Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – Over a million devotees have participated in the Black Nazarene procession known as Traslacion on Saturday (January 9).
About 1.3 million devotees have joined the procession, according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., however, the number has dwindled to an estimated 810,000, according to authorities. Between 12 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sunday (January 10), the number further went down to 502,000.
Meanwhile, authorities estimated the crowd at Quiapo Church, where the procession will end, at 700,000 from 11 p.m. to 12 a.m. From 12 a.m. to 1 a.m., the number was at 500,000.
The NCRPO’s initial crowd estimate at Quiapo Church, is around 70,000.
Around 1 a.m., the procession has started moving at a faster pace of 503.5 meters per hour. The image of the Black Nazarene has returned to Quiapo Church at 2:02 a.m. — around 20 hours after it started at Qurino Grandstand.
Initially, officials estimated its return at 1:52 a.m. Authorities also expected that 13 million pilgrims would join the Traslacion.
The procession started a at 5:55 a.m. on Saturday, about an hour earlier than scheduled.
Devotees observed a solemn transfer of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to Quiapo Church.
Related: Traslacion starts earlier, moves faster this year
Security tight, medical teams on standby
The NCRPO deployed about 4,000 policemen for the procession.
Medical, rescue and security teams are on standby on along the route of the procession.
This annual event started with a holy mass held overnight, followed by morning prayers today at the historic Quirino Grandstand.
CNN Philippines’ David Santos and Mikas Matsuzawa contributed to this report.
