18/08/2026
A Day with Inang Virgin de Peรฑafrancia
When Faith Filled the Halls of Sipocot National High School
SIPOCOT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL | AUGUST 17, 2026
There are days when a school becomes more than a place for learning when its classrooms become spaces of prayer, its corridors echo with faith, and its people gather not only as teachers and learners, but as one community.
Yesterday, August 17, Sipocot National High School welcomed a cherished Bicolano symbol of faith the Image of Our Lady of Peรฑafrancia, affectionately known as Inang Birhen. At around 10:00 in the morning, faculty members, school personnel, and students gathered to welcome the sacred image, filling the school grounds with reverence, gratitude, and the familiar cry of devotion: โViva La Virgen!โ
For a moment, the usual rhythm of school life gave way to something quieter and more profound.
A SCHOOL THAT PRAYED AS ONE
Students were given a meaningful time for prayer and reflection, particularly those under the Values Education Department, led by Mrs. Ellen B. Saulon, together with the teachers of her department.
The gathering became more than a religious activity. It offered students an opportunity to pause from their daily routines, reflect on their values, and express their hopes and gratitude through prayer.
Amid the presence of the sacred image, young voices grew still, heads bowed in prayer, and hearts united by a shared sense of faith.
It was a reminder that education does not end with books, lessons, and examinations. It also nurtures the values that shape young people into compassionate, responsible, and grounded individuals.
WHEN FAITH FILLED THE COVERED COURT
As the afternoon unfolded, the school community gathered once more.
At around 2:00 p.m., a Holy Mass was celebrated and attended by students from both Junior High School and Senior High School, together with members of the teaching and non-teaching personnel.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Rev. Fr. Aldrin R. Adolfo, Parish Priest of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Tara, Sipocot, Camarines Sur.
The solemnity of the celebration was sustained through the cooperation of the entire school community. Under the administration of Principal IV Mr. Manuel D. Buere, the school ensured that the celebration remained orderly, peaceful, and prayerful a fitting atmosphere for an occasion centered on faith and devotion.
For the students, the Mass became a moment to listen, reflect, and pray together. For the teachers, it was an opportunity to accompany their learners not only in their academic journey but also in the values and traditions that connect generations.
THE FAREWELL OF A BELOVED INA
Then came the hour of farewell.
At around 4:00 in the afternoon, the sacred image of the Virgin of Peรฑafrancia was once again carried in procession as she continued toward her next destination.
As the image slowly moved away from the school, the crowd responded with the unmistakable cry that has long been woven into the spiritual identity of Bicolandia:
โVIVA LA VIRGEN!โ
The voices were more than a customary greeting. They carried gratitude. They carried respect. They carried the affection of a community grateful for the opportunity to welcome the beloved Ina into their school.
For a few hours, Sipocot National High School was transformed into a place where faith, education, and community converged.
And when the image finally continued on its journey, she left behind more than memories of a visit. She left a quiet reminder to the SNHS community: that amidst the demands of school life, there is always room to pause, to pray, to give thanks, and to walk together in faith.
Perhaps that was the true gift of Inang Birhen's visit not simply that she passed through the halls of a school, but that for one unforgettable day, she brought the school community together as one family in prayer.
VIVA LA VIRGEN!
VIVA INANG PEรAFRANCIA!
VIVA LA VIRGEN!
๐ท Lleam Paul Saulon/Jasmin Fe Luciรฑada/Shekinah Cortezano/Aira Ebuenga/Julian Kate Perido
