After a three-year break, millions of devotees of the Black Nazarene are expected to walk through the streets of Manila for the ritual transfer of the image from its original location in Luneta Park to Quiapo Church.
At least 2 million devotees are expected to join the 20-hour-long procession of the Black Nazarene statue with other rituals, known as Traslacion, from the various Mass celebrations to the displays of devotion to the Nazareno.
The most determined devotees walk the 6.5 km route from Rizal Park to the small basilica of Quiapo barefoot as a penance and to emulate Jesus on the way to Golgotha.
According to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the act of walking barefoot is a vow of sacrifice and thanksgiving to Christ who carried the cross to barefoot Calvary.
The Traslacion re-enacts a seemingly minor historical event, the 1787 solemn translation or transfer of the image from its original home, where Rizal Park is now located, to its present home in the basilica of Quiapo.
Start at the Quirino Grandstand, turn right to Katigbak Drive (left side), right to Padre Burgos St. through Finance Road, go straight to Ayala Bridge, left to Palanca St., right to Quezon Boulevard, right to Arlegui Street, right to Fraternal Street, right to Vergara Street, left to Duque de Alba Street, left to Castillejos Street, left to Farnecio Street, right to Arlegui Street, left to Nepomuceno Street, left to Concepcion Aguila Street, right to Carcer Street, right to Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen, left to Bilibid Viejo through Gonzalo Puyat, left to J.P. de Guzman Street, right to Hidalgo Street, left to Quezon Boulevard, right to Palanca St. through under Quezon Bridge, right to Villalobos through Plaza Miranda going to Quiapo Church.
On Saturday night, an estimated 10,000 devotees were already gathered at the Quirino Grandstand, police said.
Church officials reminded the faithful who may want to take part inthe yearly procession of the revered Black Nazarene to observe discipline, keeping in mind the sacredness of the feast.
Quiapo Church Operations Director of Nazareno Bong Grajo said that everything is prepared, and “the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazareneengaged in an extensive and in-depth formation program among devotees.”
“We had interagency coordination and interoperability exercises with different organizations and government agencies involved to make sure that the event is safe,” he said.
The Manila City Government, including the Philippine National Police,the military and medical personnel, are also geared up to maintain peace and order.
In an interview on radio dzBB, PNP spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo said uniformed personnel would not lower their guard during the event, even though they have not received any information of a serious threat to disrupt the Traslacion.
Fajardo said the police have so far only arrested a 42-year-old man for making a bomb joke inside the Quiapo Church on Friday morning amid the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Sunday that 15,276 personnel would be deployed on Jan. 9 and 10. Other units would augment the deployment of security forces.
There will also be a “No Fly Zone and No Drone Zone” within the vicinity of Quirino Grandstand and Quiapo Church, as well as the procession route from Jan. 7 to 10.
Fajardo said only the PNP and other security forces would be allowed to use drones during this period as part of security measures.
The environmental watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition, meanwhile, urged devotees to follow Rizal Park’s “no smoking, no littering” policy during the Traslacion to protect public health and the environment.
“As Black Nazarene devotees line up for the traditional ‘Pahalik’ at the Quirino Grandstand, we appeal to everyone to be considerate and refrain from smoking and littering in Metro Manila’s largest urban park,” said Ochie Tolentino of the EcoWaste Coalition.