Traslacion 2025 begins at Quirino Grandstand

Filipino Catholics gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila as the Traslacion, or procession of the image of Jesus Nazareno to its home at Quiapo Church, started early Thursday morning.

The procession of the centuries-old image officially started at 04:41 a.m., according to the Quiapo Church.

As of 4 a.m. to 5 a.m., the Quiapo Church said around 230,000 people have been observed at Rizal Park, while around 16,700 at Quiapo Church. 

LIVE BLOG: Updates on Traslacion ng Poong Jesus Nazareno 2025

The “traditional route” will be used for this year’s Traslacion.

• Quirino Grandstand
• Left to Katigbak Drive
• Right to Padre Burgos Street through Finance Road
• Straight to Ayala Bridge
• Turn left to Palanca Street
• Right to Quezon Boulevard
• Right to Arlegui Street
• Right to Fraternal Street
• Right to Vergara Street
• Left to Duque de Alba Street
• Left to Castillejos Street
• Left to Farnecio Street
• Right to Arlegui Street
• Left to Nepomuceno Street
• Left to Concepcion Aguila Street
• Right to Carcer Street
• Right to Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen
• Left to Bilibid Viejo through Gil Puyat
• Left to J.P, de Guzman Street.
• Right to Hidalgo Street
• Left to Quezon Blvd.
• Right to Palanca St. through under Quezon Bridge
• Right to Villalobos through Plaza Miranda going to Quiapo Church

Last year, around 6.5 million devotees participated in Traslacion that was completed in 14 hours, 59 minutes and 10 seconds.

Malacañang announced that January 9, 2025 would be a special non-working holiday in the City of Manila in observance of the Feast of Jesus Nazareno.

The Quiapo Church reminded devotees to observe rules and regulations in the conduct of Traslacion.

Firearms and liquors will be prohibited as part of the security measures. No fly and no sail policy have been imposed.

Some roads in Manila have been closed to motorists in light of the procession.

First aid stations have been established along the procession route in case devotees need medical assistance.

While no serious threats have been monitored so far, over 14,000 police officers and force multipliers have been deployed to secure the procession.

Traslacion returned in 2024 after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For this year, Quiapo Church technical advisor Alex Irasga said the procession is expected to be faster and smoother.

"Last year, umabot lang po 'yan ng more or less 15 hours. So tingin po namin magiging mas mabilis ngayon compared in the past dahil mas kakaunti 'yung makakasampa ng andas, hindi kagaya noong araw prior to pandemic mahigit isang daan ang nakakasampa diyan," Irasga said.

(Last year, that only took more or less 15 hours. So we think it will be faster now compared in the past because fewer people can climb the carriage, unlike in the previous years prior to the pandemic when more than a hundred climb it.)

"Last year, wala na silang trenta, ngayon sana wala ng bente ang makakasampa. Saka pareho sa last year ang ruta, so ngayon mas kabisado natin yung ruta.''

(Last year, less than thirty climbed the carriage, now hopefully less than twenty will be able to climb. Besides, the route is the same as last year, so now we memorize the route better.)

However, despite appeals, there were still devotees who climbed up the andas on Thursday morning, the Manila Police District (MPD) said.

"Tuloy-tuloy naman ang usad, kaya lang marami pa ring nag-aattempt na sumampa," MPD Director Police Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay told Unang Balita at 6:26 a.m.

(The procession is moving, but many were still attempting to climb up.)

"Hindi natin mapigilan ang kanilang pagsampa at sumasalubong na siyang nagpapabagal sa daloy ng ating prusisyon," Ibay added.

(We could not stop them from climbing up and meeting the procession head on which is slowing down the Traslacion.)

Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross helped a total of 111 patients in the early hours of Traslacion at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Thursday.

The Philippine Red Cross said that of the total patients, six were transported to the hospital due to nausea and chest pain. 

The organization attended to minor health concerns of 66 patients including abrasion, puncture, neck pain, avulsion, burn, and hyperacidity, according to its 6 a.m. update.

Major health concerns were also reported by two patients, including dizziness with blurry vision, nausea, and body weakness. 

'Relatable'

The statue of Jesus Christ carrying a cross has become a symbol of struggle and faith for many Filipino Catholics.

According to psychologist Dr. Randy Dellosa, a devotee's participation in the Feast of Jesus Nazareno may be an outward manifestation of how intense his needs are.

“The greater the risk that they are participating in, that means the greater the intensity of their need is. For example, if it’s about social media, about likes and all that, they have a strong desire to have a lot of likes. It can range from something very superficial to something quite desperate,” Dellosa told GMA News Online.

“For instance, if they were bargaining for the health or the life of somebody or their own health or life, then they’ll probably brave the risks thinking that God will hear them better. If it’s out of gratitude and they received a blessing that they’re very grateful for, they might think it’s worth the risk showing the same level of blessing they’ve received. Psychologically, it’s about the intensity of the need that they have to do such a feat,” he added.

Jesus Nazareno's image is also "relatable" to Filipinos, he said.

“He’s relatable because he's dark-skinned, he appears suffering. He might be more relatable in that sense to Filipinos compared to other saints who look too immaculate or too clean,” Dellosa said. — with a report from Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL/KG, GMA Integrated News