Travel Philippines: Our Lady of Peñafrancia Basilica

Hubby just came back last Friday from a 4 day business trip in the Bicol Region specifically in Naga and Legazpi cities. He visited their 2 radio stations there in preparation for their annual maintenance this coming Holy Week and for other technical concerns. Before he left I told him to take pictures of prominent landmarks in the cities so I can share it in my blog. Among the photos he was fortunate to take on his short visit is the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Basilica located at Balatas Road, 4400 in Naga City. Below are pictures and short information about the said basilica.

The Our Lady of Peñafrancia Church was built in 1711 by Rev. Miguel Covarrubias and it houses the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. He constructed this church in fullfillment of the vow he made during his youth. The second church was built in 1750 by Bishop Isidoro de Arevalo, repaired and improved in 1876-1877 by Bishop Francisco Gainza. The image was solemnly crowned by the Rt. Rev. Guillermo Piano on September 20, 1924.

The concept for the building the Basilica Minore came from Archbishop Pedro P. Santos in 1960. Construction began on April 18, 1976, but was delayed for a number of years due to finance problems and was not completed until September, 1981.

On May 22, 1982 it was dedicated as The Church of Nuestra Señora de Peña de Francia and it wasn't until May 22, 1985 that the Church was given the title of "Basilica Minore" from Rome after a request from the third Archbishop of Caceres, Leonardo Z. Legaspi.

The Peñafrancia Basilica Minore houses an image of the virgin Mary that was sculpted in 1710. It was commissioned by Miguel de Cobarrubias who moved to the Philippines from Spain with his family and believed that the virgin Mary had helped him numerous times in his life.