TRASLACION, also known as the Feast of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno or the Feast of the Black Nazarene, is something that many Filipinos participate in each year. It is known as one of the biggest Filipino festivals to date. 

The tradition started in 2015 and is held annually to commemorate the anniversary of transferring the religious image of Jesus from one place to another. This was known to be the “solemn transfer.” 

As of 2023, it’s believed that there are over 1.2 million Black Nazarene devotees in the Philippines. How many of them are a part of the new generation – of the Generation Z? 

There are those that still celebrate the festival. But do they do this more out of familial obligation than actual faith? 

22-year-old Bryan Bautista, for example, shared that he used to join in the festival because his dad wanted him to, and because the school he used to attend was associated with the Quiapo Church.

But his reasons for participating have since changed.

“At first, it was out of obligation but as time passed by, I started enjoying – and [even] feeling blessed – during the event,” he said. 

He would avoid temptations before joining. During the procession, he would walk barefoot alongside his fellow devotees. While he no longer participates in the procession itself, he continues the practices of fasting and praying the Rosary.

“It’s important due to the Filipinos’ strong religious beliefs – such as if they pray hard enough, our Lord and Savior will help us with our problems,” he explained.

“For me, I believe this signifies a strong belief in the idea [that] God is good.” 

Bautista also shared the Traslacion’s importance to him, saying that it was through this that he grew closer to his family, and strengthened his faith especially when he faced struggles. 

There are some who might believe that Gen Zs no longer care about religion but there are others who continue to believe and show their support for the church. 

According to Bautista, as long as you aren’t forcing your religion on other people, then there’s absolutely nothing wrong with believing.

Rising non-believer rate

When the last Traslacion was celebrated in 2023 in Cagayan de Oro, it was found that of the 10,000 attendees, a majority of them were elders or adults. 

Jose Cabantan, an archbishop from Cagayan de Oro, claimed that Gen Zs as well as millennials have started to shift away from traditional religious rituals. Why is this so? 

Take, for example Amy*, who is 22 years old. She has been aware of Traslacion and the Black Nazarene but has never found herself to be seriously interested in them.

“In all honesty, I was never really religious, kahit nung bata ako,” she explained.

“I never found myself interested during Masses, nor did I feel anything whenever I would be told of the sacrifices God made for me. Tapos later on, when I learned about atheism, parang nag-click sa’kin na… ahh, okay. Kaya pala.” 

Her views on Traslacion are the same: while she respects those who do celebrate it, she doesn’t understand its importance or why people choose to partake in it.

She added: “I’ve never been the type to just blindly believe in something – to have the faith that something is out there without needing any proof or confirmation of that being true.”

She noted that while she wishes she could be that kind of person, to be someone who can believe in a higher power, it simply isn’t for her.

Author Rigoberto Tiglao writes that while many polls and surveys claim 50% of Filipinos were religious, this isn’t accurate because some are reluctant to tell the truth about no longer practicing Catholicism.

The question is: Why the urge to hide it? Why the need to lie? 

Perhaps the issue with the decline of religion in the Philippines isn’t that people are no longer interested in faith. 

Perhaps there are others who simply never believed or who only felt like they had to out of obligation to their family or pressure brought about by tradition.