MANILA — NCRPO confirmed early Saturday morning that two devotees of Jesus Nazareno died amid this year’s Traslacion, the annual procession of the revered image of the Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.

NCRPO spokesperson Maj. Hazel Asilo told reporters: “We recorded two casualties during the Traslacion. Details are still being consolidated, but these do not include the photojournalist who passed away on Friday while covering the procession.” The police have yet to release the identities of the deceased, pending notification of their families.

Church officials also confirmed the deaths. Fr. Robert Arellano, spokesperson for Nazareno 2026, said: “The Quiapo Church Command Post recorded two deaths during the procession. We will provide full details once the reports are complete.”

The Philippine Red Cross reported that hundreds of devotees required medical attention during the event, with cases ranging from dizziness and abrasions to sprains and minor wounds. Emergency teams were deployed along the procession route, which stretched for several kilometers and drew millions of barefoot devotees.

The Traslacion, one of the largest religious gatherings in the Philippines, commemorates the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from Intramuros to Quiapo in 1787. Each year, millions of devotees join the procession, believing that touching the image or its carriage can bring miracles.

This year’s procession was marked by aggressive crowd behavior, which slowed the movement of the andas (carriage) and extended the duration of the event to more than 21 hours, longer than last year. Authorities noted that despite heightened security and medical preparations, the sheer size of the crowd continues to pose risks to participants.

The deaths of the two devotees have reignited discussions about safety during the Traslacion. In past years, similar casualties and injuries have been reported, prompting calls for stricter crowd control measures and better coordination between church organizers and government agencies.

Can the Traslacion Be Safer Without Losing Its Soul?

The Traslacion is an act of faith millions hold sacred. It is prayer in motion, sacrifice made visible. But year after year, injuries pile up, and deaths follow, treated as tragic but expected. That normalization should trouble everyone.

Faith does not demand danger. Devotion does not require crushed bodies, exhaustion, or loss of life. Safety planning is not an attack on belief. It is respect for the people who carry that belief with their bodies. Other massive religious gatherings around the world have evolved without losing meaning.

Honoring tradition should include protecting devotees, not testing their limits.

Can the Traslacion change to save lives without losing the faith that gives it meaning?

Image from Chris Andres