500k devotees attend Peñafrancia rites in Bicol

More than 500,000 devotees in Naga City on Friday took part in the Traslacion, a procession honoring Our Lady of Peñafrancia, considered the patroness of the Bicol region.

Some of the devotees were injured during the Traslacion as they tried to get near the Divino Rostro (Holy Face of Christ), according to a report on "Saksi" Friday night.

As in past years, the devotees jostled for position to get near the Divino Rostro, which came before the image of the Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia.



The image of the Patroness was brought to the Metro Naga Cathedral on Friday.

A separate report by GMA Bicol's Avril Daja on GMA News TV's "Balita Pilipinas Ngayon" said the devotees woke up before dawn to take part in the activities honoring the Divino Rostro and the Patroness.

A predawn procession brought the Divino Rostro and image of the Patroness from the basilica to the Peñafrancia Shrine.

On Friday afternoon, the Divino Rostro and image of the Patroness were brought from the Peñafrancia Shrine to the Metro Naga Cathedral, where Masses and novenas will be held for the next nine days.

The Patroness' image is to be brought back to the basilica via a fluvial procession at Naga River on September 20.



— Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News