Albay’s Magayon Festival 2024 is purposely different from its previous installations as the first-ever Inang Magayon Grand Maritime and Marian Procession of the heavenly patroness of Albay, Nuestra Señora de Salvacion de Joroan, was held successfully marking a history of the month-long celebration in the province.
The said processions kicked-off the activities aimed to emphasize Albayano’s reflection on the religious aspect of the celebration thereby furthering its connection to the rich arts and culture that the province possessed.
Gov, Grex Lagman emphasized in his message after the holy mass held at Sawangan Park the need for the province’s support to these religious activities.
“An satuyang debosyon bilang mga katoliko, bilang mga aki kan simbahan, sa hiling ko kaipuhan tawan ta nin maray na paagi, ki suporta hali sa lokal na gobyerno kan probinsya.”
Magayon’s ‘beauty’ found in unified Albayanos
Lagman also emphasized that the ‘beauty’ of these endevours lie in its power to unify all Albayanos.
“Aram tabi nindo mga tugang, igwang pigtataram sa konstitusyon about sa separation of the church and state, pero sa arog kaining mga bagay sa hiling ko, nata pa kita maseparar? Yaon kita digdi po para suportaran an sarong simbahan na nagtutubod na magkaigwa kitang aktibismo sa satuyang paggiging mga aki nin Mahal na Dios, asin of course, Birheng Maria… Saro ining unifying force, saro ining unifying factor para po kita talagang tunay na magkasararo bilang mga Albayano,” Lagman stated.
With this, he then announced that the succeeding years of Magayon Festival’s installation will always include religious festivities, which will form part of the ‘faith tourism’ in Albay.
“Mga tugang asahan tabi nindo sa mga maabuton pang mga installment kaining Magayon Festival, pirmi na po kairiba ining mga religious festivities, an pagpahiling ta kan satuyang debosyon bilang mga Katoliko.”
The first Grand Maritime and Marian Procession was held through sea travel of “Ina” together with the devotees from Tiwi to Sawangan, Legazpi; and from there, a land parade to Albay Cathedral joined with 52 images of The Virgin Mary with the “Conradas y Veneradas” from all over the Philippines which includes the Nuestra Señora de Desamparados de Marikina, Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, La Inmaculada Concepcion de Malabon, Nuestra Señora dela Regla de Cebu, Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Libmanan, Nuestra Señora dela Paz y Buen Viaje de Samar, Niestra Señora de Candelaria de Tondo and many more.
(Source: Albay PIO)