Traslacion procession opens Peñafrancia Festival today
Barefoot male devotees known as the “voyadores” will lead the annual Traslacion procession in Naga City at 3:30 p.m. today, as the official start of the nine-day Peñafrancia Festival of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, Patroness of the Bicol Region, the only regional cult in the country.
“Traslacion,” which means “transfer,” is a vibrant and pious procession moving the centuriesold image of “Ina,” who
Bicolanos fondly call their patroness, from her shrine to the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. A nine-day novena and masses follow, after which the statue is brought back to the Peñafrancia Basilica Minore via a colorful fluvial procession on her feast day on Sept. 17.
The “voyadores” will be carrying the revered images of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and the Divino Rostro (Holy Face) on their shoulders.
Today marks the 134th Feast of the Divino Rostro, one of the highlights of the 306th Penafrancia Festival.
A series of activities will be held very early in the morning today, starting with a penitential procession of the image of “Ina” at 4 a.m. from the basilica to the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Parish. It will be followed by a pontifical mass to be presided by Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona at 5:30 a.m. A community mass (misa ng bayan) will be held at 6:30 a.m., to be followed by hourly masses.
A mass will also be celebrated at the Plaza de Covarrubias at 2 p.m. Tirona will preside over a pontifical mass at 5:30 p.m., to be followed by a community mass at 7 p.m. at the cathedral.
The first of the nine-day novena masses in honor of “Ina” will be held today.
Biggest Marian devotion
Every year, the festivities attract a multitude of devotees, pilgrims, and tourists, making the Peñafrancia festival the single most attended set of events in the Bicol Region and the biggest Marian devotion in Asia.
Because of the magnitude of the events, the city convenes every year the Peñafrancia Inter-Agency Task Group-Joint Operations Center to ensure a smooth manner of celebration.
Security
The Police Regional Office-5 warned the public not to believe and spread unverified information about security threats. They are implementing more stringent security measures in the entire region after the bombing in Davao City and with the coming festival.
Recently, news about terrorists coming to the city to disrupt the festivities circulated in social media causing panic. The news prompted the PRO5 to hold a press conference debunking the rumor. PRO-5 also warns the public that creating such rumor is punishable under the law.
PRO-5 is exerting maximum efforts to tighten security measures particularly in all PUV terminals, airports, seaports, malls, markets, schools, churches, and all other places of convergence in the Bicol Region.
PRO-5 Acting Regional Director PC Supt Melvin Ramon Buenafe has asked for the public’s support and vigilance by reporting any relevant information to the police or through their official social media accounts, Facebook Kasurog Bicol and Twitter @PRO5 React or call or text CRMS hotline 09173097862.
Conserve water
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD) asked the public to conserve and store water as contingency measures for the influx of visitors in the city.
The water district has recently integrated into its system two new pumping stations in the large subdivision areas to address the lack of water supply in the wake of the El Niño which considerably affected the springs around the city and the province of Camarines Sur.
No classes
Classes in all levels are suspended today and public offices are suspended starting 11 a.m. The private sector is encouraged to do the same for a more orderly conduct and less traffic congestion during the Traslacion.
High security alert
Naga City is in high security alert following the Peñafrancia’s traslacion procession today.
Mayor John Bongat said additional forces from the PNP and AFP have been deployed in the city to ensure the safety of the public in this religious activity.
The city government also apologized to mobile phone users for the inconvenience of service disruption from network providers during the procession.
Bringing of backpacks is strictly prohibited during the traslacion procession. (With a report from Ruel Saldico)