Devotees hold candles at the Feast of Jesus Nazareno festival in the Philippines

Footage shows thousands of Filipino Catholics with electronic LED candle lights gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on January 9.

They sang worship songs in the dimly sheltered grandstand where the procession of the 400-year-old religious image started.

The Feast of Jesus Nazareno, or the Black Nazarene, commemorates the transfer of the life-sized statue to its current home at Quiapo Church in Manila.

The centuries-old image carrying a cross believed to be miraculous was originally brought to the Philippines by Augustinian missionaries from Mexico in 1606. Its dark colour is attributed to the statue surviving a fire.

Catholicism was introduced to the Philippines by Spanish missionaries in the 16th century, quickly becoming the country's dominant religion.

Over the centuries, Catholicism has become deeply ingrained in Filipino culture and society. Today, many Filipinos identify as Catholic not only because of their religious beliefs but also because of their cultural heritage.