THE feast of the Jesus Nazareno, or Traslacion, began on Wednesday at the Quirino Grandstand with the “Pahalik,” or kissing of the image, where thousands of devotees lined up to pay homage.
During the send-off ceremony of the security and safety forces for the feast, Fr. Ramon Jade Licuanan offered a prayer for the 20,000 personnel. These consist of police, medical teams, volunteers and members of the Hijos del Nazareno, who are tasked to safeguard the image of the Jesus Nazareno.
“I’m here to send you off, but we were all sent off by God. It is up to the Lord’s grace to bless all our efforts,” Licuanan said.
Meanwhile, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said the beginning of Traslacion is an opportunity for the men and women in uniform to showcase their discipline in safeguarding the entire celebration.
“We are here at kilometer zero for the biggest activity of its kind. May this activity be safe for you all,” Domagoso said.
Earlier in the day, officials from various agencies and church leaders said all systems are in place for this year’s Traslacion, or the Jesus Nazareno procession, on Jan. 9.
In a press conference on Wednesday at Quiapo Church, officials urged devotees to follow the guidelines for the expected influx of millions of devotees.
Alex Irasga, technical adviser of Quiapo Church, urged kids not to climb the “Andas”— the carriage that carries the image of Jesus Nazareno — saying that children account for the majority of injuries each year.
“A real devotee follows the rules implemented by the church and government officials,” Irasga said.
Irasga also urged devotees to deter kids from attempting to climb the Andas.
He added that the processional route that starts at Quirino Grandstand and ends at Quiapo Church remains unchanged.
“For the route of our procession, there is no change in the route of 2024 and 2025,” he said, detailing every street and bridge involved.
Erasca also outlined several crowd management innovations, including enhanced walkways with better ventilation, glass replacements for the andas and strategic road closures at major choke points.
“The intention of closing these roads is not to stop the devotees from being able to cross. Our ultimate goal is to make the real life of the procession. Let us allow our beloved Lord to be the first to cross,” he said.
‘Hijos Police’
Annually, the Hijos del Nazareno secure the image of Jesus Nazareno. This is the first year that the church will deploy the “Hijos Police,” or police personnel who are also devotees of Jesus Nazareno. Irasga emphasized that the police presence was necessary for crowd management.
“Like the devotees, they will not wear the uniform of the police. Police are friends, not enemies,” he reminded people, stressing that the Hijos Police are not in the procession to act like authorities but only to help with crowd management.
The Manila Police District confirmed that more than 15,000 personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be deployed to secure three key areas: Quirino Grandstand, the processional route and Quiapo Church itself.
“Other uniformed services will also send their personnel to ensure a peaceful and orderly celebration,” said Police Col. Emil Tumibay noting that additional police personnel from Regions 3 (Central Luzon) and 4A (Calabarzon) will help secure the route of the procession.
Meanwhile, Domagoso said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has certified as safe the major bridges that will be used during the Traslacion of the Black Nazarene.
“As you all know, some of our bridges are being fixed by the national government through DPWH. So all in all, they’re good,” the mayor said during the press conference.
Medical preparedness
The Department of Health (DOH) appealed to the public to prioritize their health during the upcoming procession.
“If you have flu symptoms, wear a mask. Before touching the image of Jesus Nazareno, use alcohol. Volunteers will also wipe down the image to ensure cleanliness,” said DOH Assistant Secretary Gloria Balboa.
The DOH, in coordination with the local government and private medical teams, will provide immediate care for injuries and health emergencies.
“There are about 206 doctors, nurses and allied medical professionals stationed in key areas, complete with emergency equipment and ambulances,” she said.
Balboa emphasized that the presence of health personnel ensures not only devotees’ safety but also the welfare of workers and volunteers.
“There are volunteers at emergency stations to help transport those who need further care since ambulances can’t always get through the crowds,” she said.
The Quiapo Church said it will provide a livestream of the procession for devotees who are unable to attend in person.
“The image of the Nazareno has been here for 364 days. You can always come here — by the way, the church is open 24/7. Anytime you feel empty, come to Quiapo. The doors are open,” said Fr. Robert Arellano, spokesman for the Quiapo Church, stressing that devotion to the Jesus Nazareno is not limited to attending the annual procession.
“We trust the Filipinos that after some time, we’ll be more disciplined and observe these things for the safety of all,” said Arellano, urging devotees to follow all reminders to ensure the safety and divinity of the procession.
A Palace official said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the PNP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ensure peaceful and meaningful conduct of the annual Traslacion of the Black Nazarene.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the PNP and DILG have ensured that preparations were in full swing for the annual religious event, which is expected to draw millions of devotees to Quiapo, Manila, on Friday.
“In accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to keep the Traslacion peaceful and meaningful, the personnel of the PNP, DILG and other government agencies are on alert to ensure the safety of those attending the said event,” Castro said during a press conference.
