President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declared Friday, January 9, 2026, a special non-working day in the city of Manila to accommodate millions of devotees expected to attend the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene.
The declaration was made through Proclamation No. 1126, signed on Tuesday, Jan. 6, by Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto by authority of the president.
The proclamation cited the anticipated influx of devotees to Quiapo Church and various parts of Manila for the religious event, one of the largest Catholic gatherings in the country.
It said the declaration aims to ensure an orderly procession and help facilitate traffic management in the capital.
The Feast of the Black Nazarene, held every January 9, commemorates the centuries-old image of Jesus Christ believed by devotees to have miraculous powers.
The annual event traditionally draws millions of barefoot devotees who join the procession through major roads in Manila.
