Devotion in motion: Historic Traslacion ends after nearly 31 hours

This year’s Traslacion proved that devotion does not just move mountains, it runs through a city, step by step, in a historic 30-hour mark.

Originally targeting a 15-hour run for Traslacion 2026, the official run time is listed at 30 hours 50 minutes and one second as it started at 3:58 a.m. of 9 January 2026 and ended at 10:50 a.m. of 10 January 2026.

With the theme “He must increase, but I must decrease,” (Dapat siyang tumaas, at ako nama’y bumaba), the estimated number of devotees recorded for the event is at 9,640,290, according to Quiapo Church.

According to officials, the aggressiveness of the devotees also played a huge role to the slowing of the procession, which weathered the 5.8 kilometer distance between Quirino Grandstand and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno.

Pushing faith to its limits

Based on reports, there are multiple standstills which served as a reason for the slow flow, as it took the andas more than six hours to complete the one-kilometer stretch from Finance Road across Ayala Bridge and also stayed for more than four hours at Arlegui Street before proceeding to Dungaw.

The momentous ‘Dungaw,’ marking the meeting between the Black Nazarene and Minor Basilica of San Sebastian’s Nuestra Señora del Carmen was marked at the 24th hour of the procession.

The Quiapo Church then mandated to halt the procession and let the image of Black Nazarene stay at San Sebastian Church, but devotees let faith speak louder and proceeded to continue.

Devotees who suffered from dizziness, difficulty in breathing and trauma were also given medical attention alongside those who suffered abrasions, cuts and other injuries.

Lives lost

As of the writing, two devotees have died in the procession, but additional details are yet to be announced by the authorities.

Meanwhile, a tabloid photojournalist named Itoh Son died shortly after the procession started, with authorities confirming that he suffered from signs of flu but still continued with the coverage.

He was found unconscious and with no pulse near Manila Police District Station 5 and was sent to Gat Andres Bonifacio Medical Center where he was declared dead on arrival.

Authorities confirmed that Son died after suffering a heart attack.