Quiapo Church crowd nears 1 million

Devotees around the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno or Quiapo Church reached 950,600 on Thursday evening as the Traslacion or the procession continued.

The Quiapo Church reported the crowd estimate at 8 p.m. as the andas or carriage of the image of Jesus Nazareno nears its final destination.

As of 9:48 p.m., the andas is crossing De Guzman Street in Quiapo, Manila.  

It left Quirino Grandstand at 4:41 a.m.

The procession is slower this year compared to 2024, according to a Saksi report quoting Manila Police District (MPD) director Brigadier General  Arnold Thomas Ibay.

Earlier, the two ropes of the andas broke during the Traslacion on Thursday, according to the MPD.

The Quiapo Church said one rope broke as the andas crossed Finance Road to Ayala Boulevard.

The second rope, meanwhile, snapped in the evening within the vicinity of San Sebastian Church, the venue of the traditional Dungaw where the Jesus Nazareno image symbolically meets His mother Nuestra Señora del Carmen.

Without both of the ropes, the andas moved solely through the Hijos del Nazareno who were pushing the carriage amid the crowds of devotees.

Jesus Nazareno feast is a 10-day activity that started on December 31, 2024 and culminated on January 9, 2025 with Traslacion or the procession of the black image of Jesus Christ from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News