Dear Editor,

I have been fortunate enough to witness the awe-inspiring Feast of Jesus Nazareno for many years, albeit from afar, through online media platforms. However, this year, like every year, I was once again left speechless by the immense display of faith, devotion and community spirit that defines this sacred occasion.

This event actually brings back so many childhood memories. I first started watching the Feast of Jesus Nazareno when I was around 8 years old. Every year, my grandparents and I would gather together to watch the live coverage of the mass and the grand procession.

I vividly remember how they would sit beside me, their faces filled with a mix of reverence and longing, as they followed the event closely on television.

They would tell me stories about their dreams — one of which was to be part of that grand procession, to feel the energy of the crowd, to touch the image of Jesus Nazareno, and to personally witness the miraculous power that the statue is believed to possess.

My grandparents always believed that faith was the key to a meaningful life. “Faith keeps you alive,” they would say. They were adamant that if you truly believed in Jesus Christ, all your prayers would eventually be answered.

I held onto their words, and in a way, it felt like their dreams had been passed down to me through their unwavering devotion.

Sadly, my grandfather passed away without ever having the opportunity to see the Jesus Nazareno up close or join the procession. Despite the years of longing, the distance was just too much for him, and the long march became an impossible journey with age.

This year, the procession that took place on Thursday, 9 January, left me in utter amazement at the sheer strength of the Catholic faith of Filipinos, a people whose devotion is as unwavering as the march of the Jesus Nazareno through the streets of Manila.

The sight of the life-sized statue of Jesus Christ, draped in a robe of maroon and carrying a heavy cross, accompanied by crowds of people, each one straining to touch the statue or pull the thick rope attached to its carriage, was both moving and humbling.

This remarkable procession, known as the Traslacion, commemorates the transfer of the Jesus Nazareno statue from its original home in the old Spanish colonial capital of Intramuros to the Quiapo Church, where it remains to this day.

According to reports, about 220,000 people attended mass before the procession began, with the crowd swelling to an estimated 8 million participants by the end of the day. Devotees filled the streets, showing an unwavering commitment to their faith, and many believed that touching the statue or wiping it with a white towel would bring blessings and healing.

Now, every time the Feast of Jesus Nazareno comes around, I remember my grandparents and the dreams they never got to fulfill.

Their devotion to the Jesus Nazareno was never about being physically close to the statue — it was about the strength of their faith. The procession, the mass, the prayers — these were all manifestations of a belief so powerful it transcended physical limitations.

As I watch the sea of devotees gather each year, my heart swells with a mix of awe and nostalgia. I see my grandparents’ dream in the faces of the thousands of people marching through Manila’s streets, and I can’t help but feel that their faith continues to live on through the generations.

Kate M.

Iloilo City