(Photo courtesy : Manila PIO fbpage)
The Quiapo Church has promised several changes for next year’s Feast of the Black Nazarene after this year’s Translacion lasted nearly 31 hours and resulted in four fatalities.
Nazareno 2026 spokesperson Fr. Robert Arellano said that modifications to the “andas,” or the carriage that bears the image of the Black Nazarene, will be implemented. Parts of the andas were damaged during the procession and the carriage absorbed moisture despite being perforated to improve airflow. Church officials are reviewing the design to make it more durable and safer for volunteers and devotees.
Adjustments in crowd management are also being studied for the 2027 Translacion to prevent a repeat of this year’s bottlenecks, particularly when devotees blocked the front of the andas, slowing down the movement of the procession. Fr. Arellano attributed much of the delay to individuals who climbed and obstructed the carriage despite the existing ban.
The church management is likewise considering shortening the route to reduce congestion and minimize risks to both participants and volunteers.
This year’s procession was the longest on record and drew the biggest crowd so far, with more than 9.6 million devotees joining the Translacion.
