Submitted by Vox Bikol on
NAGA CITY (August 3, 2011) – During the celebration of this year’s Peñafrancia Fiesta, the Naga City government shall strictly carry out events that won’t offend the sensibility of the religious sector.
This was the statement issued by Naga City Mayor John Bongat in a conference with the local media when asked about the activities that the city government lines up for the annual Peñafrancia Fiesta celebration this September.
He said the city government shall see to it that the events that they will approve shall conform to the wishes of the Archdiocese of Caceres.
Mayor Bongat said he does not want to hurt the solemnity of the Peñafrancia Fiesta celebration which this year marks the tercentennial devotion to Ina.
Previously, the Naga City government tolerated activities during the Peñafrancia Festival that the local clergy did not approve of.
There were times when the local Catholic hierarchy here clashed with the city administration because the latter allegedly did not recognize the solemnity of the celebration by allowing concerts, parades, binges and other events that hurt the Church.
According to Bongat, the city government shall coordinate with the local Church here to avoid frictions during the Peñafrancia celebration. (Noriel Oya)