Every January 9, the streets of Manila transform into a sea of faith as millions of devotees gather for the Traslacion, a procession many consider to be one of the most fervent displays of Catholic devotion. 

While joining waves upon waves of believers in the procession taking the image of the Jesus Nazareno around the streets of Manila is a sight in and of itself, more striking is the thousands of participants walking along the route barefoot.  

The devotees pay no mind to the hot and coarse asphalt under their feet, pebbles and debris clinging to their heels and soles with every step taken. This, devotees claim, allows them to immerse themselves fully in the physical and spiritually intensity of the event emulating Jesus Christ  carrying a cross as He walked towards Golgotha. 

Aside from joining the procession, many have made it a vow to touch the Jesus Nazareno itself throughout the Traslacion. Faces painted with exhaustion, pain, and determination, they clamber over other devotees risking injury just to touch the image and fulfill a vow. 

The vow meant to say thanks or ask for favor, believing the image to be miraculous.

As soon as it is done, they whisper a silent prayer and leap away from the image to let other devotees have their time with the Jesus Nazareno. 

Their feet, black with grime, touch the ground once more after what seems like hours atop shoulders, hands, heads of the marshals known as Hijos del Nazarenos escorting the image. With the adrenaline dying down, they sit or lie on the ground, ready to do it once again next year. 

In-edit ni: Armand Derek Sol

Prinoduce nina: Anjo Bagaoisan, Alexis Corpuz, at Nerissa Pedreso