This year’s Feast of Jesus Nazareno drew over eight million devotees. Data from the Nazareno Operation Center released on Friday showed that 8,124,050 million devotees attended the annual religious event, including the Traslacion, or the procession from Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, nestled in the heart of Quiapo, Manila.
The procession reportedly started at 4:41 a.m. Thursday.
Of the number, 1,290,590 gathered at the Grandstand, while 387,010 people attended the procession.
This year’s crowd marked a significant increase from 2024’s figures which was at 6.5 million.
The majority of the devotees were at the church, numbering to 6,446,450.
The Traslacion 2025 started at 4:41 a.m. on Thursday, and lasted for 20 hours and 45 minutes, as it concluded at 1:26 a.m. Friday.
The procession is longer than the 14 hours and 59 minutes recorded last year.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said its Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) and Metro Manila reservists played a key role in securing this year’s “Traslacion”.
More than 1,000 military personnel helped in securing the religious event.
Along with the Manila Police District, the National Capital Region Police Office, and other key agencies, the military contingent ensured the safety and security of the thousands of devotees who participated in this sacred annual tradition.
The image of Jesus Nazareno returned to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno or “Quiapo Church” ending a more than 20-hour procession in an intense display of the Filipinos’ Catholic faith.
According to the Deputy Chief of Operations of the National Capital
Region Police Office (NCRPO), Police Brigadier General Ponce Rogelio
Peñones, the Traslacion lasted for over 20 hours due to the challenges as the carriage traversed heavily populated areas.
The procession left Quirino Grandstand at 4:41 a.m Thursday. The image of Jesus Nazareno entered Quiapo Church at 1:23 a.m the next day.