A Church leader added a new dimension to the yearly Traslacion ritual by comparing Jesus Christ’s humility with the pride that has kept public officials from hearing the call to give way and step down.

Balanga, Bataan Bishop Father Rufino “Jun” Sescon Jr., a former aide to the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, cited present realities and criticized those who refuse to relinquish their authority even when their wrongdoing has been exposed while the poor continue to suffer.

“There are those today who refuse to step down even when they are wrong and exposed, even when the people suffer,” Sescon said. “Step down freely, out of mercy and love,” he advised.

Sescon, a former rector of Quiapo Church and former chaplain of the Greenbelt Chapel in Makati City, said in his message that relinquishing power is not the result of defeat, weakness, or loss of power but a free decision of love.”

Before thousands of devotees who attended the midnight Misa Mayor for the Feast of Jesus Nazareno 2026, Sescon said, “That is why it is said in the Gospel: so great was the Father’s love that He gave His Son. It is a decision of love, a voluntary lowering of oneself.”

PBBM stresses shared responsibility’

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in contrast, in his message on the Traslacion, called on the faithful to carry what he termed “the values of compassion, service, and shared responsibility beyond the annual procession and into their daily life.”

Marcos reflected on the deep expressions of sacrifice, perseverance, and solidarity shown by the devotees in the annual celebration centered on the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo.

“As we mark this year’s feast, I invite everyone not only to reach for the Nazareno’s image, but to let this devotion guide the way we think, act, and help one another long after the procession has passed,” the President said.

“If we can go through great lengths for a moment of contact with the image, we can also persevere in the daily work of choosing honesty over falsehood, service over self-interest, and compassion over indifference,” he added.

True greatness

The 2026 Jesus Nazareno celebration has a social undertone: “He must increase, I must decrease,” Sescon said.

He interpreted this as true greatness coming “not from power, but from freely choosing humility.”

“Christ’s descent was not defeat or weakness,” Sescon said. “It was a free decision of love. He went down so that we might be lifted.”

Sescon urged the faithful not to compete for prominence but for mission, calling them to lead through service rather than ambition or self-interest.

Listening to God’s call for justice, compassion, unity, and peace, primarily through the voices of the oppressed, should be the mission of the faithful, he said.

The bishop said Christ became human not because God failed to hear the people, but because humanity often refuses to listen and respond.

“Jesus went down so we would learn how to listen,” Sescon said, adding that true devotion requires obedience, not just petitions for blessings.

He said Christ bore the cross to restore human dignity, calling believers to help lift others through forgiveness, solidarity, and care for the common good.

“The true devotee goes down with Christ,” Sescon said, “so others, and our nation, may rise.”

The procession began earlier than usual at 4 a.m., leaving the Quirino Grandstand after the dawn prayer.

An estimated 270,000 devotees were gathered around the grandstand at the time, according to the Quiapo Church Command Post.

Nazareno 2026 spokesperson Fr. Robert Arellano said the organizers were satisfied with the start of the procession, noting that it proceeded as planned.

Family tradition

Participants in the annual celebration are primarily devotees who have attended it for years.

Some are thankful for the blessings they received amid the challenges they faced, while others seek guidance and help through prayer and faith.

The Garcia family, led by Maricel and Arnor, brought their grandchildren to Quezon Bridge to see the Black Nazarene.

They said they have been devotees for more than 20 years and hope to pass on the tradition to the next generation of their family.

When asked why they brought the young children to the chaos and large crowds, the couple said their faith in the Nazareno has been life-changing, helping their son lead a healthy life.

“So that as they grow up, they will carry with them our faith in the Black Nazarene,” Maricel Garcia said.

Arnold said he hoped the family tradition would continue even after they are gone. But for now, he prays that his family will have good health and be safe from danger.

Barefoot and hungry

Around 70 devotees received medical assistance at an estimated 1,000 first aid stations along the procession route. Many experienced elevated blood pressure due to the scorching heat, while some were just hungry and dehydrated.

Devotees walked barefoot as they attempted to climb up the carriage bearing the image of the Jesus Nazareno or tossed their white towels to the marshalls to be wiped on the carriage glass.

Some who came, like Miles, a 29-year-old devotee and member of the LGBTQ community, said that amid the heavy physical and mental demands of the event, being at the celebration was always an exceptional experience.

“Actually, it’s something I can’t explain in just one word. All I can say is that once you’re there, everything feels lighter. Even if there are so many people and everything is chaotic, the moment you touch — or even just see — the Lord, the feeling becomes completely different,” Miles said.

The procession follows a 5.8-kilometer route from the Quirino Grandstand over bridges, plazas and city streets to the Quiapo Church. The route this year is expected to be covered in 28 hours, seven more than last year.