In Zambales, guardians of ‘Ina Poon Bato’ keep faith alive

2026-01-26 - 20:44

BOTOLAN, ZAMBALES, Philippines — To many visitors at the “Apo Apang” shrine in Barangay Loob Bunga here, Aries Cariño, 65, appears to be just another vendor selling candles and religious items. But Cariño is also one of the “camareros,” the traditional guardians of Apo Apang, also known as “Ina Poon Bato”—a role his family has