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January 10, 2026 | 10:52am
Catholic devotees jostle with each other as they try to touch the glass cover of a carriage carrying the image of Jesus Nazareno, also known as Jesus the Nazarene, during the annual religious procession in Manila on January 9, 2026.
AFP / Ted Aljibe
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 11:03 a.m.) — "Viva! Viva!" Catholic devotees cheered, clapped and waved their towels as the statue of the Black Nazarene reached the doors of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of the Jesus Nazarene on Saturday morning, January 10.
The Black Nazarene finally arrived at Quiapo Church more than 30 hours after the Traslacion began, marking a historic first as hundreds of thousands of Filipinos thronged the 5.8-kilometer route.
Since it rolled out from the Quirino Grandstand at 3:58 a.m. on Friday, January 9, the “andas” or the wheeled carriage bearing the statue of Jesus Christ inched its way through the procession’s route.
It was repeatedly slowed by the waves of devotees filling the streets and a series of setbacks as it made its way past parks, bridges, an underpass and numerous national and city roads before returning to Quiapo Church at around 10:50 a.m. This officially made this year’s Traslacion last 30 hours, 50 minutes and 1 second.
In the middle of dense crowds, some devotees attempted to seize brief moments of closeness, clinging to the andas — even hanging onto its doors and rubbing their white towels for blessings — as the procession moved forward in fits and starts.
At one point along Quezon Boulevard, the thick rope used to haul the carriage was torn and removed. The volunteer-devotees, assigned to push and pull the carriage forward, brought the rope back to the church before replacing it to ensure the andas could continue safely.
The procession was briefly halted around 4:30 a.m., with the andas of the Black Nazarene stopping at San Sebastian Church. It only resumed moments after 5 a.m.
Thousands of devotees also sought medical attention during the procession, with most treated for cuts and abrasions, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.
Others experienced dizziness, high or low blood pressure, headaches, shortness of breath or asthma, sprains and muscle spasms, chest pains, seizures, fever, vomiting, fainting and even strokes.
As of Saturday morning, four deaths have been reported, including a tabloid photojournalist covering this year’s Traslacion.
The Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, a DOH hospital, told DZMM that two individuals found unconscious on the ground were declared dead on arrival despite resuscitation efforts, while another had died due to a heart attack the previous day.
According to the Manila Public Information Office, an estimated 7.33 million individuals had joined the procession of the Feast of the Black Nazarene as of 7 a.m. on Saturday.
The Traslacion is one of the country’s largest annual religious gatherings, drawing hundreds of thousands of devotees and typically lasting more than half a day.
Because of the massive and packed crowds, government and church authorities prepare each year for potential health risks and crowd-related dangers, including stampedes.
Known as the “Black Nazarene,” the statue takes its name from the charred wood of the image of Jesus Christ that is believed to have survived a fire when it made its way to the Philippines in the 1600s.
