Location: Naga City, Camarines Sur, Bicol Region, Philippines
I have been to Naga City for several times but due to my busy schedule I am not able to document it for a blog post. This specific post is just a part of my second Caramoan summer tour, after a quick stop in Camsur Watersports Complex of Pili City.
Naga is a second class independent component city in the Bicol Region, Philippines which is dubbed as the Queen City of Bicol. It is a part of the province of Camarines Sur. The town was established in 1575 by order of Spanish Governor-General Francisco de Sande. It has a total land area of of 8,448 hectares. It is consist of 27 barangays. It is 385 kilometers from Manila with an average travel time of 12 hours via Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26.(Wikipedia)
This basilica minore of Our Lady of Penafrancia has the following names: Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia in the Philippines, Nuestra Senora de la Pena de Francia or Virgen dela Pena de Francia in Spain is wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in Naga City where this image comes from the original image enshrined in Salamanca, Spain. In honor of this image is a novena festivities every September as the principal Patroness and Queen of Bicol. (Wikipedia)
The festival of Our Lady of Penafrancia draws which is held every September draws thousands of pilgrims not only from the Philippines but from the devotees outside the country. It even have a fluvial procession.
I have not attended yet a celebration in Naga City of the Our Lady of Penafrancia festival or its fluvial procession but I am highly aware of this grand celebration among my from friends and colleagues who attend this annual celebration.
We stayed an hour at the basilica to offer some prayers and intentions and to buy some souvenir items. We strolled around the whole vicinity and find the place the best for meditation.
From the the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of the Penafrancia, we had a short drive to the vicinity of Plaza Quince Martires for our lunch on a nearby Mang Inasal fastfood outlet.
HOW TO GET THERE:
If you opt not to avail of a travel package, the following are your options considering that you are coming from Manila:
1. Several bus companies are plying from Manila to Naga City which will take 12-14 hours, depending on the traffic conditions.
2. Fly to Naga thru Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
