Nazarene replicas on parade today

MANILA, Philippines — Devotees of the Black Nazarene are expected to flock to Quiapo Church today for the procession of the replicas of the popular image in the Catholic faith.

The parade aims to help declog the crowd during the traslacion for the feast of the Black Nazarene on Wednesday, according to church officials.

During the procession, images of the Black Nazarene will be blessed by priests and displayed for public veneration.

Fr. Danichi Hui, parochial vicar of Quiapo Church, said the procession managed to reduced by 90 percent the participation of replica images during the actual procession in the past years.

“Having them (during the actual procession) would add up to the cramped situation and cause more confusion among the people,” Hui said.

He said some devotees opt to bring their replicas of the Nazarene during the traslacion, which have dropped to 10 percent as compared to previous years.

Hui said organizers have put in place contingency measures in case of emergencies.

The priest said devotees may bring the replicas to the 14 prayer stations scattered along the routes of the traslacion.

“Those who will insist on bringing the replicas during the traslacion, we encourage them instead to go to the prayer stations where there is a stage to showcase the images,” Hui said.

Around five million devotees are expected to join the traslacion from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.  

Don’t bring kids, sick devotees – NCRPO

Police urged pregnant women, children and sick devotees of the Black Nazarene not to join the traslacion to avoid harm.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo Eleazar said they are ready to secure the 6.1-kilometer route of the traslacion after the 5 a.m. mass on Wednesday.

“We are appealing to the devotees not to bring children and their sick relatives because it is a religious event and not a park where they could enjoy sightseeing,” Eleazar said.

He said pregnant women and children maybe injured due to pushing and shoving among the participants.

In the past traslacions, the NCRPO noted that majority of those who were hurt were children, pregnant women and sick devotees.

At least 7,200 policemen would be deployed to secure the traslacion. Around 2,000 members of of the military will be on standby to respond to emergencies.

“We are not only securing the traslacion as our intelligence agents will also be on the lookout for criminals out to take advantage of the situation,” Eleazar said.

Vendors, liquor banned

Police asked devotees not to bring gadgets nor wear expensive jewelry so they would not be targets of criminals.

Devotees were also advised not to wear hats or other objects that cover their faces, for easy identification if something untoward happens.

Eleazar said vendors would be banned at the Quirino Grandstand, along the route of the traslacion and at the vicinity of the Quiapo Church.

The city government of Manila declared a liquor ban starting tomorrow.

According to Eleazar, firecrackers and fireworks are also prohibited as these might cause panic and trigger stampede among the devotees during the traslacion.

“We expect the devotees to follow our appeals for their own safety,” he said.

Hospitals alerted

Government hospitals in Manila and nearby areas have been placed on alert for emergency cases during the procession of the Black Nazarene.

“Medical teams from different hospitals accredited by the Department of Health would be on standy,” Patrick Co, head of the DOH National Capital Region Epidemiology and Health Emergency Cluster, said.

“The Manila district hospitals will be the first receiving unit,” Co added.

He said only emergency cases needing tertiary care should be brought to DOH hospitals as agreed upon with the Manila health department.     

Co said the DOH would deploying 14 medical teams along the procession route to augment those from the Manila city government.

“If there is anyone in need of medical attention, our responders will be ready to provide onsite treatment,” he said.

In the past years, devotees suffered dizziness, lacerations, abrasions, high blood pressure and sprain as well as fainting, fractures and seizures during the procession. – With Non Alquitran, Mayen Jaymalin