Naga prepares for vibrant Voyadores Festival

By Jason B. Neola

CITY Councilor Joe Perez, chairman of the Peñafrancia Voyadores Festival Committee, announced that his group and the contingencies competing in the Voyadores Festival are now fully prepared for the upcoming event scheduled to begin on the afternoon of September 19 at Plaza Quezon.

The traditional Voyadores festival, which adds life and vibrancy to the annual Peñafrancia Fiesta, is a major civic event that forms part of the centenary celebration this year of the canonical coronation of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, the patroness of Bicol.

This year, the competition will see participation from 11 contingents, with five from public elementary schools and six from public secondary schools. Perez clarified that the contests for elementary and high school students will be conducted separately, though the prizes will be similar for both groups.

He expressed hope that this separation will foster a healthy competition and encourage more participation in the future.

The city has already released P1.1 million as seed money to each participating contingent, amounting to P100,000 per unit. These funds are intended to cover expenses for costumes, uniforms, and other necessities.

According to Perez, all contingents are currently deep into their rehearsals, focusing particularly on their ‘blocking.’ To avoid congestion, each contingent has a designated schedule to use Plaza Quezon for rehearsals.

In a move to ensure fairness, a new rule will require all contingents to use a common music track, a lively rendition of the traditional song “Salve Regina,” enhanced for the street dance competition. This innovation aims to level the playing field for contingents with varying financial capabilities.

Loudspeakers will be installed along the route to Plaza Quezon to play the music for all street dancing participants.

Councilor Perez expressed optimism that this year’s Peñafrancia Fiesta will be more festive, colorful, and jubilant with the staging of the Voyadores Festival and other uplifting and blissful events.

He also mentioned that, rain or shine, the show must go on. Despite concerns about the weather, Perez remains hopeful for clear skies on the day of the competition, ensuring the public can enjoy an uninterrupted view of the performances.

The Voyadores Festival has also attracted national media attention, with several groups of media practitioners from major networks confirming their coverage of the event. Perez reassured the public of the competency and professionalism of the judges, who are experts in street dancing with significant experience in the discipline.

Perez highlighted the impressive talents of the local pupils and students, citing their successful participation in other festivals, including the Kasanggayahan Festival in Sorsogon, and international recognition in Indonesia, where students from Camarines Sur National High School won the grand prize in a street dance competition.

He emphasized the importance of the Voyadores Festival in nurturing local talent, with the aim of producing performers who can gain recognition both nationally and internationally.

“We hope that through the Voyadores Festival, we can continue to develop and improve our best performers, making them noticeable not just nationwide but also on the international stage,” Perez said.

With the city’s preparations in full swing, Naga City is gearing up for a memorable and spirited conduct of the Voyadores Festival and other civic and religious activities as part of the Peñafrancia Fiesta, which is being regarded as one of the biggest Marian events in the world.

COUNCILOR Perez (center, at the head table), along with the members of his committee, spearheads a meeting with school coordinators and choreographers, finalizing preparations for the upcoming Voyadores Festival. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO