MANILA, Philippines — The image of the Black Nazarene was returned to the minor basilica known as Quiapo Church, around 3:45 a.m. on Tuesday after a 22-hour procession around Manila.
The procession known locally as "traslacion" of the image pulled on a carriage left the Quirino Grandstand at 5:20 a.m. on Monday (January 9), the start of the annual crowded Roman Catholic celebration.
"Black Nazarene is finally home. The procession started at 5:20 a.m. of January 9 and ended at 3:43 a.m. of January 10, running time is 22 hours and 19 minutes," the Quiapo Church reported on Facebook.
The route for the traslacion involved 25 streets, mostly in the vicinity of the basilica located along Quezon Boulevard in the capital city of Manila.
Prelude to the annual grand procession was a midnight Mass presided by Quiapo Church Rector Hernando Coronel.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle was delivered the homily of the eucharistic celebration, attended by thousands of Black Nazarene devotees.
Coronel also headed the morning prayer at 5 a.m. on Monday before the image was hoisted to the "andas" or carriage which signifies the start of the long procession.
Organizers of the event earlier estimated that attendees of the activities connected to the religious event to be between 15 million and 18 million. The National Capital Regional Police Office, meamwhile, estimated the crowd at 2.5 million.
Last year, some 15 million people attended the annual celebration.
Last year's Black Nazarene procession lasted 20 hours.
The NCRPO said the traslacion of the Black Nazarene was generally peaceful, noting no major untoward incident. There were cases, however, of injuries, missing children and devotees who fainted. — PNA/Ferdinand Patinio with a report from Philstar.com/Rosette Adel
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