President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday joined the Filipino Catholic faithful in commemorating the Feast of the Black Nazarene, calling on the public to allow the devotion to shape daily choices toward compassion, honesty, and service beyond the annual procession.

In a message posted on his official Facebook page, Marcos said the Traslacion each year reflects a faith that “walks barefoot on hot pavement,” endures crowded streets, and carries the daily worries of Filipinos striving for a more secure future.

“The image of the Lord stumbling under the weight of the cross speaks to a people who know how it is to be tired, yet still choose to rise and move forward together,” the President said, noting how the devotion reveals stories of sacrifice, perseverance, community spirit, and solidarity that help families and communities protect their dignity.

Marcos also linked the observance to governance, saying that listening to the hopes and prayers of devotees highlights the gap between the burdens people carry and the support they receive, and points to where “wiser governance and more responsive services” are needed.

As this year’s feast is marked, the President encouraged Filipinos not only to seek physical contact with the image of the Nazareno but to let the devotion guide how they think and act long after the procession ends.

“If we can go through great lengths for a moment of contact with the image, we can also persevere in the daily work of choosing honesty over falsehood, service over self-interest, and compassion over indifference,” he said.

Marcos expressed hope that the celebration would deepen a shared commitment to carry one another’s burdens, share opportunities more fairly, and keep hope alive in everyday choices toward building a more humane and faithful “Bagong Pilipinas.”

He concluded by wishing the public a safe, solemn, and meaningful observance of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.