Mayor Leni Robredo rejected calls from the Philippine National Police-Bicol for a total liquor ban during the Traslacion, saying she understood the tradition among voyadores.
THOUSANDS of ‘Voyadores’ or devotees applaud as the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia makes its way through the streets of Naga City during the Traslacion procession of the 316th Peñafrancia Festival on Friday.
Photograph courtesy of JARVIS IVAN SADIUA
NAGA CITY — The Traslacion of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and El Divino Rostro (Holy Face) on Friday drew an estimated 820,000 people, surpassing last year’s 800,000 turnout and extending the already lengthy procession.
The Emergency Operations Center–Incident Management Team for the 316th Peñafrancia Festival said the larger crowd included more religious, civic and non-religious organizations joining the event.
Josephus Belgado, 64, a retired Philippine Army personnel, waited for signs that the El Divino Rostro’s andas (carriage) was turning toward Plaza Quince Martires on its way to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Naga around 3:30 p.m.
Belgado recalled that the procession could become dangerous in the 1990s, when unruly “voyadores” — male devotees who carry or accompany the image — sometimes disrupted its progress.
“We used to step on the feet of unruly ‘voyadores’... while in our combat boots. Those boots could hurt,” he said.
He said the Traslacion is now more organized, particularly with wheels installed under the domed andas, making it easier and faster for voyadores to move the images along the route.
Belgado, however, said drinking and drunkenness among participants should be regulated.
“I think there should be regulations regarding drunkenness or drinking before a ‘voyador’ joins the procession,” he said, acknowledging that drinking has traditionally been part of the experience for some devotees facing the physically demanding procession.
No liquor ban
On Wednesday, Mayor Leni Robredo rejected calls from the Philippine National Police-Bicol for a total liquor ban during the Traslacion, saying she understood the tradition among “voyadores.”
Robredo said some devotees drink to numb themselves from the odors and physical stress encountered during the procession. She also noted that liquor bans imposed in previous years did not prevent some voyadores from drinking secretly before joining the route from the Peñafrancia Shrine to the Metropolitan Cathedral.
While she acknowledged that some participants could become unruly, she said such incidents were uncommon during the Traslacion.
The Archdiocese of Caceres, however, opted for a “selective” liquor ban along the procession route to help ensure a peaceful and solemn religious event.
Some Nagueños said stricter regulation of drinking and drunkenness could help prevent injuries and disorder, but argued that a total ban was not the only solution. They said it could also dampen the festivities and hurt businesses selling alcoholic drinks.
Many also supported Robredo’s position.
“Hindi sinasabi ni Mayor Leni na, ‘Bahala na kayo. Inom lang,’” copywriter and creative director Gerry Cacanindin said in a Facebook post. “It’s more like, ‘You don’t lose your freedom just because somebody else might abuse theirs.’”
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