PEÑAFRANCIA FLUVIAL PROCESSION

Did you know: Originally, the fluvial procession concludes at the Old Peñafrancia Shrine instead of at the Basilica which is the practice beginning in 1982.

The venerated images are borne on a barge as it is ferried on the Naga River to its destination at the Basilica Minore

The pagoda used during the Fluvial procession

The Sacred Images of Inâ and Divino Rostro are brought back to the Basilica in a procession from the Metropolitan Cathedral. This procession has three parts: First is the foot procession from the Cathedral to the Reina del Bicol Pier at Tabuco; Second is the fluvial procession via the Naga River from Reina del Bicol Pier to the Basilica Pier at Balatas; Third is a foot procession again from the Landing Site to the Basilica Grounds.

At the Head of the procession are the Ciriales and Ministers of Procession, followed by the Voyadores with their oars, the Pagoda Pilgrims, and the Pagoda Crew.

After the Holy Mass celebrated at 2:00 PM at the Quadricentennial Arch at the Cathedral, the Sacred Image of the Divino Rostro departs. Then the Rosary is prayed, afterwhich, the Sacred Image of Inâ departs.

After arrival at the Basilica Pier, the Sacred Images are received by the Basilica Rector. Then the procession to the Basilica Grounds where the Pontifical Mass is celebrated concluding the Fluvial Procession.

Notes:

Bishop Gainza mentioned in 1867 that the “traslación por el rio” (Fluvial Procession) had been the tradition for the longest time even before his episcopacy, in returning Inâ to her sanctuary after the Novenario at the Cathedral. The brief description he gave on the Fluvial Procession that year, that the procession goes out from the Cathedral to Tabuco, then embarking on the Pagoda for the fluvial procession along Naga River, then the foot procession again to the Sanctuary, is fairly much the same to what is done today except that instead of concluding the procession at the Old Shrine, since 1982, the procession ends at the Basilica.