CAGAYAN de Oro City Police (COCPO) announced on Tuesday that an estimated 18,000 devotees, including those from Cagayan de Oro City, Visayas, and various areas in Mindanao, took part in this year’s ‘Traslacion.’
The Traslacion is an annual procession of the Black Nazarene image from St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral to Nazareno Church, held every 9th of January.
Cocpo spokesperson, Police Colonel Evan Vinas, confirmed the attendance of the devotees during the Traslacion and mentioned that the security measures have been increased this year.
On Monday, to ensure the safety of the event, the Police Regional Office in the Northern Mindanao Region (PRO-10) gathered around 400 police officers and support units from the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office at Camp Alagar for a security briefing.
The police emphasized the importance of observing maximum tolerance towards the Nazarene devotees during the procession while remaining vigilant.
The Black Nazarene image was brought to St. Augustine Cathedral at midnight from Nazareno Church.
At 4 am, a mass was celebrated, followed by the start of the Traslacion at around 5 am, as the procession made its way back to Nazareno Church.
Many devotees carried images of the Black Nazarene with candles lit, adding to the spiritual atmosphere of the event.
Approximately 1,000 security personnel, including police, military, and volunteer groups, were present to ensure a smooth and secure event.
The efforts were led by the Task Force Oro of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division including the city disaster risk reductiom management office.
Earlier, the city government and the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro had estimated that around 200,000 devotees would participate, including those from nearby towns.
According to Vinas, even though the actual number of devotees amounted to 18,000, it was still a significant turnout.
The procession of the Black Nazarene took place along the city’s major thoroughfares without any untoward incidents, concluding safely at the Nazareno Church.
The Traslacion is a deeply revered tradition for many devotees who seek spiritual guidance and blessings from the Black Nazarene.
Their fervent participation and the heightened security measures demonstrate the significance of this event in Cagayan de Oro.
The city successfully managed to uphold the tradition while ensuring the safety and peacefulness of the procession for all involved.
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