By Brian Campued
How does devotion to Christ forge a devotee’s faith—that He will mend the broken, cure the sickness, and lift the suffering of His people?
Every year on Jan. 9, millions of Catholic faithful flock the streets of Manila City and around Quiapo Church to celebrate the Feast of the Jesus Nazareno—bringing with them their prayers for healing, forgiveness, guidance, and gratitude.
Before the annual procession of the holy image of the Nazarene started on Friday, a Misa Mayor was held at midnight to reflect on the theme for this year’s feast: “Dapat Siyang tumaas, at ako nama’y bumaba” from John 3:30.
In his homily, Balanga Bishop Rufino Sescon Jr. called on the over 100,000 devotees who attended the Mass to embody Jesus Christ’s love and humility.
“Ang pagbaba ni Kristo ay hindi bunga ng pagkatalo, kahinaan, o pagkawala ng kapangyarihan. Ito ay malayang pasya ng pag-ibig,” the prelate said. “Matuto tayo kay Jesus Nazareno na bumaba nang kusa—alang-alang sa pag-ibig.”
At 3:58 a.m., the andas (carriage) officially left Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park, beginning its long journey back to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno.
Thousands of barefoot devotees, dressed in maroon and yellow shirts, follow the procession—not minding every shove from the crowd just to get close to the andas and, maybe, touch the image of Jesus Nazareno.
For Ahl Santiago, whose devotion to the Nazarene began about a decade ago, his faith in the divine power of Christ served as his lifeline when his business failed, resulting in a list of debts he thought he would never overcome.
“Hangga’t buhay ako, yung patotoo talaga ni Nazareno sa akin, talagang wala akong masasabi. Super blessed ako sa nabago sa buhay ko,” he said.
That moment after he left Quiapo Church in 2015, Santiago’s life began to change for the better—from getting a job to eventually paying off his debts and living a stable life.
Meanwhile, many pray for good health and healing from severe illnesses that have stricken their lives, just like Eliza Narcisco and Emily Sabimo.
For Narcisco, whose husband died of liver cancer, she would always pray for her family to be safe from the same sickness.
“Iyon lang ang lagi kong dinadasal, na ‘yung mga anak [ko], sana huwag naman [magkasakit]… lalo na sa apo, siyempre,” she tearfully said, noting that their family has a history of cancer.
A first-time devotee, Sabimo is turning to Nazareno for healing, as her goiter regrew even after getting operated on back in 2014.
“Poong Nazareno, nandito po ako sa Inyo para humingi ng kagalingan sa aking pagkakasakit ganoon din po sa aking buong pamilya. Sana po, dahil sa Inyo, gumaling po ang lahat ng may sakit,” she said.
Mharion Bote, on the other hand, wanted to thank the Nazarene for answering his prayer—to pass the licensure examination for agriculturists last 2024. His experience served as a testament that faith can move mountains, as long as it is complemented with action.
“Manalig lang ang lumapit lang kay Poong Nazareno. Siyempre bigyan din nila ng aksiyon yung gagawin nila, hindi lang yung dasal,” Bote said.
Even for the Gen Zs, their devotion meant sharing Christ’s words and encouraging more members of the younger generation to serve Jesus Nazareno.
For Allan Margarejo, Hans Fuentes, and Lian Fernandez, devotion—no matter what age or stage of life you are in—teaches them to be grateful for the blessings they receive, no matter how big or small they seem.
“Mas nakilala ko si [Poong] Nazareno kasi nagse-serve din po ako sa simbahan kaya mas naging malalim yung pananampalataya ko sa Kaniya,” college student Sophia Louise Dela Punta said, adding that she prays for guidance amid the hardships she and her friends face with their studies and daily lives.
More than 24 hours since the traslacion began, the image of Jesus Nazareno met His mother, the Nuestra Señora Del Carmen, during the traditional “Dungaw” around 4:05 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10.
The crowd, with hands raised in the air, sang “Ama Namin” as bells were tolled and praises were yelled, commemorating Mary’s never-ending love for her Son.
At 10:50 a.m., the image of Jesus Nazareno finally returned to Quiapo Church, completing its slow, arduous journey back to its shrine. The Traslacion 2026 lasted for 30 hours and 50 minutes, the longest ever in the history of the grand procession.
Physically exhausted after hours and hours of jostling against each other, the devotees yelled, “Viva!” and sang “Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno” as they waved their towels and raised their religious banners—they will return to their lives with renewed spiritual strength and deeper faith in Him.
While no hardship is the same with anyone, the struggle that the over 7 million devotees faced during the Traslacion emulated the suffering of Christ. And the faithful’s collective love and devotion made even the heaviest cross lighter, bringing Jesus Nazareno back to His altar.
Just like what Most Reverend Sescon said in the Misa Mayor, through Jesus Nazareno, we learn that those who fall can rise again, those who sin can atone for their wrongdoing, and those who get lost can find their way back home.
“Bumaba Siya para maiangat tayo, upang tayo din, iangat ang isa’t isa… Ang tunay na deboto, handang bumaba kasama ni Kristo, upang iangat ang kapuwa at ang bayan.”
Viva Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno!
(with reports from Gab Villegas, Bien Manalo, Clay Pardilla, Bernard Ferrer, and Ryan Lesigues / PTV News)
