03 October 2016— The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles attended the 42nd Annual Peñafrancia Festival held at Lincoln Park, Los Angeles on September 17.
The 2016 Peňafrancia Festival is held to celebrate the feast day honoring Our Lady of Peňafrancia in the month of September by the United Bicolandia of Los Angeles (UCBLA), the umbrella organization of Bicolanos from Southern California.
Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz, Madame Lileth Cruz and their three children graced the event together with officers and staff from the Philippine Consulate General.
The celebration draws devotees and guests every year and has always been one of the biggest fluvial festivals and only one of its kind for Filipinos in Southern California. Bishop Arturo Bastes of the Diocese of Sorsogon celebrated the mass at Lincoln Park.
The highlight of the fiesta was a fluvial parade, featuring yellow-shirted “voyadores” carrying the image of the Virgin Mary aboard a floral barge towed by boats around the lake. The fluvial procession is accompanied by a foot procession along the perimeter of the lake. Uniformed Knights of Columbus provided the guard of honor. END
