The annual procession of the Jesus Nazareno, known as the Traslacion, concluded Saturday at 10:50 a.m. after a duration of 30 hours, 50 minutes, and 1 second. This marks the longest Traslacion in the event’s recorded history, according to the Quiapo Church Command Post.
A Record-Breaking Procession
This year’s Traslacion began at 4 a.m. on Friday from the Quirino Grandstand. In comparison, last year’s procession lasted 20 hours and 45 minutes. Estimates suggest significant participation, with Quiapo Church reporting 9.6 million attendees at the fiesta celebration.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported at least 7.3 million devotees converging in Manila, utilizing drone footage and crowd estimates along the procession route from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.
Security and Order
Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. praised the efforts of the 18,000 police personnel deployed – including support from the Police Regional Offices in Central Luzon 3 and Calabarzon – to maintain security during the event. Nartatez stated the Traslacion was “generally peaceful and orderly” despite the large number of participants.
Nartatez further commented, “This is the longest Traslacion so far, and this an impressive show of faith and devotion of millions of Filipino devotees. On the part of the Philippine National Police, this is also a remarkable display of discipline, perseverance and commitment to our mandate of serving and protecting the people.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When did this year’s Traslacion begin?
This year’s Traslacion began at 4 a.m. on Friday from the Quirino Grandstand.
How does this year’s Traslacion compare to last year’s?
This year’s Traslacion lasted 30 hours, 50 minutes, and 1 second, significantly longer than last year’s duration of 20 hours and 45 minutes.
How many police personnel were deployed for the event?
At least 18,000 police personnel were deployed to secure the Feast of Jesus Nazareno, with support from the Police Regional Offices in Central Luzon 3 and Calabarzon.
As the annual observance of faith continues to draw millions, it is possible that future Traslaciones will require even greater logistical planning and security measures. It is also likely that authorities will continue to refine strategies based on crowd management data and lessons learned from each year’s event.
