BIG CELEBRATION this SEPTEMBER 2010 IN NAGA CITY
TERCENTENARY EVENTS
“300 YEARS OF DEVOTION”
Theme: “GROWING IN HOLINESS UNDER THE MANTLE OF INA”
The Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is a one-week affair that starts on the second Friday of September when the miraculous Ina is transferred from her shrine to the centuries-old Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. This procession is locally called traslacion where the miraculous images of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and of the Divino Rostro journey to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Naga City for a Novena and Holy Masses. This has begun in 1885, and it ushers in the weeklong festivities in the locality. A nine-day novena and prayers are held in her honor. This event is considered as the biggest and most popular religious event in the Philippines.
The feast begins with the Virgin’s image (which is a copy of the Madonna in Spain) being brought to the Naga Cathedral where millions of Bicolanos, devotees, and pilgrims hold a novena. Showing to the whole Christian world their unshakable faith and loyalty to the Lady, their Divine Mother, the people kneel on the ground and bow their heads as the Virgin passes through downtown Naga atop a colorful pagoda that also carries her various images and icons.
During the traslacion, which passes through the main streets of Naga, the miraculous Ina of the Bicolanos is borne on the rugged, muscular shoulders of barefooted voyadores who form a human barricade to protect the Virgin from the unruly crowd. Mindless of the scorching sun, the devotees adhere to the towering pagoda in an impressive display of faith.
Novena and prayers for nine consecutive days are held. High ranking officials and other powerful people vie for the honor of sponsoring a certain night’s novena. Bicolanos also visit their relatives and friends for merriment, sharing food, drinks, and prayers. On the last day, the Virgin is returned to her shrine by crossing the Naga River.
The evening procession is flanked by thousands of devotees and pilgrims in boats carrying thousands of lit candles while kneeling and bowing their heads in prayer. When the image reaches her destination, the followers joyfully shout “Viva la Virgin” (Long Live the Virgin!) to the heavens.
A multicolored pagoda carrying the images/icons of the Virgin of Peñafrancia and the Divino Rostro passes through the Bicol River. The fluvial procession marks the return of the Virgin from the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral to her home shrine at the Basilica.
Peñafrancia Viva La Virgen Festival (2006)
Millions of Bicolanos will once again show to the whole Christian world their strong faith and loyalty to their Heavenly Mother. Again, we will hear the triumphant sounding shouts of VIVA LA VIRGEN! VIVA! VIVA EL DIVINO ROSTRO! VIVA!
See you in Naga City this September 2010: 300 Years Celebration!
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