Peñafrancia fluvial procession today

NAGA CITY – After nine days in her temporary home at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, “voyadores” and her faithful bring the Virgin of Peñafrancia to her permanent home at the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, via the traditional foot and fluvial procession today.

The image of “Ina,” as devotees fondly call her, was brought to the Cathedral from her shrine last

week in a spectacular foot procession called “Traslacion.” The fluvial procession via the Naga River is the highlight of the month-long celebration of Bicolandia’s patroness and readies the multitude of her devotees for her feast day tomorrow.

Her image stayed in the cathedral, located in downtown Naga, for novena masses for nine days.

A mass at the Quadricentennial Arch at the grounds of the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral will be celebrated at 2 p.m. That will immediately be followed by the street procession. Meanwhile at the Naga River, devotees and pilgrims will wait by the riverbank with lighted candles and will wave white handkerchiefs shouting “Viva la Virgen! Viva el Divino Rostro!” as the pagoda passes by.

The images of Ina and the Holy Face (El Divino Rostro) are placed in a pagoda with 200 people on board. Only males are allowed in the pagoda, a longtime tradition. Women are not allowed because it is believed that only “Ina” should be the center of attention during the fluvial procession in her honor.

The appointment of Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, O.C.D, D.D. as Archbishop of Caceres in 2012 removed the exclusivity of those who can ride the pagoda. He allowed the marginalized sector of society the privilege of accompanying “Ina” on her way home.

Last year, farmers and fisherfolk from all over the region were the pagoda riders, along with bishops and other clergy. This year, teachers and “padyak” (tricycle) drivers will be the Ina’s escorts. Other passengers will be members of the media, bishops and other clergy whose role is to bless the people along the way of the fluvial procession.

Today’s mass schedule A penitential procession will be held early in the day at 3 a.m. A pontifical mass will be celebrated by Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona at the Naga Cathedral at 6 a.m. to be followed by a second pontifical mass to be officiated by Bishop Joel Baylon at 10 a.m. Church bells will peal at 12 noon. A community mass will be held at 2 p.m. Confession rites will be held at the basilica grounds from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. A Pontifical Mass at the Basilica grounds to be celebrated by Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana will end the day’s religious event.

The Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia will be observed tomorrow, Sept. 20 with a series of pontifical masses, marking the 305th year of widespread devotion to “Ina.” (With a report from Christina I. Hermoso)