Thousands of Devotees Joined Peñafrancia Procession

NAGA CITY, Sept. 20, 2009-Thousands of devotees, armed with rosaries, lighted candles and white handkerchiefs lined up the opposite banks of Naga River from midday to early evening yesterday shouting "Viva La Virgen!" and "Viva Divino Rostro".

Traffic stood still along the city's main roads as several thousands of devotees regionwide joined the procession of the region's patroness.

The line slowly inched its way from the Metropolitan Cathedral to Tabuco bridge where the region's bishops, priests, seminarians and benefactors waited on the pagoda drawn by over a thousand voyadores in more than 50 bancas.

The voyadores took over an hour to negotiate the more than two nautical mile distance amid chants of "Viva La Virgen!" and "Viva Divino Rostro!"

Legazpi Bishop Emeritus Jose C. Sorra citing efforts made by the Archdiocese of Caceres for its tri-centenary celebration next year said, "we're all prepared for the celebration of our devotion to our Ina."

He acknowledged the support of those who helped in making the last year of preparation for the celebration with its most appropriate theme 'Sharing the Future with Hope.'"

The bishop said even the voyadores have undergone basic catechism in the form of seminars for their spiritual preparation.

Libmanan Bishop Jose R. Rojas, a former auxiliary bishop of Caceres, said this is the first time Catholic bishops from the Bicol Region joined the priests, seminarians and benefactors in the pagoda for the fluvial procession.

"We thought it would be more meaningful to be with the Catholic faithful during the procession rather than simply waiting for the images to reach the Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, that's why we're here," he said.

For his part, Legazpi Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Lucilo B Quiambao said he "believes we are making history today because this is the first time all the region's bishops will take the pagoda of Our Lady". He expressed hope the practice will continue because "it is a beautiful sight for all the people around."

Masbate Bishop Joel Z. Baylon, Virac Bishop Manolo A. Delos Santos and Sorsogon Bishop Arturo M. Bastes, SVD were among the first bishops to board the steel-hulled pagoda.

Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo did not board the pagoda this year but was seen during the fluvial procession in his own motorboat at the Naga River.

Philippine Coast Guard and the PNP's Maritime Police had a hard time preventing fanatics from swimming towards the pagoda and hanging on to its sides while the procession is in progress.

"We simply can't control some fanatics from getting near the pagoda," said one police officer.

Camarines Sur Police Director Sr. Supt. Rodolfo Llorca said today's procession is considered the "dry run" for a much bigger celebration next year when the Archdiocese of Caceres celebrates the 300th year of devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

Llorca said they augmented the local police under Sr. Supt. Tomasito Clet with 200 other elements from Iriga City and other nearby towns.

Some 300 Philippine Army troopers were also deployed to keep order during the transport of the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and portrait of the Divino Rostro from its carriages to the pagoda and later on to the Basilica grounds.

Llorca said the celebration was generally peaceful except for the isolated incident which occurred during the traslacion last September 11 when a drunk local resident created trouble.

Thousands of devotees attended the Pontifical Concelebrated Mass at the Basilica grounds immediately after the fluvial procession. (Melo M. Acuna)