LEGAZPI, Albay: For only the third time in history, the 246-year-old original image of Nuestra Señora de Salvation left its sanctuary in the Diocesan Shrine of Joroan parish in Tiwi, Albay on December 2.That is why when 'Ina' returned home on Thursday, December 8, from a pilgrimage in Manila and Rizal, devotees welcomed her with jubilation and glee.Bishop Joel 'Bong' Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi gave the green light to send Ina on a devotional journey, 30 years after it was stolen, sold to a collector and returned to Joroan.Baylon said the 'Journey with Ina: A Marian Pilgrimage by the Devotees of Nuestra Señora de Salvación' is in preparation for the 250th-year celebration of Ina in 2026.Ina's pilgrimage took her to the Parish and Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Light in Cainta, Rizal; the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo, Rizal; and the Basilica Shrine of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila.The pilgrimage with the original image of Inâ was done in two parts.First was the pilgrimage to Manila and Rizal from December 2 to 4. The second part, from December 5 to 8, is the return to Bicol during which the miraculous image visited the Basilica Minore in Naga and several parishes in the diocese before heading back to Joroan for the maritime procession.Ina's travel was supervised by Fr. Joseph Salando the parish priest of the Diocesan Shrine. He was accompanied by the parishioners of Joroan, and the devotee group, the Voyadores.Historically, the miraculous image first left Joroan and transferred to the Saint Gregory the Great, Albay Cathedral in Legazpi City 41 years ago during the Papal visit to the Philippines of Pope, now Saint John Paul 2nd, where the images of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and Our Lady of Salvation, were seen together on the Papal Altar outside the Albay Cathedral.On Oct. 28, 1992, the image of Nuestra Señora de Salvación was stolen in her Joroan Shrine. It was returned in May 1993.
