SAN AGUSTIN, Pili, Camarines Sur—“Since I got married and started my family, I always fall in line to touch “Ina” at the Basicilica Minore of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. That is why, I always grab this opportunity to carry Ina as a prayer sacrifice for my family,” related Rowena Obias who regularly volunteered to carry the “andas” of the icon of “Ina” during the annual visit at the Department of Agriculture here.
DA-Bicol employee and devotee Nenita E. Ramirez also shared the same intention of carrying Ina for almost 10 years now during this annual visit to the office—“lodok sa boot ko na magbulig kay “Ina” para sa mga aki ko na makatapos asin magkatrabaho (I wholeheartedly carry Ina for my children to graduate and have work).”
The two members of the DA Ladies Employees Association (DALEA) were joined by more than a hundred employees of DA during the “Pagsungko ni Ina” sa DA last August 23-24, 2018.
According to Rev. Fr. Daniel Vegas, Parochial Vicar of the Parish of St. Raphael the Archangel and in-charge of the visitation of Ina to different offices and barangay chapels of Pili, this annual activity of the parish will help in the propagation of devotion to Ina in preparation for the celebration of her feast on September 16, 2018 in Naga City.
After the procession around the compound of the DA, hourly vigils were made by the different divisions and sections of the office and some families staying inside the office compound.
A farewell mass was celebrated by Father Vegas at the DA chapel.
His message was centered on the human nature to love, the allocation of service to other people, productivity and sustainability just like our Ina—the Regional Patroness of Bicol. (jaysonmgonzales with photos by Raymond Adversario)