Origins of the Devotion to the Our Lady of Penafrancia

From Salamanca in Spain to Nueva Caceres (now Naga City), this is the story, in brief, of how the Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia captivated the hearts of the natives.

With 2024 marking 100 years since the Coronation of Bicol’s patroness, it is the perfect time to look back on how it all began.

Below is the timeline from the construction of the original chapel to the granting of the title Basilica Minore.

1710

The devotion is born

Fr. Miguel Robles de Covarrubias, upon the request of some natives, built a Chapel made of light materials near the banks of the river. He also commissioned a local artist to carve an icon based on the image he had always carried with him.

1741

The stone church is built

The present shrine was built by Bishop Ysidro Arevalo, replacing the bamboo and nipa chapel

1924

Canonical Coronation

The image was crowned under Pope Pius XI on September 20, 1924.

The Apostolic Delegate Archbishop Guglielmo Piani led the coronation rites at the Naga Cathedral Grounds.

Late 19th Century

Bishop Gainza renovates old church

Bishop Francisco Gainza renovates the church to accommodate a growing number of devotees.

1960

Devotion continues to grow, plans for a new church takes off

A three-hectare lot was donated to the church, paving the way for Archbishop Pedro P Santos's dream for another bigger church on the other side of the river

1976 to 1981

Construction of the new, bigger church

Construction began in April 18, 1976. With financing problems hounding it, construction was not completed until September 1981.

1985

Holy See grants title of Basilica Minore

After the inital dedication as Church of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia in May 22, 1982, the title "Basilica Minore" is granted on the request of Archbishop Lenorado Z. Legazpi, OP DD, three years later.