HISTORY OF THE DEVOTION OF OUR LADY OF PENEFRANCIA Naga City, Philippines - The Blessed Mother under her title of Our Lady of Penafrancia is the patroness of Bicolandia under the ecclesiastical province of the Archdiocese of Caceres which includes the suffragan dioceses of Legazpi, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate and Libmanan. The region south of Luzon Island in the Philippines is inhabited approximately by almost five million Bicolanos. Bicol is one of the ten major ethnic ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines. The Bicolanos are renowed for their religiousity and devotion to the Catholic Church. Christianity was introduced to Bicolandia by the Franciscans and other Spanish-Mexican Mendicant Orders. She has been called many names in different regions of the Philippines. Some of them are the following: Nuestra Señora de Caridad to Ilocanos; Our Lady of Manaoag to the people of Pangasinan; Lady of Piat to Cagayanos; Nuestra Señora del Rosario de la Naval or Nuestra Señora de Antipolo to the Tagalogs, and many others. Perhaps, one of her most notable names is Our Lady of Peñafrancia, more warmly called INA or Mother, by the Bicolanos. This intense devotion to Mother Mary by the Bicolanos can be traced back in Spain. One of the many Catholic traditions is the Marian devotion. We, the Filipinos, especially the Bicolanos, have that extraordinary, exceptional, and devoted love for Mother Mary -- the Mother of Jesus, and our Mother, too. We believe that she will intercede for us, and will lift our prayers up to God; thus, there is strong belief and unshakable faith that our prayers are answered through the intercession of the Blessed Mother. Celebrating Penafrancia is one of the most awaited events especially for the bicolanos, because it shows how they loved Mama Mary and important Mama Mary for them. I can say that my Devotion for Ina will remain strong.