Catholic church officials on Friday said that the procession for the miraculous image of the Black Nazarene will have a new route to ensure a safer, more secured, solemn and fast procession on Jan. 9.
Monsignor Hernando Coronel, Quiapo Church rector, said that new route for the “Translacion” was adopted taking into consideration the safety of the devotees.
According to Quiapo Church Parochial Vicar Fr. Douglas Badong, the Black Nazarene procession route will not pass through the Jones Bridge, the McArthur Bridge, and the Quezon Bridge, but will instead pass through the Ayala Bridge.
The “Translacion” will start at the Quirino Granstand, and will head towards Katigbak Road, Finance Road, LRT Taft station, all the way to Ayala Bridge and Palanca. The procession will follow the traditional route once it reaches the Quiapo area.
“Our route on January 9 will be on Ayala Bridge. According to the Department of Public Works and Highways, it is the safest because it has been retrofitted recently,” he said.
The ropes that devotees use to pull the carriage forward will also remain part of the Traslacion, Coronel said.
“The procession will also stop at 14 prayer stations along the way, just like last year.”
"This time of the year when all eyes are on Quiapo Church, it is important to facilitate a solemn and orderly procession while highlighting the religious aspect of the feast,” he said.
Badong said the new route is 300 meters shorter than the old one.
This is also the first time that the procession will not pass through several barangays, he said.
“We will try to accommodate as many devotees as possible, but this is the first time that the procession will not pass through several barangays,” Badong said.
“What we’re expecting is for the Traslacion to become peaceful. It’s not about the length of the procession, but about how it will become orderly and organized,” he said.
Contrary to previous claims, there will still be the traditional rope for the devotees to touch, Badong said.
