Fully vaxxed Zambales residents allowed to visit shrine of Ina Poon Bato by schedule

The original wooden image of Ina Poon Bato, locally known as Apo Apang (Little Queen), is being kept by the Iglesia Filipina Independiente or the Aglipayan Church at a shrine in Botolan town, Zambales province. (Photo by Joanna Rose Aglibot)

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales — Residents in all of the 13 municipalities in this province are now allowed to visit the shrine of Ina Poon Bato in Botolan town to celebrate the feast of the wooden Marian image by schedule as long as they can present proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination.

In an advisory on Wednesday (Jan. 19), the provincial tourism office said only fully vaccinated residents of the province can enter Barangay Loob Bunga where the shrine is located.

To prevent devotees from converging at the shrine, the tourism office released a schedule of visits for each town.

Residents of Sta. Cruz and Castillejos will be allowed on Thursday (Jan. 20), while those from Candelaria and Subic are scheduled on Friday (Jan. 21).

Masinloc and San Marcelino residents can visit the shrine on Saturday (Jan. 22).

The day before the feast (Jan. 23), only residents from Botolan are allowed to enter until its feast day (Jan. 24).

Residents from Iba, San Felipe and San Antonio are allowed on Jan. 25 and those coming from Cabangan, San Narciso and Palauig can visit on Jan. 26.

On Jan. 27, residents from nearby Olongapo City will also be permitted to go to the shrine.

In a previous announcement, the Catholic church said only fully vaccinated Botolan residents can join the feast day celebration in Loob Bunga.

Before the pandemic, the feast day of Ina Poon Bato would draw thousands of devotees from different parts of the country.

But for two years now, the feast has been celebrated with restrictions due to COVID-19.