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Solemnity and Spectacle: A Guide to Peñafrancia Festival
By Cecilia Aderes
Devotees reach for the principal patroness of Bicol, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, during the Traslacion. Photo by Power Mac Center.
NAGA CITY, 07 SEPT 2026 — September is a festive month for Bicolanos and Catholic devotees because in the Heart of Bicol — the famous moniker for Naga City — there is a month-long celebration where Bicolanos of every generation gather together to celebrate and pray to Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
From grand religious processions to solemn novenas, or from colorful festivities to local competitions, the Peñafrancia Festival is a sight to behold for those who want to join the celebrations for the Blessed Ina.
The Story Behind Peñafrancia
The Marian image, along with other images and church bells, was hidden under rocks on a mountain called Peña de Francia (translation: Rock of France) in the province of Salamanca, northwestern Spain. It was done to hide it from the Moors, a Muslim people who invaded the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal) during the 8th–15th centuries. Soon after, it was unearthed by a Spanish laybrother named Simón Vela, aided by five other men who had deformities. When they touched, kissed, and embraced the image, the miracle of healing was bestowed upon the five men.
Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia in Salamanca, Spain. Photo by Noticias Salamanca.
Thus, this miracle encouraged more people to come and pray to the Blessed Mother, whom they soon came to address as the Lady of Peña de Francia. Nowadays, the Lady is enshrined at the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia, at the peak of the mountain where she was found.
The devotion reached the Philippines through Rev. Fr. Miguel Robles de Covarrubias. Back when he was a seminarian at the University of Santo Tomas, he fell ill and prayed to the Blessed Mother for healing while holding a photograph of the image found by Simón Vela. He vowed to her that he would build a chapel if he recovered, which he soon fulfilled by constructing it in Nueva Cáceres, the Spanish-era name of Naga City. Today, it is known as the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Parish Church.
The tradition we know today first sparked in 1864. Most Rev. Francisco Gainza started the Traslacion, moving the image from the parish to the cathedral for a novena, then returning through a river procession, now known today as the Fluvial Procession.
When The Festival Is Celebrated
The Feast of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia is held every 8th of September in Spain, but in the Philippines, it is done differently.
Through a rescript by Pope Pius X in April 1905, the Feast day of Our Lady of Peñafrancia will be celebrated annually on the Sunday after the Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This means that it will be done annually on the Sunday after September 15. Nowadays, the Sunday after the octave is celebrated with a Mass a day after the Blessed Ina returns to her home basilica after being transferred to the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral for a novena.
Our Lady of Peñafrancia had a canonical coronation on September 20, 1924, becoming the Queen and Patroness of Bicol. She was crowned by the Most Rev. Guglielmo Piani at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. It was during this coronation that the song Himno a la Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia was sung, which is now considered a “love song” to the Blessed Ina by the Bicolanos. Locals also know the song by its alternative title, Resuene Vibrante. Oftentimes, this song is sung during the Peñafrancia Festival.
The canonical coronation of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, a photograph from Bikol Annals – Volume I: The See of Caceres, p. 219.
As the largest Marian event in Asia, Naga City holds tons of festivities for everyone who visits for the Peñafrancia Festival. As of August 19, the City Government of Naga released the schedule of events for the month-long festivities. Here are the notable events that Bicolanos look forward to.
Traslacion
As mentioned earlier, this is a procession that moves the Image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia alongside the image of El Divino Rostro to Naga Metropolitan Cathedral for a novena.
The El Divino Rostro is a sacred image of the face of Jesus Christ that Spanish and Filipino devotees prayed to for protection from cholera back in the 19th century. The tradition of praying to Our Lady of Peñafrancia and El Divino Rostro began on the 26th of August 1882, and it has continued ever since through the Traslacion.
This year, the procession will be held on September 11, Friday. It will be followed by a novena in honor of the image as the principal patroness of Bicol.
Devotees reach for Our Lady of Peñafrancia during the Traslacion. Photo by Mark Alvic Esplana from Inquirer.
City-wide Activities
A festival is nothing without colorful celebrations. Naga City offers cultural shows like concerts, parades, and dances the week after the Traslacion, which bring families together to watch these grand spectacles. Catch one of these exciting events on these dates:
One of the many festival dances performed in the 2025 Peñafrancia Voyadores Festival. Photo by Naga City Tourism.
Tagboan Arts, Music, and Food Festival – September 15 to 19
Scouts Parade – September 16
Drum, Xylophone, and Majorettes Corps Competition – September 16
Civic and Float Parade – September 17
Peñafrancia Voyadores Festival – September 17
Pilgrims Dance Competition – September 17
Bicol Regional Military Parade Exhibition – September 18
These schedules are from Naga City Government’s Facebook page, updated as of August 24.
Fluvial Procession
El Divino Rostro is in front of the pagoda, while Our Lady of Peñafrancia is placed behind. They are followed by devotees paddling behind in boats. Photo by Department of Tourism Bicol Region.
This is a unique procession where the images of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and El Divino Rostro are placed on a heavily decorated pagoda as they embark on their way back to the Basilica Minore through the Naga River. The river is considered sacred among Nagueño devotees because the Blessed Ina ferries along it. Thus, environmental cleanliness in the river is often practiced out of devotion.
Everyone often places themselves along the riverbed to witness the Fluvial Procession, or follows behind the pagoda in boats. Join the devotees in chanting Viva la Virgen as the procession reaches the basilica, where a Pontifical Mass will be held to commemorate their return.
Then, the Sunday Mass after the images’ return will be the official end of the festival. Masses will also be held around Bicol in her honor.
Celebrate Peñafrancia with Easybus PH
As early as now, tickets for trips going to Naga City are quickly running out, so make sure to secure a seat now through easybus.ph! Make sure to also pack light for the processions and parades because the streets will be brimming with crowds.
Wondering which bus line has a trip to Naga City right now? You can check our guide here. Just make sure to put “Naga” under the “To” section before hitting search and find a trip schedule that fits best for you. Paying for the ticket won’t be a hassle either — Easybus PH supports cashless payments through GCash, Maya, debit and credit cards.
See you in Naga! ¡Viva la Virgen!