President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday emphasized the need for a more effective and responsive governance, as he reflected on the stories and prayers of Jesus Nazareno devotees.
In his message for the Feast of the Black Nazarene, Marcos drew inspiration from the deep expressions of sacrifice, perseverance, and solidarity embodied in the annual devotion.
Marcos said such Filipino values “keep many families standing and communities moving to protect their dignity and secure their future.”
“Every year, the procession of the Nazareno reminds us that Filipino faith walks barefoot on hot pavement, squeezes through crowded streets, and bears upon its shoulders the daily worries of our countrymen striving for a more certain tomorrow,” he said.
“By listening to their hopes, aspirations, and prayers, we come to see the gap between the burdens people carry and the support they receive, and recognize where wiser governance and more responsive services can help bridge that distance,” he added.
Marcos called on Filipinos to carry the values of compassion, service, and shared responsibility beyond the procession and into everyday life.
“As we mark this year’s Feast, I invite everyone not only to reach for the Nazareno’s image, but to let this devotion guide the way we think, act, and help one another long after the procession has passed,” he said.
He hoped the occasion would reinforce unity and promote fairer access to opportunities.
“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,” Marcos said.
“May this celebration deepen our shared vow to carry one another’s burdens, share opportunity more fairly, and keep hope alive in the everyday choices that we make to build a more humane and faithful Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines).”
Marcos declared Jan. 9, 2026 a special non-working day in the City of Manila to ensure the orderly observance of the Feast of Jesus Nazarene as millions of devotees are expected to flock to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo. | PNA
