THOUSANDS of devotees came together on Thursday to participate in the Traslacion, a yearly religious procession in honor of the Black Nazarene, a life-sized, dark-skinned wooden statue of Jesus Christ that many believe to be miraculous.
This year’s event, called the "solemn transfer," started at 6 am, with the sacred image being moved from the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Augustine to the Nazareno Church on Claro M. Recto Avenue.
Following tradition, many barefoot devotees, known as Hijos de Nazareno, joined the procession along the city's streets.
Authorities enforced strict security measures to keep everyone safe. The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) temporarily shut off mobile network signals for two hours, with approval from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
Police explained that the measure was implemented to maintain security and prevent any potential threats during the Traslacion.
The 2.5-kilometer procession route was guarded by police, barangay tanods (village watchmen), and volunteers.
In an earlier, report, Lt. Col. Nerfe Valmoria of Cocpo, about 15,000 to 18,000 devotees joined the event, showing their strong faith and devotion.
A peaceful procession
The Traslacion began at the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral, passed through Cathedral-Fernandez Street and Don Apolinar Velez Street, and ended at the Nazareno Parish-Shrine by 7:30 am.
The procession lasted about an hour and a half and went smoothly without any major problems.
Mayor Rolando Uy praised the cooperation of the devotees and the hard work of the security teams and volunteers who helped ensure the event’s success.
To prepare for any health emergencies, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD) set up eight first aid stations along the procession route.
These stations were staffed by medical teams from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Red Cross, JR Borja Hospital, City Health Office, and Oro Rescue.
CDRRMD manager Nick Jabagat explained that the goal was to prioritize the safety and well-being of the devotees.
“These stations were ready to respond to any medical needs,” he said.
The first aid stations were spread out in key areas, including the Kiosko, VIP Hotel, City Central School, Caltex, Landbank, Bangko Sentral, and Centrio Ayala Mall along Corrales and Vicente Roa Streets.
The CDRRM Council-Incident Management Team, which had been active since January 8, 2025, worked closely with law enforcement, medical responders, and volunteers to manage the large crowd and ensure the event went smoothly.
To prevent any security risks, such as the use of remote-controlled explosive devices, authorities implemented signal jamming from 5 am to 8 am in key areas, including the St. Augustine Cathedral, Velez Street, and the Nazareno Parish.
Despite the challenges of managing such a large gathering, the Traslacion ended peacefully and successfully. Authorities, volunteers, and medical teams worked together to keep the event safe for everyone.
The devotion of the Hijos de Nazareno and the thousands of devotees highlighted the deep faith and strong cultural connection to the Black Nazarene in Cagayan de Oro City.
Many participants shared stories of answered prayers and personal miracles, adding to the spiritual meaning of this annual tradition.
Also, many devotees expressed their gratitude for the smooth and well-organized procession.
