Nazarene devotees swarm into Manila hoping for a miracle

(UPDATE) HUNDREDS of thousands of Catholic pilgrims swarmed the streets of Manila in search of a miracle on Thursday, straining to reach a centuries-old statue of Jesus Christ in an annual display of religious fervor.

The procession to Quiapo Church, which started before dawn after an open-air Mass, was expected to swell to more than 2 million participants, church officials said.

Barefoot men and women in maroon shirts — the color of the robe that covers the black, wooden Jesus the Nazarene statue — scrambled to grab the rope used to draw the life-sized religious icon, believing it would bring good health.

"I prayed that my mother be healed from her heart attack," Dong Lapira, 54, said of a previous procession where he had been bruised and jostled in his attempt to join those pulling the rope.

But he vowed to try again Thursday — this time to see his wife healed of gallstones.

"The Nazarene is very sacred. It has granted many prayers," he said.

Some faithful frantically threw white towels to worshippers tasked with guarding the float, hoping God's blessings might rub off on the cloths used to clean the statue's glass case.

One of the volunteer guards, Alvin Olicia, 38, said he was unaffected by the "extreme heat or rain" he had confronted at past processions.

"I don't feel it at all. I like my task, because through catching other's handkerchiefs, I feel like I am connecting them to their faith and to the Nazarene."

'Immense power'

While authorities have banned devotees from climbing on the carriage, some still clambered over other attendees, risking life and limb to be near the statue.

Ester Espiritu, 76, who travelled 35 kilometers from her home in Cavite province, said just catching a glimpse of it would be enough.

"Even if I'm struggling to come here because of my age.... I feel happy and well whenever I see the Nazarene," said Espiritu, who added she was praying for relief from a lingering shoulder injury.

The giant religious parade commemorates the arrival of the wooden statue of the genuflecting Jesus the Nazarene from Acapulco, Mexico, in the early 1600s, shortly after the start of the Spanish colonial conquest.

Its color — which has led it to be popularly known as the Black Nazarene — was believed to have been caused by a fire aboard the Spanish galleon that was transporting it.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the annual celebration of the icon was a "testament to our people's solidarity and camaraderie."

"It also speaks of the immense power and compassion of God who walks with us and hears our prayers, especially in our time of need," Marcos said in a statement.

Vice President Sara Duterte and House Speaker Martin Romualdez gave separate messages to the devotees of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, describing it as a symbol of Filipinos' deep faith.

In her message, Duterte said the Black Nazarene is a "manifestation that we will never face the challenges that come our way alone — because God is constantly guiding us, walking with us, and carrying the cross for us on the way to salvation."

She also said that devotees are being called to "show humility, kindness, and mercy to everyone in need, even to those who persecute us."

Romualdez said the feast of the Black Nazarene is a "symbol of deep faith of every Filipino."

"The yearly Traslacion reminds us of the importance of faith and unity as a nation. Our devotion is a mirror of the strength of our faith."

Police said about 14,500 security personnel had been deployed along the procession's six-kilometer route as a precaution.

Mobile phone signals were also blocked to prevent the remote detonation of explosive devices during the parade, which was expected to last up to 18 hours, police said.

Emergency response teams were stationed along the route.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said in its most recent tally more than 467 devotees had been treated, mainly for dizziness, nausea and weakness.

About 15 people were taken to nearby hospitals and PRC's medical facility.

Sea of the faithful

A sea of faithful devotees gathered at the Quirino Grandstand early Thursday morning to celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula presided over the Misa Nazareno, delivering a homily centered on the twin pillars of Christian devotion: hope in Jesus and obedience to His will.

"We Filipinos have a saying, 'While there is life, there is hope.' Do you believe in that? The Beloved Lord teaches us something even greater: instead of 'while there is life, there is hope,' His teaching is 'while there is hope, there is life!" he said in Filipino.

Calling on devotees to deepen their relationship with Jesus, Advincula underscored the importance of obedience as a manifestation of true devotion.

'Behaved'

Devotees are "much more behaved" this year as they followed rules during the start of the annual Traslacion.

"This is our prayer that every year we expect a change. When it comes to maturity of devotees, this is a good sign that we are growing in faith," Quiapo Church spokesman Fr. Robert Arellano said in an interview. "We see better what is important and what is not."

This year's Traslacion, or the procession of the Nazareno image from the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno along Quezon Boulevard, began at 4:41 a.m. on Thursday.

Arellano said when the "andas," or the carriage carrying the image, started to move, devotees were "much more behaved, unlike during pre-pandemic, they were very aggressive, they were shouting."

At noon, the crowd at the Traslacion has reached 133,500, according to the estimate of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Both the NCRPO and Arellano said the situation has been peaceful so far and no untoward incident has been reported.

"Generally, things are going well at the Quirino Grandstand. Noticeably, it was quiet and peaceful. There was no report received of commotion or trouble or anything that interfered with the celebration of the Mass, the vigil because these are the most important activities here," Arellano said.

"And if you notice, people are quiet when they come out of the stairs and everyone cooperates. Let's just hope it continues until we arrive at Quiapo Church."

Sen. Bong Go urged followers of the Black Nazarene to prioritize their safety and well-being while participating in the Traslacion.

"While faith is essential, it's crucial to prioritize each other's health and safety," Go said. "If you plan to participate in the Traslacion, ensure you are healthy and adhere to the rules to keep everyone safe."

Also on Thursday, police in Cagayan de Oro City said the city's version of the Traslacion of the Black Nazarene on Thursday morning was successful in ensuring the safety and security of the devotees.

The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), under the leadership of Col. Salvador Radam, said 13,000 devotees joined the event that saw the bust of Jesus Nazareno making its journey from the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral to the Jesus Nazareno Parish Church.

Cagayan de Oro is the only city outside Manila to hold its own version of the annual Traslacion.