LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – More than 900,000 devotees flocked to Naga City on Friday, September 13, to attend the Traslacion procession or the transfer of the image of Divino Rostro and Our Lady of Peñafrancia from the Basilica Minore to the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral.
OUR Lady of Peñafrancia (FB)
Police Regional Office-5 (Bicol) chief Police Brig. Gen. Andre P. Dizon said they have deployed 5,000 personnel to secure the Traslacion and fluvial procession.
"We expect VIPs (Very Important Persons), dignitaries, and high-ranking government officials to attend," Dizon said.
On Thursday, September 12, a mustering of security personnel was held at the open field of Barangay Balatas to ensure safe and peaceful Peñafrancia Festival.
Naga Mayor Nelson Legacion said that they expect millions of devotees to attend the Traslacion and fluvial procession on Saturday, September 21.
Devotees chanted "Viva La Virgen! Viva El Divino Rostro!" as the procession passed them by.
This year's celebration is the centennial of the canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. The Peñafrancia Festival is the largest Marian procession in Asia.