ONE devotee died and more than 800 people were injured when millions joined the yearly procession of the Black Nazarene, officials said on Wednesday.
The annual feast, one of the world’s largest Catholic festivals, drew 6.7 million barefoot devotees on Tuesday in what police described as a “generally peaceful” event despite crowds jostling to touch the icon.
However, a former jail officer died of a heart attack after joining the scramble to climb onto the carriage bearing an image of the centuries-old Black Nazarene on Tuesday morning, city officials and police said.
Devotees have been known to risk life and limb to kiss or touch the icon with towels, believing the Black Nazarene to possess miraculous powers.
Two people died during the 2016 event.
More than 800 people were hurt in this year’s procession, including one who sustained a suspected neck and spine injury in a fall, the Philippine Red Cross said.
The procession began before dawn on Tuesday and ended after midnight, some 22 hours later.
During the parade, police shut down mobile phone signals in many areas of Manila to prevent potential terror attacks on the procession.
The Manila Police District said the image of the Black Nazarene was returned to Quiapo Church about 3 a.m. Wednesday.
MPD Chief Police Senior Superintendent Joel Coronel said the Traslacion, or the transfer of the image from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church, lasted for more than 22 hours.
Coronel estimated 6.3 million devotees joined the Traslacion.
Quiapo Church Rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel expressed his condolences to the family of a 54-year-old Ramil dela Cruz, a devotee who died during the Translacion.
“More and more people each year join the Traslacion. This pleases the Nazareno,” Coronel said.
Authorities said devotees this year left 100 tons of garbage, which was less than in 2017.
“Garbage collected this year was less since we gathered 34 truckloads in 2017,” said Francis Martinez, head of the Metro Manila Development Authority’s Parkway Clearing Group.
The Ecowaste Coalition said the lack of concern over the environment was a stain on “the awe-inspiring expression of faith and trust in the Black Nazarene.”
“The overnight vigil was a good opportunity for families to bond together and for the children to get to know the Black Nazarene. Unfortunately, many simply dumped their discards at the very spot where they spent the night,” said Daniel Alejandre of the Ecowaste Coalition.
While portable toilets were available for free use by the public, some devotees chose to urinate in the open, or pee in pet bottles, he said.
The group also assailed the sale and use of cigarettes inside the Rizal Park, which is a no-smoking zone. with AFP
