Jamaine Punzalan

Hundreds of thousands of Catholic pilgrims swarmed the streets of Manila in search of a miracle Thursday, straining to reach a centuries-old statue of Jesus Christ in an annual display of religious fervour.

Article (news)

Crowds throng Manila streets as Jesus statue paraded

Agence France-Presse

<div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u1rG1CkYIqg" title="LIVE: #Nazareno2025 The ABS-CBN Coverage | January 9" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Hundreds of thousands of Catholic pilgrims swarmed the streets of Manila in search of a miracle Thursday, straining to reach a centuries-old statue of Jesus Christ in an annual display of religious fervor.</p><p>The procession to the Philippine capital&#x27;s Quiapo Church or the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, which started before dawn after an open-air mass, was expected to swell to more than two million participants from across the heavily Catholic country, church officials said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/8/in-misa-mayor-cardinal-advincula-urges-pinoys-to-be-true-devotees-0204">In Misa Mayor, Cardinal Advincula urges Pinoys to be &#x27;true devotees&#x27; of Jesus</a></div><p>Barefoot men and women clad in maroon shirts -- the color of the robe that covers the black, wooden Jesus of Nazareno statue -- scrambled to grab the rope used to draw the life-sized religious icon, believing it would bring good health.</p><p>&quot;I prayed that my mother be healed from her heart attack,&quot; Dong Lapira, 54, told AFP of a previous procession where he had been bruised and jostled in his attempt to join those pulling the rope.</p><p>But he vowed to try again Thursday -- this time to see his wife healed of gallstones.</p><p>&quot;The Nazareno is very sacred. It has granted many prayers,&quot; he added.</p><p>Some faithful frantically threw white towels to worshippers tasked with guarding the float, who wiped the statue&#x27;s glass case before tossing them back.</p><p>One of those cleaning the glass, Alvin Olicia, 38, told AFP: &quot;Even if there is extreme heat or rain during the procession, I don&#x27;t feel it at all. I like my task, because through catching other&#x27;s handkerchiefs, I feel like I am connecting them to their faith and to the Nazareno.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/8/nazareno-devotees-push-back-cops-guarding-ayala-bridge-0744">Nazareno devotees push back cops guarding Ayala Bridge</a></div><p>While authorities have banned devotees from climbing on the carriage, some still clambered over other attendees, risking life and limb to be near the religious icon. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/9/some-nazareno-devotees-insist-on-riding-andas-despite-ban-mpd-0809">Some Nazareno devotees insist on riding andas despite ban: MPD</a></div><p>Ester Espiritu, 76, who travelled 35 kilometers from her home in Cavite province, said just catching a glimpse of the statue would be enough.</p><p>&quot;Even If I&#x27;m struggling to come here because of my age... I feel happy and well whenever I see the Nazareno,&quot; said Espiritu, a devotee of the icon for 40 years, who added she was praying for a lingering shoulder injury.</p><p>The life-sized wooden statue was brought to the Philippines in the early 1600s shortly after the start of the Spanish colonial conquest.</p><p>Its black color was believed to have been caused by a fire aboard the Spanish galleon in which it was being transported.</p><p>Police said about 14,500 security personnel had been deployed along the procession&#x27;s six-kilometer route as a precaution.</p><p>Mobile phone signals were also blocked to prevent the remote detonation of explosive devices, police said.</p><p>Emergency response teams were stationed along the route.</p><p>The Red Cross said it provided first aid treatment to more than 100 participants in the first few hours of the procession, mainly for cuts, dizziness, nausea and body weakness.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>Hundreds of thousands of Catholic pilgrims swarmed the streets of Manila in search of a miracle Thursday, straining to reach a centuries-old statue of Jesus Christ in an annual display of religious fervour.</p>