QUIAPO, Manila — The yearly procession of the Señor Nazareno took 20 hours and 25 minutes with more than eight million devotees joining the celebration and the 'andas', or carriage bearing the image of centuries-old life-sized, dark-colored statue of Jesus Christ, tilting as it passed through Bilibid Viejo Street and once again at the vicinity of Arlegui Street.

Despite the hardships, as many devotees tried to reach the carriage to touch the statue of Christ carrying the cross and believed to work miracles of healing and prosperity, the Hijos del Nazareno, led by it's oldest member Eugenio Jongco, painstakingly marshalled the crowds to ensure the safety of the Holy Image during the whole duration of the procession.

Jongco, who is known more as 'Lolo Boy', claimed that while their task of serving as 'hijos' of the Nazarene is difficult, the devotion has given them stronger faith to be Christians amidst the evils of the world.
Now the oldest member of the Hijos Del Nazareno at 78 years old, Jongco was only 15-years-old when he first served as a volunteer in the Quiapo District's annual religious feast held every January 9.

“Panata ko na hanggang kaya ng katawan ko, magsisilbi ako,” he enthused while sharing that he was then the lone hijo accompanying the image of the Señor Nazareno on its special carriage when he volunteered to serve more than six decades ago.

The brotherhood of the Hijos del Nazareno-Central was established in 1939 and its primary duty and responsibility is to ensure the safety of the image of Christ (formerly known as the Black Nazarene) before, during and after the procession.

After 63 years of devotion, Lolo Boy is still part of the traditional traslacion, which starts from the Quirino Granstand in Rizal Park and ends at the Minor Basilica of Jesus the Nazarene and National Shrine of Saint John the Baptist (Quiapo Church), but he is no longer within the sea of devotees as he now
serves in the frontline by guiding the sacristans, organizing the flocks of devotees, and calling out rowdy individuals during the procession.

“Ang debosyon ng tao ngayon parang may katuwaan. Tulad ngayon, nagpu-prosesyon pero parang nagsisigawan,” he commented when asked on his observations in the recent Traslacions.

Lolo Boy's grandson, CJ, has followed his footsteps as a Hijos del Nazareno and has been helping him every year.

“Proud po ako sa lolo dahil kinikilala po siya sa Poong Hesus Nazareno . . . Gusto ko pong maging katulad ng lolo ko,” the young boy stressed.

And decades of volunteering in the annual feast has given Lolo Boy the chance witness miracles in his life and those of his fellow devotees and volunteers as well as other Christians.

“Hindii ba milagro na rin yung matutulog ka ng gabi, kinabukasan nakakasiguro ka bang didilat pa yung mga mata mo?” he pointed out when asked about the miracles he has experienced.

In ending, Lolo Boy clarified that the traslacion and devotion to the image of Quiapo's Nazarene is not idol worship, as some critics claim.

“Hindi sinasamba ang rebulto pero iyong rebultong, iyan (ang) nagpapakilala (na) minsan nandito sa lupa (ang Panginoong Hesus), kasama ng tao,” the Señor Nazareno's oldest devotee concluded.