Advisories & News
Press Release
Philippine Consulate General in Toronto Joins the Bicolanos in Toronto in the Celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia
2021-10-19
PR-2021-59
16 October 2021, Toronto – This year’s successful celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia or INA, the Patroness of the Bicol Region, was held in Scarborough in Toronto on Saturday, 18 September 2021.
The officers and members of the Bicol Canada Community Organization (BCCA), headed by its President Earl Francis Dacara, organized the whole day event celebration, which coincided with the festivities held in Naga City in the Philippines. There was the Translacion or procession of Our Lady of Peñafrancia at the Bluffers Park Marina, a fluvial or yacht parade along Bluffers Park Lane, and the Holy Mass in the evening at the Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) Parish in Bathurst, Toronto.
According to BCCA President Dacara, the annual celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia has been practiced in Canada for more than 15 years now. It is one way of enriching the Catholic faith. Pre-pandemic, there were an estimated 400 to 500 devotees in attendance but now it has been limited to 100 religious due to health protocols in effect in Canada. In Naga City, they use bancas for the fluvial procession but in Canada they use boats and yachts. This year’s celebration, with the support of the Black First Yacht Club, saw 12 yachts parading. The Black First Yacht Club is a member of both the BCCA and the Bluffers Park Yacht Club in Scarborough, and has included the annual feast in its programmed activities.
The annual festivity honoring the Queen of Bicol shows the extraordinary devotion and love of the devotees to Mother Mary. According to Mr. Dacara, it is also one way for Bicolanos in Canada to get-together and celebrate and enrich their faith, as well as celebrate the Filipino culture and tradition.
Consul General Orontes V. Castro joined the many devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia at he Holy Mass capping all the events of the religious celebration. The Mass was celebrated by Reverend Monsignor Edgardo Pan of St. Rose of Lima Parish, together with OLA Pastor, Reverend Father Lorenzo Salandanan, and OLA priests Reverend Fathers Norberto Eyule and Joseph Baal.
After the Mass, Consul General Castro presented the Consul General’s Quincentennial Awards to BCCA President Dacara, Father Lorenzo Salandanan (Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Assumption Church), and Reverend Monsignor Edgardo Pan for their invaluable effort and activities to foster unity among the Filipino Community and continued support to the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto. – END
