WATCH: Black Nazarene leaves Quirino Grandstand
MANILA, Philippines— After almost 24 hours of the traditional practice of kissing the image of the Black Nazarene, or the pahalik, the religious image was carried out by “andas” out of the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, early Wednesday.
Devotees began carrying the Black Nazarene to begin the traslacion or the procession at around 5:03 a.m.
At 4 a.m., the Philippine National Police said there were approximately 260,000 people to join the vigil or the pahalik.
Director Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Office chief, said the crowd estimate peaked at 800,000 early Wednesday but participants of the procession are estimated at 500,000.
Eleazar said some of the devotees were left behind at the Quirino Grandstand.
Authorities said around 53,000 people were able to do the pahalik before the procession.
More than five million devotees of the Black Nazarene of the Nuestro Padreo Jesus Nazareno are expected to join the annual religious procession.
Watch how the Traslacion 2019 began:
—Rosette Adel
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