Jorge I. Barlin (1850-1909). The first Filipino bishop, consecrated in 1906. He was ordained priest in 1875. A young priest that he was, he was well-respected by his parishioners and by political leaders. As the pastor of Sorsogon, Sorsogon at the turn of the 21stcentury, the last Spanish civilian governor of Sorsogon entrusted to him the administration of the province until a smooth transition to the occupying American forces. His name is in the annals of Philippine jurisprudence as well, for his vigorous defense of the Catholic Church's ownership of churches and properties from the break-away Philippine Independent Church (PIC) prelates. In 1902 he was offered supreme prelacy of the PIC by no other than the founder of the Aglipayan Church, Padre Gregorio Aglipay, to which he curtly replied: "Prefiero ser lampazero a ser la cabeza de su iglesia cismatica,"(I prefer to be floor sweeper than to be the head of your schismatic church.) Bishop Barlin died in Rome in 1909 during a visit to give report to the Holy Father.

Amang Hinulid, as popularly called by his devotees and beneficiaries, is an image of the Lord Jesus in repose in his tomb. Thousands of pilgrims coming from far flung localities would flock in Barangay Sta. Salud in Calabanga town only to plant kiss to the image. To fulfill a promised "pagsongko", one must devote himself into walking a twelve-kilometer road stretch, if he comes from Naga, in the late night of Maundy Thursday or in the early hours of Good Friday. There are many accounts foretold by the family who owned the statute about supernatural events that took place indicating that indeed Amang Hinulid is a miraculous image. One narrative tells of a man with hemorrhoids who had been healed upon dabbing the affected area with a cotton ball soaked in coconut oil from the chapel's vigil lamp. There are other similar stories recounted which revealed what the image of Amang Hinulid can do about a person's health in both body and spirit.

CamSur Mobile Passport Service to Resume

by voxbikol on Sat, 09/01/2010 - 21:00

PILI, Camarines Sur, Jan. 5- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Regional Consular Office in Bikol will resume its Mobile Passport Service (MPS) to cater to the passport needs of residents in Camarines Sur who wishes to go abroad for employment or tour purposes.

MPS is an initiative of Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte, in partnership with DFA Legazpi City RCO, aimed to provide ease and convenience to local populace as they no longer have to travel far to secure their passports.

The Camarines Sur Employment Center (CSEC) here said the MPS will resume the regular twice a month processing this month.

Lucia Villanueva, CSEC chief, said the passport servicing for this month will be on the Jan. 14 and 15.

Villanueva said the schedule was set by the DFA design to give fast passport service to the residents of Camarines Sur.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) has set up a mobile office at the provincial capitol so that supporting documents such as marriage and birth certificates needed in the issuance of passports could be easily and quickly secured by passport applicants. (PNA)

Aurora in Camarines Sur

Like any other province in the Philippines, the province of Camarines Sur also celebrates every May the so-called Aurora although this is done with much distinction. Every town and city in this province religiously participate into this old-age practice which might be inherited from the Spaniards.

Aurora, as it was known to many religious town folks, is a small processional of a group of 20 to 30 people including children withlighted candles or torches. This group sing songs of prayer and penance which is known as alabasyon dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. While  men and women chant these songs, a small andas or altar decorated with flowers made out of crepe paper is carried by two andas bearers,usually two grown up boys. This andas carries the statute of the VirginMary.

This religious custom is another manifestation of a deep and sincere devotion ton te Blessed Virgin Mary as the mother of God by the people of Camarines Sur.