Bicol devotees flock to Naga for Peñafrancia traslacion

By Rhaydz Barcia

DEVOUT Catholics from across Bicol flocked to Naga City on Friday, Sept. 11, for the annual traditional Traslacion procession of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, marking the start of the major religious activities honoring the region’s patroness.

The Traslacion is the transfer of the images of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia and El Divino Rostro from the Peñafrancia Shrine to the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, where the novena masses for Ina are held. The 2026 Traslacion started at noon on Sept. 11 and followed a route from the shrine through Peñafrancia Avenue, P. Burgos, E. Angeles and Iglesia Road to the Cathedral.

Every September, pilgrims and devotees converge in Naga City for the Peñafrancia festivities, with the Virgin Mary fondly called “Ina.” The wooden image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia has been venerated in Naga for centuries, with devotees believing in her miraculous intercession.

Barefoot male devotees known as voyadores carry the images during the Traslacion. For many devotees, participating in the procession is an expression of faith, sacrifice and devotion.

The religious celebration culminates on Sept. 19 with the fluvial procession, when the images are brought from the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral to the Basilica Minore de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia through the Naga River.

Traditionally, women are not allowed aboard the main pagoda during the fluvial procession, as Ina is regarded as the sole female center of the religious celebration. A long-standing belief among some devotees holds that a woman boarding the pagoda could cause it to sink. Politicians are likewise traditionally barred from boarding the main pagoda.

The Peñafrancia celebration was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with devotees urged to observe the religious activities at home, in their parishes or basic ecclesial communities. The celebration resumed in 2021, while subsequent years saw the return of the major public religious activities.

For this year’s celebration, the Police Regional Office in Bicol deployed 2,600 personnel to secure major festival venues, roads, transportation hubs and other areas where large crowds were expected. The deployment covers the Sept. 6 to 19 festival period.

PRO-5 spokesperson Lt. Col. Maria Luisa “Malu” Calubaquib said the police deployment would augment the Naga City police force and support traffic management, police visibility, mobile patrols, checkpoints and emergency response.

“The personnel will be strategically positioned in major festival venues, areas of convergence, roads, transportation hubs, and other key locations where large crowds are expected to gather,” Calubaquib said.

She said the deployment was intended to maximize police visibility, strengthen traffic management, facilitate the movement of devotees and festivalgoers, and ensure the immediate delivery of police assistance when needed.

PRO-5 Director Brig. Gen. Randy Glenn G. Silvio led the security preparations and monitored police personnel deployed during the various festival activities.

Silvio said maintaining peace and order during the Peñafrancia Festival is a shared responsibility involving the public, local government units, partner agencies, event organizers and other stakeholders.

“We want our people to celebrate the Peñafrancia Festival with faith and devotion, while ensuring that everyone remains safe and secure. Our personnel will be highly visible and ready to assist the public,” Silvio said.

He urged devotees and festivalgoers to remain vigilant, follow security and traffic protocols, and immediately report anything that could compromise public safety.

Police operations will continue until the conclusion of the Peñafrancia Festival, highlighted by the fluvial procession on Sept. 19.