By: Aliahcorr Balanon
Photo courtesy of Maverick Rhoy De Vera | The LANCE
Preparations for the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene began on Jan. 7, Wednesday at the Quirino Grandstand with a volunteer mass and the beloved ‘pahalik,’ followed by ‘pabihis,’ or ceremonial vesting of the image, while fiesta masses happened on the afternoon later that day. The Misa Mayor leading into the grand procession on Jan. 9, Friday.
This year’s procession started moving at 3:58 a.m. from the Quirino Grandstand with a redesigned carriage, tighter crowd controls and route adjustments aimed for a safer and more orderly procession.
The most significant change involves the andas and the image’s cross, redesigned to discourage devotees from climbing and risking injury.
“We have shortened the cross so that there would be less opportunities to hang onto it. Our goal here is to protect our image,” Alex Irasga said, Nazareno 2026 adviser.
The carriage was also upgraded with four wheels instead of three and fitted with steering mechanism to improve control.
Parts of the Katigbak Drive and Padre Burgos Street will be closed to devotees to ensure a smoother flow of the procession from the Quirino Grandstand, following delays experienced in previous years.
“Last year, after one and a half hours, we were still at the Manila Hotel,” Irasga said.
Despite these adjustments, organizers said the traditional procession route from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church will remain unchanged.
After the dawn prayer, the image of the Black Nazarene was placed on the andas and guarded by the Hijos del Nazareno.
The 5.8 kilometer route will pass through three parks and plazas, seven bridges, one underpass and 18 Manila streets with 14 prayer stations set up for devotees joining the procession.
Hijos-Police or the Police officers who are also devotees will join the procession to help manage crowds and maintain order.
“We will mobilize Hijos-Police because they are the ones who are experienced in crowd management and in controlling the crowd. But they are not there as police. They are there as Hijos. They are there as devotees,” Irasga shared.
As of 3:00 p.m on Friday, the estimated crowd for the Translacion reached 645,200 devotees, based on data from the Quiapo Church Command Post.
The breakdown showed 545,200 along Ayala Boulevard, 100,000 in Quiapo and none remaining at the Quirino Grandstand.
According to Silgen Cabrito, communications coordinator of Quiapo Church, the crowd estimate may appear to be decreasing at certain points as some devotees take time to rest before returning to the procession.
However, others may already be at San Sebastian Church in preparation for Dungaw, a ritual in which the image of Jesus Nazareno briefly stops at the Minor Basilica and Parish of San Sebastian to meet the Marian image.
Two devotees died during this year’s Traslacion, according to a statement from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
Authorities have yet to release further details regarding the fatalities, but the NCRPO clarified that the reported deaths did not include the photojournalist who died on Friday while covering the procession.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross reported that hundreds of devotees required medical assistance throughout the event. Most cases involved monitoring of vital signs and treatment for minor injuries such as dizziness, abrasions, sprains, and superficial wounds.
The procession lasted for nearly 31 hours, as the image of the Black Nazarene made its way from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church, concluding what is now officially the longest record in the feast’s history.