September is finally here and for us Bicolanos it means that Peñafrancia Festival is just around the corner.
Every second Friday of September, we celebrate the start of fiesta with the traditional procession commonly referred to as the "Traslacion". From the Penafrancia Shrine, the images of Divino Rostro and Our Lady of Penafrancia are transferred to the Metropolitan Cathedral. During the traslacion, thousands if not millions of devotees crowd the streets of Naga City to participate in the procession.
As far as I can remember, I started participating in Traslacion since my highschool years but it was only last year that I decided to experience it a little different from what I'm used to... In the past years that I've attended this event with my friends, I am usually in front of the crowd or in high places to document what's happening; snapping photos of voyadores. I was always in comfortable places and from where I stood before, I can only see what's happening and not really feel it.
Last year, it was a different experience for me. I decided to stay close and be in the grounds. It was my first time to participate in the procession as one of the Voyadores ni Ina. It's very unusual for ladies to be present in the crowd of Voyadores so the gentlemen around me were surprised and they kept on shouting "Oh may babae. May babae!" (There's a lady. There's a lady!) I guess it was also their way of protecting me because the crowd can be very passionate and forceful just to get close to andas(carriage) ni Ina.
Watch this video and see for yourself what I mean.
Every second Friday of September, we celebrate the start of fiesta with the traditional procession commonly referred to as the "Traslacion". From the Penafrancia Shrine, the images of Divino Rostro and Our Lady of Penafrancia are transferred to the Metropolitan Cathedral. During the traslacion, thousands if not millions of devotees crowd the streets of Naga City to participate in the procession.
As far as I can remember, I started participating in Traslacion since my highschool years but it was only last year that I decided to experience it a little different from what I'm used to... In the past years that I've attended this event with my friends, I am usually in front of the crowd or in high places to document what's happening; snapping photos of voyadores. I was always in comfortable places and from where I stood before, I can only see what's happening and not really feel it.
Last year, it was a different experience for me. I decided to stay close and be in the grounds. It was my first time to participate in the procession as one of the Voyadores ni Ina. It's very unusual for ladies to be present in the crowd of Voyadores so the gentlemen around me were surprised and they kept on shouting "Oh may babae. May babae!" (There's a lady. There's a lady!) I guess it was also their way of protecting me because the crowd can be very passionate and forceful just to get close to andas(carriage) ni Ina.
Watch this video and see for yourself what I mean.
| | When my family and friends learned that I joined the voyadores, their common reaction was "Di ba panglalake lang un?" Some were a little bit amazed, some even got angry... others were just completely puzzled. Oh well, sabihin nalang nating minsan matigas talaga ulo ko and may pagka-unconventional din... I wanted to feel it, and not just see it. And I thought, kung sa isang tv show nga dati, nagpaulan at nakipagsiksikan ako, what more pa for Ina, Our Lady of Penafrancia. |
Did you know?!
Naga City is one of the biggest Marian Pilgrimage sites in Asia.
Naga City is one of the biggest Marian Pilgrimage sites in Asia.
| This video blog is about my Spiritual eXcursion in Pilgrim City of Naga. This is part of my #25on25 journey of rediscovery, healing and renewal. If you want to join me for a walking tour this year, please leave a message here. Please check Naga eXcursions for different excursion and tour packages that you can enjoy when you visit Metro Naga. Join me in my journey. Please visit again my blog for more related stories about Peñafrancia Specials. |  VIVA LA VIRGEN. VIVA! |
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