Not every devotee of the Virgin of Penafrancia knows that the original pedestal used in the Canonical Coronation of the image on September 20, 1924 has been missing for the past 12 years.

Per documentation provided the local media by Rev. Fr. Roy Remo, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Caceres, sometime in 1998 Msgr. Alberto Nero, rector of the Penafrancia Basilica Minore, commissioned a certain sculptor in Metro Manila to repair the more than 74-year old “ pedestal.” Napoleon Bisog, a helper of the sculptor in arranging flower decorations for Ina, witnessed the handing over of the “pedestal “ to the sculptor . This event was recorded in video but the footage is nowhere to be found.

After bringing the artifact to Manila, the sculptor instructed his carver to make a replica of the artifact. Made was a replica which was bigger than the original, which the sculptor gave to Msgr. Nero who never thought that it was not the original one.

This sequence of events was narrated by Napoleon Bisog to Edgar Claros Dy, grandson of Dr. Salve Claros, M.D. Napoleon Bisog and Edgar Claros Dy have known each other because both would help in the decoration of Ina’s sanctuary, altar, and andas during the Peñafrancia novena week.

On Februray 2009 the sculptor died leaving all his precious artifacts under the care of his grandson.

On December 2009, a certain Darwin Cosme, another helper in the shop of the deceased sculptor and companion of Napoleon Bisog, met Edgar Claros Dy and told the latter that the pedestal used during the 1924 Canonical Coronation of the Image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is in the possession of sculptor’s grandson. He also urged Edgar Dy to get it immediately as the family of the artifact might be shipped to an unknown location.

On February 2010, Darwin Cosme and Edgar Claros Dy went to the house of the grandson, to see for themselves the pedestal. They saw it at his garage but the gtrandson did not permit to bring it with them.

On March 24, 2010, Fr. Roy Remo met with Dr. Salve Claros to interview her on the miracles of Ina. She told Fr. Remo regarding the “discovery” and requested Fr. Remo to accompany her to the Archbishop to get an authorization letter to retrieve the missing artifact.

On March 25, 2010, Dr. Claros met with the Archbishop who gave her the authorization letter to receive for and in behalf of the Archdiocese the repaired “pedestal”.

On March 27, 2010 at 10:00 p.m. at the house of Eric de los Santos, the group of Edgar Claros Dy, Darwin Cosme and Napoleon Bisog through the authority of the Archbishop recovered the original pedestal. The following day at 7:00 in the evening they left Manila with the pedestal loaded in a Pajero.

On March 29, 2010 at 7:00 am, the pedestal arrived in Naga and was brought first to the house of Dr. Claros, who called Fr. Remo to fetch the base from her house. Incidentally, the Most Rev. Gilbert Garcera, D.D., who for sometime was a Vice-Rector of the Basilica Minore, was at Dr. Claros’ home and attested to the authenticity of the pedestal as the one being used by Ina as long as he could remember.

On the same day, Ms. Fabiana Arejola, curator and historian, also attested to the authenticity of the pedestal. At 4:00 p.m. Dr. Claros, Edgar Dy, Dr. Del Gallego and Fr. Remo went to the Archbishop to present the recovered artifact. The Archbishop received it and requested Fr. Remo to make the documentation on the recovery of the artifact. He also requested Dr. Claros to help Fr. Remo find a picture of the coronation of Ina in 1924 to serve as the basis for the declaration of the authenticity of the artifact. He also summoned Msgr. Juan Celzo and Msgr. Juan Buentiempo to identify the artifact.

On March 30, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. the Archbishop summoned Msgr. Romulo A.Vergara to present to him the recovered base. It was decided, however, to keep first the base inside the office of the Archbishop.

On March 31, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Ms. Fabiana Arejola, Dr. Claros and Edgar Dy came to the Archbishop’s Residence bringing with them a 1959 picture showing Ina being enthroned on on a pedestal.

On April 1, 2010, in the presence of the Archbishop, Msgr. Juan Celzo positively identified the artifact as the original pedestal on which Ina used to be enthroned in her old shrine . The original pedestal is smaller that the replica.