ASEANEWS HEADLINE-LIFE+STYLE-RELIGION | MANILA, Philippine: Longest ever Traslacion ends after nearly 31 hours

WATCH VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN0Y0GUtYFE

Longest in history of Nazareno: Traslacion ends after nearly 31 hours

The image of the Jesus Nazareno finally returned to its home on Saturday morning, concluding what is now officially the longest Traslacion in the feast’s history.

.

.

.MANILA, Philippines — After almost 31 hours, the revered 400-year-old statue of the Black Nazarene was returned to Quiapo Church yesterday in what was considered the longest and most attended observance of the Traslacion or the procession of the image in history.

Onboard the wooden carriage, or andas, the Black Nazarene left Quirino Grandstand at 4 a.m. on Friday, while a replica of it stayed during the two-day pahalik or public veneration. The Black Nazarene would not be back in Quiapo Church until 10:49 a.m. yesterday.

The procession, with millions of devotees lining the 5.8-kilometer route, took 30 hours and 49 minutes before it returned to Quiapo Church, also called the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno. It exceeded the previous record of 22 hours and 19 minutes in 2017, and 20 hours and 45 minutes last year.

Speaking from the balcony of the church immediately after the gates were shut, Quiapo Church rector Fr. Ramon Jade Licuanan declared, “Sabi nga, sa hinaba-haba ng prusisyon, sa simbahan din ang tuloy!” (As the saying goes, no matter the length of the procession, it all ends at the church!)

“This is God’s reminder that no matter where we go in life, left, right, or stumbling down, God’s open arms are waiting to accept us because our Lord Jesus Nazarene is God of mercy,” Licuanan said of his first Traslacion after being appointed to the Quiapo Church a year ago.

This year, a total of 9,640,290 people joined festivities leading to the Traslacion, which started with the novena masses last Dec. 31, according to data from the church.

Standstill

Despite its quick departure from the Quirino Grandstand, the andas moved slowly, got stuck and was even cornered along the way.

According to earlier reports, the ropes used to pull the andas were snapped, while the front wheels broke down, likely causing the carriage to tilt forward.

According to the National Capital Police Regional Office (NCRPO), the andas was stuck at the 832-meter stretch of Arlegui St. for nearly 10 hours before turning left to Nepomuceno St.

“We had a difficult time pulling the andas because, as you can see, it ran aground and got damaged,” NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin told reporters.

The NCRPO initially targeted the Traslacion to run between 10 and 12 hours before settling at 15 hours. Some devotees shared on social media that they should not be rushed in expressing their faith.

.

Local jeepney manufacturer Sarao Motors added one more wheel to the carriage’s front axle, making it four, but according to NCRPO spokesperson Maj. Hazel Asilo, this made it much harder to navigate the andas.

Aberin said they are eyeing the deployment of more volunteers and tactical units to shorten the duration of future Traslacions.

Home stretch

For his part, Nazareno 2026 spokesman and Quiapo Church parochial vicar Fr. Robert Arellano maintained that the sheer volume of devotees who attempted to get close to the glass-encased image slowed down the journey of the andas.

As the andas reached the San Sebastian Church past 4:30 a.m. yesterday, already the 24th hour of the Traslacion, the 10th year of the dungaw, or the meeting of Jesus Nazarene and his mother the Virgin Mary as Nuestra Señora del Carmen, was performed from the century-old steel church’s balcony.

During the dungaw, Licuanan appealed to the Nazarene faithful to let the image stay with his mother at the San Sebastian Church.

“The best option stressed during the meeting was to place Jesus Nazarene temporarily in San Sebastian Parish… I explained to them the practical consideration and the spiritual side of it, that the Son will finally have time to stay with his mother,” he said.

.

Licuanan cited the already exhausted volunteers, including medical and police personnel, who could use some rest.

Despite the cheers from the crowd, some devotees belonging to various balangay or Jesus Nazarene chapters insisted on continuing with the journey back to Quiapo Church.

Asked about possible changes to next year’s Traslacion, Arellano argued it would be a “major decision” to make as soon as everyone is well-rested.

“It needs to be supported with relevant data and information with help from local and national government agencies,” he said.

Waste aftermath

Though lamenting the “uninhibited littering” in Rizal Park and Quiapo following the Traslacion, environmental group EcoWaste Coalition commended some positive practices in this year’s event.

“Our repeated pleas for a waste-free conduct of Traslacion have gone unheeded… However, we also witnessed some commendable acts that have helped in preventing and reducing the fiesta trash and pollution. We remain optimistic that the situation will change in future Traslacions,” EcoWaste Coalition’s Zero Waste campaigner Ochie Tolentino said in a press statement.

Among the garbage found were boxes, cardboards, foils, plastic tarpaulins and newspapers used for seating or sleeping; food and beverage packaging such as 3-in-1 coffee sachets, cup noodles, paper and plastic cups and tubs; food wastes; cigarette butts and vapes; lost slippers and plastic bags containing mixed rubbish.

“A specific problem for the cleaners, as well as for the waste pickers, was the use by some men of empty PET bottles for urination, many of which were found abandoned next to overflowing waste bins and in garbage piles,” the group said.

Nonetheless, Tolentino said there were positive developments observed by the Patrollers, which the group hopes will be sustained in the succeeding years.

.

Among them were the use of certified lead-safe paints in repainting the arches and gutters in Plaza Miranda by the Manila Department of Engineering; non-use of plastic banderitas at Quiapo Church and the minimal use of such plastic buntings by local communities; as well as use of eco-friendly coconut cloth banners by the local government in place of plastic tarpaulins laden with toxic cadmium.

The group also commended the provision of water dispensers in some barangays as well as the collection of discarded PET bottles by waste pickers to be sold to junk shops.

Peace and order

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) lauded thousands of police officers who secured the nearly 31-hour Traslacion.

Over 18,000 police officers were deployed during the event. Despite fatigue and lack of sleep, police commanders and personnel stood their ground and made sure that both public safety and crowd control were strictly enforced, PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.

.

“This is the longest Traslacion so far, and this is an impressive show of faith and devotion of millions of Filipino devotees,” he said in a statement.

“I commend all our commanders and personnel on the ground, not only for successful implementation of security measures, but also for the excellent real-time adjustment of security plans that all led to the peaceful and meaningful Traslacion,” Nartatez added.

The PNP said at least 2.8 million devotees converged in various parts of Manila for the procession. — EJ Macababbad, Elizabeth Marcelo, Emmanuel Tupas