Over 100,000 attend Misa Mayor ahead of Traslacion 2026
Hundreds of thousands of devotees attended the 12 a.m. Misa Mayor for the Feast of Jesus Nazareno held at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Friday, Jan. 9.
According to the Manila Police District (MPD) and Innovation Integrated GIS and Data Hub of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), over 100,000 individuals participated in the mass officiated by Balanga Bishop Rufino “Jun” Sescon Jr., D.D.
"Paano nga ba tunay na bumaba? May nauna na sating bumaba at ito’y walang iba kundi si Poong Nazareno. Una, siya ay bumaba nang kusa upang lalong magmahal… Hindi siya napilitan lamang; kusang loob siyang bumaba dahil sa awa at pagmamahal (How do we truly descend with humility? Someone came down before us, and it was none other than the Lord of the Nazarene. First, he came down voluntarily to love more... He was not forced; he came down voluntarily out of mercy and love)," Sescon said in his homily.
The bishop also took a swipe at corrupt government officials who have yet to resign from their posts despite the public's clamor for transparency and accountability.
"Ayaw bumaba kahit binabaha na at nasisira na ang bayan… Tama na, awa ng Diyos sa ating bayan (They still won't step down from their posts despite the country being severely flooded and destroyed due to their corruption... Please, let the Lord have mercy on our country)," he added.
The Misa Mayor ended at exactly 1:30 a.m. while the Traslacion procession officially started at 4:00 a.m.