Nazareno fever

2.8 million join traslacion after 3-year hiatus

MANILA, Philippines — An estimated 2.8 million Catholic faithful attended the traslacion or the procession of the Black Nazarene yesterday in Manila, where the feverish march displaying religious devotion resumed after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Black Nazarene devotees gathered at the Quirino Grandstand to hear the midnight mass or Misa Mayor for the Feast of the Black Nazarene, celebrated by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula.

Before 4:45 a.m. yesterday, members of the Hijos del Nazareno removed the massive yellow cloth that covered the andas or carriage of the revered image, now enclosed in glass and surrounded by around 20 HDN members to prevent devotees from climbing onto the image.

The carriage started its journey back to Quiapo Church immediately after the mass. The crowd, mostly wearing maroon and yellow shirts, quickly swarmed around it as it exited the grandstand, waving and throwing their towels and handkerchiefs and shouting “Viva!”

Meanwhile, another statue of the Black Nazarene was left in the stage of the Quirino Grandstand for the “pahalik” or the public veneration, where people lined up to get a chance for up-close touching and wiping of handkerchiefs.

At 5 a.m., the Quiapo Church Command Post estimated the crowd size at the Quirino Grandstand to be at 1,340,000.

By 5:20 a.m., the andas reached the intersection of Roxas Boulevard and Padre Burgos Avenue in Manila. Rainshowers did not dampen the determination of the believers to get close to the carriage.

Many Filipinos believe the Black Nazarene possesses miraculous healing powers and that touching it, or the ropes attached to its carriage, can heal previously incurable ailments and bring good fortune to them and their loved ones.

“I believe that the Nazarene will give what we are all praying for – we just have to wait, but he will give everything,” Renelinda de Leon, 64, said at the start of the procession. “He gave me good health. I don’t have an illness, I’m always healthy.”

Devotee Tonton Ruiz said he was happy the parade had resumed, but hoped it would be “more peaceful” than in the past.

This year, the Black Nazarene has been enclosed in a glass case and devotees were banned from getting on the carriage – though some ignored the reminder in a desperate attempt to wipe a towel on the glass as they hope to receive a miracle.

Due to force of the devotees pulling it, one of two ropes pulling the andas broke as it turned to Arlegui Street and Quezon Boulevard. A part of the rope was brought back to Quiapo Church by devotees at around 1 p.m.

The Quiapo Church later clarified that two pieces of rope were still being used for the procession. “Only the left portion of the rope became shorter after it broke,” it said in a message.

Two images

Unlike in previous Traslacion where the Black Nazarene used in the “pahalik” is the same one used for the procession, this year Quiapo Church officials prepared two wooden images at the Quirino Grandstand.

A replica called “Callejero Dos” was used at the start of the “pahalik” that ran from the evening of Jan. 6 until the start of the Traslacion.

For the actual procession, the image called “Vicario” – which had the original 400-year-old wooden body including the feet – was used going back to Quiapo Church.

Newly-installed rector of the Quiapo Church Fr. Rufino Sescon Jr. clarified they would not always have two images for the procession and the “pahalik.” They only wanted to restore the original way of expressing devotion to the Black Nazarene.

Peaceful

The Traslacion or the procession of the Black Nazarene in Manila attended by 2.8 million people was relatively peaceful, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday, despite injuries to hundreds of devotees.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the Traslacion was orderly except for the usual cases of devotees getting injured and suffering other medical issues.

Data from the PNP showed 233 people were injured and suffered illnesses during the Traslacion.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), meanwhile, had a higher tally of 606 people who needed medical assistance. At least 182 of them were minor cases, six were major cases and 28 devotees were brought to hospitals for further medical treatment.

As of 2:30 pm, around 320 people were treated onsite along the route of the Traslacion for “minor injuries,” according to Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Arnel Angeles.

Meanwhile, 12 more people had to be sent to nearby hospitals and the field hospital installed at the Kartilya ng Katipunan Shrine near Manila city hall.

The said figure included a woman who was found with no pulse and breathing at the area of Bilibid Viejo, but recovered after treatment, he noted.

Meanwhile, emergency response teams of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recorded 95 “medical cases,” with 11 identified as “trauma cases” or those involving physical injury. — Mark Ernest Villeza, Evelyn Macairan