The Nuestra Señora de Penafrancia Association had its beginnings during the episcopacy of His Excellency Rev. Msgr. Jorge Barlin, the first Filipino Bishop and who was then the Bishop of Caceres. It was Msgr. Barlin who gave the approval of the association by a decree issued on September 10, 1908.

The earliest records of the Association are found in the archives of the Peñafrancia shrine. They contain the accounts of the meetings, activities, contributions in a 37 page book starting April 25, 1909 to September 24, 1916. The records show that the association started its activities six (6) months after its approval. The usual meeting place was at the convent of the metropolitan cathedral then referred to as “casa Paroquial” The Peñafrancia Sanctuary was just a shrine not yet a separate parish. During such meetings the chaplain of the shrine reports its income and expenses for the Flores de Mayo, Traslacion, and Novenario to the Parish Priest of the Cathedral presided by the President in preparation for the Traslacion. The report is made because the expenses are shared by the Association and the chaplain of the Shrine – The Chaplain (then and now) gets the funds from alms and contributions of the devotees. During meetings the President was usually assisted by the Spiritual Director who was the Parish Priest of the Cathedral. Sometimes the Caballeros de Colon was invited to a joint meeting to thresh out the common problems for the Peñafrancia celebration specially with regards to finances and collections of fees. Through out the years, the meetings were no different from our present day agenda a sample of the usual proceedings are as follows:

Date/Time - April 25, 1909 at 10:00 o’clock A.M.
Presiding - Doña Fabiana Sierra de Jacob, President
Spiritual Director - Fr. Damian Ravago, Parish Priest of the Cathedral
Present - Sra.Andrea Ravago, Lucila Seguenza, Martina Ruivivar, Evarista Flordeliza, Marta Abad & Brigida Siguenza.
Agenda - Opening Prayers

Reading and approval of the minutes of previous meeting. Approval of contribution of twenty centavos from each during the Flores the Mayo to decorate the sanctuario during the last day of the novena.
Having no other matters to discuss the meeting was adjourned.

Each member contribute Php. 0.50 centavos for the Peñafrancia Fiesta. The proposal for Php. 1.00 was voted down. In the early years of the Association there was no membership due collected. Contribution for certain amount was only collected when the need arises although regular contributions were observed for the Flores de Mayo and for the Peñafrancia festivities.

During the election of 1914 the Padre Capellan suggested the inclusion of male members so much so that Don Jose Crisol was elected Vice President of Doña Rafaela de del Villar

Repairs in the Sanctuary were undertaken by the Association together with the chaplain, so on July 28, 1912 repairs were made. Again on September 24, 1916 Doña Rafaela del Villar as President, improvements and repairs were taken up. The Father Director assigned Fr. Santiago Alcantalicio who was Vice Chaplain to take charge of the work. Funds came from solicitation throughout the region. Names of donors were supplied by the members of the Association. Every year around three months before the celebration of the Peñafrancia Festivities the members were given recibarios from which they collect alms from devotees in their respective districts in Naga where they are residing or from the parishes where some members resides. When the novena begins at the Cathedral door collections were carried during the duration of the Novena but this was removed when Msgr. Jaime San Andres became the parish priest of the Metropolitan Cathedral. It was during the years 1960’s up to the 1980’s that membership dues of the amount of P30.00/ year was being collected. During the meeting of July 4, 1987 the annual membership due was raised from sixty (P 60.00) pesos to P 120.00 effective January 1988.

There were several town chapters of the Association which reported their activities to the mother association. They also paid their dues to the mother association. The president pf the town chapter was called Vise Gerentes. The towns mentioned were Camaligan, Pamplona, Magarao and Ligao, Albay.

In the first years of the Association up to the time of the construction of the Basilica, membership in the Association was limited in member. As soon as a member died, a replacement usually, a kin of the deceased was voted upon by the Board. A welcome change was the enlargement of the membership and revival of the town chapters which had helped much in he construction of the Basilica Complex and some other projects which were undertaken in later years. This, we consider a symbol of the growing devotion of the Bicolanos for our Blessed Mother, the Virgen of Peñafrancia.

At the start of June 4, 1983 the meetings of the Association were held at the DM Hall of the Peñafrancia Shrine. There were two sets of officers, one for men and one for women. Engr. Pedro Serranzana was the President for men and Mrs. Damiana Ravanera, for women with Msgr. Sofio Balce as Spiritual Director. On July 2, 1983 there was an election held for two women Vice Presidents. Mrs. Emily P. Bichara and Mrs. Nena B. Sibulo were elected. With the death of Mrs. Damiaña Ravanera, the President for the Womens’ group, another election was made and Ms. Emily Bichara was elected President.

During the earlier years of the Association there was no Constitution and By-laws, but during the meeting on October 1, 1983 a committee to draft the constitution was formed composed of Atty. Exequiel Grageda, Atty. Delfin Rodriguez, Atty. Esteban Abonal, Atty. Rosario Torrecampo and Mrs. Virginia F. Perez. The Constitution was approved and ratified on July 1987 which had an amendment. Upon motion of the VP for External Affairs, Esteban Abonal Art. IX Sec. I of the Constitution which reads as follows: The term of Office of elected officers is three (3) years with no reelection. This provision was amended that the term of Office of validly, elected officers be for three (3) years without prejudice to reelection. The amendment was unanimously approved. Elections of Officers for 1993-1995 was made on the first Saturday of December. Msgr. Juan Celzo was made Chairman of the Election Committee. The set of Officers for 1990 to 1992 were re elected for another term.

January 18, 1984 a new Archbishop of Caceres was installed, Msgr. Leonardo Z. Legaspi. The Association greeted him in the afternoon of his installation. The meetings of the Association was now transferred to the Basilica Minore, starting March 1, 1986.

In the corporate meeting of October 1, 1987, Miss Crescenciana Anciano informed the Association of Gen. Salvador Mison’s willingness to raise P 80,000.00 for the 1988 Pagoda a resolution of acceptance was passed by the body. The body also approved that two recollections be hold during the year, one during Advent and the other during Lent.
Fr. Juan Celzo is now the new Spiritual Director of the Association as of August 5, 1988. Msgr. Sofio Balce has been assigned as Bishop of Cabanatuan. A delegation from the Association went to Cabanatuan during his installation.
Ex. Gov. Felix Fuentebella was appointed as the new Vice President for the men’s group as of February 4, 1989. The status of members were discussed specially those frequently absent, sick, invalid and incapacitated. A meeting will be held where this will be separately discussed and decided an amount of P300.00 will be allotted for wreath and a mass card for deceased members was approved by the body. The expenses for the pagoda was always assumed by the Chinese Catholics but for 1989 it has been shifted to the Association. One of the topics discussed during the November 4, 1989 meeting was to form units of the Association in the four districts of Camarines Sur. ( minutes of the meetng of the Association from June 1, 1983 to December, 1989 taken from files of Mrs. Ester de los Santos.)
The various activities undertaken by the Peñafrancia Association were the following.

1. The canonical coronation of the Virgen of Peñafrancia on September 20, 1924.
The crown used during the Coronation rites were studded with precious stones and were specifically ordered from Crispulo Zamora through the efforts of the members of the Association led by Eduardo Ontengco, the President of the Association and countless devotees.
2. The consecration of Bishop Francisco Reyes as Bishop of Caceres last September 19, 1925.
3. Consecration of Fr. Pedro S. Santos as Bishop of Caceres on December 13, 1937.

4. During the incumbency of Msgr. Florencio C. Yllana, the chaplain of the Peñafrancia Shrine he saw the need of expanding the Shrine to accommodate the increasing number of devotees flocking to the shrine an annex was constructed which was designed and supervised by Engr. Andres Bolinas and was finally inaugurated on Saturday, September 20, 1941 at 7:00 o’clock in the evening as recorded in the Souvenir Program for the event the members of Association de Peñafrancia who were sponsors were; Doña Conchita Abella de Diaz, Doña Rafaela Vera, Doña Porferia Vda. De Los Baños, Doña Pura Toral de Jacob, Hon. Domingo Imperial, Dr. Estelito Madrid, Dr. Arsenio Imperial and Don Emmanuel Siguenza. The program was as follows:

Marcha Pontifica......................Banda de Nabua
Algo de Historia......................R.P. Agapito Sacristan
Discurso en Espanol................Hon. Norberto Romualdez
Bendicion...............................Por el Excmo y Revmo
Discurso en Bicol.................... Dr. Pedro S. Santos
Hemno Official de la Virgen......Coro en Semincerion
Toastmaster..........................Abogado Exequiel Grageda

5. Considered as the most significant undertaking of the members if the Peñafrancia Association was their fund raising activities for the construction of the Basilica Complex. The idea for the construction of the Basilica Complex was conceived by the late Archbishop of Caceres Msgr. Pedro S. Santos. The final implementation of his plan was undertaken by the late Archbishop Msgr. Teopisto V. Alberto through the able Management of Auxiliary Bishop Msgr. Sofio Balce.

The most popular fund raising activities were the May Festival Santacruzan through the Reyna Elena Contest, visit to the Supermarket of INA, the September affair and Christmas caroling activities in Manila by the UNC Glee Club and in Naga City and other towns in Camarines Sur and some parts of the Bicol Region by the member of the Peñafrancia Association.

There were eight summer festivals which became a Reyna Elena popularity contest. Candidates for the contest must have the following qualifications:

a. Female, at least thirteen years of age and not more than twenty three years old.
b. She must be single, of good health, good moral character and a practicing Catholic.
c. She must be at least a high school student.

The contest proper begins with the Liturgical Presentation of the candidates which takes place on the month of April at the Peñafrancia Shrine, Five tittles are being contested namely Reyna Elena, Reyna de los Flores, Reyna de los Angeles, and Reyna Caridad, Before the Coronation night of the reynas at the Metropolitan Cathedral the Pageant of Reynas is held at the UNC Sports Palace or at St. Joseph School Auditorium. Movie personalities and Popular celebrities are invited like Imelda Papin, Janice de Belen and Others to grace the affairs. Admission is by tickets. One time the Obusan Cultural Dance Troupe was invited. The concluding ceremony was the coronation might of the reynas held at the Metropolitan Cathedral. This is followed by a grand procession around the City of Naga. The other candidates join the procession and they are also given their respective tittles.
The following have been crowned as Reyna Elenas

1979 Marivic Bonafe
1980 Maryselle Uy-Olivan
1981 Arlene San Pablo
1982 Janet Elaine Cheng
1983 Cecilia Zantua
1984 Gladys Beltrano
1985 Elizabeth Regala
1986 Julie Anne Raflores

The summer festivals had helped tremendously in raising funds for the building of the Basilica Complex. Its total financial contributions since 1979 until 1986 was P 2,182,000.00

6. During a special meeting on January 20, 1990 a committee was formed purposely to discuss the need of constructing a permanent pagoda for the annual fluvial procession. The final construction of the Pagoda was undertaken by the Bureau of Custom devotees under the leadership of Commissioner Salvador Mison. It was also made clear that the cost of labor for the pagoda would be shouldered by the Peñafrancia Association. The Peñafrancia Association was able to raise the amount of P 80,000.00. When this amount was being handed to Commissioner Mison he in turn donated it for the construction of the dry dock. This was the priority project of Phase II in 1992.

When Msgr. Alberto Nero became the new Spiritual Director of the Association Phase III which was the completion of the construction of the Museum was the main concern of the Peñafrancia Association for 1993, lead by Hon. Felix Fuentebella and his son Hon. Noli Fuentebella. The museum project which was managed through the Philippine Tourism authority under its manager Mr. Eduardo Joaquin cost amounted to P 1,900.000.00.

The Museum was blessed on December 8, 1993 by Msgr. Leonardo Z. Legaspi and was later turned over to the President of the Peñafrancia Association Hon. Felix Fuentebella by the Manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority, Mr. Eduardo Joaquin.

The Officers of the Peñafrancia Association were the following:
President............................ Hon. Felix Fuentebella
Vice President for Men.......... Judge Esteban Abonal
Vice President for Women..... Mrs. Ely L. Rodriguez
Secretary............................ Mrs. Nimfa S. Alberto
Treasurer............................ Mrs. Zenaida Villareal
Auditor............................... Ms. Cres D. Anciano
PRO................................... Atty. Augusto Pardalis

7. The most recent project undertaken by Peñafrancia Association was the Diorama Exhibit. This was a tri-dimensional presentation of the historico-religious tradition about Our Lady of Peñafrancia. This project was jointly undertaken with the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Pilgrimage Foundation. A joint Management Board was created to supervise the affairs of the museum chaired by the Rector of the Basilica Minore.

To show the strong support and interest of the members of Our Lady of Peñafrancia Association for this project ten donors of the twelve (12) dioramas were members of the Peñafrancia Association, three of which were families of the past presidents of the Association.

The blessing and opening of the Diorama Exhibit took place on November 24, 2001 and was officiated by Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi.

The following were officers of:

Our Lady of Peñafrancia Association
President................................... Hon. Esteban Abonal
Vice President........................... Mrs. Ely L. Rodriguez
Secretary................................... Mrs. Myrna R. Alanis
Treasurer................................... Dr. Vita Avenido
Auditor...................................... Mrs. Cecile S. Pardo
P.I.O......................................... Mrs. Patria R. Nale

Our Lady of Peñafrancia Pilgrimage Foundation Inc.

Chairman.................................. Msgr. Alberto N. Nero, H.P.
Vice Chairman.......................... Mr. Fidel Cu
Secretary................................... Mrs. Helen C. Hernandez
Treasurer................................... Mrs. Cecile S. Pardo
Auditor...................................... Mr. Allan Cu
Business Managers.................... Mrs. Melecia F. de Guzman
................................................. Mrs. Meriem R. Palacio
P.I.O.......................................... Judge Freddie Balonzo

Our Lady of Peñafrancia Joint Management Board. This body is composed of equal number of members from the Peñafrancia Association and the Peñafrancia Pilgrimage Foundation. Its main function is to supervise the affairs of the museum. The following are the members of the Joint Management Board Msgr. Alberto Nero, H.P.

Msgr. Alberto Nero, H.P.
Hon. Esteban Abonal Fr. Danny Imperial
Mrs. Visitacion Fuentebella Mr. Fidel Cu
Mrs. Zenaida Villareal Mrs. Helen Hernandez
Judge Mericia Palma

On the first Saturday of December 1995 there was an election of another set of Officers they were:

President....................................... Hon. Felix Fuentebella
Vice President for External Affairs....... Mrs. Ester Rodriguez
Secretary........................................ Mrs. Myrna Alanis
Treasurer........................................ Ms. Vita Avenido
Auditor............................................ Mrs. Cecile S. Pardo
P.I.O.............................................. Mrs. Visitacion Fuentebella

Upon the death of the President, the Vice President External Affairs took over the Presidency. On the first Saturday of December 2001, an election of new set of Officers for the years 2002-2004 was held. The elected Officers were:

President.............................................. Hon. Esteban Abonal
Vice President for External Affairs........ Atty. Edmundo Alberto
Vice President for Internal Affairs......... Mrs. Ester Rodriguez
Secretary.............................................. Mrs. Myrna Alanis
Treasurer.............................................. Ms. Vita Avenido
P.I.O..................................................... Mrs. Ma. Luz P. Vibar