UNEP Joins Tercentenary Celebration

The University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP), known for its matriarch's deep religiosity and devotion to Mama Mary is all set to join thousand of Marian devotees around the globe as the highlight of the Tercentenary celebration draws closer.

Aside from actively engaging themselves in various spiritual activities lined up by the Archdiocese, UNEP will also be sending its best singers from the world renowned UNEP Chorale to grace the occasion.  The university's talented students comprising the UNEP Culture and the Arts (CCA) will also be in attendance to give accolade to our Lady of Peñafrancia through their songs and moving performances.

UNEP will also take part in the Prayer Stations, a new innovation added by the organizers to emphasize the prayerful atmosphere of the Traslacion procession this coming September 10.  These stations will serve as reminder of the customary processions then when devotees would stop and offer a little prayer before completing the rest of the journey.

Fr. Andrew Recepcion, Chairman of the Tercentenary Executive Committee said that the prayer stations can serve as a "stop over" where devotees can stop and have some reflections about the events in the history of salvation in connection to his personal life.

"The purpose of this prayer stations is to remind all of us that we are on a journey of faith.  Through this latest addition to our usual route during the Traslacion, the procession will really be permeated with a prayerful atmosphere as oppose to the mentality that procession is something to be watched like a parade."

UNEP also became one of the venues of the local campus tours that the Archdiocese spearheaded.  The image of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia was brought at the university to give students time to reflect and pray.  The visit was also a way of spreading the devotion of faith to our Lady of Peñafrancia.

UNEP CCA has also prepared their own renditions of songs and dances as a tribute to Ina's bountiful blessings.  They will also participate during the tercentenary cultural events set at Covarubias Plaza, Peñafrancia Shrine in Naga City on September 9.

In an interview, UNEP Executive Vice President and concurrently UNEP's EVP for Finance Miss Deli Alfelor-Tibi, said that this is indeed the most appropriate time to give back to Mama Mary all the pieces of good fortune that she has given us.

"Mama Mary has been and will always be a moving inspiration for all of us here at the university, especially for my mother. Everything that we have achieved was because of the great faith that we have for her."

From her vivid recollection, Miss Deli recalled how her mother, UNEP's matriarch, Dr. Remedios Rigoroso-Alfelor, poured her devotion to Mama Mary. "She never missed out praying the rosary, also generously sharing that faith among her siblings and to the UNEP community."

"The Alfelors, especially our dear Wawa, are really devout Catholics.  They started nurturing that faith in their own homes, among their family members, among their siblings and grand children and liberally spread that faith to the entire university community. Our participation is also our way of bringing back the gratitude to the one mother that we all call our Ina," Atty. Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda, UNEP President said in closing.   (Lizel S. Macatangay)