Millions of barefoot devotees in maroon shirts are expected to fill the streets of Manila today to join the annual Traslacion, or the procession of the Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, where Catholics are allowed to kiss the iconic statue, to Quiapo Church.
Church officials are expecting this year’s participants to surpass the 2.6 million devotees who joined the procession in 2018, in the hope that their prayers will be answered.
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The life-sized icon image of Jesus Christ carrying a cross will be carried into the streets for the procession in a “Caroza” or golden red carriage pulled through the streets of Quiapo by male devotees clad in maroon.
The Feast of the Most Holy Black Nazarene is celebrated every 9th of January while novena masses begin on the first Friday of the year.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will lead the early morning Mass in honor of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, before the Traslacion or the transfer of the image to its present shrine in Quiapo starts at around 5 a.m.
Quiapo Church officials are hoping the Traslacion will end early and that the image will enter the Minor Basilica by 5 p.m.
The Black Nazarene has attracted millions of devotees from Luzon to Mindanao because of its reputed healing powers.
The devotees pay homage to the Black Nazarene, believing that whoever touches the statue will be healed or be granted his prayer.
All Department of Health hospitals are on ‘Code White’ alert during the procession, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
This means there will be general and orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists, operating room nurses, ophthalmologists, and otorhinolaryngologists, to respond to any emergency, he said.
The Health Department has advised devotees joining the procession to bring enough drinking water to avoid dehydration and to wear comfortable clothes and protective footwear.
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Devotees are also advised to bring raincoats or ponchos in case of sudden downpours and to bring hats, fans, and handkerchiefs if it becomes hot and sunny.
People on medication are asked to bring their medicines along with them especially those with chronic asthma, hypertension or diabetes. People who are sick, pregnant, or with serious medical conditions are advised not to join the event.
Also on Tuesday, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista ordered the suspension of classes in all public and private schools at all levels today, in view of the “reported threats to the security and orderliness of the conduct” of the Traslacion.
Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar of the National Capital Region Police Office, however, said there is no “verified information” of any security threat against the Traslacion. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja
