Millions seen to join Black Nazarene feast

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Police District (MPD) is expecting millions of Catholic devotees to participate in the Feast of the Black Nazarene gatherings despite the absence of the venerated image in this year’s procession.

In an interview on GMA News yesterday, MPD director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon said 5,000 police officers would be deployed to secure the procession of devotees from the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park to Quiapo Church early morning of Jan. 8, or a day before the Nazarene feast.

Dizon earlier said they expect five million devotees to participate in the religious gathering.

He clarified to The STAR yesterday that the number covers the whole duration of the Nazarene festivities from Dec. 31 to Jan. 9.

At least one million devotees, however, are seen to join the “Walk of Faith” alone on Jan. 8, Dizon said.

There will be a send-off of the deployed police personnel this afternoon at the Quirino Grandstand.

There is no security threat to the feast, which was canceled in the past two years due to the pandemic.

Kissing the Black Nazarene image will not be allowed, to comply with COVID protocols.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said she expects the procession to be more orderly and solemn.

She asked devotees to focus on prayers and songs instead of swarming around the venerated image.

DOH: Follow COVID protocols

The Department of Health (DOH) reminded Nazarene devotees to strictly follow COVID protocols to prevent the festivity from becoming a superspreader event.

Instead of the traditional Traslacion or the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene, this year’s feast will be marked with a “Walk of Faith.”

DOH National Capital Region director Gloria Balboa said the Black Nazarene feast committee has put in place the necessary health protocols.

“It is a matter of implementing the measures. Malaki ang role ng ating mga mamayan, especially those who are joining the celebration,” Balboa said.

She urged Catholic devotees participating in the festivity to mask up and use hand sanitizers during the procession.

Balboa said the Nazarene feast could be celebrated safely if the participants would strictly follow the COVID protocols.

Any mass gathering can be a superspreader event, but Balboa said such a possibility may be avoided if the minimum public health standards are observed.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will deploy more than 700 personnel to help out in traffic management and clearing operations during the procession.

In an advisory yesterday, the MMDA said 730 traffic enforcers would be deployed at the Quiapo Church beginning tomorrow.

The agency said personnel of the Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group would help in crowd control. The Traffic Enforcement Division and Metro Parkways Clearing Group will manage the flow of traffic.

The MMDA will also dispatch street sweepers and will set up 25 portalets during the event. – Mayen Jaymalin, Ralph Edwin Villanueva