Every September, tens of thousands of pilgrims, devotees, and tourists come to Naga City for a nine-day festivity in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the Patroness of Bicol, endearingly addressed by Bicolanos as “Ina” (mother).

The festivities begun with the recently famous Traslacion procession during which the images of the Lady of Peñafrancia and the Divino Rostro (Holy Face) are brought by barefooted male “voyadores” from the Basilica through the main streets of the city to the Cathedral.

Friday’s activities included the exhibition of majorettes and drum and bugle corps competition. In the evening, different live bands, including from Manila are expected to perform.

Senior Supt. Henry Savo Ranola, head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Task Force Peñafrancia, said some 600 policemen ensure that peace and order and public safety are maintained during and after the festivities.

Saturday’s fluvial procession at the end of the novena caps the festival. The image is carried in a pagoda accompanied by a battalion of male Bicolano faithfuls going back to the Basilica as people shout “Viva La Virgen!” After that, a pontifical mass will follow.

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Voyadores Festival promises to be colorful as ever as it showcases the Bicolano people’s devotion and faith to Virgin Mary in one of her greatest attributes here, Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

Eye catching costumes, lively street dances for a merriment deeply rooted on rich local arts and culture are among the slew of events during the parade.

Voyadores, being the major event in the week-long festivities has become a draw since it was started in Naga City a few years ago.

It is held in fashion of dramatizing the century-old devotion of the Voyadores (Spanish term for devotees) of the Virgin as they transfer her image from the Basilica Minore to the Metropolitan cathedral.

The dramatization of the image transfer is called Traslacion. This is done through a fluvial procession in Bicol River.

With purely religious undertones, the choreography of dances is a showy presentation of lively mood accompanied with music provided by each participating contingent from various parts of Bicol such as Albay, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon and the island provinces of Masbate, Catanduanes and the seven cities of the region.

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Originally scheduled November 23, the organizers was prompted to reset the schedule after Typhoon Mina threatened Bicol since early last week.

BRTC chair Daniel A. de Leon said the Summit seeks to foster unity and cooperation among stakeholders in Bicol. “It will serve as venue facility for bit experiences and help create an improved-informed network for stakeholders working better to reinvent Bicol as a “must” destination for domestic and international tourists.

DOT Bicol regional director Maria O. Ravanilla said the Summit is part of the multi-faceted agenda of the government in partnership with the private sectors to come up with a creative approach to generate more jobs and earnings especially for barangay residents.

Tourism stakeholders like operators and owners of restaurants, travel companies, hotels, resorts and the transport service providers including school owners offering tourism courses are welcome to participate in the summit., De Leon said.