Feast of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia 2012

Every month of September since 2009, we drive for more than 10 hours from Pampanga to Naga City for our pilgrimage. This year is my 5th year as a pilgrim. The feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia is celebrated every 3rd Sunday of September. Ina, as the Virgin Mary is called, is the Patronness of the Bicol region. Bicolanos and other devotees all over the Philippines and abroad flocked to Naga City to pay honor to Ina. This year's theme is "Thank God for Ina, I am a Catholic now and for always."

Peñafrancia Basilica

Mass Schedule at Peñafrancia Basilica

A procession, called traslacion is the transferring of the miraculous Image of the Virgin, Our Lady of Peñafrancia and of the Divino Rostro to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Naga City for a Novena and Holy Masses passing the streets of Naga. Devotees are barefooted and acts as human barricade to protect Ina to the unruly crowd. 

On the feast day...the images are then transferred back to the Basilica through the route of Naga river by a fluvial procession. The images are carried by colorful pagodas. Those who row the boats are called voyadores. Only men are allowed in the pagoda as there is a belief that the Virgin is selosa. Ang mga babae ay nagdarasal habang naghihintay sa riverbanks.

There are many vendors who sells religious items and pasalubongs.

Lumabas ang Mahal na Ina at Divino Rostro around 4pm. At 5pm, nag start ang fluvial procession. The images reached the Basilica at around 6:30pm. As they enter the compound, everybody sings the official hymn, "Resuene Vibrante"  while waiving white handkerchief, holding lighted candles and shouting "Viva la Virgen, Viva el Divino Rostro" The mass was officiated by Manila Archbishop Luis Tagle.

 Pagkatapos ng misa.... fireworks na.

Posted in: Naga City, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Pilgrimage, Region 5, travel