Annual procession generally orderly, peaceful
THIS year’s procession of the image of the Jesus Nazareno took longer than last year as the large ropes used to pull the carriage carrying the statue snapped, prompting the Hijos del Nazarenos and the devotees to push it.
Another cause of delay was the participation of a large crowd when the procession, or Traslacion, reached the narrow streets of Quiapo in Manila.
“Many devotees flocked in the afternoon because of the fair weather and many came in late from work in other areas since the holiday is only in Manila,” said the Nazareno Operations Center.
The center said the first rope broke while the procession was on Finance Road, near the Quirino Grandstand where the Traslacion started. The second one split at San Sebastian Church.
“It is confirmed that there are no more ropes pulling the andas (carriage), and is only relying on being pushed,” said the operations center.
In an earlier briefing, Nazareno 2025 adviser Alex Irasga said ropes attached to the andas broke in the past because devotees made it a point to snip bits of the thick cords as part of their devotion.
As of 9 p.m. yesterday, the andas was at J.P. de Guzman St. going to Hidalgo St. It left the Quirino Grandstand at 4:41 a.m.
Last year, the grand procession concluded at 7:44 p.m., or a procession time of 14 hours and 59 minutes. It started 4:45 a.m. a year ago.
Between midnight to 12 noon of January 9, a total of 1,786,210 participated in the festivities at the Quirino Grandstand, Quiapo Church, and during the procession.
Hundreds of thousands of barefoot devotees joined the annual procession of the centuries-old statue in one of the world’s grandest displays of Catholic devotion and expression of faith.
Filipinos turned the streets of Manila to a sea of maroon and gold and swarmed the Black Nazarene as devotees jostled for a chance to pull the thick rope towing the carriage.
The procession’s organizers have estimated about 220,000 people attended mass before the procession, while 94,500 were in the march as of 8 a.m. The number was expected to swell as it moves along its 5.8 km (3.6 mile) route.
Other devotees threw white towels at the image as marshals wiped them of its surface, believing that touching the statue would bless them and heal their illnesses.
The procession commemorates the transfer of the Black Nazarene from a church inside the old Spanish capital of Intramuros to its present location in Quiapo Church.
MATURITY
Earlier in the day, Quiapo Church spokesman Fr Robert Arellano expressed optimism that devotees are starting to mature in expressing their faith.
“This is what we are praying for every year, for changes in the maturity of our devotees,” said Arellano in an interview.
He said that at the start of the procession, “the people were behaved, unlike during the pre-pandemic time, where there is shouting and devotees are being very aggressive.”
“Now, they are quiet and the andas is able to move faster,” he added.
Overall, he said, the procession was “generally orderly and peaceful” as well as during the midnight Fiesta Mass presided by Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula.
He said everybody cooperated and “there were no reported commotion or untoward incidents during the celebration of the Holy Mass and during the vigil.”
Quiapo Church officials have asked devotees to adhere to the guidelines set by the feast organizers.
“If the andas will not be blocked and devotees will not climb it, the procession will be faster,” said Quiapo Church Rector Fr Rufino “Jun” Sescon.
No untoward incident has been reported as of 5 p.m. yesterday, according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
“It’s peaceful at the location,” said NCRPO spokesperson Maj. Myrna Diploma, referring to Hidalgo Street.
As to the crowd estimate, Diploma said it was around 713,000 at that time.
NATIONAL DEVOTION
Sescon said the Nazareno 2025 festivities also showed how extensive the devotion of Filipinos is to the Jesus Nazareno.
“This is a national feast as every Filipino loves the Jesus Nazareno. This is a national shrine, a national feast, a national devotion,” he said addressing the crowd at the Quirino Grandstand.
“In my three years in Quiapo, it cannot be denied that the Quiapo Church is a national parish as millions of devotees come here to pray to the Jesus Nazareno,” he added.
To note, the 2025 feast is the first after the Quiapo Church was declared a “national shrine” by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
It is also the first feast of the Jesus Nazareno that is acknowledged as a “national liturgical feast.”
Advincula, in his homily, urged devotees to drop their vices, love for money, and admiration for evil people.
“If we give offerings and devotion to the Jesus Nazareno but follow money, evil people, and bad vices, it only means we rely on money, evil people, and bad vices,” he said.
He urged the devotees to instead always follow the examples of Jesus Christ.
“If you are a true devotee, if we really love the Jesus Nazareno, let us follow Him,” said Advincula. – With Victor Reyes
