Thousands gather at Quirino Grandstand for Jesus Is Lord Church's 47th Anniversary
Published Oct 18, 2025 03:51 pm
Thousands of members of the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church gathered at Quirino Grandstand on Saturday, October 18, to celebrate the church's 47th founding anniversary, prompting major road closures and heightened security around the area.
Wearing blue and white shirts, participants came from different parts of the country, and even from abroad, to join the day-long celebration themed “Holy Spirit Breakthrough."
The event includes praise and worship sessions, testimonies, and messages of faith.
Kalaw Avenue and Katigbak Drive were packed with attendees as early as 10 a.m.
Large LED screens and sound systems were set up to accommodate the overflow of attendees extending well beyond the main venue.
Tow trucks, ambulances, and mobile clinics were also deployed, and medical staff were stationed across key areas in anticipation of emergencies.
Among the early arrivals was Sandy Camilo, 43, who traveled with her church group from Bulacan, the birthplace of the JIL movement.
"Sana hindi umulan kasi andaming naghanda para dito. Taon-taon talaga kami dumadalo (I hope it doesn’t rain because many people prepared for this. We really attend every year)," Camilo said.
Despite the large turnout, authorities reported no major incidents as of 4 p.m.
As of this writing, the MPD has not yet released an official crowd estimate, but organizers expect attendance to reach hundreds of thousands by the evening program.
Due to the scale of the event, the Manila Police District (MPD), in coordination with local government units, implemented crowd control measures and rerouted traffic in the vicinity.
Motorists were advised to take alternate routes as heavy traffic is expected to persist throughout the day due to the large volume of attendees.
Roxas Boulevard, particularly near Luneta and the grandstand area, was temporarily closed to vehicular traffic to ensure safety.
Organizers say the celebration is not only a time for worship but also a call for unity and spiritual renewal amid the challenges faced by the country and the world.
Founded in 1978, the JIL Church started as a small Bible study group in Bulacan and has since grown into a global Christian ministry with millions of members across over 60 countries.