Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — It took two hours last year to get the procession moving from its starting point, the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
Back then, devotees swarmed the carriage — preventing it from moving forward.
That’s far from what happened this year.
To the surprise of many, the procession began earlier than scheduled.
Paul Hinlo, security consultant of Quiapo church, said on Saturday (January 9) that all barangays in Manila were cooperating.
“So there were no collision between groups (of devotees),” Hinlo noted.
There were also changes to the Black Nazarene set up that helped ensure a smooth transfer of the image to its carriage.
Then, the procession began moving before 6 a.m.
Gil Baclit, a leader of Black Nazarene devotees or Hijos del Nazareno, said they were able to set up the carriage faster this time, so the procession was also able to kick off earlier.
Devotees, who waited long hours with thousands who spent the night at the grandstand, had mixed reactions to the quick start.
For Melissa Tenorio, she would have preferred a slower procession so devotees could spend more time with the Nazarene.
But for Jojo Ragel, faster was better so people could also rest earlier.
For many followers though, especially those tasked to protect the Black Nazarene, safety remained a top concern.
The issue became even personal to another devotee, Roda, who lost her husband, Nato Gurion, last year. Gurion succumbed to heart attack while climbing the carriage.
Related: One dead in Traslacion – Philippine Red Cross
She still joined this year’s procession with his late husband’s friends. Some of them even wore shirts with hashtag of Nato’s name.
The tragedy apparently didn’t shake Roda’s faith in the Black Nazarene — adding that the annual event had become a solemn vow for her and her children.
Aside from the procession’s faster pace, those picking up after the throngs of devotees also made sure tidying up the littered grandstand was quick as well.
Volunteer groups and sweepers hired by government cleaned the areas as soon as the carriage left the premises.
Organizers and volunteers of the Traslacion proved this time that a faster procession could be done — that there could still be discipline in spite of the madding sea of people.
Watch: Devotees share Traslacion experience
