A Lesson for Eternity

Fr. Miguel Robles de Covarrubias was within his first decade of priesthood when he changed the course of history.  His story is a classic example of how a man's personal convictions can influence 300 years and a world beyond his wildest dreams. His life's work is a perfect proof of the wisdom of God's ways.

His family hailed from Spain where the people were devotees of Our Lady of Pena de Francia. As a sickly child, he would hold a picture of Our Lady when the pain set in. As a priest, he knew that the Blessed Mother was his most loyal ally. He vowed to dedicate in her honor a chapel by the Pasig River. But he was assigned to serve the Diocese of Nueva Caceres, appointed as Vicar General of the Naga Cathedral and ministered to the cimarrones. All these happened before he was forty years old.

The native artisan sculpting the first image of Ina, the dog that came back to life after being drained of its blood, the first chapel made upon the request of the cimarronnes - they were all vital in the birth of the devotion in Naga.  And what hinged them was Fr. Covarrubias' desire to be a good pastor and to show his gratitude to a woman who brought him closer to God.

Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P.,D.D. called Fr. Coverubbias coming to Naga as a divine design.  In his homily during last year's feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia he said "Recalling the history of Peñafrancia, our devotion came to us through Fr. Miguel Robles de Covarrubias. Through him and through the cimarrones, this devotion was entrusted to us. Our forefathers have received countless favors from our Ina and they have promised and expressed their commitment to continuously offer praise and thanksgiving to God and Mary.

"But then we may ask, did all these happen by accident? Was it by accident that Ina, Our Lady of Peñafrancia came to us? Was it by accident that Fr. Covarrubias was called here in Nueva Caceres by Bishop Andres Gonzalez? Was it by accident that the cimarrones asked for a chapel of their own? Was it by accident that the place was near a river? Was it by accident that this devotion was entrusted to Bikolanos?"

By present day standards, Fr. Covarrubias would not be someone we could call a hero - there was nothing amazing about his decision to facilitate the construction of the chapel.  When he told the cimarrones about Our Lady, it was not surprising. It is a common to tell other people what we believe in.  When the governor accused him of abetting the cimarrones who were not known for their loyalty to the government, what's unusual in that?  Political leaders are commonly allergic to dissenters and suspicious of people who support them. But in the ordinariness of all these, Fr. Covarrubias became an instrument for us to receive something that bridges us to eternity.

Archbishop Legaspi said in the same homily "My dear devotees, nothing happens by chance in our lives. Everything has its own reason and God has a plan for all of us. This gift of devotion is not an accident. It is a grace from God. The love of God for us is not by chance or accident alone. This love is a choice."

I was cold as a statue when I heard about the plan to construct the Plaza de Covarubbias.  I was not excited about it.  Growing up in a country of white elephants and people who beg for food beside massive yet irrelevant concrete, it's a knee jerk reaction to think that constructing this plaza is not a priority.

When historic premises are made over, I look for reasons other than aesthetics.  When functional structures are torn down, I wonder if there is a purpose other than satisfying a whim.  The transformation of the patio of the Peñafrancia Parish Church was not without anxiety and pain.

But I trust this Plaza de Covarrubias to remind us that even in ordinary situations, we can touch eternity.  And as history is written about the devotion to Ina, I hope that we could write it well.