Peñafrancia Festival Religious Activities

Peñafrancia Festival

• The festival's roots can be traced back to the cholera epidemic in the 19th century, when the devotion to Divino Rostro and Our Lady of Peñafrancia began as a form of thanksgiving.

Religious Activities

• The festival's religious activities start in the last week of August or the beginning of September.
• Harubay marks the beginning of the festival, featuring a proclamation and mobile procession.
• A novena, a nine-day prayer, is said in honor of Divino Rostro, starting on the feast day of Divino Rostro.
• Masses are also held during this period.
• Pagsungko ni Ina is a "visit" of the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia to different parishes and institutions, accompanied by a procession, mass, and prayers.
• The Perdon Procession, also known as the Peñafrancia Perdon Procession, has been observed in Bicol since the 19th century as a form of penance and to request protection from sickness and misfortunes.
• The Traslacion, established in 1864, is a key religious event where the image of the patron and Divino Rostro is moved from the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Peñafrancia to the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral.

Traslacion

• The Traslacion marks the start of the nine-day novena and mass.
• At the end of the novena, the patron is returned to the basilica through a fluvial parade, accompanied by devotees in canoes and outrigger boats along the Naga River.
• The foot procession follows, where devotees walk to the basilica, and the patron saint is placed on an andas, a carriage, and greeted with cheers of "Viva La Virgen!".

Secular Activities

• The city government of Naga organizes a calendar of activities for the Peñafrancia Festival, which usually lasts for a month.
• The calendar includes events such as Miss Bicolandia, parades, float competitions, majorette contests, and drum and lyre competitions.
• The Civic Parade is participated by several institutions and organizations, and also features a competition among elementary students who compete in marching band and majorettes.

Cultural Attractions

• Plaza Quince Martires is a monument that honors the 15 Martyrs of Bicol who died in a tragic accident during the festival.

Devotion to Divino Rostro

• The devotion to Divino Rostro began in 1882 during a cholera epidemic, when Fr. Pedro De La Torre, a devotee of Divino Rostro, had its image placed in the cathedral.
• The image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia was brought to the cathedral on August 26, 1882, marking the first time the two images were together.
• The tradition of transferring both images from the basilica to the cathedral during Traslacion has been observed since then.

Attendance and Significance

• The festival has grown in popularity over the years, with an estimated 450,000 participants in 2022.
• Devotion to Divino Rostro and Our Lady of Peñafrancia has continued to grow, with millions of devotees attending the festival in previous years.