Cagayan de Oro celebrates own Traslacion

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Aside from Quiapo in Manila, the Feast of the Black Nazarene is also being celebrated in this city today, and is expected to draw thousands of devotees.

The tradition started when the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of the Black Nazarene presented the local archdiocese with a pilgrim image of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 5, 2009.

Since then, the city has been holding its own annual Traslacion, which draws thousands of devotees.

Local authorities said up to 18,000 people participated in the event last year. The largest crowd recorded so far was in 2023,  with up to 110,000 devotees participating in the procession.

The procession today will start at 6 a.m., from the St. Augustine Cathedral to the Nazareno Church.

To manage the influx of devotees, up to 130 additional traffic enforcers were deployed around Cagayan de Oro, according to Nonito Oclarit, chief of the city’s roads and traffic administration office.

The procession route will be closed to traffic, Oclarit said.

Aside from police officers, troopers from the Army’s 4th Infantry Division will help maintain peace and order during the event.

Oclarit said that devotees were urged not to wear or bring jewelry, gadgets, backpacks and caps during the Traslacion and in the church.

Flying of drones over the route of the Traslacion is strictly prohibited, he said.