MANILA, Philippines — A veteran photojournalist died early Friday while covering the annual Traslacion of the Black Nazarene, authorities confirmed, prompting renewed calls for health and safety vigilance among media workers and devotees alike.
Itoh Son, a 55-year-old photographer for the tabloid Saksi, collapsed in the early hours of Jan. 9 near Manila Police District Station 5 while documenting the massive religious event, the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and police said.
Emergency responders found Son unconscious and without a pulse, and his heartbeat was briefly restored en route to Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center. Despite efforts to save him, he was declared dead on arrival, officials said.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) later said Son appeared to have suffered a heart attack. Colleagues noted he had been experiencing flu-like symptoms in the days before the Traslacion but continued covering events, including the traditional “Pahalik” veneration rites.
Son’s relatives confirmed his passing and said a viewing and visitation will be held at Sto. Domingo Church beginning Saturday, Jan. 10, with burial arrangements still pending.
In a statement, the task force honored Son’s dedication, calling his commitment to reporting “important events to the public” an inspiration to fellow journalists, while also urging media workers to prioritize personal health during intense assignments.
The annual Traslacion — the grand procession of the Black Nazarene statue from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church — draws hundreds of thousands of devotees and stretches well into the day, often amplifying risks of heat, exhaustion, and crowd-related medical issues.
Emergency teams also treated dozens of devotees for conditions such as dehydration and dizziness along the Traslacion route as thousands participated in the solemn religious observance.
The incident marks a somber moment for the Philippine media community, highlighting the physical demands placed on journalists covering high-intensity events amid extreme conditions of crowding and heat.
