The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals ordered the suspension of work on Friday, 9 January, in observance of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, an annual religious event expected to draw millions of devotees.

The Supreme Court said the suspension aims to ensure the safety of employees and help manage logistical disruptions caused by the massive procession, which typically paralyzes traffic in Manila’s historic district.

Most court operations will be suspended, although a skeleton workforce will be maintained at the Judicial Records Office and the Fiscal Management and Budget Office to handle urgent filings and financial disbursements.

A similar directive was issued by the Court of Appeals’ Manila Station, which will deploy only essential security personnel and staff at the One-Stop Processing Center to manage critical functions.

The Feast of the Black Nazarene is one of the world’s largest displays of Catholic devotion.

Each year, millions of barefoot pilgrims converge in Quiapo to catch a glimpse of or touch a centuries-old black wooden statue of Jesus Christ, believed by devotees to possess miraculous powers.

Authorities are deploying thousands of police officers and medical personnel to manage the crowds, which frequently exceed two million people at the height of the procession.