Chaotic scenes as Catholic devotees follow the andas of the Black Nazarene along Arlegui Street en route to Fraternal Street in Quiapo, Manila, on Thursday, 9 January 2025, during the annual Traslacion.
John Carlo Magallon
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As millions of devotees attend the Feast of the Black Nazarene every January, hoping their prayers and wishes reach the image, the Traslacion procession often takes significantly longer than ordinary parades.
For this year’s Traslacion, themed “He Must Increase, and I Too Shall Decrease (John 3:30),” the National Capital Region Police Office said it is targeting a 10- to 12-hour procession.
In 2025, the procession lasted about 20 hours, while the 2021 to 2023 Traslacion rites were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The shortest Traslacion on record was held in 2024, lasting 14 hours and 59 minutes.
The longest procession occurred in 2012, stretching more than 22 hours and 14 minutes, after the carriage lost its wheels and a rope snapped, causing the image to fall three times.
Aside from logistical challenges, authorities note that the sheer number of devotees and heightened emotion along the route significantly contribute to the extended duration of the procession, even when the route itself remains manageable.
The highest number of devotees was recorded in 2014, when an estimated 10 million people joined the Traslacion.
In 2025, around 8.1 million devotees attended the celebration, while 2016 and 2017 registered the lowest turnout among years when the Traslacion was held, with about 1.5 million participants each year.
The route from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church spans about 5.8 kilometers, passing through major thoroughfares such as Quezon Boulevard, Hidalgo Street, and Palanca Street, as well as several bridges along the way.
