Every September, the streets of Naga City come alive with one of Bicol’s most deeply rooted traditions–the Peñafranacia Traslación, a solemn yet powerful procession that marks the beginning of the Peñafrancia Festival.
More than a religious procession, the Traslación is a gathering of faith, culture, tradition, and community. Thousands of devotees, pilgrims, visitors, and Bicolanos from different parts of the region come together to accompany the revered images of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, affectionately called Ina, and El Divino Rostro on their journey through the heart of Naga City.
A Tradition Carried Through Generations
The Traslación has become one of the defining traditions of the Peñafrancia Festivals. Its roots can be traced to the history of devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga.
The original Peñafrancia Shrine served as the home of the revered image before it was transferred to the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. The transfer eventually developed into the tradition now known as the Traslación. According to the Naga City tourism office, Bishop Fancisco Gainza helped institutionalize the procession to the cathedral in the 19th century, establishing a tradition that continues to this day.
The word Traslación refers to the transfer of the sacred image. During the procession, the images are carried along the streets as thousands of devotees gather to accompany them, offer prayers, and express their devotion.
What began as a religious tradition has continued across generations, becoming one of the defining moments of the Peñafrancia Festival.
For many Bicolanos, this is not simply a tradition to watch—it is a tradition to live.
Ina and El Divino Rostro: The images at the heart of the celebration
At the center of the Traslación are the two sacred images deeply associated with Bicolano devotion: Nuestra Senora de Peñafrancia and El Divino Rostro, the holy face of Jesus.
Our Lady of Peñafrancia is affectionately known as Ina, meaning “Mother”. Her devotion traces its roots to Miguel Robles de Covarrubias, whose devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Spain inspired him to establish a shrine in her honor in Naga. The devotion eventually grew beyond the original shrine and became deeply woven into the religious and cultural identity of Bicol.
El Divino Rostro, meanwhile, represents the Holy Face of Jesus and has its own important place in the religious life of Naga and the wider Bicol region.
During the Traslación, the two images become the focal point of a journey followed by thousands upon thousands of devotees.
A Sea of Devotion in the Streets of Naga
As the procession begins, the streets surrounding the route gradually fill with devotees. Some travel from nearby towns, while others return to Naga from different parts of the Philippines and abroad to take part in the celebration.
For many devotees, it is an act of panata–a personal vow or commitment expressed through prayer, sacrifice, and participation.
The atmosphere is a unique combination of solemnity and overwhelming energy. Prayers and chants echo through the streets, handkerchiefs rise above the crowd, and the familiar cry of “Viva La Virgen!” resonates throughout the procession.
At the center of it all are the voyadores–the devoted men who help carry and guide the andas bearing the sacred images, during the procession.
Their participation is often associated with physical endurance, sacrifice, and devotion. For many voyadores, being part of the procession is not simple about being present. It is a deeply personal expression of faith and commitment.
The Traslación is not simply a procession where people watch the images pass by. The journey can be physically demanding, especially amid the enormous crowds, but for many participants, the experience is an expression of gratitude, hope, thanksgiving, and unwavering faith.
Residents, pilgrims, visitors, and devotees gather along the procession path. Some waited for hours to see the images. Others join the procession itself. For many, being present is already an expression of devotion.
In 2026, the Traslación once again demonstrated the immense scale of devotion surrounding the Peñafrancia Festival. The Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) and the Emergency Operations Center–Incident Management Team (EOC-IMT) reported an estimated 820,000 devotees and visitors gathered for the September 11 procession, creating a remarkable sea of people along the city’s streets.
More than a Religious Celebration
The significance of the Traslación extends beyond its religious meaning. It is also a reflection of Bicolano identity and heritage.
For Bicolanos, Peñafrancia is closely connected with ideas of homecoming. Families pass the tradition from one generation to another. Former residents return home for the fiesta. Visitors discover a part of Bicolano culture that cannot be experienced through photographs alone. Local communities come together to welcome pilgrims, while business, volunteers, authorities, and organizations work side by side to accommodate the thousands of people who arrive in Naga.
This combination of faith and community is what makes the Peñafrancia Festival unique.
For travelers, the Traslación offers a rare opportunity to witness a living tradition–one where history, spirituality, and local culture come together in streets of the city known as the Pilgrim City of Naga.
Traslación is not simply a religious event taking place in Naga. It is a tradition that has become part of the story of Bicol itself.
From the Streets to the River
The Traslación is only the beginning of the larger Peñafrancia celebration.
Following the nine-day novena, the devotion culminates in another iconic tradition–the
Peñafrancia Fluvial Procession.
The sacred image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is brought aboard the traditional pagoda and carried along the “Naga River”, accompanied by thousands of devotees gathered along the riverbanks. The return by the river has become another defining tradition of the Peñafrancia festivities.
The journey from the Traslación to the Fluvial Procession creates a powerful narrative within the festival: the image is first carried through the streets of Naga before eventually making its way back through the river to Basilica.
But perhaps the most important journey is the one made by the people themselves.
Some walk in thanksgiving.
Some walk for their families.
Some walk to fulfill a vow.
Some walk carrying hopes they have never shared with anyone else.
And some simply walk because this is a tradition their parents, grandparents, and generations before them once followed.
Together, these traditions form one of the most recognizable expressions of Bicolano faith and heritage.
Experiencing the Traslación as a Traveler
For visitors and travelers planning to experience the Peñafrancia Festival, the Traslación offers an unforgettable glimpse into the heart of Bicol.
However, it is important to remember that this is first and foremost a religious and devotional event. Visitors are encouraged to observe the procession respectfully, follow crowd and safety regulations, and be mindful of devotees who are participating for deeply personal reasons.
The crowds can become extremely large, particularly along major sections of the procession route. Travelers should plan their transportation and accommodation ahead of time and expect significant pedestrian traffic and changes in normal city operations during major fiesta events.
For the 2026 celebration, the Naga City Government advised visitors to expect heavy foot traffic and adjusted local operations around major procession dates. Enhanced security and emergency measures were also implemented in preparation for the large number of pilgrims and visitors expected in the city.
If you plan to attend:
Arrive early and familiarize yourself with the official procession route.
Wear comfortable clothing and footwear, especially if you intend to walk with the procession.
Bring drinking water and other personal necessities.
Keep your belongings secure in crowded areas.
Follow instructions from organizers and authorities throughout the event.
Be mindful when taking photographs or videos, particularly during moments or prayer and religious rites.
Most importantly, respect the devotion of the people around you.
A Tradition that keeps Bicol Moving
The Peñafrancia Traslación is a reminder that travel is not always about discovering a new place–it can also be about understanding the people, stories, and traditions that give a place its identity.
In Naga City, devotion moves through the streets.
It moves through the hands of the voyadores, the prayers of the devotees, the voices of
families gathered together, and the generations that continue to return to celebrate Ina.
It is a gathering of thousands, yet for every devotee, the journey can hold a deeply personal meaning.
For Bicolanos, it is homecoming.
For pilgrims, it is an expression of faith .
And for travelers, it is an opportunity to witness one of the Philippines most remarkable living traditions.
When the streets of Naga fill with people calling out “Viva La Virgen!”, what can be heard is more than a celebration. It is the sound of a devotion that has endured through generations.
This is Peñafrancia.
This is Naga.
This is Bicol–where faith is not simply remembered, but carried forward.
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