15/08/2026
๐๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐
John Paul Aven
__
Forty-eight kilometers from the center of Albay stands a Madonna carved from a kalpi tree (Citrus ร webberii), deeply cherished by her peopleโNuestra Seรฑora de Salvacion, lovingly called Ina by her devotees. Since as early as the 1700s, the image has been regarded with maternal devotion, born from a tree and guiding the lives of believers through interceding miracles. She is enshrined in Joroan, in the town of Tiwi, Albayโa quiet fishing village nestled on a lofty mountain that separates Joroan and Buhi, now a pilgrimage site for all who seek the love and protection of the Virgen de Salvacion. Her feast is celebrated every third Sunday of August, honoring her as the Heavenly Queen and Patroness of Albay. Day by day, devotion to her grew, as voices rose in unison, pleading: โAn debotos mo surugon, sa mga sakit agawon.โ
๐๐ป ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ-๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ธ๐ฎ๐น๐ฝ๐ถ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ
The devotion began in the mid-1700s, when a landowner named Don Silverio Arcilla held vast property in Kagnipa (now Joroan). He instructed Mariano Dakuba to clear the estate, and while doing so, Dakuba cut down a kalpi tree. He considered the felled tree for ordinary uses: either as firewood or as a wooden post. Yet as time passed, the wood remained fresh, as if still rooted in the ground. Because of this, Dakuba decided to bring it to Don Arcilla, who at the time was residing in Buhi.
Don Arcilla then consulted the parish priest of Buhi, the Franciscan friar Fray Manuel Dรญaz Cuรฉllar de San Antonio, O.F.M. Guided by discernment, the priest decided that sacred images should be carved from the unusual wood. A sculptor named Bagacumba was called, and from the kalpi tree he produced three sacred images: the Virgen de Salvacion of Joroan, San Antonio de Padua for the parish church of Buhi, and the bas-relief of Virgen de Soledad in Tambo, Buhi. At that time, Joroan was still a barrio under Buhiโs jurisdiction.
On 25 August 1776, the image of the Virgen de Salvacion was entrusted to the people of Joroan. With Don Arcillaโs support, a chapel was also erected at the heart of the community. It became the cradle of faith for the villagers, a place to gather, celebrate feast days, and keep holy the Lordโs Day.
๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ผ๐
The village of Joroan was one of the prime targets of Moro raiders during the 1800s. The first miracle attributed to the Virgen de Salvacion for the people of Joroan was recorded during the episcopacy of Bishop Manuel Grijalvo. At the height of their fear, when the Christian village was threatened by pillage, the people turned to the Virgin. From these stories of deliveranceโafter being spared from invasion and destructionโdevotion to her spread from town to town across Bikol. So fervent was this devotion that many chose to settle in Joroan, drawn by the Madonna of Salvation.
Another story tied to the Moro incursions tells how the people of Joroan fled into the nearby mountains. The image of the Virgin was left behind under the care of the hermana, a widow named Tiray, who faithfully tended to the Virgin. On that day, she was taken captive by the Moros, leaving the image behind, though she carried prayers to the Virgen de Salvacion deep in her heart. For a year she remained in captivity in Mindanao, far from Joroan, weighed down by sorrow at being separated from the image she had vowed to serve. Yet, despite the distance, she kept her devotion alive through constant prayer, entrusting her safety to the Virgin and pleading for deliverance.
Meanwhile, in Joroan, her fellow villagers believed she had perished at the hands of the Moros, and so they appointed a new Hermana, Dominga de los Reyes. But one day, Tiray awoke to see a white deer standing before her. In wonder, she followed the deer, which led her through unfamiliar terrain until, miraculously, she found herself in the town of Legazpiโas though the sea that divided the lands had been crossed without passage. From there, she returned home to Joroan. Once again, she stood at the foot of the Virginโs altar, restored to her role as caretaker of the Virgen de Salvacion.
๐๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐
In the early years of devotion, only Bikolnons knew of the Virginโs wondrous stories. One tells of three Catanduanon devotees who sailed to Joroan, bringing candles to lay at the feet of the Virgen de Salvaciรณn. Before proceeding, they decided to first visit San Antonio de Padua in Buhi, leaving the candles with their boatkeeper and instructing him of their purpose.
As night fell, the boatkeeper lingered on the shore. Suddenly, an old woman carrying a child approached him, asking softly: โMay you permit us to borrow one candle? The hill is dark, and we must journey until we are near home.โ At first, he hesitated, fearing his companionsโ reprimand, but he finally agreed. The woman then told him to ask the Teniente where her house was, so he might reclaim it.
Anxious, he sought the Teniente, who directed him to the hermana named Ingga. She counseled him to pray to the Virgin at the chapel. There, he discovered a candleโidentical to the one he had givenโfresh and unlit. Awe overcame him as he gazed upon the Virgin and Child, who bore the same faces as the woman and child. For devotees, this became a lasting sign of Inaโs unfailing promise, always leaving her children in wonder.
๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐๐ป๐ฎ
In 1895, after the Joroan chapel was destroyed by a typhoon, the image of Inang Salvacion was kept in Tiwi. For twenty-two years, devotion remained alive in Joroan even without the image. In 1917, the statue was brought back for the novena and feast, but afterward the people requested that it remain in their village. The parish priest of Tiwi, Fr. Ricardo Sayson, insisted they file a court case if they wanted ownership.
Determined, the people of Joroan petitioned Bishop Bernard McGinley of Caceres. The Bishop, citing the shortage of priests, suggested further study and dialogue. Eventually, through the efforts of Fr. Tomas Bernales, an agreement was reached. On 18 September 1919, Joroan was elevated into a parish, with several barrios under its jurisdiction, and the image of the Virgen de Salvaciรณn was formally returned to her people.
On 8 December 1975, in celebration of the bicentennial anniversary of the arrival of the image of Inang Salvacion in Joroan, the Diocese of Legazpi, under Bishop Teotimo Pacis, decreed the Virgin as the Heavenly Queen and Patroness of the Province of Albay and of the Diocese of Legazpi. This was not just ceremonialโit was an affirmation of two centuries of devotion, miracles, and the deep faith of Albayanos and her devotees.
The following year, on 25 August 1976, another historic milestone took place. In a jubilant gathering of faith, the image of Inang Salvacion was canonically crowned, an honor granted by Pope Paul VI. The coronation was led by Jaime Cardinal Sin, then Archbishop of Manila, together with the bishops of Bikol, in the presence of more than 20,000 devotees who flocked to Joroan to witness the once-in-a-lifetime event. This marked the first canonical coronation in the Diocese of Legazpi and the second in the Bikol region.
This year, 2025, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the proclamation of Inang Salvacion as the Celestial Queen and Patroness of Albay. The following year, 2026, will mark both the 250th anniversary of the imageโs arrival and the fiftieth anniversary of its canonical coronation.
๐๐ป๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐
From a kalpi tree, the Moro raids, and countless other stories of faith, Inang Salvacion remains a true testament of devotionโbeloved by her people as the one who intercedes and brings comfort. Beyond these stories, devotion to her has only deepened through countless testimonies of answered prayersโaffirming her importance in the lives of the faithful and making Joroan a true pilgrimage site.
She is the Virgin who dwells between mountains and seashoresโa reminder of Godโs presence amidst trials and tragedies. Joroan, once a quiet coastal village, has become a pilgrimage site for people from all walks of life, where the Inang Salvacion remains steadfast. Indeed, behind the mountains and waves lies her enduring beauty. She is the Heavenly Queen, but to her devotees she is above all a loving motherโone who always cares and never abandons her children. Never failing the fervent prayer of her people: โAn debotos mo surugon, sa mga sakit agawon.โ
__
Ina Series pays tribute to Mary this September as Saysay Bikolโs heartfelt participation in the pintakasi for Our Lady of Peรฑafrancia. The series retells and reimagines the enduring stories of Bikolโs Marian devotionsโbeginning with Inay Candi of Paracale in Camarines Norte and reaching to Nuestra Seรฑora de Salvacion in Joroan, Tiwi, Albay. Through these narratives, we revisit the regionโs history, honor the richness of its religiosity, and highlight the Marian heritage that continues to shape Bikolnon identity and faith.
__
REFERENCES
Alaurin, Edgardo D., O.P. Nuestra Seรฑora de Salvacion: History, Theology, Piety. Manila: University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2019.
Fulay, Lamberto S. Kasaysayan kan Ladawan ni Birhen de Salvacion sa Horoan, Tiwi, Albay (Bicentennial Edition 1776-1976). 1976.
Our Lady of Salvation: Heavenly Patroness. Legazpi City: Diocese of Legazpi, 1977.
โThe Two Jubilees of 1976: A Diocesan Milestone and a Marian Celebration.โ Joroanchurch.com. August 6, 2025. Accessed September 7, 2025. https://joroanchurch.com/the-two-jubilees-of-1976-a.../.
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๐๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐
John Paul Aven
__
Forty-eight kilometers from the center of Albay stands a Madonna carved from a kalpi tree (Citrus ร webberii), deeply cherished by her peopleโNuestra Seรฑora de Salvacion, lovingly called Ina by her devotees. Since as early as the 1700s, the image has been regarded with maternal devotion, born from a tree and guiding the lives of believers through interceding miracles. She is enshrined in Joroan, in the town of Tiwi, Albayโa quiet fishing village nestled on a lofty mountain that separates Joroan and Buhi, now a pilgrimage site for all who seek the love and protection of the Virgen de Salvacion. Her feast is celebrated every third Sunday of August, honoring her as the Heavenly Queen and Patroness of Albay. Day by day, devotion to her grew, as voices rose in unison, pleading: โAn debotos mo surugon, sa mga sakit agawon.โ
๐๐ป ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ-๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ธ๐ฎ๐น๐ฝ๐ถ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ
The devotion began in the mid-1700s, when a landowner named Don Silverio Arcilla held vast property in Kagnipa (now Joroan). He instructed Mariano Dakuba to clear the estate, and while doing so, Dakuba cut down a kalpi tree. He considered the felled tree for ordinary uses: either as firewood or as a wooden post. Yet as time passed, the wood remained fresh, as if still rooted in the ground. Because of this, Dakuba decided to bring it to Don Arcilla, who at the time was residing in Buhi.
Don Arcilla then consulted the parish priest of Buhi, the Franciscan friar Fray Manuel Dรญaz Cuรฉllar de San Antonio, O.F.M. Guided by discernment, the priest decided that sacred images should be carved from the unusual wood. A sculptor named Bagacumba was called, and from the kalpi tree he produced three sacred images: the Virgen de Salvacion of Joroan, San Antonio de Padua for the parish church of Buhi, and the bas-relief of Virgen de Soledad in Tambo, Buhi. At that time, Joroan was still a barrio under Buhiโs jurisdiction.
On 25 August 1776, the image of the Virgen de Salvacion was entrusted to the people of Joroan. With Don Arcillaโs support, a chapel was also erected at the heart of the community. It became the cradle of faith for the villagers, a place to gather, celebrate feast days, and keep holy the Lordโs Day.
๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ผ๐
The village of Joroan was one of the prime targets of Moro raiders during the 1800s. The first miracle attributed to the Virgen de Salvacion for the people of Joroan was recorded during the episcopacy of Bishop Manuel Grijalvo. At the height of their fear, when the Christian village was threatened by pillage, the people turned to the Virgin. From these stories of deliveranceโafter being spared from invasion and destructionโdevotion to her spread from town to town across Bikol. So fervent was this devotion that many chose to settle in Joroan, drawn by the Madonna of Salvation.
Another story tied to the Moro incursions tells how the people of Joroan fled into the nearby mountains. The image of the Virgin was left behind under the care of the hermana, a widow named Tiray, who faithfully tended to the Virgin. On that day, she was taken captive by the Moros, leaving the image behind, though she carried prayers to the Virgen de Salvacion deep in her heart. For a year she remained in captivity in Mindanao, far from Joroan, weighed down by sorrow at being separated from the image she had vowed to serve. Yet, despite the distance, she kept her devotion alive through constant prayer, entrusting her safety to the Virgin and pleading for deliverance.
Meanwhile, in Joroan, her fellow villagers believed she had perished at the hands of the Moros, and so they appointed a new Hermana, Dominga de los Reyes. But one day, Tiray awoke to see a white deer standing before her. In wonder, she followed the deer, which led her through unfamiliar terrain until, miraculously, she found herself in the town of Legazpiโas though the sea that divided the lands had been crossed without passage. From there, she returned home to Joroan. Once again, she stood at the foot of the Virginโs altar, restored to her role as caretaker of the Virgen de Salvacion.
๐๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐
In the early years of devotion, only Bikolnons knew of the Virginโs wondrous stories. One tells of three Catanduanon devotees who sailed to Joroan, bringing candles to lay at the feet of the Virgen de Salvaciรณn. Before proceeding, they decided to first visit San Antonio de Padua in Buhi, leaving the candles with their boatkeeper and instructing him of their purpose.
As night fell, the boatkeeper lingered on the shore. Suddenly, an old woman carrying a child approached him, asking softly: โMay you permit us to borrow one candle? The hill is dark, and we must journey until we are near home.โ At first, he hesitated, fearing his companionsโ reprimand, but he finally agreed. The woman then told him to ask the Teniente where her house was, so he might reclaim it.
Anxious, he sought the Teniente, who directed him to the hermana named Ingga. She counseled him to pray to the Virgin at the chapel. There, he discovered a candleโidentical to the one he had givenโfresh and unlit. Awe overcame him as he gazed upon the Virgin and Child, who bore the same faces as the woman and child. For devotees, this became a lasting sign of Inaโs unfailing promise, always leaving her children in wonder.
๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐๐ป๐ฎ
In 1895, after the Joroan chapel was destroyed by a typhoon, the image of Inang Salvacion was kept in Tiwi. For twenty-two years, devotion remained alive in Joroan even without the image. In 1917, the statue was brought back for the novena and feast, but afterward the people requested that it remain in their village. The parish priest of Tiwi, Fr. Ricardo Sayson, insisted they file a court case if they wanted ownership.
Determined, the people of Joroan petitioned Bishop Bernard McGinley of Caceres. The Bishop, citing the shortage of priests, suggested further study and dialogue. Eventually, through the efforts of Fr. Tomas Bernales, an agreement was reached. On 18 September 1919, Joroan was elevated into a parish, with several barrios under its jurisdiction, and the image of the Virgen de Salvaciรณn was formally returned to her people.
On 8 December 1975, in celebration of the bicentennial anniversary of the arrival of the image of Inang Salvacion in Joroan, the Diocese of Legazpi, under Bishop Teotimo Pacis, decreed the Virgin as the Heavenly Queen and Patroness of the Province of Albay and of the Diocese of Legazpi. This was not just ceremonialโit was an affirmation of two centuries of devotion, miracles, and the deep faith of Albayanos and her devotees.
The following year, on 25 August 1976, another historic milestone took place. In a jubilant gathering of faith, the image of Inang Salvacion was canonically crowned, an honor granted by Pope Paul VI. The coronation was led by Jaime Cardinal Sin, then Archbishop of Manila, together with the bishops of Bikol, in the presence of more than 20,000 devotees who flocked to Joroan to witness the once-in-a-lifetime event. This marked the first canonical coronation in the Diocese of Legazpi and the second in the Bikol region.
This year, 2025, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the proclamation of Inang Salvacion as the Celestial Queen and Patroness of Albay. The following year, 2026, will mark both the 250th anniversary of the imageโs arrival and the fiftieth anniversary of its canonical coronation.
๐๐ป๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐
From a kalpi tree, the Moro raids, and countless other stories of faith, Inang Salvacion remains a true testament of devotionโbeloved by her people as the one who intercedes and brings comfort. Beyond these stories, devotion to her has only deepened through countless testimonies of answered prayersโaffirming her importance in the lives of the faithful and making Joroan a true pilgrimage site.
She is the Virgin who dwells between mountains and seashoresโa reminder of Godโs presence amidst trials and tragedies. Joroan, once a quiet coastal village, has become a pilgrimage site for people from all walks of life, where the Inang Salvacion remains steadfast. Indeed, behind the mountains and waves lies her enduring beauty. She is the Heavenly Queen, but to her devotees she is above all a loving motherโone who always cares and never abandons her children. Never failing the fervent prayer of her people: โAn debotos mo surugon, sa mga sakit agawon.โ
__
Ina Series pays tribute to Mary this September as Saysay Bikolโs heartfelt participation in the pintakasi for Our Lady of Peรฑafrancia. The series retells and reimagines the enduring stories of Bikolโs Marian devotionsโbeginning with Inay Candi of Paracale in Camarines Norte and reaching to Nuestra Seรฑora de Salvacion in Joroan, Tiwi, Albay. Through these narratives, we revisit the regionโs history, honor the richness of its religiosity, and highlight the Marian heritage that continues to shape Bikolnon identity and faith.
__
REFERENCES
Alaurin, Edgardo D., O.P. Nuestra Seรฑora de Salvacion: History, Theology, Piety. Manila: University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2019.
Fulay, Lamberto S. Kasaysayan kan Ladawan ni Birhen de Salvacion sa Horoan, Tiwi, Albay (Bicentennial Edition 1776-1976). 1976.
Our Lady of Salvation: Heavenly Patroness. Legazpi City: Diocese of Legazpi, 1977.
โThe Two Jubilees of 1976: A Diocesan Milestone and a Marian Celebration.โ Joroanchurch.com. August 6, 2025. Accessed September 7, 2025. https://joroanchurch.com/the-two-jubilees-of-1976-a-diocesan-milestone-and-a-marian-celebration/.
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