The first "ber" month is almost over. In the Phils., when it's already a "ber" month it means Christmas is On and approaching, we even have countdown of days before Christmas and some are already putting up their christmas decors, christmas songs are playing on the radio and tv showsI can say, no one in the world celebrates Christmas the way Filipinos doAnyway, who doesn't love Christmas In the Bicol Region, we are not only excited of Christmas because September also means the Peñafrancia Festival or the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, celebrated every third Saturday of September in my hometown Naga City. It is the busiest and holy time of the year for the bicolanos, and i am just glad this year that i was able to attend the celebration even i'm thousands miles away from Naga City, Phils.

     When i arrived here 2 yrs ago, i was wondering if the Bicol Association here also celebrates the Peñafrancia Fiesta and luckily, a couple months ago,  i met a bicolana ate Nitz (Nenita Elpedes) in one of the parties here and she said, she will inform me about the fiesta and last week, i thought she already forgot about me I even wanted to go to Virginia because my lola there said they have bicol fiesta there. Anyway, isn't it amazing that even hubby and I were not able to go to Virginia, I finally had one here in Michigan and very near our place 

The Peñafrancia Fiesta held last September 20 at Thelma Spencer Park, Rochester MI., with the Bicol Association of MIchigan during the Fluvial Procession

     Hubby and I thought that it's the best time to wear our Bicol souvenirs shirts again we sneaked a pose too with INA

this is ate Nitz that i met couple months ago,  who is very hospitable and really made me feel welcome. Actually, hubby and I registered that day in the Bicol Association of MI

with ate Nitz and her daughter in law, May and some of her friends. I met many bicolanos but i forgot their names, anyway, there's more meetings to come

To view more pics, pls just click here       

     Because it's fiesta it means lots of food including of course! the Bicol's Specials; Gulay Natong or Laing and Balaw or Bicol Express. The celebration was simple, a mass was held after the fluvial procession,  not big fiesta as in Naga City but it was awesome. I felt that i am really home even i'm away from home Thanks to my hubby love for all the support 

     Salamat man saindo gabos sa pagbisita igde sa sakong journal Have a good day