Quiapo Church appeals for prayers for safe conduct of Traslacion

The Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno (Quiapo Church) on Saturday appealed for prayers for the safe conduct of the Traslacion or the procession of the image of Jesus Nazareno.

The church made this call after two devotees were confirmed to have died.

"So please, ilang oras pa bago makarating 'yung ating andas (sa Quiapo Church). I would like to ask and appeal to everyone to say a little prayer na hindi na mag-increase ang casualties at makabalik ang andas sa simbahan, at most especially, makabalik ang mga deboto natin nang ligtas sa kani-kanilang pamilya, sa kani-kanilang tahanan," Fr. Ramon Jade Licuanan, parish priest and rector of Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, said in a press conference.

(So please, it will take a few more hours before our andas (carriage) [returns to Quiapo Church]. I would like to ask and appeal to everyone to say a little prayer that the number of casualties will not increase, that the andas will return safely to the church, and most especially, that our devotees will return safely to their families and homes.)

Nazareno 2026 spokesperson Father Robert Arellano confirmed that two devotees died. 

"For the record, ito po ang confirmed records at this time point in time. We have 1,700 cases, two of which, it was confirmed, are death cases... Sila ay involved sa prusisyon (They were involved in the procession)," Fr. Arellano said at the same press briefing.

He said they have no further details yet about the two victims, but more details will be given at the final press conference to be held about the Traslacion.

"Then meron pa tayo isang journalist (na namatay). All in all, tatlo po," Fr. Arellano said.

He however clarified that the photojournalist who passed away was not directly involved in the Traslacion.

The photojournalist, Itoh Son, was covering the Traslacion when he suddenly fell on Friday. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security said Son had been suffering from the flu for days, but he still pushed through with covering the Feast Day.

Fr. Arellano said they are monitoring 29 cases of devotees who suffered health problems during the Traslacion.

"Currently we have 29 cases na closely mino-monitor natin (that we are closely monitoring)," he said.

Slow procession

"Maraming humaharang. Kapag may mga taong humaharang sa andas, hindi ito nakakadaloy nang maayos," Fr. Arellano said.

(Many devotees are blocking the way. If there are people blocking the andas, it will not be able to go forward smoothly.)

Earlier on Saturday, Fr. Licuanan announced that the andas will be brought inside San Sebastian Church, where the Dungaw was held, to allow the people to have some time to rest.

READ: Traslacion 2026: Jesus Nazareno and Nuestra Señora Del Carmen meet at Dungaw

However, the devotees in the area did not hear the announcement well and pressed for the andas to continue on its planned route back toward Quiapo Church.

Fr. Arellano said despite the announcement of the church that climbing the andas is not allowed, many devotees continued to do so, slowing the procession.

"Bawal ang pagsampa. Yet may mga deboto pa rin tayo na hindi sumunod sa ating panawagan," he said.

(Climbing the andas is not allowed. Yet there were devotees who still did so and did not heed our appeal.)

Crime rate

Meanwhile, there has been no crime reported while the Traslacion was being conducted, Fr. Arellano said.

"Generally, we have zero crime rate. Wala tayong naiulat na krimen (No crime was reported)," he said.

As to the condition of the andas, Fr. Arellano said that as of that time of the press briefing, it was functioning well.

"Currently, functional po ang ating andas," he said. "Medyo bumababa, sumasadsad ang andas dahil may sumasampa. (Pero) maayos na gumagalaw ang andas." 

(Currently, the andas is functional. There were instances that it seemed to be going down but it's because of people climbing. But it is functioning well.)

Meanwhile, Fr. Arellano thanked the Manila city government, the police force, the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, the intelligence community, and the Department of Health, among others, for their help and assistance during the Traslacion 2026.

The Traslacion finally ended at 10:50 a.m. on Saturday, for a total procession time of 30 hours, 50 minutes, and 1 second, Quiapo Church said. —KG, GMA Integrated News