Peñafrancia feast is nonworking holiday in Naga City

NAGA CITY—Mayor John Bongat declared Sept. 15 a special nonworking holiday in this city for the celebration of the feast of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the Bicol region’s patroness.

Bongat said the declaration was based on Presidential Proclamation No. 654, series of 2013, declaring every Friday immediately preceding the Peñafrancia feast (celebrated every third Sunday of September) as a special nonworking holiday in Naga.

A civic-military parade will be held today, the last nonreligious activity before the culmination of the religious fiesta in a fluvial procession at the Naga River.

According to Allen Reondanga, head of the City Events, Protocol and Public Information Office, 697 groups will join the military parade competition.

The government has recognized Naga City and Camarines Sur province as the “Pilgrimage Capital of Bicol” for the devotion to the Our Lady of Peñafrancia. —JUAN ESCANDOR JR.