THE installation of Most Rev. Jose R. Rojas to the Prelature of Libmanan as its second bishop this week is, using a Scriptural simile, like pouring new wine into old wineskin.

        The town of Libmanan, the seat of the Prelature, is one of the oldest settlements in Bikol. Dr. Zeus Salazar of the University of the Philippines has contended that the settlement in Libmanan had its own oral literature some 500 years before the discovery of the Philippines by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. Dr. Salazar’s contention is based on his studies on the lukdo – a cover of a burial jar reportedly unearthed in a barangay of Libmanan, now one of the items displayed in the Museo Seminario of the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in Naga City.

        The lukdo has figurines depicting the adventures of Handiong and the ancient anito worship of the natives. Dr. Salazar even claims that the civilization of Libmanan antedated that of Naga.

        Perhaps this brand of heroism and “Handiongism” is in the bloodline of the natives in Libmanan. History gave testimony to this kind of patriotism in the participation of the pillars of Masonry, some of whom were sons of Libmanan, in the campaign against the colonial rule of Spain in Bikol.

        It is not only the town of Libmanan which has a very glorious history. The municipalities of Pasacao, Ragay and Minalabac --- all located in the Prelature of Libmanan ---- have equally heroic tales about their people.

        It may be deduced then that the Prelature of Libmanan, with its glorious past could have an equally glorious future in matters spiritual under the youthful leadership of Most Rev. Jose R. Rojas.

        If such a youthful energy of a religious leader can work hand in hand with the equally youthful energy of Presidential son, Congressman Dato Arroyo, then there is nothing the Prelature and the first district of Camarines Sur could wish for that shall remain elusive.

        But such youthful energy, like new wine, may burst old wineskins.

        Consider the case of various renovations that churches in the diocese may undertake. There are old architectural structures and designs in churches that should be preserved, not demolished and replaced with new structures. The passion for new and modern constructions should be tempered with the cultural and historical values a structure has.

        The respect and esteem shown to local history and culture cannot just be confined within the first district of Camarines Sur much less within the Prelature. The deference should also be observed anywhere in the province, in the cities of Naga and Iriga.

        This calls to mind the renovation being undertaken in the old shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City.

        The Peñafrancia shrine is as valuable a treasure to the devotion of Bikol’s Ina as the lukdo is to the literary history of Libmanan. Tampering with devotional treasures is taboo, to say the most, or should be done with caution backed up with proper research, to say the least.

        This reminds us of that incident in 1997 when the Tuanqui bells of the Peñafrancia shrine were about to be shipped to a Chinese museum in Manila. The devotees of the Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia had the least idea that an exchange of bells --- the old for new ones ---- was taking place right under their noses. Alarmed that such a deal was a pagolog-olog on the devotion, the devotees rose as one in condemning the exchange.

        Perhaps there is a need for Ina’s devotees to rise again as one against the construction being undertaken right on the altar of the Peñafrancia shrine. The devotees of Ina are not made aware of what is going on and what changes shall be introduced in the project.

        New leadership in the Roman Catholic Church is most welcome. But like new wine, these new leaders in their penchant for introducing change may hurt the cultural and devotional sensitivity of Bikolanos. The change may turn worse, if these leaders are non-Bikolanos.