NAGA CITY—For most Filipinos, September signals the start of the Christmas countdown. But for the people of Bicol, it means the beginning of a season of deep devotion and the celebration of the Peñafrancia festival here.

The festival, one of the country’s most revered and renowned religious celebrations, is marked by the feast of the Divino Rostro (Divine Face of Jesus) on the second Friday of the month (Sept. 12 this year) and the feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, affectionately called Ina, Patroness of the Bicol Region, in the third week (Sept. 21).

It is highlighted by the foot procession (or traslacion) in which the images of the Divino Rostro and Ina (Mother) are transferred from the Basilica Minore to the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral and, nine days later, the fluvial procession in which the images are brought back to the basilica aboard decorated boats on the Naga River, cheered on by thousands of pilgrims and devotees.

This year, the Archdiocese of Caceres urged the faithful to reflect on the theme of “Mary as Mother to all,” embracing not only Catholics but even those outside the faith.

“Mary is a mother to all people, even to those who do not profess the Catholic faith, and even to those who do not believe in God,” said Rev. Fr. Dominique Llaguno of the Metropolitan Naga Cathedral, who oversees the traslacion.

‘Passing of the faith’

The devotion of Bicolanos to Ina is legendary, and the number of those who attend the rituals in her honor is unflagging and includes visitors to the region.

Father Llaguno noted the growing presence of the youth in the celebrations. Many participate in ecclesiastical activities not only during the feast itself but also in the weeks leading up to it, which he described as “a passing of the faith” to the next generation.

For Deo Jay Sendico, 22, the devotion is no longer a mere tradition and has become a lifelong vow (panata).

“Thousands of people walk through crowded streets, under the sun or in the rain. It’s tiring and sometimes even risky, but they keep going because of their strong faith,” he told CoverStory.

Sendico, a devotee since 2015, said his panata began when he was still in grade school and tagging along with his father, brother, and uncles in the processions.

“I saw a different side of them—walking, praying, and showing their connection to Ina. That left a deep impression on me and started my own devotion, which continues to this day,” he said.

Like many other devotees, Sendico carries personal prayers during the festivities, often asking Ina for strength and protection for his family and fellow pilgrims.

Safety and security

With the devotees estimated in the millions, safety remains a top priority. Each year, the Philippine National Police forms a task force dedicated to ensure order during the Peñafrancia.

The Police Regional Office has deployed over 2,500 officers across the pilgrimage routes. Groups are assigned for crowd control and rescue operations, and plainclothesmen are monitoring possible criminal activity, according to Chester Pomar of the Naga City Police Station 1.

To ease congestion, Mayor Leni Robredo has issued Executive Order No. 48 suspending classes at all levels and work in government offices during the peak of the festivities. A skeleton workforce is assigned to essential services such as security, healthcare, and emergency response.

Her children

Amid the grandeur of the Peñafrancia, church leaders continue to emphasize its spiritual core.

“I hope everyone experiences being a child of Ina,” Father Llaguno said. “After all, we are reflecting on Mary being our Mother, so our first and foremost experience should be to see ourselves as her children.”

For the faithful, the feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia remains more than a cultural spectacle: It is a testament to enduring devotion, binding generations of Bicolanos to their beloved Ina.

The feast of the Divino Rostro was held on Sept. 12. Here are the rest of the relevant dates:

Scouts parade and DXMC competition on Sept. 17; civic and float parade, and Peñafrancia Voyadores street and pilgrims dance competition on Sept. 18; military parade on Sept. 19; fluvial procession on Sept. 20.