5 million devotees seen to join Black Nazarene traslacion

MANILA, Philippines — At least five million devotees may join the traslacion, the procession featuring the image of the Black Nazarene, on Jan. 9, Quiapo Church officials said yesterday.

The church’s parochial vicar, Fr. Danichi Hui, said they expect more than 21 million to take part in the 10-day celebration of the feast of the Black Nazarene, which started on Dec. 31 and will end on Jan. 9, the Black Nazarene’s actual feast day. 

“As of last year, we had 21 million from the start of the celebration up to the end. This data came from the government,” Hui said, adding that he is confident that the number of devotees would exceed that of the previous year.

It was reported that last year, a former jail guard died while 450 people received medical attention during the 22-hour procession, when the image of the Black Nazarene, set on an andas or carriage, was pulled by devoteees from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church, also called the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

To curb the number of injuries during the procession, church officials are asking devotees not to bring any sharp objects such as ballpens.

Devotees with hypertension or heart ailments should not join the traslacion, church officials said. They could offer prayers at any of the 14 prayer stations that would be set up in the vicinity of the church, officials said.

Drones banned

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said yesterday drones will be banned during the traslacion.

He said those planning to use drones should first get clearance from the Civial Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the committee supervising the procession.

The use of drones has been disallowed on previous Black Nazarene processions as it could be used as a tool by terrorist groups.

Director Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Office chief, said around 7,100 police officers will secure the procession.

At least 1,902 police officers would be deployed at the Quirino Grandstand, 3,129 along the route of the traslacion and 2,128 at the church.

Eleazar said he would meet today with Manila Archbishop Luis Cardinal Tagle, senior church officials and other stakeholders to apprise them of the security preparations for the procession.

He said they are still studying if cell phone signals will be jammed in areas along the procession’s route.

Trash talk

Environment watchdog EcoWaste Coalition yesterday appealed to devotees as well as church and government officials concerned to make the traslacion trash-free.

Citing date from the Manila city government, the group said 385 tons of mixed garbage were collected from Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park during the pahalik and procession in 2018. This figure is 11 percent higher than the 341 tons of garbage collected during the 2017 traslacion.

EcoWaste also asked politicians, political parties and party-list groups to refrain from putting up tarpaulin banners along the processional route and distributing campaign leaflets to devotees. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Non Alquitran, Rhodina Villanueva, Rey Galupo