Devotees swell for Cagayan de Oro Traslacion, turnout nearly twice 2025 levels

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Tens of thousands of devotees filled the streets of Cagayan de Oro on Friday, January 9, for the annual Traslacion of an image of Jesus Nazareno, nearly double last year’s turnout.

About 23,000 devotees joined the procession, more than twice the 13,000 who attended in 2025, according to Nick Jabagat, chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

The life-sized Nazarene statue was carried about 2.5 kilometers from the Cagayan de Oro Metropolitan Cathedral to the Nazareno Parish Church in Barangay Lapasan.

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Attendance has fluctuated in recent years. In 2024, about 18,000 devotees joined, down from over 100,000 in 2023, when the city staged the only grand Traslacion in the country since the COVID–19 pandemic. That year, the event drew crowds as health restrictions eased and revived the pre-pandemic tradition. Pre-pandemic attendance in Cagayan de Oro exceeded 150,000.

Church authorities said heightened security measures introduced after a 2023 bombing in Marawi City limited access in 2024. Vendors were required then to stay at least 50 meters from the church, and devotees’ proximity to the carriage was restricted. 

Officials said the strict security measures contributed to smaller crowds and lower sales of religious items such as handkerchiefs and miniature statues. 

Other factors affecting previous turnouts included the rise of local Nazareno processions in nearby cities and waning interest among younger parishioners in traditional rites.

The Traslacion marks the arrival of one of three pilgrim replicas, known as Callejeros, brought to the city in 2009 to meet growing devotion in Northern Mindanao. The image, believed by many devotees to be miraculous, depicts a kneeling, cross-bearing, dark-skinned Jesus Christ. It was originally carved in Mexico and transported to Manila via galleon in 1606.

Cagayan de Oro’s annual Traslacion began when the local Catholic archdiocese received a replica from Quiapo Church for its jubilee celebrations. Since then, the city has hosted the annual January 9 procession, drawing thousands of devotees from across Mindanao and even the Visayas.

This year, Father Der John Faborada, social communications director of the Cagayan de Oro Archdiocese, said parishioners had expressed outrage over ongoing corruption involving government officials and prayed that those responsible would be held accountable.

“Many of our parishioners are outraged over this corruption issue and many have expressed they would seek justice through divine intervention,” Faborada said. – Rappler.com