MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of devotees are now flocking to Quiapo to attend its hourly masses following the start of Traslacion.

According to the Nazareno Operations Center, roughly 16,700 devotees are currently in Quiapo while 230,000 are presently joining the Traslacion as of its latest crowd estimates.

Quiapo Church said that there would be 33 masses intended for the feast day to accommodate the influx of devotees.

The Traslacion began at 4:41 a.m. following the Panalangin sa Bukang-liwayway (Prayer at Dawn).

Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula Jr. presided over the Misa Mayor at the Quirino Grandstand.

The feast of Jesus Nazareno attracts millions of devotees annually, with over 6.5 million devotees in 2024 joining the Traslacion alone.

Faithful believe that the image is miraculous and answer petitions prompting them to join the Traslacion, the traditional solemn transfer of the image from Luneta to Quiapo Church.

The procession usually lasts 15 to 22 hours due to the volume of attendees.

To secure the feast, a total of 14,000 police officers are currently stationed at key areas of Luneta and Quiapo Church. 

The Philippine Coast Guard also deployed 1,100 personnel to support the security operations of the celebration.