The traslacion of the image of the Nuestra Señora de Peña de Francia from the Basilica Minore in barangay Balatas to the Metropolitan cathedral along Elias Angeles Street marks the start of a week-long festivity for Bikol’s Ina. It virtually converts the City of Naga into a pilgrim city, into the spiritual capital of the region, into a seat of Marian pilgrimage.

        It is for this reason that Archbishop of Caceres Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P., D.D. wrote an open letter dated August 15, 2008 to Mayor Jesse M. Robredo, published in the September 4, 2008 issue of the Bicol Mail. In the letter the archbishop urged the mayor “to re-examine the activities lined up in connection with the Peñafrancia Fiesta” and to “hold sacred (our special bond with our Ina) and preserve the solemnity of her feast”. The archbishop was dissuading the mayor to grant permit to those (activities) that “tarnish the dignity of our place and our people.”

        Further wrote the archbishop: “Last year the street parties have only resulted in wild rioting, public drunkenness and disorder. I urge you not to allow street parties and other similar activities.”

        The archbishop clearly stated that while all the revelry and civic activities are part and parcel of the week-long festivities, the City Mayor should not lose sight of the reason for the celebration.

        A cursory look at the calendar of event released by the Office of the Mayor reveals that almost everyday something keeps the city agog. Three events are scheduled to use the streets: the Grand Matador Bull Ride and Ginebra Videoke Challenge whose venue is Evangelista Street, the San Miguel Beer Grand Street Party with the DAWN whose venue is Avenue Square, and the San Miguel Beer Street Party with the MoonStar88 whose venue is the West Park.. Another that will make use of a street is the Bakbakan sa Danlugan (It should be Dalhogan which is the Bikol for embarkation point; there is no such thing as Danlugan in Bikol, unless perhaps the City Mayor intends to coin a word to describe the hurts and bruises of the bakbakan) set a the Peñafrancia landing arch. Taking into account the plea of the archbishop not to have street parties, these three events make use of streets that may hamper traffic flow, and for sure, do not preserve the solemnity of the Marian feast. There is no such thing as by giving honor to the Nuestra Señora de Peña de Francia getting drunk in a street or by smashing another’s face. At best this violates the vity ordinance prohibiting the drinking of liquor in streets and the City Mayor is the first to violate it.

        Among other events that lose sight of the reason for the joy and celebration of the Peñafracia festivities are the Miss Gay Bicolandia Finals, the 10-hour long Military Street Parade Competition, and a number of flesh-baring contests. We are confident in stating that in no moment in these events are religious sentiments for the Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia ever enkindled among the participants or that the participants in these activities are dedicating their number for Bikol’s Ina.

        All the fuss about street parties and the other activities that envelop the city for the month of September have at bottom line the issue of revenue. The City of Naga under Mayor Jesse M. Robredo has always given supreme importance to revenue. It is a city that has not earned the award as investment-friendly for nothing. For the City Mayor, the more income gets into its coffers, the better for the city. The month of September and its attendant Peñafrancia activities are opportune moments that the city cannot afford to miss.

        One passage in the Gospel narrates that just before the Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons and money changers were sitting there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them out of the Temple, knocked the money changers ’tables and said: My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples but you have turned into a den of thieves.”

        The City of Naga is the seat of Marian Pilgrimage in September. The calendar of events in it shows that this pilgrim city is fast becoming “a den of thieves.”