FOR THE LONGEST time, Filipinos have managed to bounce back from all forms of adversities. More than resiliency, the Philippines is also known for immense religious gatherings, which draws millions annually.
Not far from the capital city is a center of Catholic devotion — the Antipolo Cathedral, now referred to as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.
Unlike any other religious shrines, the Antipolo Cathedral takes the center stage three times a year — the feast day of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, the month-long May festivity for which Antipolo is known for, and the traditional Alay-Lakad which takes place every Maundy Thursday of the so-called “Holy Week.”
The Alay Lakad to the Antipolo Cathedral is a massive annual penitential pilgrimage which starts on the evening of Maundy Thursday. Catholic faithfuls walk their way to church enroute the rolling hills.
RECORD TURNOUT
The highest attendance for the Antipolo Alay Lakad was recorded in 2024 with approximately 7.4 million pilgrims in attendance.
This massive turnout, deemed significantly higher than previous years, compelled the Diocese of Antipolo in 2025 to seek a Guinness World Record for the “Largest Gathering for a Walking Spiritual Pilgrimage in 12 Hours.”
However, the quest was only able to yield an estimated 5.1 million devotees. The decline from the previous year was attributed to extreme heat.
PREVIOUS YEARS
Data collated by The PH Insider showed a declining number of Catholic faithfuls joining the annual Antipolo pilgrimage after posting a record-high of 7.4 million pilgrims in 2024
In 2023, about 6 million participants joined as the tradition resumed after being suspended for two years due to the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, attendance was estimated at 4.2 million.
Interestingly, the number of devotees joining the pilgrimage seems to be increasing every time the country is facing difficulties.
5.6M AND RISING
As of 3:00 early morning of April 3, 2026, the Antipolo Cathedral estimated some 5.6 million pilgrims had reached the shrine. The initial figure surpassed the 5.1 million attendance that was recorded last year.
Traditionally, the journey starts from Quiapo Church in Manila City to symbolize the historical return of the Virgin’s image to Antipolo in 1954. In recent years though, the EDSA Shrine located at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue, has become the starting point
Upon arrival, pilgrims offer prayers, attend mass, and some sleep on the cathedral steps or grounds as part of their devotion.
SEA OF HUMANITY
Citing data from the Rizal Provincial Police Office, this year’s Alay-Lakad saw droves of devotees coming from all directions. Pilgrims perform the walk as an act of penance, sacrifice, and thanksgiving.
The crowd, it added, is “so thick” that not even a bike would be able to pass through what looks more like a “sea of humanity.”
Taking cue from the Guinness list of world records under the “pilgrimage category,” there are only three countries dominating the category – Iran, Iraq and India.
The Philippines appeared under the category of the most number of attendees in religious holidays – the 2025 Feast of the Black Nazarene which logged 8.1 million participants and the Sto. Nino de Cebu which recorded 3.1 million in attendance in January 2014.
BUSY HOLY WEEK
The phenomenal Alay Lakad is just part of the Holy Week religious activities which kicks off on Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday.
Other Holy Week activities include processions, reading of the passion (pabasa), passion play (cenakulo), church visitation (Visita Iglesia), crucifixion rites, lenten retreats, reunion of the mother and son (salubong), easter vigil and Sunday mass coinciding with the Christ rising from the dead.
Devotees (mostly young Catholics) come to the pilgrimage capital of the Philippines as a gesture of gratitude for the blessings they have been receiving, for intercession – and for some, a tradition that was passed from one generation to another.
CALL FOR PENANCE
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) finds it more prudent to give a premium on penance and faith while preserving the tradition.
The CBCP doesn’t support syncretization with elements of ritual practices not sanctioned by the universal Church, superstitions associated with the occasion and the wrong notion that Holy Week is the best time to go to tourist destinations for a long vacation.
More than devotion, Alay Lakad is something that an Antipolo village chief considers as an ideal time to show some compassion.
“Taga rito na kami sa Antipolo kaya wala na yung elemento ng sakripisyo sa paraan ng paglalakad ng malayo. Pero maraming paraan para maging bahagi ng Alay-Lakad,” says Chairman Jeff Naval Fernan of Barangay Dela Paz, where the long Alay-Lakad trek ends.
He also reminded people in attendance the purpose behind Alay-Lakad – “taimtim na pagninilay sa sagradong paglalakbay.”
Wow. There’s hope for our country