Traslacion 2026 might exceed 21 hours —Quiapo Church

This year’s Traslacion in Manila may take longer than 21 hours due to devotees blocking the andas and the heavier crowds, the Quiapo Church said Friday. 

Quiapo Church communications coordinator Silgen Cabrito said the pace of the Traslacion has slowed compared to last year. 

Last year, Traslacion lasted 20 hours and 45 minutes and was attended by an estimated 8.1 million devotees, according to the police. 

“If the current pace remains, we might exceed more than 21 hrs,” Cabrito told reporters.

This is because devotees are “more aggressive” to reach the front of the Jesus Nazareno image.

“It seems mas aggressive ang mga deboto na makapunta sa harap ng imahen,” Cabrito said.

According to Cabrito, many devotees stopped at the front of the andas to pray before attempting to climb up and touch the glass case housing the image. 

“Madami sa kanila ang tumitigil sa gawing harap sa baba ng andas na nagdadasal at matapos ay magsisikap na sumampa para makahawak sa salamin ng Andas,” he said.

By this point in the procession around 6 p.m., the andas would usually have already reached the traditional Dungaw at Plaza del Carmen, but this year’s progress has been much slower. 

The average movement before turning to Arlegui Street, the seventh of the around 20 streets and roads covered by the procession, has reached 3.5 hours per kilometer, according to Cabrito. 

Aside from this, Cabrito also cited external factors affecting the pace of the procession, particularly on Arlegui Street. These include the narrow streets and the rush hour.

This year’s Traslacion started at Quirino Grandstand at 4 a.m. Friday. At 7 p.m., the andas was still at Arlegui Street after around 15 hours of the procession. 

The procession has yet to traverse the remaining roads and streets included in the planned route: 

*Arlegui Street

* Right to Fraternal Street

* R Vergara Street

* Left to Duque de Alba Street

* L Castillejos Street

* L Farnecio Street

* R Arlegui Street

* L Nepomuceno Street

* L Concepcion Aguila Street

* R Carcer Street

* R Hidalgo Street through Plaza del Carmen

* L Bilibid Viejo through Gil Puyat

* R Z.P. de Guzman Street 

* R Hidalgo Street

* L Quezon Boulevard 

* R Palanca Street through under Quezon Bridge 

* R Villalobos Street through Plaza Miranda going to Quiapo Church

—LDF, GMA Integrated News