The traditional "Pahalik" (kissing) of the image of the Jesus Nazareno started on Wednesday night, Jan. 7, at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, 2 days before the much-anticipated Traslacion of the holy image on Friday, Jan. 9.

According to the Manila Police District (MPD), about 4,000 devotees flocked to the Quirino Grandstand as of 9:15 p.m. to touch and kiss the image with the belief that doing so would transfer the Nazareno's healing and blessing powers to them.

The Pahalik started at around 7 p.m. after the holy mass dedicated for all volunteers and media personnel who would cover the Traslacion led by the parochial vicar of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of the Black Nazarene, Fr. Robert Arellano.

One of the devotees, Mark, said his faith in the Jesus Nazareno further strengthened after his younger brother was healed from his injuries after figuring in a motorcycle accident back in 2013.

"Noong una po hindi ako naniniwala na nakakapag-pagaling daw yung paghimas sa Nazareno. Pero nung naaksidente po yung kapatid ko gawa nung sumemplang sya sa motor at wala po kaming perang pampagamot sakanya, kumapit nalang po kami sa aming pananampalataya sa Nazareno. Naging napakalaking himala po na gumaling sya after nyang mapunasan nung bimpo na pinampahid namin sa Nazareno noong Pahalik nung 2014 (At first, I didn't believe that touching the image of Jesus Nazareno could heal. But when my brother had an accident when he fell off his motorcycle and we didn't have money for his treatment, we just held on to our faith in the Nazarene. It was a great miracle that he was healed from his injuries after we wiped on him the cloth we had rubbed on the Nazarene during the Pahalik in 2014)," Mark said.

"Sinabi po ng mga doktor na mahihirapan na syang makalakad ulit gawa nung nagkalasog-lasog yung mga buto nya sa binti at tuhod. Sobrang hina nadaw ng kapit ng kasukasuan nya and kada galaw nya masakit daw. Pero matapos po nyang mabasbasan ng imahen eh parang nagkaroon sya ng lakas ng loob at katawan kaya nakaya nya pong makatayo at makapaglakad muli (The doctors said that it would be difficult for him to walk again because the bones in his legs and knees had become so weak that every movement was agonizing for him. But after he was blessed by the image, it seemed that he had gained courage and strength in both mind and body, so he was able to stand up and walk again)," he added.

Another devotee, 36-year-old Melody, came all the way from Taytay, Rizal, to have the chance to touch the image, as she believed that it had healed her from a tumor found on her breast in 2020.

"Nalaman ko pong may bukol sa left breast ko nung nagkaroon po ng medical mission sa barangay namin. Gawa po nung kahirapan, hindi ko na po nagawang magpacheck-up ulit. Dinadaan ko nalang po sa pag-inom ng halamang gamot tsaka dasal. 'Yun po yung dahilan bat mas kumapit ako sa Nazareno. Magmula po nung sumama ako sa Pahalik at Traslacion tapos pinapahid ko yung twalya na pinampunas ko sa imahen sa dibdib ko, parang unti-unting nawala yung panghihina ng katawan ko at sumigla po ako (I found out that I had a lump in my left breast when there was a medical mission in our barangay. Due to poverty, I was unable to get a check-up again and all I could do is just take herbal medicines and become prayerful. That's the reason why I clung to the Nazarene more. Ever since I joined the Pahalik and Traslacion and then rubbed the towel that I had wiped on the image on my chest, it seemed like the weakness in my body gradually disappeared and I became more energetic)," Melody explained.

"Nung 2024, nagkaroon ulit ako ng pagkakataong makapag-patingin sa doktor tapos 'yun nagulat ako na parang lumiit daw yung bukol sa dibdib ko at kaya nang idaan sa oral medicines. Kaya mula noon mas tumibay yung faith ko Sakanya at ginawa ko na pong panata yung pagpunta dito (In 2024, I had the opportunity to see the doctor again and was surprised that the lump in my breast had shrunk and that I could be treated with oral medicines. So from then on, my faith in Him grew stronger, and I made a vow to go here every year)," she noted.

The Pahalik will last until Jan. 9 before the Misa Mayor, marking the start of the Traslacion procession.

The annual tradition's name was changed to "Pagpupugay" (paying tribute) during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, prohibiting the physical contact of devotees on the holy image due to health concerns.

It was later reverted back to Pahalik after the pandemic.

Several roads were also closed by the police to give way to the Pahalik, including the stretch of Independence Road, Katigbak Drive, and South Drive.

A lane along Katigbak Drive and South Drive will remain open for access to the Manila Hotel and the H2O Hotel.