Feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia

The devotion to Our Lady of Penafrancia marked its tercentenary this year. The procession is one of the most well-attended in the Philippines, and in the province of Bicol, where this image is most fervently venerated and where she is known as 'Ina'-- Mother -- the celebrations take on an incredibly emotional character. It's said that a pagan Chinese sculptor once killed a dog and used its blood to stain the wood used to make the image; the sculptor then threw the carcass into the river. The Lady, probably incensed at the poor creature's death, brought it back to life; whereupon the dog was said to have immediately jumped out of the water, as if nothing had happened.