‘Pagpupugay’ replaces ‘Pahalik’ for Nazarene devotees

MANILA, Philippines — Starting today, devotees of the Black Nazarene may start lining up at the Quirino Grandstand for the “Pagpupugay” or paying respects, replacing the traditional “Pahalik” or the kissing of the image, as part of measures imposed by the Quiapo Church to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Malacañang has declared Jan. 9 as a special non-working day in the city of Manila in observance of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Manila be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” according to Proclamation 120 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin yesterday.

Alex Irasga, Quiapo Church’s adviser for the Feast of the Black Nazarene, said yesterday the “Pagpupugay” will start at midnight on Jan. 7 and end at midnight on Jan. 9.

He said there will be special lanes for persons with special needs and the elderly and separate lines for men and women.

Irasga said devotees may touch the image or use a handkerchief or towel to wipe the image.

Rescue personnel from the city government of Manila will be deployed along with the city’s disaster risk reduction and management personnel and volunteers from the Philippine General Hospital in case of emergencies, Irasga said.

Quiapo Church spokesman Fr. Earl Valdez said they will have volunteers usher devotees from the point of entry, near the image and at the exit to ensure that no one will kiss the image.

Devotees are required to observe the health protocols such as wearing face masks, carrying hand sanitizers and observing social distancing. They are prohibited from talking with one another and from kissing the image of the Black Nazarene, Valdez said.

They are also required to bring any government-issued ID “for emergency use.”

Fr. Rufino Sescon Jr. will preside over the morning and vigil masses for the “Walk of Faith” tomorrow. The “Walk of Faith” replaces the traditional “Traslacion” of the Black Nazarene.

Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula will lead the midnight mass on Jan. 9, the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

Irasga said they expect the “Walk of Faith” to last only two to three hours as he emphasized that no life-sized replicas of the Black Nazarene would be allowed to join the procession.

The image of the Black Nazarene will be on display at the grandstand during the procession.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said its personnel started removing obstructions such as illegally parked vehicles and illegal street vendors along the procession’s route. - Helen Flores, Ghio Ong