Here’s what we know about the preparations for Traslacion 2025

LESS than a month before the new year comes in, Filipino Catholics ramped up their preparations for the Feast of Jesus Nazareno held every January.

Officials of Quiapo Church, the local government of Manila, and other concerned government agencies conducted a walkthrough of the route for the Traslacion, or the hours-long procession of the 400-year-old image of Jesus Nazareno, which will be held on January 9.

It is the same route as the 2024 procession, which will begin in Quirino Grandstand in Ermita, Manila to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo.

A walkthrough is needed to inspect the route and ensure it is safe for devotees and the andas or the wheeled carriage bearing the supposed miraculous Jesus Nazareno image, said Civil Defense Action Group (CDAG) Operations Chief Jhune Tolentino.

“Sinecure natin na ang bawat dadaanan ay safe, maayos. Walang mga butas, walang mga naka-open manhole na kung saan pupwedeng ito ‘yung magdulot ng kapahamakan sa ating mga deboto,” he told republicasia.

During the walkthrough, the organizers noticed several areas of the route that need to be fixed and improved, including those with hanging electric wires and bridges that have no fences.

At least 1.3 tons of dead wires were collected by the local government in January 2024, Nazareno Operations Center Director Bong Grajo shared with republicasia.

“Marami na po ang nagbago sa dating ruta. Maraming construction na nagaganap, maraming pag-aayos at paglilinis ng kalsada at bangketa ang kailangan gawin sa mga daraanan ng prusisyon,” he said.

He continued, “May mga bangketa na naharangan na hindi magkakasya ‘yung prusisyon o hindi magkakasya ang andas.”

Before the procession, the traditional “pahalik,” or the touching and kissing of the Jesus Nazareno image, will be held on January 6 at the Quirino Grandstand. A mass to be attended by volunteers will also be held on that day, according to CDAG National Director Noel Mercado Lubuguin.

“Magkakaroon ng misa para sa mga volunteers bago mag-send off sa mga respective agencies or assignments,” he told republicasia. “And then, doon na, [January] 6, 7, 8, tuloy-tuloy na ‘yon hanggang sa pista na mismo.”

3,000 volunteers registered

As of writing, Tolentino said that “roughly 3,000 volunteers” have already registered for the upcoming Traslacion, which the CDAG has been preparing for since August.

“We have to prepare ourselves, our resources, and of course, our units na gagamitin sa buong linggo ng Traslacion,” he said.

Volunteers are multi-skilled individuals who focus on various fields like medical, fire suppression, security and safety, and rescue. Their participation in the Traslacion would be a great help in assisting millions of Filipino devotees participating in the procession.

“Malaking bagay as a force multiplier. Nasusuportahan natin ang different government agencies tulad ng kapulisan, Bureau of Fire [Protection], [at] Department of Health,” Tolentino said.

Several millennials and Gen Zs—aged 20 to 30s—also make up the volunteers for Traslacion 2025, said Lubuguin.

“‘Pag tinanong mo sila ano ‘yung gusto nila bakit sila sumasali, ang gusto nila makatulong sa kapwa. They are very the same, magkakaparehas sila,” he highlighted.

“Nakakataba ng puso kasi even yung mga—sabihin natin po na unfortunate [na hindi] nakakapag-aral o hindi nakakapagtapos, nakikita nila ang kahalagahan ng pagtulong sa kapwa, lalong-lalo na tuwing Pista ng Nazareno,” he added.

Improvements in andas

Meanwhile, Bong Grajo said that the design for the andas would remain the same but with some modifications.

In the 2024 Traslacion, the Jesus Nazareno image was housed in a glass case for protection, but a portion of the cross was exposed. 

On both sides of the wheeled carriage were designated spaces for some members of the Hijos del Nazareno. Going up the andas was prohibited, but many devotees still tried to get close to the image by hanging on to the exposed part of the cross.

“In the process ng pangagalaga nila [Hijos del Nazareno], hindi na makita ‘yung Poon,” he pointed out. “Ngayon, ang mangyayari, ganon pa rin ‘yung disenyo, except hindi na mauupuan sa harapan nang sagayon makita ng mga tao ang Poon.”

At some point in the procession, the glass case was covered with moisture, making the Jesus Nazareno image hardly visible to the crowd.

This time, the Nazareno Operations Center director said they would ensure adequate circulation within the glass case to prevent moisture. The top of the glass case will be turned into a sunroof so that people from higher places will catch a glimpse of the Jesus Nazareno image.

The back part of the cross will also remain exposed.

“Tunay na nabibitinan nila kaya ‘yun po ay ginawang matibay. Meron po ‘yang pinapatungan na matigas na bakal na kahit mabitinan ng mga tao, hindi siya [gagalaw],” stressed Bong Grajo.

The official said further details about the andas may be revealed in a press conference in January.

More devotees expected in Traslacion 2025

The total number of devotees who attended the 2024 Traslacion reached 6.5 million. This year’s procession is the fastest in the history of the Traslacion, lasting only for 14 hours and 59 minutes.

The organizers said they expect more devotees to join the 2025 Traslacion. One possible reason for this is that it will be the first time the Quiapo Church will hold the Feast of Jesus Nazareno as a national shrine, Bong Grajo pointed out.

The Quiapo Church was officially declared a national shrine on January 29, weeks after the 2024 procession.

“Batid natin na mas nagiging sikat, mas nagiging kilala ‘yung debosyon sa Nazareno, mas dumadami pa rin ‘yung pupunta rito kaya inaasahan natin kung 6.5 [million] tayo nung 2024, mas tataas po ‘yon ngayong taon,” the Nazareno Operations Center director said.

The Catholic Church has three main goals for the Feast of Jesus Nazareno next year: to hold the celebration solemnly, orderly, and safely.

“Sa ganitong klaseng crowd, gusto natin—even the responders—ligtas din po sila, at lalong-lalo na po, unang-una ‘yung mga deboto ng Nazareno [who] came from other places and even other countries [na] pumupunta rito para lang po dito sa Pista ng Nazareno,” Lubuguin expressed.

Youth’s devotion

The 2024 Traslacion saw many young individuals showing their devotion to Jesus Nazareno. Lubuguin said it fills their heart to see how the youth understand what it means to be a devotee.

“Nakikita ng mga kabataan ngayon na ang pagiging deboto ay hindi dahil lang ito ay pista; nakikita nila ito dahil meron silang pananampalataya,” the CDAG national director emphasized.

“Kaya sila nagdedeboto dahil ito ay pasasalamat nila. Maaaring merong nagawa sa kanila ang Poong Jesus Nazareno, at ito ay pamamaraan nila para maibalik ‘yung naibigay na tulong ng [Jesus Nazareno] sa kahit anong paraan,” he added.

It is the same reason why many young individuals join the religious event as volunteers, said the CDAG national director.

“‘Yung din ‘yung pamamaraan nila para ibalik sa community, ibalik sa tao ‘yung naibigay na tulong sa kanila noong panahon na sila ay nangangailangan ng tulong,” he said.

Lubuguin also left a piece of advice for devotees who are planning to join the Traslacion in January 2025:

“Isipin po natin ang ating kaligtasan. Kung tayo po ay merong nararamdaman or tayo ay may edad na, minabuti po natin na tayo po ay sa bahay na lamang po. Nandyan din po ang ating social media para tayo ay makapanood pa rin po kung ano po yung mga nangyayari sa Pista ng Nazareno. Sa ganong bagay po, masisiguro po natin na tayo ay ligtas,” he stressed.

He continued, “Hindi po nangangahulugan na kailangan natin ng physical presence mismo dito kung nasaan po ang Nazareno, Quiapo man ‘yan o Quirino Grandstand, ang importante po ang ating faith, ang ating debosyon ay hindi mawawala.”

Lubuguin, on the other hand, advised the young devotees to show their devotion in a solemn and orderly manner during the event.

“Isa po itong wake up call din natin sa mga kabataan na kahit pala mga kabataan eh pwedeng maging deboto ng Nazareno,” he said. “At pwede nating ialay ano mang pasasalamat natin sa kanya.”