The Manila Police District (MPD) has issued traffic advisories ahead of the Feast of Sto. Niño celebrations in Tondo and Pandacan on Sunday, 18 January.
Aside from local residents, devotees are expected to join multiple religious activities, including the highly anticipated Lakbayaw procession in Tondo.
Pandacan road closures will begin as early as 7 a.m. on 17 January along Jesus Street-Palumpong Street from Quirino Avenue to Beata Street; Hilum Street from Teodoro San Luis Street to Beata Street; Beata Street from Hilum Street to Tomas Claudio Street; E. Zamora Street from Quirino Avenue to Hilum Street; Laura Street from Menandro Street to Beata Street; Labores Street from Paco-Sta. Mesa Road to Jesus Street; Narciso Street from Jesus Street to Hilum Street; Industria Street from Jesus Street to Hilum Street; and Teodoro San Luis Street from Jesus Street to Hilum Street.
For rerouting, vehicles from Mabini Bridge (Nagtahan) to Jesus Street should proceed straight to President Quirino Avenue to reach their destination.
Vehicles from Paco-Sta. Mesa Bridge/Interlink via Beata Street, Palumpong Street and Laura Street should go straight to President Quirino Avenue. Vehicles from Paz M. Guazon Street to Jesus Street should turn left to Mabini Bridge (Nagtahan) or right to Quirino Avenue. Vehicles from Dr. M.L. Carreon Street to Menandro Street should turn left to Laura Street/Paco-Sta. Mesa Road or right to Tomas Claudio Street.
Tondo road closures began at 12:01 a.m. on 17 January and will last until 12 midnight on 18 January along Moriones Street-Sta. Maria Street; Moriones Street-J. Nolasco Street; Moriones Street-N. Zamora Street; Asuncion Street-Morga Street; Asuncion Street-Ortega Street; Juan Luna Street-Morga Street; Juan Luna Street-Chacon Street; P. Herrera Street-Cano Street; P. Herrera Street-Ylaya Street; and Lakandula Street-Carmen Planas Street.
For rerouting, vehicles from Asuncion Street should turn left to Tuazon Street or pass via Lakandula, Carmen Planas, P. Herrera and Juan Luna Street. Vehicles from Moriones Street heading to J. Nolasco Street should continue to Dagupan Street.
Vehicles from Pritil via N. Zamora Street should turn left to Moriones Street, then left to Dagupan Street.
Motorists are advised to take alternate routes and follow police instructions to avoid congestion during the festivities.
The Feast of Sto. Niño in Manila has long been rooted in working-class districts, with Tondo and Pandacan keeping traditions that date back generations through novenas, community-led processions and the Lakbayaw, which draws devotees from nearby barangays.
In Tondo, the celebration centers on Moriones and surrounding streets, where households set up altars and prepare for the passing of the image.
In Pandacan, devotion to the Holy Child is marked by dawn Masses and processions that weave through residential blocks, reflecting the district’s deep Catholic heritage alongside its river community history.
Sto. Niño feasts are also widely observed nationwide, including Cebu’s Sinulog, Iloilo’s Dinagyang, Aklan’s Ati-Atihan, Leyte’s Pintados-Kasadyaan, and celebrations in Tondo-style parishes across Luzon and Mindanao.