Traslacion 2026 ends after nearly 31 hours

The image of Jesus Nazareno has returned to the Quiapo Church from Quirino Grandstand in Manila City on Saturday, completing the traditional Traslacion after nearly 31 hours—its longest-ever procession in history.

It entered the gate of the Quiapo Church at 10:50 a.m., marking the end of this year's Traslacion which drew 9,640,290 participants, according to official times and figures released by church officials. 

This year's Traslacion started at Quirino Grandstand at 4 a.m. on Friday and lasted for 30 hours, 50 minutes, and 1 second.

"Ito na ang pinakamahabang selebrasyon ng traslacion (This is the longest celebration of the Traslacion)," Quiapo Church communications coordinator Silgen Cabrito said in a message to reporters.

The previous Traslacion in 2025 lasted 20 hours and 45 minutes and was attended by an some 8.1 million devotees, according to police estimates.

Bottleneck

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that this year's longest bottleneck was at the 832-meter stretch from Alegui to Duque de Alba to Castillejos streets. Traversing this segment lasted 9 hours and 50 minutes.

Church officials on Friday had said the Traslacion moved slower through its route as devotees were converging at the front of the andas, or the carriage bearing the Jesus Nazareno image.

Initially, the procession moved quickly, matching the 2024 pace of about one kph from the Quirino Grandstand to the National Museum.

It eventually slowed down as the crowds grew. The one-kilometer stretch from Finance Road through Ayala Boulevard and across Ayala Bridge, for example, took more than six hours to complete—slower than last year's pace.

A rope attached to the andas broke as the procession reached Quezon Boulevard on Friday afternoon.

The Quiapo Church said the incident happened at around 2:50 p.m. to 3 p.m., but the rope was eventually replaced.

Recorded deaths

Four people were reported to have died during amid this year's Traslacion in Manila, the Quiapo Church administration said Saturday.

Authorities have yet to release additional information about these deaths, but the NCRPO has confirmed that the list does not include the photojournalist who passed away on Friday while covering the procession, according to GMA Integrated News reporter Jhomer Apresto.

Church officials have said the photojournalist was not considered a casualty in the religious activity.

Father Robert Arellano, spokesperson for the Nazareno 2026, cited the individual's pre-existing medical condition. He stressed that the incident did not occur at the actual procession.

'Generally peaceful'

Based on figures by the Quiapo Church, a total of 1,057 medical cases were logged during the religious festivity.

No safety, peace and order, and security incidents were on the official log. Incidents of pickpocketing, however, were earlier reported by multiple devotees to GMA Integrated News.

In a statement on Saturday, the PNP said this year's Traslacion was assessed as "generally peaceful and orderly," even as it acknowledged the reported deaths in the religious festivity.

"Overall, we consider the Traslacion generally peaceful and orderly despite the sheer volume of devotees," said PNP Acting Chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

Some 18,000 police personnel were deployed to secure the annual religious activity, including contingents from the Central Luzon and Calabarzon police to support the Metro Manila police.

Nartatez expressed sympathy over the deaths of two devotees and the photojournalist who was covering the event.

"We are deeply saddened by these reports. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased. While the Traslacion was generally orderly, even a single loss of life is a serious matter for us," he said.

"This serves as a solemn reminder of the physical risks involved in massive gatherings, and we will further strengthen our crowd management, medical coordination, and safety measures in future events," Nartatez said.

Medical cases

The Department of Health (DOH) responded to more than 1,000 health concerns for Traslacion 2026. DOH said that the partial count of health consultations across DOH’s medical teams has reached 1,019 as of 11 a.m.

Of the total cases, 390 were treatments for wounds sustained due to being crushed by other devotees and getting stuck or falling off of the andas.

DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said that the numbers still indicated that the majority of the health concerns being treated were medical conditions.

“As the procession goes later, hinihimatay na hindi nakakain because of the fatigue kung mahina ang katawan mo ngayon. 300 of the 1,000 [cases] lang ang trauma… So that means the rest are probably medical,” he said. 

(As the procession goes later, the ones who haven’t eaten yet start to faint because of the fatigue if your body is weak by now. Trauma only makes up 300 of the 1,000 [cases]… So that means the rest are probably medical.)

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), meanwhile, said that as of 7:30 a.m. Saturday, its personnel and volunteers have attended to 849 patients since Thursday.

Of the figure, 19 individuals required further medical care safely and were transported to hospitals. 

A total of 2,204 devotees were provided with welfare assistance along the Traslación route in the PRC's 48-hour operation. — with reports from Jamil Santos and Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/ VDV, GMA Integrated News