Archive · 9 Jan 2026
Massive Black Nazarene procession in Manila
A huge crowd of people in the Philippines gathered for a special event called the Black Nazarene procession.
They walked through the streets of Manila to see and touch a very old statue of Jesus Christ.
The statue is called the Black Nazarene and is very important to many Filipinos.
People believe that touching the statue can bring them blessings and heal their illnesses.
This year, some church leaders also used this event to talk about how some government officials are not being honest and fair.
The statue was brought to the Philippines from Mexico a long time ago, in the 1600s.
The event is called 'Traslacion' and it remembers when the statue was moved to its current church.
Hundreds of thousands of Filipino devotees joined the annual Black Nazarene procession in Manila.
The procession commemorates the transfer of the 17th-century statue from Intramuros to Quiapo church.
Devotees believe touching the statue brings blessings and healing.
Church leaders used the event to criticize corrupt government officials.
The statue was brought to the Philippines from Mexico during the galleon trade.
- Who
- Hundreds of thousands of Filipino devotees, Bishop Rufino Sescon
- What
- Annual procession of the Black Nazarene statue
- When
- January 9 (ongoing)
- Where
- Manila, Philippines
- Why
- To commemorate the transfer of the statue and seek blessings; also used as a platform to criticize corrupt officials
- Event
- Black Nazarene procession (Traslacion)
- Location
- Manila, Philippines
- Date
- January 9
- Time
- 8 a.m. (ongoing)
- Estimated Attendees
- 439,000 (and growing)
- Statue Origin
- 17th century, brought from Mexico
- Significance
- Commemorates transfer of the Black Nazarene to Quiapo church