Alfredo Tolentino

With over 8,124,500 devotees swarming the Traslacion 2025 to form a bigger crowd and slower pace spanning over 20 hours and 45 minutes since its revival last year, faith, tradition, and thanksgiving stood out as common reasons why the devotees continue to grow in number and keep this centuries-old tradition alive.


Devotees’ story

Most devotees pin it down to their strong spirit of faith and retrospection of the Lord’s sacrifices as the primary reasons for joining the Traslacion and ultimately becoming devotees of the Jesus Nazarene.

“[A]ng talagang pakay mo diyan ay ‘yung pananampalataya. ‘Yung tunay sa puso mo…kung papaano nagsakripisyo ang Panginoon…para tayo ay maligtas. Papuri at pasasalamat, ayun ang pinaka-experience ng mga deboto katulad namin,” Kuya Biboy, who has been a devotee since 1995, shared the reasons on why he joined the Traslacion in an exclusive interview with Explained PH staff.

When asked about his experience, he shared that it is fulfilling and heartwarming everytime he goes home despite the sacrifices and hardships that devotees like him face during the Traslacion.

“Mahirap na masarap…kasi pagkatapos (ay) magaan ang pakiramdam mo. [K]ahit anong sakripisyo (at) hirap mo. (Kasi) tignan mo lahat ng mga namamanata kapag umuuwi (ay) masaya. Kahit gaano kahirap, kasikip, talagang pinaglalaban nila ang hirap (at) pag-uwi nila masaya sila,” he added.

For Maydeli, 25, who has been a devotee since 2014, it has already become their tradition or panata that urges them to join the Traslacion continuously. 

She also shared to Explained PH that being a devotee showered her with blessings.

 “Una nagkaroon ako ng anak, blessing (siya) para sa akin (at) kahit single mom (ako) ay nandoon parin ang gabay Niya sa amin ng anak ko lalo na financially. (Sa ngayon) ay good health sa pamilya, ‘yun lang (ang hinihiling ko),” she shared.

In line with the devotees' personal reasons for joining, the whole gathering centered around the importance of faith and obedience to Jesus.

“Mas mabuti ang pagsunod kaysa paghahandog sa mga umaasa kay Hesus,” Manila Cardinal Jose Advincula highlighted in his homily during the midnight Misa Mayor that kickstarted the Traslacion.

"[K]ung totoong mahal natin ang Poong Jesus Nazareno, maging masunurin tayo sa Kaniya (dahil) kung ano ang sinusunod natin, ‘yon talaga ang inaasahan natin. Kung nagdedebosyon tayo…pero sumusunod naman tayo sa masamang tao…masamang tao talaga ang inaasahan natin,” Cardinal Advincula added as he reminds the devotees to practice their faith and devotion outside the occasion. 

Traslacion 2025 timeline 

Similar to the previous years, the route of the Traslacion started from the Quirino Grandstand, traveled across 11 route segments in Manila, and ended in Minor Basilica & National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, most commonly known as Quiapo Church, as it commemorates the transfer of the image when it was first brought to its current home.

This year’s Traslacion saw a much slower pace compared to last year, ending at around 20 hours and 45 minutes after starting at around 4:41 a.m. of Jan. 9 and reaching its final destination by 1:26 a.m. of Jan. 10.

This timeframe is almost 5 hours later than the 15 hours record of last year, reverting back to its pre-pandemic pace with 2015-2019 Traslacions averaging a similar 19-21 hours time.

According to the Manila Police District (MPD), these minor and major delays that slowed down the Traslacion were caused by the devotees’ reluctance to abide by the rules and regulations set in place. 

This included many devotees who eagerly tried and were successful in climbing the carriage just to touch the glass and cross of Jesus Nazarene despite the adjustments to the andas design and rules that barred said act that didn’t stop them in doing so.

At around 5:00 a.m., right after starting, the Traslacion immediately got slowed down by the large crowd that awaited and met it at Katigbak Drive.

It slowed down even more when it was about to reach Ayala Bridge at around 8:00 a.m., after a massive group of devotees were able to cross a police barricade that initially barred them from going near the carriage.

The Nazareno Operation Center also added that the ropes used to pull the andas snapped making it harder to push it with the left rope snapping when it was in Finance Road to Ayala Blvd. and the right followed when it reached San Sebastian during the traditional “dungaw”.

The delays got more noticeable when the Traslacion reached the dungaw tradition as last year, it was able to reach Our Lady of Mt. Carmel de San Sebastian at 2:52 p.m. However, this year it reached the destination at 6:00 p.m. 

Kuya Biboy, on the other hand, also urged devotees, especially the younger generations to act appropriately during the celebration.

“Hindi po ito gangster na parang nag-e-enjoy ka lang, lasapin mo ang paghihirap ng Panginoon kung paano niya tayo tinubos–ganoon ang sakripisyo ng mga deboto. Hindi ‘yung paglabas ng simbahan, may asaran at suntukan,” he said.

According to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Operations Center, as of 1:00 a.m. of Jan. 10, approximately 917 devotees were aided by PRC throughout the celebration with common reasons such as dizziness with blurry vision, nausea, body weakness, abrasion, puncture, neck pain, avulsion, burn, and hyperacidity.

Quiapo Church repeatedly reminded the devotees of several things to do and avoid throughout the duration of the Traslacion including eating appropriately before joining to ensure enough energy throughout the celebration and for elders and children to just wait by the streets to ensure their safety.

Traslacion 2025 ultimately culminated the activities for the entire Feast of Jesus Nazareno that began on December 30, 2024, with the walk of thanksgiving, which was then followed by barangay visitations, blessings, pahalik, band parade, panalangin sa takipsilim, and vigil.