Jonell Rhae Manalo

Thousands of faithful Catholics filled the narrow streets of Hidalgo and Plaza Del Carmen for the traditional “Dungaw” which happened at exactly 6:00 pm during the Traslacion on Thursday.


The solemn encounter between the images of Jesus Nazareno and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel de San Sebastian drew heartfelt cheers and chants of "Viva!" from the crowd, a testament to the event’s enduring spiritual significance.

The andas carrying the image of Jesus Nazarene paused in front of the Minor Basilica of San Sebastian for 15 minutes.

From the church balcony adorned in vibrant red and yellow, the image of the Virgin Mary emerged, greeted by the warm acclamation of devotees. Hands were raised in reverence, their fervent cries blending with the tolling of church bells to mark the deeply symbolic moment.

Symbolic meeting

The Dungaw dates back to where the Virgin Mary from the Minor Basilica of San Sebastian is revealed to the devotees.

This symbolic gesture marks the meeting between the two images, though not a reenactment of their biblical encounter, but a moment of spiritual connection.

Revived in 2014, the Dungaw has become an integral part of the Traslación, drawing thousands of faithful to witness the moment of reverence.

The tradition also symbolizes the transfer of the image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel de San Sebastian from Intramuros to Quiapo, reflecting the deep-rooted connection between the two revered figures and the faithful's devotion during the Traslación.

The image of the Virgin Mary is now housed at the Minor Basilica of San Sebastian in Quiapo.

While the image of Jesus Nazarene is believed to have been brought to the Philippines in 1606 from Mexico and was initially placed in the Church of San Juan Bautista in Bagumbayan, now Intramuros, Manila.

In 1787, the image was then transferred to the Minor Basilica of the Jesus Nazarene in Quiapo, where it has remained a focal point of devotion ever since.

Records of motion and devotion

As of writing, this year’s Traslación is progressing slower than last year, with the andas covering only seven of the 11 segments nearly 10 hours into the procession, following delays such as the image tilting on Farnecio St.

The Manila Local Government Unit (LGU) has been closely monitoring the crowds of devotees as around the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo, the LGU reported over 518,300 people gathered as the procession neared its final destination.

Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense recorded a staggering 2.2 million attendees across all Traslación events as of 2:00 pm.