In a powerful fusion of faith and political outcry, millions of barefoot Filipino Catholics transformed one of Asia's largest religious spectacles into a mass demonstration against government corruption on Friday, 9 January 2026.
A Sea of Devotion and Discontent
The annual procession of the centuries-old Jesus the Nazarene statue through Manila's congested streets drew an immense crowd. After a midnight mass attended by tens of thousands at Rizal Park, the life-size wooden icon was placed on a carriage at dawn. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno predicted millions would participate throughout the day and night.
The event, a security challenge of monumental scale, saw 15,000 police officers deployed, backed by intelligence agents. Authorities imposed bans on guns, liquor, drones, and backpacks, while jamming mobile signals along the 6-kilometre route near the presidential palace. Hundreds of thousands of devotees, many in maroon shirts, jostled to touch the statue or throw towels for volunteers to wipe it, believing in its power to grant health and prosperity.
Chants for Justice Amidst a Deepening Scandal
This year's fervent devotion was underscored by growing public fury. The procession coincided with a major corruption scandal implicating dozens of legislators from the House and Senate. They are accused of receiving huge kickbacks for thousands of substandard or non-existent flood control projects in a nation prone to deadly flash floods.
As they marched, large numbers of worshippers chanted "jail them now, jail them now". This reflected widespread frustration over President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s unfulfilled vow to have accused lawmakers imprisoned by last Christmas. Several engineers and company executives are already detained and facing trial.
Church and Faithful Demand Accountability
The scandal, alleged to have started under former President Rodrigo Duterte, has exposed the lavish lifestyles of officials, sparking street protests often led by the Catholic Church. In his homily, Bishop Rufino Sescon delivered a stinging rebuke, calling on implicated officials to resign.
"Enough is enough. Have mercy on the people. Have some shame. Step down voluntarily in the name of mercy and love," Sescon declared from the Rizal Park grandstand.
Devotees echoed this sentiment. Venus Lopez, 62, carrying a replica statue, told the Associated Press: "I hope those corrupt government officials will go away. They don't deserve to be seated in power." She pledged to pray for the Nazarene to banish corrupt officials.
The statue itself, brought from Mexico in 1606, is revered for surviving a ship fire, earthquakes, and WWII bombings, with many attributing its endurance to mystical powers. The event highlights the unique, folk-infused Catholicism of Asia's largest Catholic nation, where faith and social justice are profoundly intertwined.
