MILLIONS of maroon and yellow-clad, barefoot devotees are expected to troop to Manila today for the feast of the Jesus Nazareno, highlighted by the annual grand procession from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church.
No “serious threat” to the event has been monitored, according to the PNP
“But we are maintaining our pro-active security stance to preempt any potential threat,” PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said.
About 6.5 million devotees attended the event last year. The procession lasted 15 hours.
Quiapo Church rector Fr Rufino “Jun” Sescon, the annual “Traslacion” of the Jesus Nazareno can beat last year’s record of 15 hours but that it is highly dependent on the participating devotees, and the absence of politicians.
In a press briefing, Sescon said a faster procession of the iconic image of Christ is possible if devotees will follow the guidelines set by the Nazareno 2025 organizers.
“If the `andas’ will not be blocked and devotees will not climb, it the procession will be faster,” he said.
This was echoed by Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan who said, “If everyone will follow the guidelines, definitely we will be able to finish the procession and return the Jesus Nazareno to the shrine faster.”
Sescon said the absence of politicians taking advantage of the mass gathering can also make the procession run smoother.
“The procession will run smoother if there will be no pocket points, where devotees may converge because of things not related to the festivities,” he said.
“We appeal to politicians, if you want to go to Mass, no one will prevent you from doing so. But please, let us respect the religious occasion,” he added.
Last year, the procession started at 4:45 a.m. at the Quirino Grandstand and ended at 7:44 p.m. when it reached Quiapo Church, r a running time of 15 hours.
ROUTE
Nazareno 2025 adviser Alex Irasga said the procession route will be the same as last year, as it will run for 5.8 kilometers and pass through 18 roads, six bridges, and an underpass.
Based on the route released by the Quiapo Church, the procession will start at the Quirino Grandstand, left to Katigbak Drive, right to Padre Burgos Street through Finance Road, straight to Ayala Bridge, left to Palanca St., right to Quezon Boulevard, right to Arlegui Street, right to Fraternal Street, right to Vergara Street, left to Duque de Alba Street, left to Castillejos St., left to Farnecio St., right to Arlegui St., left to Nepomuceno St., left to Concepcion Aguila St., right to Carcer St., right to Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen, left to Bilibid Viejo through Gil Puyat, left to J.P. de Guzman St., right to Hidalgo St., left to Quezon Blvd., right to Palanca St. through under Quezon Bridge, and right to Villalobos through Plaza Miranda going to Quiapo Church.
In preparation for the Traslacion, Irasga earlier said improvements were made on the “andas” or carriage of the Jesus Nazareno. These include placing a transparent roof for the glass enclosure of the image, placing proper ventilation in the glass case, putting additional wheels for the andas, and fortifying the stainless steel of the carriage.
Devotees are discouraged from climbing the carriage.
They are allowed to bring small, single-hand religious relics, including replica of the Jesus Nazareno. Also allowed are transparent raincoats/poncho, shoes and slippers, small cameras, wheelchair, single seat portable chairs, small flashlight, small candles, clear plastic garbage bags, and waist bags.
Organizers prohibited the carrying of medium to life-sized religious images, banners, deadly weapons, pyrotechnics, drone cameras, selfie sticks, professional cameras, large bags, blankets, portable appliances, LPG and stoves, and tents.
Also banned are umbrellas, alcoholic beverages, smoking and vaping, laser pointers, large metal objects, scooters and skates, vehicles and bicycles, heavy meals, plastic and glass bottles, food sticks, pets, and jackets.
FIESTA MASSES
Hours before the grand procession set in the early morning of January 9, Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula is set to preside the midnight Fiesta Mass at the Quirino Grandstand.
“A Holy Mass will be offered by the Archbishop of Manila together with priests from different dioceses,” said the organizers.
Before and after the Mass, there will be an overnight vigil at the Quirino Grandstand featuring band parade, youth programs, and community prayers.
Also being continuously held at the Quirino Grandstand until today is the traditional “pahalik” or veneration of the image of Jesus Christ.
Over at the Quiapo Church, there will be a total of 33 Fiesta Masses to be held hourly from yesterday afternoon until late tonight.
The first Fiesta Mass is scheduled at 3 pm of January 8 while the last one is at 11 pm of January 9.
The Nazareno 2025 marks the first fiesta 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.”
“In every diocese and every parish in the Philippines, we can expect this to be celebrated,” said Sescon.
SECURITY
Fajardo said security preparations for the event are in place, including the deployment of some 12,500 policemen.
“PNP security coverage for Traslacion 2025 are now in full swing. So far the deployed security personnel is sufficient but we have personnel on standby to augment the present deployment if the needs arise,” said Fajardo.
“We deployed close to 12,500 PNP personnel,” Fajardo also said.
These PNP personnel, Fajardo said, will be augmented by around 2,000 personnel from the Armed Forces, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
As to the PNP final reminder to the policemen who will be security the Traslacion, Fajardo said, “We are constantly reminding our policemen to maintain highest level of alertness.”
“For devotees, to keep the Traslacion orderly by heeding to the appeal of the Church not to bring prohibited items,” she said.
Maj. Myrna Diploma, spokesperson of the National Capital Region Police Office, said NCRPO will remain on alert despite the absence of any threat to the Traslacion.
“As of now, we have not monitored any threat to the security of Metro Manila. Nevertheless, your PNP will remain on alert and ready to respond anytime to any to any situation,” said Diploma.
Diploma said more policemen will be deployed to secure the Traslacion “depending on the situation.”
Diploma said the NCRPO continues to coordinate with church officials, local government units and other government agencies “to ensure the Traslacion will be safe, peaceful and orderly.”
“Last year, about 6.5 million devotees attended the procession and we are expecting more will come on January 9 to join the 5.8 kilometers procession from Quirino Grandstand up to Quiapo Church,” said Diploma.
CLEARING
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority intensified clearing operations removing illegally parked and unattended vehicles along the procession route and alternate roads.
MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said the agency’s Special Operations Group-Strike Force spearheaded the clearing operations yesterday afternoon along Carlos Palanca St., Arlegui St., Fraternal St., Vergara St., Doque de Alba St., Castillejos St., Plaza Del Carmen and Blumentritt in Manila.
“In their operation, 54 vehicles were issued citation tickets while 25 were towed to the MMDA impounding area in Tumana, Marikina,” he said.
MMDA Special Operations Group – Strike Force chief Gabriel Go said that since Monday, nearly 100 illegally parked and unattended vehicles in the procession route and alternate roads have been towed to the agency’s impounding area.
Penalty for unattended illegally parked vehicles is P1, 000 while attended yet illegally parked vehicles will be fined P2,000.
Earlier, the agency said it will deploy more than 1, 000 personnel, a mobile command center and close circuit television cameras to ensure the safety and security of devotees for the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, including the “Translacion’ route.
Millions of devotees are expected to flock to the Quiapo Church to venerate the wooden image of the Black Nazarene which is believed to have miraculous powers.
In 2024, authorities said the Traslacion drew more than 2.8 million devotees along the path of the procession and in Quiapo Church.
On Saturday, the MMDA hosted an inter-agency coordination meeting to finalize the plans for the Feast and ensure that it will proceed without any hitch. – With Ashzel Hachero and Christian Oineza
