Peñafrancia Festival 2015 in Naga City: Schedule of Activities, How To Get There, Things To Do and Where To Stay

"Visit Naga City and experience the profound and unwavering devotion of the Bicolanos to the Our Lady of Peñafrancia! Viva La Virgen de Peñafrancia!"

This September, join the multitude of Bicolanos and devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in the annual Peñafrancia Festival as Marian pilgrims come home to Naga City to pay homage to "Ina", Our Lady of Peñafrancia. Witness an unwavering display of undying and unparalled devotion to the beloved "Ina" and patroness of Bicol - the Our Lady of Peñafrancia with the traditional "Traslacion" on September 11, 2015 (Friday) and the "Fluvial Procession on September 19, 2015 (Saturday).

Peñafrancia Festival 2015 Highlights

• September 11, 2015 (Friday) - Traslacion Procession
  1:00 PM - from Peñafrancia Shrine to Naga Metropolitan Cathedral
• September 19, 2015 (Saturday) - Peñafrancia Fluvial Procession
  3:00 PM - from Naga Metropolitan Cathedral to Peñafrancia Shrine

Save the dates of the Peñafrancia Festival 2015 and be sure to plan your trip to Naga City ahead of time.

General Schedule of Peñafrancia Fiesta 2015

Theme: "Living Out God’s Mercy and Compassionin the Year of the Poor"
(Pagsabuhay kan Pagkaherak asin Pagmakulog kan Dios sa Taon nin mga Dukha)

September 1 / Tuesday
5:00 pm: Mass & Procession of the Divino Rostro from Basilica to Penafrancia Parish Church with Caceres Clergy

(All Divino Rostro Novena Masses will be held at the Parish Church of Our Lady of Penafrancia)

September 2 / Wednesday - DAY FOR THE FAMILIES AND THE LAITY
Theme: Family, foremost school of mercy and compassion
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: Mater Salutis, Cararayan; Mt. Carmel, Carolina)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
8:30 am: Harubay (c/o Our Lady of Peñafrancia Association)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (Naga Parochial School; PCFC)

September 3 / Thursday – DAY FOR THE YOUTH
Theme: Courage to be happy as poor of the Lord
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: Tabuco; Gainza: Fil-Chinese Community –Fatima)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (Naga College Foundation; Aeronautical Academy of the Philippines)
8:30 pm: Perdon Penitential Procession

September 4 / Friday – DAY FOR EDUCATORS, TEACHERS, AND MEDIA PRACTITIONERS
Theme: Search for truth with faith and loving compassion
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: Christ the King Parish, Palestina Pili CS )
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (Dept. Ed, Cam Sur National High School; STI; AMA Computer College)
8:00 pm: Alay ki Ina (Basilica c/o Oremos)

September 5 / Saturday - DAY FOR THE CHILDREN
Theme: Symbols of the saving power of God’s mercy
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: St. Jude Thaddeus; Immaculate Conception)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
7:00 am: Pontifical Mass & Installation of new OLPA members: Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona (Basilica)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (Mariners Polytechnic Colleges; Worldtech Resources Institute)
7:00 pm: Cofradía de San José Vigil (Basilica)
8:30 pm: Perdon Penitential Procession

September 6 / Sunday – DAY FOR THE RELIGIOUS MEN AND WOMEN OF CACERES
Theme: Making Christ’s mercy and compassion visible in the world
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: Religious Men & Women of Caceres)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (University of Northeastern Philippines, Iriga City)
6:00 pm 3rd Penafrancia Short Film Awards Night (Avenue Hotel – the Tent)

September 7 / Monday – DAY FOR THE SICK, THE ELDERLY AND HEALTH WORKERS
Theme: Overcoming the sense of uselessness of suffering through Christ’s compassion
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: Cathedral & Lorenzo Ruiz, Abella)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (University of St. Anthony; Computer Communications Institute)
8:30 pm: Perdon Penitential Procession

September 8 / Tuesday – DAY FOR THE POOR AND PRISONERS
Theme: Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: San Francisco Parish, Naga City)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (University of Nueva Caceres; BISCAST)

September 9 / Wednesday – DAY FOR PRIESTS AND SEMINARIANS
Theme: Witnessing to the merciful compassion of the Good Shepherd
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Haring, Canaman)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (Universidad de Sta. Isabel; Naga City Science High School)

September 10 / Thursday – DAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND WORKERS
Theme: Authentic human development according to Christ’s mercy and compassion
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: St. Anthony of Padua, Camaligan)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (AdeNU; Brentwood College of Asia International School)

September 11 / Friday – FEAST OF THE DIVINO ROSTRO
Theme: Divino Rostro: The face of God’s mercy and compassion
4:00 am: Penitential Procession of the Image of INA from Basilica to Penafrancia Parish Church
Penitential Procession (Pilgrims from Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, Canaman)
5:30 am: Blessing of the Castillo de Covarrubias
Pontifical Mass & Installation of new DIVOSTRA members: Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona
6:30 am: Community Mass (and every hour and a half thereafter)

NOVENA MASSES IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA
Theme: Mater misericordiae, a challenge to a life of poverty
12:00 nn: Start of Traslacion Procession of Delegates from schools, institutions, and organizations
1 – 5 pm: Masses (Cathedral) and Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
2:00 pm: Community Mass at Plaza de Covarrubias
3:30 pm: TRASLACION PROCESSION
5:30 pm: Pontifical Mass (Quadricentennial Arch) Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona
7:00 pm: Community Mass (Cathedral)

September 12 / Saturday – DAY FOR THE YOUTH
Theme: Compassionate love for the lost, the last and the least
3 – 7 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) Quadricentennial Arch, Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona

September 13 / Sunday – DAY FOR THE RELIGIOUS
Theme: Joy of total commitment to serving the poor
3 – 7 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English)
9:00 pm: Marian Procession (Cathedral Grounds)

September 14 / Monday – DAY FOR THE CHILDREN
Theme: God’s mysterious presence among those utterly vulnerable
3 – 7 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English)
8:00 pm Marian Procession (Cathedral Grounds)
10:00 pm: Perdon Procession along the major streets of Naga City

September 15 / Tuesday – DAY FOR EDUCATORS, TEACHERS AND MEDIA PRACTITIONERS
Theme: Compassion that heals, liberates and encourages growth in Christian life
6:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Diocese of Virac, Bishop Manolo de los Santos
8:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Diocese of Libmanan, Bishop Jose R. Rojas
9:00 am: Visit to Charitable Institutions (c/o I-Share)
3-7 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
3:00 pm: Union of Bicol Clergy (Holy Rosary Minor Seminary)
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English)
8:00 pm Marian Procession (Cathedral Grounds)
10:00 pm: Perdon Procession along the major streets of Naga City

September 16 / Wednesday – DAY FOR THE SICK, THE ELDERLY AND HEALTH WORKERS
Theme: Mater dolorosa, fidelity to God’s will in the midst of suffering
6:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Diocese of Daet, Bishop Gilbert Garcera
9:00 am: Visit to Charitable Institutions (c/o I-Share)
3-7 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English)
8:00 pm Marian Procession (Cathedral Grounds)
10:00 pm: Perdon Procession along the major streets of Naga City

September 17 / Thursday – DAY FOR THE POOR & PRISONERS
Theme: The poor as privileged recipients of the gospel
3:00 am: Penitential Procession of INA & Divino Rostro
6:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Diocese of Sorsogon, Bishop Arturo Bastes
9:00 am: Visit to Charitable Institutions (c/o I-Share)
3-6 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English)
6:00 pm: Union of Bikol Clergy Mass (Cathedral) Bishop Arturo Bastes
7:30 pm: Confessions (Cathedral)
8:00 pm: Marian Procession (Cathedral Grounds)

September 18 / Friday – DAY FOR PRIESTS AND SEMINARIANS
Theme: Proclaiming a gospel of justice, mercy and love
3:00 am: Penitential Procession of INA & Divino Rostro
6:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Diocese of Masbate, Bishop Jose Bantolo
10:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Military Ordinariate, Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak
3-7 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
4:00 pm: Blessing and Inauguration of the Museo de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English)
8:00 pm: Marian Procession (Cathedral Grounds)
9:00 pm: Vigilia de Espigas, Adoracion Nocturna Filipina

September 19 / Saturday – DAY FOR GOVERNMENT LEADERS & WORKERS
Theme: Attentiveness to the cry of the poor
3:00 am: Penitential Procession of INA & Divino Rostro
6:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Archdiocese of Caceres, Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona
10:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Diocese of Legazpi, Bishop Joel Baylon
12:00 nn: Ringing of Bells
2:00 pm: Community Mass (Quadricentennial Arch)
Community Mass (Tabuco Bridge Landing)
4:00 pm: FLUVIAL PROCESSION
4-6 pm: Confessions (Basilica Grounds)
6:30 pm: Pontifical Mass (Basilica Grounds) Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana

September 20 / Sunday – SOLEMNITY OF OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA
Theme: Living out God’s mercy and compassion in the Year of the Poor
6:30 am: Pontifical Mass (Basilica) Bishop Lucilo Quiambao
8:00 am: Pontifical Mass (Basilica) Archdiocese of Caceres, Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona
9:30 am: Pontifical Mass (Basilica) Bishop Adolfo Tito Yllana
11:00 am: Pontifical Mass (Basilica) Bishop Jose Rojas
6:00 pm: Pontifical Mass (Basilica) Bishop Manolo de los Santos

Source: Penafrancia Basilica Minore

How to get to Naga City, Camarines Sur?

By Land: From Manila, take a bus (Isarog Lines, RSL, Raymond, Peñafrancia Tours, Amihan Bus and Philtranco) bound for Naga City. Terminals can be found at Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City and EDSA in Pasay City. Travel time is about 8-9 hours and fare is around 800 pesos.

By Air: From Manila, take a 40-minute flight to Naga City. Major airlines such as Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have daily flights to Naga City. The airport is located in the town of Pili. From there, you have to take a bus or jeepney that will take you to Naga City.

SEE ALSO: Traveling in Comfort with Isarog Bus Lines' Sleeper Bus

Isarog Bus Lines
Terminal: 151 Aurora Blvd. corner G. Reyes St., Brgy Salapan, San Juan City
For Inquiries, you may call Isarog Bus Line booking office in EDSA at:
Telephone Numbers: (02) 7278194 / 3810840 / 4821600
Mobile Number: 09178894713 / 09088512643
You may also connect to them through their Twitter account @BICOLISAROG

Things to do in (and near) Naga City?

• Visit the Churches (Naga Cathedral, Peñafrancia Basilica, San Francisco, Nuestra Señora de Peña de Francia)
• Check out Plaza Quince Martires, Oragon Monument, Plaza Rizal , Porta Mariae, Holy Rosary Minor Seminary and Peñafrancia Diamond Jubilee Pavilion
• Wakeboarding at Cam Sur Watersports Complex
• Trek to Nabontolan Falls, Malabsay Falls and Hotsprings
• Dine at Bigg's Diner, Bicol region's biggest food chain
• Experience nightlife at Magsaysay Avenue
• Visit Museo del Seminario Concilliar de Nueva Caceres inside Holy Rosary Minor Seminary
• Indulge on Pili Nuts, Kinalas, Toasted Siopao, Pan de Naga and other delicacies
• Souvenir shopping at Naga City Market

Where to Stay in Naga City?

Due to the festive season during Peñafrancia Festival, it is necessary that you plan your trip in advance. Naga City has a wide array of affordable and high quality hotels, guest/pension houses, hostel and inns for you to stay in!

I have personally tried, Moraville Hotel and Restaurant along Dinaga Street, Naga City. It is a 4-storey, newly-refurbished hotel tucked in a quiet side street in the heart of Naga city. It is also strategically located within the city's business hub, shopping and leisure centers and historical destinations are just nearby. You may contact them at (054) 473-1247 or (054) 881-1378.

Peñafrancia Festival 2012 and 2013 Coverage

You can read my previous posts on Peñafrancia Festival 2012 and 2013 here:

• Peñafrancia Festival 2013 Experience, Viva La Virgen de Peñafrancia!
• Viva La Virgen de Peñafrancia! My Peñafrancia Festival 2012 Experience

Come to Naga City and experience the grandest Marian celebration in the Philippines, the Peñafrancia Festival 2015! Viva La Virgen de Peñafrancia!