The feast day is headed by a novena,
nine days of prayer, in honor of the Virgin.
On the first day, the image of the Virgin,
a copy of the Madonna in Peñafrancia, Spain,
is brought from its shrine to the
Naga Cathedral where the novena is held.
Millions of Bicolanos will once again
show to the whole Christian world
their strong faith and
loyalty to their Heavenly Mother.
Amongst triumphant sounding shouts
of Viva la Virgen, Bicolanos and pilgrims,
with lighted candles in their hands,
will kneel on the ground and bow their heads
in prayer as the colorful fluvial procession
carrying the Virgin plows through the
Bicol River in downtown Naga.
The love story between our Lady of Peñafrancia,
whom we lovingly call "Ina," and us, her children,
is never ending.