Pueblo amante de Maria

This is a beautiful eight minute video showcasing the devotion to Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia (Our Lady of Penafrancia) in the province of Bicol. The procession in honor of Our Lady, held annually on September, is one of the most well-attended in the country, drawing a crowd of millions to the province. Incidentally, Bicol remains one of the most staunchly Catholic provinces in the entire country, with around 97% to 98% of its population being baptized members of the Roman Catholic Church; it, too, has had a long history of men and women entering the priesthood or the various religious orders which dot the country. It is a great pity that my long-planned Bicol vacation did not materialize-- I would have loved to visit the Basilica where Our Lady is enshrined, and there pay my respects to her.