An estimated 4,800 devotees had gathered at the Quirino Grandstand for the traditional “Pahalik” to the Poong Hesus Nazareno as of 7 a.m. on January 8, according to the Manila Police District (MPD).

The crowd grew from around 4,000 devotees recorded at about 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, MPD said, as pilgrims continued to arrive overnight to take part in the veneration ahead of the annual Traslación rites.

Ushers from the Hijos del Nazareno Anpon clarified that no priority system was being implemented during the Pahalik. They said the first participants were volunteers who were allowed to venerate the image at around 5 p.m. following preparations.

Devotees from the general public were permitted to begin the Pahalik at 7 p.m., after the 6 p.m. Mass for volunteers concluded.

Meanwhile, authorities further implemented traffic advisories in connection with the Nazareno 2026 activities. Road closures took effect starting 7 p.m. on Wednesday, including Katigbak Drive and South Drive, with one lane remaining accessible to the Manila Hotel and H2O Hotel using plastic barriers, as well as a stretch of Independence Road.

Crowd monitoring and traffic management are continuing in the area to ensure safety and order as the number of devotees is expected to increase in the coming hours.