An estimated 216,000 devotees participated in the religious activities on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, according to Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Lower Turnout Attributed to Weather Concerns
Of the total participants, about 152,000 joined the Walk with Mary procession, while around 64,000 gathered at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. This figure represents a noticeable decrease from the previous year, which saw an estimated 300,000 attendees.
Cebu City Police Office Deputy City Director for Administration Col. Franco Rudolf Oriol suggested that forecasted unfavorable weather played a significant role. Many devotees may have anticipated rain and waited for better conditions, he explained. Oriol also noted that a large portion of participants are senior citizens, who tend to be more cautious during bad weather.
The official dismissed suggestions that rescheduling the Walk with Mary from the traditional ninth day of the novenario to the eighth day significantly affected attendance. He emphasized that the change had been widely publicized and the events remained peaceful and incident-free.
Procession and Traslacion Routes
The Walk with Mary began in the early hours, at around 2:30 a.m. The image of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe was carried from the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Fuente Osmeña Circle and Osmeña Blvd.
The Traslacion followed, commencing at 7 a.m. The images of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu and Santo Niño proceeded along a seven-kilometer route from Cebu City to Mandaue City. The path traveled via Osmeña Blvd., MJ Cuenco Ave., Lopez Jaena St., and S.B. Cabahug St., culminating at the National Shrine of St. Joseph, where the images stayed overnight.
Peaceful Event with Heightened Security
Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Director Col. Cirilo Acosta Jr. reported a peaceful and orderly first day of the Traslacion, with no incidents recorded.
To ensure safety, police personnel were deployed across the venue and along the procession routes, with particular focus on the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City. Operations are conducted on a 24-hour basis in two shifts as activities continue through the overnight vigil, locally known as Pahaluna.
The religious activities will continue until the second Traslacion on Friday, Jan. 16. On that day, the image of Santo Niño will be transported from the National Shrine of St. Joseph to the Virgen de la Regla National Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City. Acosta assured that the same level of security will be maintained for Friday's events.
