JANUARY 9, 2026 — The Feast of the Black Nazarene has always been a spectacle of faith, a sea of bodies moving as one, each hand reaching for the sacred image believed to grant miracles. But this year’s Traslacion carried a sobering reminder: a photojournalist, Itoh Son — also identified in reports as Armelito Son — collapsed while covering the event and later died. 

Initial reports from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said the journalist was found unconscious with no pulse near the Manila Police District Station 5. His pulse was briefly restored while being rushed from Quirino Grandstand to Gat Andres Bonifacio Medical Center, but he was declared dead on arrival. 

Relatives have since confirmed his passing and announced a viewing at Sto. Domingo Church beginning January 10.

Authorities later revealed that Son had suffered a heart attack early morning and had been battling the flu in the days prior. Despite his condition, he continued covering pre-Traslacion events, including the “Pahalik.” 

His colleagues described this as a testament to his dedication, while the Presidential Task Force on Media Security reminded fellow media workers to prioritize health and safety even amid duty.

“Ang kanyang dedikasyon sa kanyang propesyon sa kabila ng kanyang karamdaman ay patunay ng kanyang pagmamahal sa kanyang trabaho at sa paghahatid ng mga mahalagang kaganapan sa publiko. Ang kanyang hindi matatawarang serbisyo sa larangan ng photojournalism ay magsisilbing inspirasyon sa iba,” the task force said. 

(His dedication to his profession despite his illness is proof of his love for his work and delivering important events to the public. His invaluable service in photojournalism will serve as an inspiration to others.) 

The Nazareno paradox

But beyond the grief lies a bigger question: How much sacrifice is too much?

While Son’s collapse was tragic, he was not alone in suffering that day. The Philippine Red Cross reported catering to at least 465 patients by noon — ranging from dizziness and wounds to strokes and lacerations. 

A devotee recounted feeling lightheaded after walking a long distance to join the celebration, overwhelmed by the unexpectedly massive crowd that filled the area. 

This reflects the paradox of the Traslacion: a devotion so intense it pushes bodies to their limits, sometimes beyond. 

Is this faith, or is it fanaticism?

The irony is hard to ignore. Devotees preach humility, patience, and compassion, yet the procession often devolves into pushing, shoving, and even trampling. 

One devotee recounted being trampled amid the crush of the crowd, while another described how he was pulled down during the chaotic struggle for the ropes of the carriage.

Authorities repeatedly remind the faithful. 

“Unahin po natin ang ating kaligtasan. Iwasan po natin ang tulakan at siksikan lalo na sa areas na masisikip,” PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwendolyn Pang urged. 

(Let’s prioritize our safety. Avoid pushing and crowding especially in tight areas.) 

Yet year after year, the same scenes unfold — devotion expressed through physical struggle, sometimes at the cost of health and life.

So we ask: Does proving one’s faith require risking one’s well-being? Does the act of touching the Nazarene outweigh the danger of collapsing in a crowd of half a million? 

And when a journalist dies while simply doing his job, covering the devotion of others, should we not pause and reflect on what this tradition has become?

Faith should uplift, not endanger. But when devotion turns into a test of endurance, when bodies fall and lives are lost, perhaps it is time to ask whether we are indeed honoring the Nazarene or simply worshipping the spectacle.

If faith demands blood, sweat, and even lives, is it still devotion — or blind obsession?

(Image: Alyanna Danielle | Facebook)