Philippines is not a safe country and it does not take care of the safety of foreign tourists. Why do you think millions of Chinese are staying here if they do not feel safe in our country?

For whatever good it may serve, here’s an excerpt from the column of Jonathan de la Cruz in the Daily Tribune dated August 26, 2010.

“I am reprinting relevant excerpts of the Guidelines for Covering Hostage-Taking Crises, Prison Uprisings, Terrorist Actions written by Bob Steele, a Nelson Poynter Scholar for Journalism Values. It is my hope that the full tutorial not just on the coverage but on the proper handling of such situations will be made available to all concerned entities (media,police and other agencies) and appreciated by all including the “uzis” all over the place to prevent any more similar tragedies happening in the future.

Here goes: “In covering a developing raid or law enforcement action, journalists are advised to: Be extremely cautious to not compromise the secrecy of officials’ planning and execution. If staking out a location where a raid will occur or if accopanying officers, reporters and photographers should demonstrate great caution in how they act, where they go, and what clues they might inadvertently give that might compromise the execution of the raid. They should check and double check planning efforts.

“In covering an ongoing crisis situation, journalists are advised to: Always assume that the hostage taker, gunman or terrorist has access to the reporting; Avoid describing with words or showing with still photography and video any information that could divulge the tactics or positions of SWAT team members;Fight the urge to become a player in any stand off, hostage situation or terrorist incident. Journalists should become personally involved only as a last resort and with the explicit approval of top news management and the consultation of trained hostage negotiators on the scene; Be fortright with viewers, listeners or readers about why certain information is being withheld if security reasons are involved; Seriously weigh the benefits to the public of what information might cause. This is specially important in live reporting of an outgoing situation: Strongly resist the temptation to telephone a gunman or hostage taker. Journalists generally are not trained in negotiation techniques and one wrong question or inappropriate word could jeopardize someone’s life. Furthermore, just calling in could tie up telephone lines or otherwise complicate communication efforts of the negotiators; Notify authorities immediately if a hostage taker or a terrorists calls the newsroom. Also, have a plan ready ready for how to respond; Challenge any gut reaction to “go live” from the scene of the hostage crisis, unless there are strong journalists reasons for live, on-the-scene-report, things can go wrong very quickly in a live report, endangering lives or damaging negotiators; Give no information, factual or speculative, about a hostage-taker’s mental condition, state of mind, or reasons for actions while a stand off is in progress; Give no analyses or comments on a hostage taker’s or terrorists demands, as bizzare or ridiculous (or even legitimate) as such demands maybe, it is important that negotiators take all advantage seriously; Keep news helicopters out of the area where the standoff is happening as their noise can create communication problems as their noise can create communications problems and their presence could scare a gunman to deadly actions.

Do not report information obtained from police scanners. If law enforcement personnel and negotiators are compromised in their communications, their attempts to resolve a crisis are greatly complicated; Be very cautious in reporting on the medical condition ofhostages until after the crisis are concluded. Also, be cautious when interviewing family members or friends of those involved in stand off situations.Make sure the interview legitimately advances the story for the public and is not simply conducted for the shock value of the emotions conveyed or as a conduit for the interviewee to transmit messages to specific individuals and; Go beyond the basic story of the hostage taking or stand off to report on the larger issues behind the story, be it the report on the larger issues behind the story, be it the how and why of what happened, reports on the preparation and execution of the SWAt team or the issues related to the incident.

FEATURE: Ina’s fluvial procession

The “Sakay” is the enactment of the mutual care between the Church and her disciples. From repentance during the Traslacion, the sakay becomes a celebration of victory from sin and selfishness, of love and care of our community and Mother Earth.

The “Sakay”  is the bringing back of the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia from the Cathedral to the present Basilica via Naga River. Not all can join the sakay. However the majority participate by meditatively watching the procession, praying for ourselves, our family, our community, our country and the whole world.

Schedule

2:30 p.m. – Recitation of the Novena

3:00 p.m. – Procession Starts

4:00 p.m. – Arrival at the Dagsaan

Singing of the Salve and Shower of Flowers

5:00 p.m. – Fluvial Begins

6:00 p.m. – Arrival at the Basilica

Eucharistic Celebration

Note: At the Dalhugan, a ceremony shall be held to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. It has been told that long before, before the fluvial procession begin at Tabuco Bridge, the Image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia being boarding the Pagoda are given a tribute of prayers, and praises. Little children would shower flowers upon her and sing Marians songs. Then after which the singing of the Salve Regina commence. Immediately after this rite honoring the Virgin Mary, the Image is placed at the Pagoda and Procession begin amidst the shouting of VIVA LA VIRGEN”

There will be floral offerings to be done by children and the singing of the Salve.

Along the route of the traslacion procession are seven prayer stations. Processions are reminders that people are on a journey while in this world. The Tercentenary Committee explained that Vatican II documents declare that we are a people on a journey of faith – from this world to the next world. It is a journey of return to our Creator. It is a pilgrimage. Our Christian heritage of the past that one of the features of the pilgrimage is the presence of Prayer station where people stop for a while to pray and to do some reflections about the events in the history of salvation in connection his personal life. It is in consonance with this concept that Prayer Station is being introduced in our religious practices and devotion to Ina. Hence the purpose of this prayer station is to remind people that we are on a journey of faith. It is also a help so that the procession would truly be permeated with a prayerful atmosphere as opposed to the mentality that procession is something to be watched like a parade.

There will be a uniform tarpaulin for the seven stations under the charge of different schools in the City of Naga: at Station I under the charge of Naga College Foundation, Station II under the Trade School; Station III, under the Camarines sur National High School; Station IV, under the Universidad de Sta. Isabel; Station V, under the University of Nueva Caceres; Station VI, under the Ateneo de Naga University; Station VII, under the Mariners Polytechnic Colleges.

Schools within the city have been requested to take charge of the Station.

Prayer leaflet shall be distributed so as to encourage more participation.

As the procession reaches a station, the images make a stop for a short prayer. For the andas to fully stop, a break system has been added to structure of the andas.

Bongat assures security, safety on Ina’s fiesta

Mayor Bongat

By MIKE DE LA RAMA

The mayor of Naga City has assured the security and safety of devotees of Our Lady of Peňafrancia and visitors in the city during the week-long celebration of the tercentenary of Bicolanos’ devotion  to the Patroness of Bicolandia.

Naga City Mayor John Bongat said that an inter-agency task force has been formed composed of different agencies to ensure the safety of all devotees including local and foreign visitors.

Bongat said health and police personnel had be deployed in all areas  during the “Traslacion” on Friday (Sept.10), and the fluvial procession on Saturday, Sept. 18.

“As we celebrate the tercentenary of devotion to Our Lady of Penafrancia we are expecting huge number of local and foreign visitors,” Bongat said.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims, devotees, tourists come to Naga City every September for the nine-day festivities in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the Patroness of Bicol, endearingly called by Bicolanos as “Ina” (mother).

The festivities start with the famous Traslacion procession during which the images of the Lady of Peñafrancia and the Divino Rostro (Holy Face) are brought by barefooted male voyadores from the Penafrancia Shrine through the city main streets  to the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral.

This procession is participated in by thousands of devotees from all over Bicol and other parts of the country.

For the past three years, all the devotees of Our Lady of Penafrancia, have been one in preparing for the grand celebration of the Tercentenary of Devotion to her. The preparation stretched to three years since it corresponds to three important moments or phases of the thanksgiving celebration.

The Archdiocese of Caceres has outlined a three-year preparation for the tercentenary with each year centered on a particular theme and objective.

Year 1 (September 2007 to September 2008) whose theme is, Remembering the Gift of the Devotion to Ina, was dedicated to revisiting the history of the devotion in view of a deeper understanding of the same devotion.

Year 2 (September 2008 to September 2009) whose theme is Renewing the Faith through Ina, was dedicated to appreciating the devotees’ giftedness towards a more vibrant and relevant faith life.

In Year 3 (September 2009 to September 2010) whose theme is Sharing the Future in Hope, is dedicated to envisioning the future with the intent of sharing the fruits of the devotion to the next generations.

Year 2010 (September 2010), the church in Bicol will celebrate in thanksgiving the grace of 300 Years of Devotion. The over-all theme of the celebration is “A Gift received, a Gift to share”.

In his message, rector of the Basilica Minore, Msgr. Romulo A. Vergara, H.P., said, “As we continuously call for her (Ina) may we aspires to follow the example she has set for us and live our Christian faith.”

“She is not just our Mother, Model and Queen but a co-pilgrim who guides us in our journey as we try to form another phase of history in the coming future. Sharing the Future in Hope, manifest our dependence to the guidance of Ina in discovering the mystery of time. Her love will give us the clear vision of the future – that is the continuous invitation to follow her Son Jesus who will give us the real meaning of life,” he said.

The devotion started three hundred years ago in 1710, when Fr. Miguel Robles de Covarrubias had an image carved, a chapel built and processions held in honor of the miraculous image of the Virgin of Peñafrancia on account of the many favors he received through the help of the Virgin, especially pertaining to his health. Since then the devotion has grown and has even reached abroad.

Devotees’ accounts of healing and favors received through her intercession are a reason for the spread of the devotion. Many have come to Naga as curious visitors and left as devotees of the Virgin. In 2010, the devotion shall mark its 300th year.

US Peace Corps sponsors press gab

SCHOOL BUILDING INITIATIVE - Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte (second from right), who is currently the executive vice president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), with (left to right) DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, LPP president, Governor Alfonso Umali of Oriental Mindoro, and DBM Secretary Florencio Abad after their Sept. 2 meeting to discuss the counterparting scheme project whereby local government units will help DepEd build classrooms nationwide. - DOMENGRANERA

Over 350 high school student journalists from 15 public schools in Partido Area flocked to the San Jose National High School (SJNHS) as the United States (US) Peace Corps held the two-day Partido-Wide Journalism and Broadcasting Camp in partnership with SJNHS here on Sept. 3 and 4.

Vice Gov. Fortunato “Ato” Peña graced the event during the opening program and tackled extensively on the importance of responsible journalism to the group of young journalists.

“In our advocacy of promoting Christian Innovative Leadership, we have already introduced a number of innovations to what has always been purely legislative function of the Office of the Vice Governor. Our newly created SP Advisory Council is geared at addressing the specific needs of every sector in the community, but what is more important is our desire to promote Christian leadership in our constituency, which should also be the mantra for budding journalists,” Peña said.

SJNHS principal and SP Advisory Council director for Secondary Education, Guillermo Ortua Jr., spearheaded the event together with the 15 US Peace Corps volunteers.

The program comprised of lectures by the US Peace Corps on journalism including research techniques, interviews, rundown script and script writing, spotlight on environmental news, editorial, feature, and news writing, and computer use to enhance school media newspapers and broadcasting, geared at educating the students and upgrading their skills in the field of journalism.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan under Peña’s leadership is also set to launch a province-wide search for outstanding teachers as part of its programs to enhance the quality of education in Camarines Sur to fortify Gov. LRay Villafuerte’s massive campaign in building a more productive and globally competitive constituency. – DoodgeAndujar

NCF names new president

HORNBY

NAGA CITY  —  The Board of Trustees of the Naga College Foundation (NCF) has chosen Marguerite Michelle V. Padua-Hornby as the new college president vice Dr. Carlo P. Villanueva Sr., who retired last Tuesday, Aug. 31.

Since its founding in 1947, Naga College Foundation has been through three presidents: the late NCF founder, Dr. Melchor T. Villanueva, who managed the school for more than 50 years; his eldest son Dr. (Capt.) Roland P. Villanueva who took over in 1999 to 2001; and another son, Dr. Carlo P. Villanueva Sr., who recently retired.

Villanueva’s retirement in effect symbolizes the passing of  the torch of leadership from the 2nd to the 3rd generation of Villanuevas.

With the new NCF president’s assumption, the 3rd generation of Villanuevas has stepped in to chart the future of Naga College Foundation.

The younger generation of Villanuevas  have been well-prepared and well-exposed to the various aspects of school operations since most of them have been involved in the operations and administration of the school since they got out of college. This generation can be looked upon as being more aggressive, broadly travelled, and with enhanced ideals and plans for the NCF.

It was in the last quarter of 2009 when the chairman of the Board of Trustees, Benjamin P. Villanueva, appointed a 3rd generation Villanueva in the Board of Trustees to lead a Transition Committee to manage the succession process and to  assess who among the younger Villanuevas could be candidates for the NCF presidency.

This vital task was shouldered by Mario C. Villanueva, a board member since 2002 and a successful businessman.  He invited distinguished leaders in the local academic community to constitute the Search Committee.

The committee members include:  Fr. Wilmer Tria, program manager of the Consuelo Chito Madrigal Foundation-Bicol; Dr. Lourdes Anonas, executive vice president of the University of Nueva Caceres; Dr. Lydia Goingo, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the Ateneo de Naga University; Dr. Nenette Abrigo, dean of Graduate School at the Universidad de Sta. Isabel; and Tom Huntsman, a businessman from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and a Stanford University alumnus.

Six candidates underwent a rigid process that included a series of tests and panel interviews and an online leadership assessment.  Finally, in January of this year, the NCF community was presented with two finalists – Marguerite Michelle Villanueva Padua-Hornby, then the assistant vice president for Finance, and Ann Villanueva-Hidalgo, vice president for Administration.

The finalists were asked to give their respective presentations on the topic “The Future I want to Create for NCF and How to Bring the Organization There.”  This contributed to their final evaluation.

At last, after two weeks of waiting, the NCF Board of Trustees officially announced that the incoming/transition president is  Marguerite Michelle V. Padua-Hornby. 4th NCF president.

The investiture ceremonies for Hornby is slated Sept. 08, 2010.

In a leadership succession process hailed as peaceful and forward-looking, the 2nd generation Villanuevas will now act as senior advisers to the younger Villanuevas who will now be at the forefront of managing the institution and leading it towards new frontiers of achievement.

Belza named LP chairman in Buhi

BUHI, Camarines Sur —  Some 200 local leaders coming from this town‘s 38 barangays expressed their intentions to join the administration’s party before  Liberal Party (LP) Rinconada area coordinator Edcel Dimaiwat and LP legal counsel Celeste Lauta during a meeting Tuesday (Aug.31) at the residence of Buhi ex-mayor Diones Belza at Barangay Sagrada here.

LP STRENGTHENING - Buhi ex-mayor Diones Belza (center) is flanked by Liberal Party (LP) Rinconada Area coordinator Edcel Dimaiwat and LP legal counsel, lawyer Celeste Lauta during the meeting Aug. 31, which was attended by some 200 local leaders from Buhi who expressed their intentions to join the LP. Belza has been named as the party’s chair in Buhi.

Dimaiwat announced during the meeting that “The LP provincial leaders choose Belza to lead LP in Buhi due to his credibility, integrity and track records. We believe in the LP, that Mayor Belza can lead the party and will carry the programs and advocacy of President Noynoy Aquino towards a better Buhi and a better Philippines.”

“If there is a barangay elections comes October 2010 and our candidates win, all your requests and concerns will be directly forwarded to P-Noy upon the recommendation of the local party chairman. DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo will establish an office in Naga to facilitate said request,” “Dimaiwat told the local leaders.

For his part, Belza said that “I humbly accept the responsibility, and will work with LP to protect the interest of my leaders and the people of Buhi as well. Our shared vision for Buhi and the country will be pursued, and let’s start organizing to prepare for the Barangay Elections and future community works.”

Elected to compose Buhi’s LP directorate were: Diones Belza, chairman; Municipal Councilor Salvacion Salamanque, vice chairman; Erwin Villadares, secretary, and former town councilor Zoilo W. Haber, treasurer. Eight party coordinators will be chosen by Belza to represent the eight sectors of Buhi.

Six incumbent punong barangays, namely: Edgar Luz (Amlongan); Tito Cleofe (Burocbusoc); Rodrigo Sumalabe (San Jose Baybayon); Marlon Tabalde (De La Fe); Nazario Echipare (Monte Calvario) and Alejo Noblefranca (Ibayugan) and several aspirants for barangay posts left Lakas-Kampi and joined Belza and the LP.

Li Tuanqui’s devotion to ‘Ina’ recalled

This year’s Tercentenary celebration for Bicolandia’s most revered Patroness, Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, more popularly known as ‘Ina’, will not be totally complete without making mention of the two historic bells adorning the belfry of the centuries-old Our Lady of Peñafrancia Shrine in Naga City.

The antique and ancient bells were donated in 1863 and 1868 by Simon Li Tuanqui, a successful Chinese trader-philantropist converted to Catholic faith … and has since became a devotee of ‘Ina.’ The money for construction of the belfry itself was donated by him as recorded by the then Bishop of Nueva Caceres, Reverend Francisco Gainza, in his 1866 Bikol language account of the original and historical background of the Virgin of Peñafrancia.

A close scrutiny of the two man-sized Li Tuanqui bells by local historians showed one bearing the inscriptions: ‘PARA SA IGLESIA DE NTRA. SRA. DE PEÑAFRANCIA AÑO D. 1863 SIMON LI TUANQUI” while the other bore the inscription: “OBSEQUIO DE SIMON LI TUANQUI A NTRA. SRA. DE PEÑAFRANCIA AÑO 1868.”

Based on the same account of the scholarly Dominican Bishop Gainza, the name Simon given to Li Tuanqui was proof of his good standing with the Church hierarchy at that time. In fact, historians deduced that while others use the more common Hispanized variant, Simeon, his name was taken from Simon Vela, who before him dedicated his entire life in the service of the Blessed Virgin.

Simon Li Tuanqui wielded great influence among the local Chinese community whose most prominent contribution to the annual Marian celebration at that time was the preparation of the ‘Pagoda,’ a splendid vessel which carry the ‘Ina’ during the ‘Sakay’ or fluvial procession in honor of the Feast Day of the Virgin of Peñafrancia.

Li Tuanqui’s extraordinary devotion to ‘Ina’ was not only long remembered but also continued as a family tradition by his descendants. Married to a Bicolana, Maria Sarte of the prominent Sarte clan of Polangui, Albay, he begot three daughters and a son named Rufino Tuanqui who later served as the town mayor of Polangui, Albay, then as Provincial Board Member and finally as Governor of Albay Province in 1916.

In present times, one of his great grandsons, Marcial “Lito” E. Tuanqui, Jr., likewise well-known in the community as a civic leader, a former Board Member and Vice Governor of Albay and long-sitting President of the Albay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), among others, is spearheading the Li Tuanqui clan’s continued devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

This was again demonstrated in 1996 by their donation of a substantial amount which, together with the other devotees, was used to bankroll the renovation of the Peñafrancia Shrine belfry where the twin Li Tuanqui bells continue to toll calling the parishioners and devotees to the Blessed Virgin.

To date, according to Li Tuanqui, a big Filipino-Chinese community in Manila headed by Teresita Ang See, also known as a national anti-crime crusader, are making arrangements and bankrolling the production of exact replicas of the Li Tuanqui bells to be installed at the famous Kaisa Museum in Intramuros, Manila for their great religious and historical significance.

“The Li Tuanqui bells, both the originals adorning the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Shrine belfry and the replicas installed at the Kaisa Museum, do not only have tremendous religious, cultural and historical significance but also serve as a reminder as well as a motivation for the Bicolanos to heighten their faith and devotion to “Ina,” Lito Tuanqui said.