NAGA CITY --- At least one million devotees are expected to attend the Peñafrancia Festival starting Friday, Sept. 12 up to Sept. 20.

        This, according to Fr. Luisito Occiano, vice rector of the Penafrancia Basilica Minore, who said that the Archdiocese of Caceres is fully prepared for the 2008 celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Patroness of Bicolandia.

        Occiano said a series of seminars were held in the different parishes in this city in preparation for the upcoming festivities. “The seminar was aimed to brief the male devotees who would carry the image in processions in view of a more proper coordination and orderly activity.”

        The religious festival officially kicked off on September 3, with the start of the novena to the Divino Rostro which will end on Friday, September 12, with the Traslacion procession bringing the image of Ina from the Basilica Minore to the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral for the novena prayers.’

        On September 20, the colorful fluvial procession will take place along the Bicol River after the street procession from the Metropolitan Cathedral. The image will then be transferred to a waiting pagoda to take her back to the Basilica Minore, home of the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

        This yearly activity dates back to the 17th century and has never failed to attract devotees, some of whom said they were cured of their illnesses.

        “It is our wish to see to it that with the big volume of devotees coming to visit Ina, order and solemnity of the religious activities are observed while everyone is given the chance to visit, pray and honor her during the occasion,” said Occiano.

Archdiocese of Caceres release