FAITH AND PASSION Devotees, undeterred by the crush of flesh, fatigue and possible injury, try to get as close as possible to the glass-encased image of the cross-bearing Christ on Thursday, as the procession passes through the corner of Carlos Palanca Street and Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo district in Manila. — RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — The original image of Jesus Nazareno finally arrived at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, or Quiapo Church, early Friday morning after a 20-hour journey.
Before its arrival at 1:26 a.m., the Nazareno departed from Quirino Grandstand at 4:41 a.m. Thursday, proceeding on the Traslacion’s designated route towards Quiapo Church.
READ: Feast of the Jesus Nazareno and Traslacion 2025
The Nazareno Command Center estimated that 200,000 devotees awaited the religious image’s departure from the grandstand, with an estimated 80,000 immediately joining the procession as of 6 a.m.
The number of participating devotees jumped to around 192,000 a few hours later at noon.
READ: Procession of Jesús Nazareno begins
This year’s traslacion is significantly longer than the previous year’s at exactly 20 hours and 45 minutes, versus 2024’s procession which ended after only 14 hours and 59 minutes.
As the image arrived past 1 a.m., the church had already concluded its Fiesta Masses, celebrating the Feast of the Jesus Nazareno as its last mass was slated at 11:00 p.m.
Meanwhile, the estimated number of devotees who attended Traslacion reached a total of 8,124,050, significantly higher than the previous year at 6 million.