The organizers of the annual Traslacion have appealed to the public to avoid any form of disruption during next year’s Feast of the Jesus Nazarene, stressing that the celebration must remain safe and solemn.
In a press briefing on Monday, Nazareno Feast spokesperson Fr. Robert Arellano said the Church is urging the public to cooperate and follow all guidelines for the massive procession.
‘Our appeal is to keep our intentions holy. so we ask everyone to work together and follow the Church’s guidelines,’ he said.
Addressing concerns about possible groups or individuals planning to cause disorder, Arellano urged them to stay away.
‘For those who might attempt to disrupt the event, we hope you won’t, because it will not help. Our call is for everyone’s safety,’ he said.
‘We do not know who these people or groups may be, but we strongly oppose anything that could harm, endanger, or cause trouble for the devotees and for all of us.’
For next year’s celebration, organizers said the andas will undergo several modifications to help speed up the return of the image of the Jesus Nazarene from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.
The changes include four wheels instead of three, the addition of a steering mechanism similar to a vehicle (instead of the old wooden tiller), and improved lighting and ventilation to prevent moisture buildup inside the structure.
Feast Technical Adviser Alex Irasga explained that the adjustments are meant to ease movement and make the carriage more manageable for the volunteers.
‘Based on our study, these improvements will make it easier to push or pull the andas. It may also help speed up the procession,’ he said.
However, Fr. Arellano cautioned that it is still uncertain whether the Traslacion will move faster next year.
He said several external factors affect the procession’s pace-many of which are beyond the organizers’ control.
‘Even with all our preparations, there are things we cannot control, like the sheer number of people coming, and the devotees who, despite our yearly reminders not to climb the andas, still climb. That becomes the reason for the delays,’ he said.
For the 2026 feast, the procession will continue to follow the 5.8-kilometer route, passing through 18 national and city roads, seven bridges, three parks and plazas, and one underpass.
Organizers also appealed to the public not to crowd or ‘stand by’ on bridges to avoid accidents or possible structural failure.
They again reminded devotees not to climb the andas to prevent delays and injuries.
‘The true expression of our devotion is not shown by climbing the andas, but by yielding-by lifting up Jesus Nazarene and not ourselves or our bodies,’ Arellano said.
This year’s procession lasted 20 hours and 45 minutes.
The longest Traslacion was recorded in 2012, 2017, and 2019, each taking 22 hours to complete.