Thousands join Peñafrancia dawn procession in Naga City

Thousands of devotees filled the streets of Naga City, Camarines Sur at dawn on Friday for the traditional procession of the  image Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the Bicolandia patroness.

JP Soriano's report on GMA News TV's Balitanghali shows the crowd accompany the Our Lady of Peñafrancia image in an early morning procession that was to be followed by a Mass at the Peñafrancia Shrine.

After novena masses throughout the day, the image will be brought to the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral for the Traslacion in the afternoon.

Over 2,000 policemen and soldiers were deployed to secure the area as the festival is expected to attract at least a million visitors, the Naga City government said.

The weather was fair during the solemn occasion even as the effects of a tropical depression and the monsoon rains prevailed across the country.

Devotee Gloria Valladolid, who was still recovering from a stroke, said she would not miss the occasion as her devotion to the Lady has helped her in her daily trials.

"Kaya kahit na ako nagkaganitong may sakit ako, hindi pa rin ako nag-stop sa pagiging devotee niya," she said.

"Kaya nga maraming nagsasabing the Peñafrancia fiesta is what makes Bicol, Bicol.The Peñafrancia fiesta it what makes Bicolanos connected with each other," Allen Reondanga, chief of the Naga's City Events, Protocol, and Public Information Office, said. —Margaret Claire Layug/LBG, GMA News