MANILA -- Ex-thug and reformed marijuana user Jayson Regacho will join millions of devotees for the annual Black Nazarene procession in the Philippine capital on Thursday, hoping to extend his 5-year-long sober streak.

The "Traslacion," which transports a replica of Jesus Christ's 400-year-old ebony statue to Quiapo Church, is one of the world's most fervent displays of Catholicism, where the faithful like Regacho pray for miracles like relief from terminal illness, a job overseas, or the resolve to turn their backs on criminal ways.

The 26-year-old Regacho, who now works as a part-time electrician, said he had not touched weed or got involved in a fist fight since starting his devotion in 2014.

"Noong andito na po ako, nagbago na po ako," Regacho told ABS-CBN News a few days before the procession, in between errands at the Quiapo Church.

(Ever since I got here, I am a changed man.)

"Nagpapasalamat ako sa Kanya na nasa mabuting kamay ako, hindi naligaw ang landas ko," said Regacho, who counts himself as an "hijo" which literally translates to "son" of the Black Nazarene.

(I thank the Lord for keeping me safe, otherwise, I would have been led astray.)

Aside from straightening his life, Regacho credited his devotion for helping him find a girlfriend with the same fervent faith and a stop to his parents' constant bickering.

Romy Roxas, vice president of the hijos group, said his devotion helped him recover from a motorcycle accident during his teens where he broke his arm and 8 ribs.

Roxas said the Nazarene also guided him to reunite with his wife who worked abroad for 15 years and helped his daughter get pregnant this month after fertility struggles.

SUFFERING CHRIST

The Philippines, with its 100 million people, is the bastion of Roman Catholicism in Asia, with 8 in 10 people subscribing to the faith. The religion was brought by Spanish colonizers in the 1500s.

First brought to Manila by Augustinian priests from Mexico in 1607, the Nazarene statue is believed to have acquired its color after it was partially burnt when the galleon carrying it caught fire.

During the Traslacion, which starts before sunrise and often lasts for 24 hours, devotees wave white handkerchiefs and shout "viva!" (long live), with some scrambling to touch the image. Injuries are often reported and organizers hope this year's procession will be shorter.

Filipino Catholics draw strength from the statue because it shows that even Christ can stumble and struggle to get up, Quiapo Church vicar Fr. Douglas Badong told ABS-CBN News.

“Ang nakikita naman talaga nila ay Diyos sa imahen ng Nazareno. Dahil sa pananampalataya kaya sila nakatanggap ng himala na tinatawag nila,” he added.

(Devotees see God in the Nazarene’s image. It is because of their faith that they experience their so-called miracles.)

The "Traslacion" is often criticized as bordering on idolatry.

“Sana po huwag husgahan,” Badong said. “Para maintindihan, obserbahan lang. Kung hindi mo talaga feel ang ganitong pamamaraan, may ibang pamamaraan ng pagpapahayag ng pananampalataya.”

(Please don’t judge. To understand it, just observe. If you do not feel for this, there are other ways of expressing faith.)

SEEKING MIRACLES

Christian Faith Carpitanos, 35, lined up Monday to touch a replica of the Black Nazarene at Quiapo Church, praying that she be allowed to work as a domestic helper in Kuwait. The government reimposed a deployment ban to the Middle East state due to violence against Filipino expatriates.

Beside her is janitor Victor Bilan who said he would join Thursday’s Traslacion for the first time in the hopes that the Nazarene would heal his 11-year-old daughter, who fell into a coma due to diabetes complications a week before Christmas.

"Wala na akong kinakapitan kundi Nazareno. Minsan iyak ako nang iyak… Pray lang kay God," he said, wiping tears as he held onto an envelope of documents for his daughter’s health insurance.

(I have nothing else to hold onto but the Nazarene. Sometimes, I just cry and cry. I just pray to God.)

Hijos member Modesto Flores Jr. said the Black Nazarene healed his 26-year-old daughter from a brain aneurysm in April, just weeks before a fire razed half of their house.

“Tuloy-tuloy lang ang tawag sa Kanya, huwag kang bibitaw kahit anong mangyari. May dahilan e, hindi ibibigay sa ‘yo nang hindi mo kaya,” a weeping Flores, 66, advised his fellow faithful.

(Just call on Him continuously, don’t let go no matter what happens. There is a reason, you would not have been given that problem if you cannot surpass it.)