Church sees millions joining Nazarene rites

MANILA, Philippines – Church officials are expecting a crowd of up to 18 million devotees to attend the annual feast, celebration and procession of the Black Nazarene this year.

Fr. Douglas Badong, the parochial vicar of the Quiapo Church, yesterday said the estimated millions of devotees would not only cover the Jan. 9 “Traslacion” (procession) on the feast day of the Black Nazarene but also include those attending the nine-day novena from Dec. 31, 2016 until Jan. 10.

Last year, the number of devotees that took part in the celebration reached 15 million, Badong said.

For this year, marking the 411th Feast of the Black Nazarene, Badong said they expect to either equal or surpass that number.

The theme for this year’s feast is “Pagibig ang Bukod na Ganap na Pagkakaisa,” which signifies the love and unity of Black Nazarene devotees.

Monsignor Hernando Coronel, Quiapo Church rector and parish priest, said they would utilize Facebook and social media to stream the procession live.

“We have noticed that we at Quiapo Church are also popular in social media and this is because of the Black Nazarene. In our Facebook live streaming, so many people are placing their comments. For those who are based abroad, it could be because they feel there they have a sense of belongingness in the Philippines and (connect with) the many miracles that the Black Nazareno has done for them,” Coronel said.

“We will try to cover it via FB live. We have many imperfections and things that we still need to do but we will try because there are many Filipinos who want to be part of the feast,” he added.

Security preparations

Authorities said at least 5,000 policemen would be deployed on Jan. 9 during the Traslacion.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Oscar Albayalde said all the stakeholders of the event, including the Manila Police District and local officials, have been meeting for the security of the Black Nazarene procession since October last year.

He said the security plan would be implemented on Jan. 8, a day before the procession.

Albayalde agreed they expect more than a million devotees to show up and attend the procession from Quiapo Church to the Quirino Grandstand and vice versa.

“Every year the number of devotees showing up for the event increases, so we expect more than a million and we are fully prepared to secure them,” he said.

Albayalde appealed to devotees not to bring along expensive items or wear jewelry during the event. Parents are also advised not to bring along their minor children.

Albayalde said backpacks would be banned during the event, along with the lighting of firecrackers.

“We are advising the devotees to be alert at all times as some group might take advantage of the situation and sow panic by lighting firecrackers and the like,” he said.

On Jan. 8, on the eve of the procession, the NCRPO would establish its command post at Quirino Grandstand.

Albayalde named MPD director Senior Supt. Jigs Coronel as the overall commander of the policemen and force multipliers deployed during the procession.

The force multipliers are barangay officials, paramedics, firefighters, traffic aides, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and members of communication groups.

Senior Supt. Bartolome Bustamante of the MPD said they have not monitored any threat to the procession.

“But we are not leaving the safety of the public to chance,” he said.

Bustamante said they are closely monitoring the procession route and have laid out a contingency plan for any eventuality.

Mayor Joseph Estrada said he might declare Jan. 9 as a holiday.

Flordeliza Villaseñor, Tourism Division chief of the City of Manila, said foreign media groups would cover the event.

Since 2013, the annual Traslacion of the image of the Black Nazarene was changed to the Manila International Pilgrimage of the Black Nazarene since foreigners and pilgrims also participate in the event.

The city government of Manila has declared the event as International Day of Pilgrimage.

“There are many international guests participating. It is not only the devotees who go (to the procession) but also the tourists, pilgrims and students who are curious about the tradition and would want to experience it,” Villaseñor said.

According to Villaseñor, hotels in Manila are often fully booked weeks before the event.

“During this time it is very hard to book a room in a hotel based in Manila. There are even instances when some people, just before they check out from their hotel, would already make reservations for the following year,” she said.

Every Jan. 9, the 400-year-old image of the Black Nazarene is paraded in the streets of Manila. Devotees who widely believe the image would grant their wish would scramble for the ropes of the andas (cart) where the Black Nazarene is carried during the procession.

The procession reenacts the Traslacion or the transfer of the image from its original location in Rizal Park to Quiapo Church.

The event draws millions of devotees, all trying to touch the ropes pulling the andas or simply get a blessing from the Black Nazarene.

The procession usually lasts from 14 to 20 hours. – With Non Alquitran, Rey Galupo, Jose Rodel Clapano